Apple Multiple Scan 20 Display vs Apple Studio Display (2026)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMultiple Scan 20 Display | AppleStudio Display (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | March 1994 | March 2026 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 19.1″ | 27″ |
| Resolution | – | 5120 × 2880 (5K) |
| Sharpness | – | 218 pixels per inch |
| Panel | CRT (Original nominal 20-inch Trinitron CRT, 19.1-inch viewable image and 0.31 mm stripe pitch; no fixed native matrix. Later Revision B uses a different 0.26 mm tube and is not substituted here.) | IPS (5K Retina) |
| Refresh rate | – | 60 Hz |
| Brightness (typical) | – | 600 nits |
| Colour range | – | Wide colour (P3) |
| Screen finish | – | Glossy |
| Shape | – | Flat |
| Colour depth | – | 1 billion colours |
| Colour modes | – | Apple Display (P3-600 nits), HDTV Video (BT.709–BT.1886), NTSC Video (BT.601 SMPTE-C), PAL and SECAM Video (BT.601 EBU), Digital Cinema (P3-DCI), Digital Cinema (P3-D65), Design and Print (P3-D50), Photography (P3-D65), Internet and Web (sRGB) |
| Supported signal modes | Apple's support sheet lists 640 × 480 at 59.95, 66.7 or 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 75 Hz; 832 × 624 at 75 Hz; 1024 × 768 at 74.93 or 75 Hz; 1152 × 870 at 75 Hz; and 1280 × 1024 at 75 Hz. Service Source gives horizontal scan range 29–82 kHz and vertical range 50–150 Hz. These are supported CRT signal modes, not a native pixel matrix or native refresh rate; modes depend on the computer and adaptor. | – |
| Screen coating | Bonded glass panel with multilayer antiglare and antistatic coating | – |
| Connections | ||
| Video inputs | DA-15 | Thunderbolt 5 |
| USB-C charging | None | Up to 96 W (better) |
| USB ports | – | Thunderbolt 5, 2 × USB-C |
| Ethernet | – | No |
| Speakers | – | Yes |
| Webcam | – | 12MP Center Stage with Desk View |
| USB-C detail | – | Upstream Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120 Gb/s) with 96 W host charging |
| Daisy chaining | – | Downstream Thunderbolt 5 port daisy-chains more displays; up to four Studio Display models with a MacBook Pro with M5 Max |
| USB hub detail | – | 1 × Thunderbolt 5 downstream (up to 120 Gb/s), 2 × USB-C (up to 10 Gb/s) for peripherals, storage and networking |
| Speaker detail | – | Six speakers with force-cancelling woofers; wide stereo; Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos |
| Webcam detail | – | Three-mic array with directional beamforming; camera features and firmware updates need a Mac |
| Other connections | Macintosh 15-pin DA-15 analogue RGB cable; VGA computers need a video adaptor. Two front ADB device ports and rear ADB pass-through port. | – |
| Design | ||
| Stand adjusts | Tilt, swivel (better) | Tilt |
| VESA mount | – | Yes |
| Weight with stand | 30 kg | 6.3 kg |
| Height adjustment | – | 105 mm with the optional tilt- and height-adjustable stand |
| Tilt | −5° to +15° | −5° to +25° |
| Pivot | – | Landscape only on either stand; portrait with the VESA mount adapter |
| VESA pattern | – | 100 × 100 mm (VESA mount adapter option) |
| Swivel | At least ±45° | – |
| Size with stand | Apple support publishes 18.7 × 18.7 × 19.7 inches (height × width × depth); Service Source separately lists 474 × 474 × 501.5 mm | Tilt stand 62.3 × 16.8 × 47.8 cm; tilt- and height-adjustable stand 62.3 × 20.7 × 47.9–58.3 cm and 7.6 kg (W × D × H) |
| Size without stand | – | 62.3 × 3.1 × 36.2 cm with VESA mount adapter (W × D × H) |
| Weight without stand | – | 5.4 kg with VESA mount adapter |
| Weight detail | Service Source gives monitor weight 30 kg (66 lb), distinct from the 36 kg boxed shipping weight. The later 1995 Apple Facts sheet for the 0.26 mm tube instead gives 29.7 kg. | – |
| Controls | Front-panel power, reset, brightness and contrast; image position, size, rotation, convergence and colour-temperature controls. Automatic power-on degauss. | – |
| Power and support | ||
| Power use | Maximum 165 W; less than 15 W in Energy Saver mode | – |
| Power supply | Service Source specifies 90–132 or 198–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz; support archive instead gives the upper band as 198–260 V. These are mains ratings. | 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, single phase |
| Software | System 7.1 or later; older Macs may need additional adaptors. Apple support identifies March 1994 introduction, and InfoWorld's 14 March 1994 shipping section reports rollout that week; month precision retained. Service Source distinguishes original 0.31 mm hardware from later Revision B 0.26 mm hardware with different deflection board, controller and power supply. No Revision B retail date is inferred. Brightness and contrast ratio are unpublished. | Needs an Apple silicon Mac with macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 26.3.1 or later |
| Certifications | US EPA Energy Star power conservation | ENERGY STAR |
| Warranty | – | 1-year limited warranty and 90 days of complimentary technical support from Apple |
| In the box | – | Studio Display, Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable (1 m) |
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