Apple Patents Dual 'Pro Stand' for Studio Display and Pro Display XDR

[nvmls]

$30 on Amazon

WALI Dual Monitor Desk Mount, Monitor Stand for 2 Monitors Each Up to 27inch, Dual Monitor Stand for Desk Per Monitor Arm Holds 22lbs, Fully Adjustable Designed for Home, Office, School (M002), Black

WALI Dual Monitor Desk Mount, Monitor Stand for 2 Monitors Each Up to 27inch, Dual Monitor Stand for Desk Per Monitor Arm Holds 22lbs, Fully Adjustable Designed for Home, Office, School (M002), Black

www.amazon.com

If Apple would simply design their overpriced monitors with a standard VESA mount. It’s no that difficult.

They design for stockholders, apparently none of them use VESA.

 

[skitidetdu]

Haha first thing I thought was what will the price be??? And the first comments were about the price...My guess, one stand is 999 - a double stand will be at least 1699.

 

[Macaholic868]

You’ll love this courageous, magical device when it ships for the incredibly low price of $30,000.

 

[kingtj1971]

$30 on Amazon

WALI Dual Monitor Desk Mount, Monitor Stand for 2 Monitors Each Up to 27inch, Dual Monitor Stand for Desk Per Monitor Arm Holds 22lbs, Fully Adjustable Designed for Home, Office, School (M002), Black

WALI Dual Monitor Desk Mount, Monitor Stand for 2 Monitors Each Up to 27inch, Dual Monitor Stand for Desk Per Monitor Arm Holds 22lbs, Fully Adjustable Designed for Home, Office, School (M002), Black

www.amazon.com

If Apple would simply design their overpriced monitors with a standard VESA mount. It’s no that difficult.

Not defending Apple's insane monitor/stand pricing here. But that $30 VESA stand from Amazon is total garbage by comparison to what's in this patent. I own a similar one of those (in fact, I had both one that clamps onto a desk and one with its own base). For the price, they work. But it's a struggle to get your displays adjusted just right on one. You have to mess around with a hex key to loosen up bolts and tighten them again while trying to hold the display so it doesn't move slightly out of position. Over time, they tend to work loose too, so one display keeps tilting downward at a slight angle and won't stay up until you go find that hex key that fits and redo the process.

 

[richinaus]

Clever design. Should it come to market, those who need it will purchase it.

Those who don't need it will still complain anyway. For some bizarre reason.

it is a clever design and would be on my list to get if it becomes available.
The sole reason I dont use monitor arms is the difficulty in alignments.

 

[michael666]

But can I attach the 700$ wheels to it?

 

[citysnaps]

it is a clever design and would be on my list to get if it becomes available.
The sole reason I dont use monitor arms is the difficulty in alignments.

Bingo! The design appears to allow movement of displays in one dimension without screwing up what was set in another dimension.

If Apple manufactures the stand and brings it to market, I suspect it will do well. At least for people that are fussy about that sort of thing.

 

[v0lume4]

Aren’t those monitor arms on Amazon like $35?

 

[jwdsail]

Apple has won a patent for a dual monitor stand that appears to be based on the "Pro Stand" design option for the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR.

The patent filing first surfaced in 2020, but now the United States Patent and Trademark Office has officially granted Apple the patent. The granted patent, spotted by Patently Apple, is simply titled "Dual Display Stand," and details a mechanical design that seeks to address the shortcomings of existing multi-display solutions, offering easy and precise adjustment for up to two external displays.

The filing outlines a large display stand with two spaced-apart legs, connected by a horizontal support bar that allows two displays to be mounted. The stand allows for a high level of precise adjustment and control, with vertical, horizontal, and center pivot degrees of freedom. Apple offers a brief description of the improvements offered by the stand in the patent:

The stand seems to use the same moveable joints as the existing Pro Stand for the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR, but places them on rail shuttles for horizontal adjustment. A central joint on the support bar allows the stand to adjust the angle between the displays.

The stand has handles on each side that can be twisted to easily adjust the height of the support bar for exact vertical adjustment. The patent notes that the entire bar is lifted regardless of the angle of the support bar or which handle is turned.

The patent also stresses that the shuttles on the continuous rail provide "smooth, consistent contact" with the rails despite adjustments to the support bar using wheels.

The filing explains why the Dual Display Stand solution may be better than existing third-party stand solutions such as independently-movable VESA-mount arms:

When it first emerged in 2020, it was striking how far developed the patent filing was, effectively outlining an entire product. Normally, Apple's patent filings focus on a specific part of a device or system, and while the dual display stand's mechanical operations are all able to come under a single filing, there are very clear similarities to the existing Pro Stand alongside a pronounced level of detail for a hitherto unknown Apple accessory.

Given this level of completeness, it is possible that Apple may be planning to bring the Dual Display Stand to customers at some point in the future. There is also a chance it may be reserved for internal corporate use or simply for retail store display units. That being said, patent filings only reliably show what Apple is researching and developing, and many aspects detailed in its patents never materially emerge.

It is worth noting that while the Pro Display XDR's stand is interchangeable thanks to a magnetic mounting system, the Studio Display's stand is not and it must be configured with the preferred stand upon purchase. This means that any new dual display stand for the Studio Display would similarly have to be configurable at the point of purchase, with different options available for the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR. It is also possible that by the time any such accessory would be available, future iterations of the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR could feature improved mounting systems.

Apple's Pro Stand for the Pro Display XDR, sold separately from the display itself, caused controversy when it was announced in June 2019 for its $999 price tag. In March this year, Apple brought the same height- and tilt-adjustable stand design to the Studio Display with a $400 add-on option. At minimum, the patent suggests that Apple's work on new mechanical display stands is ongoing.

Article Link: Apple Patents Dual 'Pro Stand' for Studio Display and Pro Display XDR

Sounds like an interesting design? I'm looking forward to seeing one in meatspace..

I'm also looking forward to seeing the $1999 price tag.. and laughing and then saying, "Nope".

 

[RangerOne]

My thoughts:

1) I wouldn't call this a "Pro" Stand. A "Pro" stand really needs support for three monitors. No one wants to look at a seam between displays right in front of them. I have two desktop setups, and both have three displays.

2) The price will be absolutely ludicrous. Apple lost so much credibility with that over-priced stand they have now, I don't even want to consider their monitors at all. Just ridiculous. The next time around I will 3D-print my own VESA wall mounts for about $50 in PETG or ABS.

 

[VictorTango777]

Bingo! The design appears to allow movement of displays in one dimension without screwing up what was set in another dimension.

If Apple manufactures the stand and brings it to market, I suspect it will do well. At least for people that are fussy about that sort of thing.

This Apple design is basically 2 desktop stands with a rail in between, so it does not save any space on the desk.
It does not provide the range of motion of a VESA arm.
Compared to the Ergotron HX Dual, the Apple does provide independent height adjustment of each screen.

 

[JM]

Ok to satisfy the request to make no mention of the pricetag:

The studio display is by far the worst monitor Apple has ever released, and the stand options are laughably poor. The 10 year old technology used in it is far inferior to other monitors on the market, and the only successful part of it is the astheticly pleasing design. The stand options for it are extremely limited, and the inability to swap it yourself is pure stupididy.

Oh, and I don't care about forum rep, internet points are meaningless and sad. Better?

I’d take ten year old monitors any day. The wide gamut color monitors today hurt my eyes with their temporal dithering.

 

[Freida]

I know what you mean but I dare you to find me a better engineered stand. Sure, it is over-engineered but I don't think you'll find anything better (definitely not cheaper) so the complaints shouldn't be about price but about the complexities that drove the price up.

I don't have XDR as for me it would be a waste but everytime I've played with it or used it the stand is just the best I've ever seen/used.

Do I want to spend $1000 on a stand? Absolutely not! Do I appreciate the design and the attention - absolutely yes.

All these things eventually tickle down some way or another to cheaper products. We could already see it with the studio display. The stand is cheaper but fairly similar and it costs less.

Could it be cheaper? Absolutely, but someone has to pay for that R&D - that aspect is not for free.

There is a difference between being expensive because of higher quality design and functionality, etc… such as their computers and mobile devices, and gouging your customers for other things, such as cables, monitors, etc… where their cables are not any better and the monitors are certainly no better… and the ascetics being a subjective view;… truth be told, Apple doesn’t even make the cables nor the monitors - they just put their logo on them…. does that justify the increase in pricing over like kind of product? No - it doesn’t and that why they draw so much criticism and ridicule… its not hard to justify the premium on their computers/mobile… but som people are just blindly loyal to the Apple logo and will not put common sense before it…

You want to pay $6000 for a sub $1000 display and add $1000 to that price for the privilege of having a stand for it, or $200 for an adapter so it will work with an industry standard wall mount? Go ahead… but don’t expect others to share that same zealotry towards a company thats exploiting weak minded people though excessive pricing on some of the things it sells.

 

[currocj]

Imagine the price

Simply Amazing

 

[currocj]

Forgive me for going off-topic and actually discussing the product...

I believe it was Jason Snell who said that he thinks the 27" 5K MiniLED display that Ross Young has talked about over the past year might be a smaller member of the Pro Display XDR family rather than a "Studio Display Pro". Looking at this new stand patent which leverages the magnetic latching of the current 32" Pro Display XDR, this could lend credence to the idea that Apple will offer the Pro Display XDR in multiple sizes: 27" 5K and 32" 7K (the rumored replacement).

Why would they make the 32" 7K and leave their well documented 218ppi monitor standard?

 

[CWallace]

Why would they make the 32" 7K and leave their well documented 218ppi monitor standard?

The rumors do not give a specific size, but they do say it will have an A-series SoC like the Studio Display. And there are claims that LG has been developing a new 32" and 27" MiniLED display for Apple, both with A-series SoCs.

The MacBook Pro 14" and 16" displays are now ~254dpi and a 32" 7K display would also evidently be ~254dpi.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Clever design. Should it come to market, those who need it will purchase it.

Those who don't need it will still complain anyway. For some bizarre reason.

It reminds me of men who say dating a beautiful woman is a headache to justify what they actually date.

 

[SadBoy Pro]

In fairness to Apple here. I have struggled over the years to find a dual or even triple monitor arm that covers all the bases: Alignment, sturdiness, placement.

This patent actually seems to address all the issues faced when working with multiple screens. Albeit potentially over engineered and possibly overpriced in a uniquely Apple way.

It could actually end up being one Apples’ best products. Like when they re-released the MacPro. The level of engineering was ridiculous but it is a dream chassis for creatives and PC enthusiasts. I genuinely wish my PC case had the system the MacPro has. For these reason I’ll hold some faith over this.

 

[Smartass]

Imagine the price

Probably still cheaper than a full tank of gas these days 🤩

 

[Lihp8270]

For starters...The end barrels that a user would twist to bring displays close together - or apart. The joint in the center to easily adjust the angle between displays while not disturbing the height. The damper mechanisms inside the stands to allow fluid and easy height adjustment.

Very clever design.

Or maybe you've seen the above in other dual display stands?

Your post was doing so well until the unnecessary and bizarre sarcasm.

I’ve actually read the full patent now, and still don’t see any new technologies. The mechanisms being used are in plenty of engineering design guides.

Which would suggest that they’ve got it based on a new application of existing technology where the solution/application is non-obvious.

If that is the case, then I agree. The most complex monitor stand ever is certainly not obvious 😂

 

[Lihp8270]

What matters is if the board sees it as patent worthy. So many patents are turned down after being issued, and yet some dubious patents last for decades. Hmm...

In the end it's about insuring future profitability, right?

EDIT: They use a long threaded rod and a 'shuttle' mechanism to adjust the distance between screens. Seems innovative to me. Don't think it'll be supremely stable, but who knows. I smell huge list price.

After spending some time to read it properly.

I believe they’ve been granted it on a non-obvious application of existing technologies to a new product.

Which is hard to disagree with, based on how complex they managed to make a stand. 😂

However, I do think this is likely filed mainly to protect against the inevitable knock offs that are bound to enter the market.

 

[siddavis]

Apple patents the $5000 bill

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

After spending some time to read it properly.

I believe they’ve been granted it on a non-obvious application of existing technologies to a new product.

Which is hard to disagree with, based on how complex they managed to make a stand. 😂

However, I do think this is likely filed mainly to protect against the inevitable knock offs that are bound to enter the market.

Like I said upstream, patents are protection for profit as well as of innovation. Yes, to my knowledge that is an interesting way to pull off a large monitor stand. A threaded rod to adjust lateral position? Interesting. I'm sure they have figured out how to keep it from moving up/down. I made the comment about Gibraltar because it looks somewhat like a frame that musicians would use to mount a drum kit to. Who wouldn't want something beefy, chrome, strong, stable. Gibraltar could be missing a market here...

 

[svish]

Might come out some time down the road. But definitely the price will be very high considering the current ‘Pro’ stand retails for $999.

 

[edanuff]

I hate playing the Apple pricing game in the forums because we all want this stuff to cost less. I think the folks who say that Apple pricing logic suggests $1699 to $1999 are correct. Apple basically doubles what top of the line monitor mounts from Ergotron or Humanscale cost and that would get you into that range. This patent is very different in terms of the level of stability it appears to afford. It should be possible to use it on an adjustable standing desk, for example, which is something you wouldn't want to with most monitor arms since they'd go out of position every time you raised or lowered the desk. Definitely not for everyone.