Apple Studio Display XDR offers much more horsepower than MacBook Neo

The MacBook Neo is the first completely new MacBook line in over a decade. However, featuring an Apple A18 Pro and 8 GB of RAM, the device only performs roughly on par with an M1 MacBook Air (current models starting at $950 on Amazon) – Apple’s entry-level laptop from 2020.

MacRumors recently uncovered processor-related details in the code of the first firmware update for the brand-new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. The findings suggest that even the more affordable Apple Studio Display comes with an Apple A19, which is newer and more powerful than the MacBook Neo’s processor. The higher-end Studio Display XDR goes further by featuring the Apple A19 Pro, the same chip used in the iPhone 17 Pro. That said, it is currently unknown how much memory and storage will be available to these processors.

Given the sheer horsepower on board, Apple notably isn’t positioning either Studio Display model as a smart monitor capable of running streaming services or even macOS independently. Previously, the Apple A13 Bionic in older Studio Displays enabled features like “Hey Siri” for connected Macs and Center Stage for the built-in 12 MP webcam. The upcoming monitors at least introduce one new feature that requires slightly more processing headroom: Desk View, which lets users show their workspace in front of the monitor and share it during video calls.