Apple Discontinues Pro Display XDR and $999 Stand

[ThomasJL]

The $999 stand really shows how much corporate greed Tim Cook has and how much he disrespects customers. Apple has been selling displays since 1980, and before Cook became CEO, literally every single one of those displays either was able to stand on its own on a desk with no additional equipment (if it was CRT) or included a stand in the box (if it was non-CRT).

Hey Tim, why not remove the electrical plug from the display box, too, and then charge customers additional money for it? After all, you already did that with every iPhone. Don’t worry, Tim, your supporters will defend any decision you make.

 

[tenthousandthings]

Yes LG may manufacture some/all of the display panels, but Apple Studio display panels are definitely built to Apple’s exacting product requirements and specifications. They are not comparable to the stuff LG sells itself direct to customer.

There's a pretty strong argument that LG Display has dropped out the (new) 27" 5K panel business, leaving only BOE and AUO. BOE alone makes (at least) four different panels. They could be Apple's supplier, with LG Display or someone else manufacturing the backlight. But most likely this is a bespoke Apple design manufactured by AUO or someone else, like LG Display or even BOE. We don't know at this point, literally hours after the launch, and people who assume they know just expose their ignorance.

I'm off to celebrate the Lantern Festival, so see you all tomorrow! I will order the XDR tomorrow morning at 9:15 AM Eastern (US).

 

[Mac_fan75]

Pretty sure a new 32 inch comes later, if introduced now than it would eat the 27inch or vice versa. Just way Apple works, same with MacBook and Mac Studios.

 

[M3Stang]

The discontinuation of the Pro XDR display makes me think the Mac Pro is likely to be discontinued in the near future as well.

There may be another 32" display, but it sounds like 6K 120Hz is not possible with Thunderbolt 5, so it will have to wait for newer technology.

I know the pandemic was the real reason they switched to pre-recorded events, but I think the reaction to the stand reveal was the reason they never went back 😛

I fear this may be the nail in coffin for the Mac Pro as well. Such a shame because I really want one, just no way I can spend that level of money on something that doesn’t have hardware accelerated ray tracing and gets run over by a $599 Mac mini in single core.

 

[joecomo]

These are now getting blown out on Woot for $1000 off — $3999 for standard glass, $4999 for the nano texture.

If I can shoot one low enough - I‘ll get a 2nd one (competition is that LG 6K Display)

 

[R2FX]

Samsung has announced a 6K 165Hz coming out this year. It's a gaming monitor, but surely others will follow suit.

Samsung Unveils New Odyssey Gaming Monitor Lineup, Featuring World-First 6K 3D and Ultra-High-Resolution Displays

2026 Odyssey gaming monitor lineup introduces record-breaking refresh rates and resolutions for competitive gaming, including the world’s first 3D (6K resolution) glasses-free display

news.samsung.com

I want color accuracy with high refresh rate 😉

 

[gugy]

XDR = eXtra Dollars Required. LMAO

 

[subjonas]

I understand why they introduced the new 27-inch XDR Display. What I don’t understand is why they haven’t updated the 32-inch XDR. Many people are looking for larger monitors!

Are there any 6k 120hz displays on the market? Someone mentioned TB5 may not be able to handle bandwidth. That would mean one could only have 6k or 120hz but not both, and Apple chose 120hz.

 

[venom600]

One thing I’m not seeing mentioned here is how high the price of the XDR is. In a world of tandem oled and qd-oled monitors that will be out later this year at lower prices how on earth does the price make sense? Nothing on the display is cutting edge or particularly special.

I get the Apple tax, but over 3 grand just to have HFR, MiniLED HDR, and 5k in a monitor is insane to me. I doubt the color accuracy will be tremendously improved over an oled. Does it even use quantum dots? Just trying to understand the thought process here.

 

[Tagbert]

yeah, I am between the Asus or LG. The price for the Asus look great but the LG seems to be a bit better build and good looking. Not sure. I have not had the chance yet to see one at the store. I would get the Apple ASD XDR if they made it at 32" with the $3,200 price tag but....

I decided, from my viewing angle (in front) the Asus has a small dark bezel that doesn't stand out and, for the $500-600 price difference with the LG, I could live with that. Some reviews have said that the matte surface of the LG is more "aggressive". With the Asus, at about a 24" viewing distance, I don't see any softness for fine detail like small text.

120Hz would be nice but not nice enough for up to double price for the Studio Displays. I'm not particularly sensitive to the refresh rate.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

One thing I’m not seeing mentioned here is how high the price of the XDR is. In a world of tandem oled and qd-oled monitors that will be out later this year at lower prices how on earth does the price make sense? Nothing on the display is cutting edge or particularly special.

I get the Apple tax, but over 3 grand just to have HFR, MiniLED HDR, and 5k in a monitor is insane to me. I doubt the color accuracy will be tremendously improved over an oled. Does it even use quantum dots? Just trying to understand the thought process here.

These displays have always been dreadful value though haven't they.

Purely for people who just want to buy the Apple build and aesthetic, spec wise they are an awful deal.

 

[DesertNomad]

Really glad I have two 32" XDRs - Thinking to buy another one while they are still available third party.

 

[cocoua]

this would be the first apple product of this era which would be more expensive since it is discontinued

 

[switz]

Have two normal screen Studio Displays hanging on the wall above my M1 Ultra Mac Studio. The third Studio Display with nano screen is on a stand on the server work station near a window. The fourth with a nano screen goes to the summer office with a stand for the desk near a screen door.

If a M5 Ultra MacStudio appears this year, I might consider upgrading the two monitors on the wall to the top model screens after the wallet cools off from the computer purchase. No need to rush.

The good news for me is that my four Studio Displays are still operational just fine with all of my M4 based gear. Nothing was made obsolete by these two days of announcements. 😎

 

[musicmonkey34b]

Honestly i think 27" is the sweet spot for size anyway - I don't know why people want 32" and bigger, or multi monitor setups - any time I have to start turning my head to see things my eyes can't just glance at, i'm out.

I have two 30" Studio Displays (yes, they're from 2004.) I love having a large matte screen a little further back from me. It's the same effective FOV as having a 27" at a conventional distance, but I like having more open space in front of me on my desk. Also, the distance is a little easier on my eyes.

 

[Frixo Cool]

I'm very disappointed for two reasons.

1) Someone who bought an Intel Mac Pro in June 2023, which wasn't that long ago, can now no longer buy an Apple monitor for their expensive workstation in early 2026? This is shameful and a very ugly move towards professional users who bought the most expensive machines possible.

2) Working on a monitor smaller than 30" is unacceptable to me and I was looking forward to the updated XDR monitor. Now it turns out that even if they released it, it wouldn't work on my Mac Pro, which is crazy.

Apple should have made it possible for these monitors to support the older Thunderbolt standard, even if at lower frequencies, for me a high refresh rate has never been something crucial for work.

What would be a hit for me is if Apple released these two monitors in a larger format, so that the regular Studio Display can be bought as a 32", and of course they renew the 32" XDR version as well.

As things stand now, there will be no choice but to buy Chinese Kuycon replicas that have proven to be reasonably solid, while at the same time undercutting Apple monitors by a wide margin.

Not happy at all, I love Apple displays.

 

[itsboi]

One thing I’m not seeing mentioned here is how high the price of the XDR is. In a world of tandem oled and qd-oled monitors that will be out later this year at lower prices how on earth does the price make sense? Nothing on the display is cutting edge or particularly special.

I get the Apple tax, but over 3 grand just to have HFR, MiniLED HDR, and 5k in a monitor is insane to me. I doubt the color accuracy will be tremendously improved over an oled. Does it even use quantum dots? Just trying to understand the thought process here.

I mean on paper it looks bad for the value given what’s available on the market however the Studio Display XDR will objectively provide the better picture and is just the better monitor, while costing a kidney. Quantum Dots marketing mumbo still doesn’t change the fact that OLEDs have a lifespan and are generally bad at productivity with text-fringing, and you really have to buy one with decent warranty in mind. I own a gaming OLED monitor myself and I think their pricing is appropriate being sub-$1k. Even with the tandem/QDOLEDs, they’re only sustaining ~300 nits full screen brightness which is like lowering your monitors brightness to 30% on the XDR that’s capable of 1000 nits in SDR. And at HDR, you’re getting like 1300 nits in a 10% window which is still far from the 2000 on the XDR. Also most of those gaming monitors is meant for that aesthetic, have worse builds (plastic), sometimes matte, not factory calibrated, no cameras, no HDR/SDR auto switching, and definitely worse speakers or maybe none at all. Apple has the advantage of pricing whatever they want because there’s very few 5K/6K monitors. Still it’s nearly half the price of it’s predecessor (which was competing with $30k reference monitors) with the $1k stand included.

The base Studio Display is a horrible value though even though even then I liked that display better than my OLED monitor because it was glossy and supported 500 nits of brightness full screen.

 

[gugy]

As things stand now, there will be no choice but to buy Chinese Kuycon replicas that have proven to be reasonably solid, while at the same time undercutting Apple monitors by a wide margin.

I saw this monitor but the lack of support in the US freaks me out. At this point I am between the Asus or LG 32" 6k since Apple fumbled this new displays so badly.

 

[Guischmitt]

I'm very disappointed for two reasons.

1) Someone who bought an Intel Mac Pro in June 2023, which wasn't that long ago, can now no longer buy an Apple monitor for their expensive workstation in early 2026? This is shameful and a very ugly move towards professional users who bought the most expensive machines possible.

2) Working on a monitor smaller than 30" is unacceptable to me and I was looking forward to the updated XDR monitor. Now it turns out that even if they released it, it wouldn't work on my Mac Pro, which is crazy.

Apple should have made it possible for these monitors to support the older Thunderbolt standard, even if at lower frequencies, for me a high refresh rate has never been something crucial for work.

What would be a hit for me is if Apple released these two monitors in a larger format, so that the regular Studio Display can be bought as a 32", and of course they renew the 32" XDR version as well.

As things stand now, there will be no choice but to buy Chinese Kuycon replicas that have proven to be reasonably solid, while at the same time undercutting Apple monitors by a wide margin.

Not happy at all, I love Apple displays.

Apple is not even going to update macOS to Intel anymore, starting with macOS 27… this shouldn't come as a surprise at all. Apple last released an Intel product in August 2020.

 

[gtg465x]

These displays have always been dreadful value though haven't they.

Purely for people who just want to buy the Apple build and aesthetic, spec wise they are an awful deal.

No. The 5K display built in to the iMac 5K was a fantastic value. Basically the same exact display as the current Studio Display, just with slightly less brightness, and it came with an entire Mac computer with decent specs built in starting at $1600. I think it was about $700 more than a similar specced Mac Mini with no display.

 

[marte91]

Honestly i think 27" is the sweet spot for size anyway - I don't know why people want 32" and bigger, or multi monitor setups - any time I have to start turning my head to see things my eyes can't just glance at, i'm out.

Depending on you workflow, it might benefit you, one example i can think of is video editing, on the second screen you can have the render video after applying effects.

 

[marte91]

The new premium display experience introduces innovative new capabilities and ProMotion for a lot less money than the previous model. It’s a great value for those who need the very best display technology from Apple.

these are very much below any other professional level display in the market, this things are overpriced middle ground level displays at best, and if you wondering what I'm referring by professional level: Sony PVM, BVM, series / Eizo Color edge / Ikegami HQLM, not these toys apple sell as pro.

 

[iDento]

Honestly i think 27" is the sweet spot for size anyway - I don't know why people want 32" and bigger, or multi monitor setups - any time I have to start turning my head to see things my eyes can't just glance at, i'm out.

I use an iMac 24’ and it’s the sweet spot for 90% of what I do. For the 10%, I use my iPad 13’ screen as a second monitor. But I understand why people might want a larger screen or multiple screens.

 

[wyliej]

Apple does not know how to compete in the display market.

Or maybe that market is already well served by the others who compete in it,

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

You have a $3,500 budget. With that money, you can buy either:

• A 27-inch, 120-Hz mini-LED screen: Apple's Studio Display XDR.
• A 77-inch, 165-Hz OLED screen: Samsung's S95F.

Your call!