Apple releases Studio Display 16.4 firmware for macOS Ventura 13.3 beta users

The new beta firmware for Studio Display is available on Mac systems running macOS Ventura 13.3 beta before its public launch in a few weeks.

• What’s happening? Apple has released a new firmware for Studio Display for macOS Ventura 13.3 beta testers, increasing the version number to 16.4.
• Why care? Previous updates fixed issues with the built-in camera and speakers.
• What to do? If you are not a developer, we recommend that you do not install this firmware to avoid problems that may occur when using pre-release software.

Apple Tests Firmware Studio Display 16.4

The new firmware is available on Macs running macOS Ventura 13.3 beta, released February 16, 2023. If you’re running macOS Ventura 13.3 beta, you can update the Studio Display’s firmware from Settings → General → Software Update.

A monitor must be connected for the update to be displayed. Your Mac will restart to apply this update. Please note that the update will not appear to non-beta users.

The content of the firmware is unknown, as Apple did not provide a list of changes. The Software Update screen only mentions that a new Studio Display firmware is available and that applying it will update the software on all connected displays.

The update weighs 641.4 MB and upgrades the Studio Display software to version 16.4.

Where is my changelog?

Apple will provide release notes once the firmware is released to the public. The contents of the update will be detailed in the Software Update and Apple Support Document , which tracks changes to Studio Display firmware updates. It may well be a debug version with bug fixes and security fixes.

In the past, Apple released firmware updates to fix Studio Display issues such as poor webcam quality and garbled audio. Apple has also released Studio Display drivers for Windows so that people can use the monitor while running the Microsoft operating system through Apple’s Boot Camp dual boot feature.

Should I install beta firmware on my Studio Display?

You’d better stay away from this update if you’re not a developer. We do not recommend installing pre-release software on devices that you use on a daily basis.

Key features of Studio Display

Released on March 18, 2022, Studio Display marked Apple’s return to the business following the discontinuation of the Thunderbolt Display and the announcement that it was no longer playing standalone monitors.

The external monitor features a 27-inch IPS LCD panel with 5K resolution and 600 nits of brightness. It has three USB-C (10Gb/s) ports on the back for peripherals and one powered Thunderbolt 3 port providing 96W charging.

The monitor is powered by A13 Bionic from iPhone 11 with 64 gigabytes of memory. The CPU allows the display to provide features such as Hey Siri, Center Stage, and spatial audio through a six-speaker system, even if the connected Mac does not support them.

On the other hand, the device does not support HDR, does not have a mini-LED backlight, and does not have ProMotion technology for a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz.