Apple adds Thunderbolt 5 and medical imaging to new displays

On Tuesday, Apple expanded its hardware portfolio with the announcement of a new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, both powered by the company’s latest chips. Alongside these updated laptops, the company introduced a new family of 27-inch displays. This new display lineup features Thunderbolt 5 ports, a high-speed connectivity standard that allows users to connect external accessories and daisy-chain up to four displays. The new displays are designed to integrate with Apple’s updated laptop lineup, providing external screen options for users.

The new hardware release consists of two distinct display models:

• Studio Display ($1,599): This standard 27-inch model features a 5K Retina display with over 14 million pixels and 600 nits of brightness. It includes a 12MP Center Stage camera—a camera feature that keeps subjects in frame during video calls—and supports Desk View, a camera feature that shows a user’s face and an overhead view of their desk simultaneously. It also features an updated sound system. According to Apple, this new sound system offers 30% deeper bass than the previous generation.
• Studio Display XDR ($3,299): This higher-end 27-inch model features a 5K Retina XDR display with a 5120 x 2880 resolution, a mini-LED backlight, and more than 2,000 local dimming zones. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and can reach up to 1000 nits of SDR brightness and 2000 nits of peak HDR brightness.

The Studio Display XDR also includes presets for DICOM, which is the standard for medical imaging, alongside a Medical Imaging Calibrator tool on macOS. This calibration software is designed to make the display usable in clinical and medical settings. However, Apple stated that the Medical Imaging Calibrator software on macOS is currently pending clearance from the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration, which serves as the regulatory body for medical imaging software in the U.S.) and is expected to be available soon in the U.S.

Preorders for both of the new displays are scheduled to begin on March 4, with general availability starting on March 11.

Why it matters

Apple is deepening its hardware ecosystem by targeting both creative professionals and specialized medical markets with its display technology. By integrating medical imaging standards and seeking regulatory clearance, the company is positioning its hardware for clinical environments alongside traditional creative workflows.