Apple Pro Display XDR 2 Rumors: Everything We Know

[svish]

Not so sure when the next one will come out. It may not be even released with the next Mac Pro. Maybe Apple will just update the chip in it and sell a newer version sometime in the near future.

 

[Dr McKay]

I can imagine pro-motion and thunderbolt 5, but I feel like OLED probably not. I still see complaints from users of expensive oled monitors that suffered burn in from the static elements from productivity software. OLEDs are fantastic for content consumption and gaming but productivity not so much.

 

[Ifti]

They will still sell you a stand for $999. That's for sure!

Without tilt.
Tilting will cost extra.

 

[alexandr]

They can, but that involves cutting themselves off from some potential customers. First off, many people don't consider standard mainstream computer display plastic housings 'sh*tty.' And many wouldn't care to pay another $300-500 or what-have-you to get the same product in an aluminum body when that product sits stationary on a desk, for many people seldom manipulated, and when in use is viewed from the front with only screen, thin bezel and a lower bit of the stand visible.

Now if you're talking about display bodies that crack, split, fall apart, etc...in routine use, I'd agree, but that hasn't been my experience.


But that BenQ presumably sits on a desktop, or hovers above it on a VESA arm, not moved around that much, isn't treated roughly, and it viewed mainly from the front...screen, bezel and part of the stand under and behind it. If 'very meh' serves the purpose, what's the problem?

Do you ever type? Do you want your screen to shake while you're doing it? I don't. Also — color accuracy is s—t.

 

[rb2112]

I've tried the BenQ that everyone raved about as being THE perfect monitor for a MacBook and while it was better than the Samsung I tried it was still very meh when it comes to materials and sturdiness.

I think different people just care about different things. It could be that the non-Apple monitor primarily lacks aesthetics. Some people just don't care about looks, so they (1) save a LOT of money and (2) gain functionality that they use to get work done. This monitor sits on my desk and displays my work with loads of functionality I use daily (KVM, ports, hotkeys, etc.) Great. Sturdiness: It sits there and adjust on its stand without falling over? Materials: Would any other material enclosure hinder my work? Super happy with it. Saved $5,000. No brainer.

 

[alexandr]

I think different people just care about different things. It could be that the non-Apple monitor primarily lacks aesthetics. Some people just don't care about looks, so they (1) save a LOT of money and (2) gain functionality that they use to get work done. This monitor sits on my desk and displays my work with loads of functionality I use daily (KVM, ports, hotkeys, etc.) Great. Sturdiness: It sits there and adjust on its stand without falling over? Materials: Would any other material enclosure hinder my work? Super happy with it. Saved $5,000. No brainer.

Hey, that's me!

To be objective, I did give it a shot, and as I don't like wasting time, it was a very researched decision. But at the end of the day I realized it would annoy me and ultimately make me unhappy

 

[jakey rolling]

Do you ever type? Do you want your screen to shake while you're doing it? I don't. Also — color accuracy is s—t.

I'm currently typing this on a setup with three plastic screens. Exactly zero wobble coming from any of them, and they are on VESA arms.

There are also plenty of screens that offer as good or better colour accuracy as Apple's monitors. Apple doesn't have anywhere near a monopoly on colour reproduction. I have a pair of BenQ's BL-Series monitors from the last decade that offered as good colour accuracy then as the current ASD does now, and I paid less for both of them than a single ASD costs.

 

[alexandr]

I'm currently typing this on a setup with three plastic screens. Exactly zero wobble coming from any of them, and they are on VESA arms.

There are also plenty of screens that offer as good or better colour accuracy as Apple's monitors. Apple doesn't have anywhere near a monopoly on colour reproduction. I have a pair of BenQ's BL-Series monitors from the last decade that offered as good colour accuracy then as the current ASD does now, and I paid less for both of them than a single ASD costs.

Ok, not my experience with BenQ, but your experience is yours to have!

 

[drrich2]

Do you ever type? Do you want your screen to shake while you're doing it? I don't. Also — color accuracy is s—t.

Yes; I type on a wireless Apple compact keyboard in my lap sitting in a recliner, so my display wouldn't shake regardless. I also use a pretty sturdy corner desk, so I doubt it'd be much of a problem with a desktop keyboard.

I can see where a heavier bodied display would be more resistant to shaking.

Color accuracy isn't about build quality, but the ASD does have a good reputation for it 'right out of the box.'

 

[alexandr]

Yes; I type on a wireless Apple compact keyboard in my lap sitting in a recliner, so my display wouldn't shake regardless. I also use a pretty sturdy corner desk, so I doubt it'd be much of a problem with a desktop keyboard.

I can see where a heavier bodied display would be more resistant to shaking.

Color accuracy isn't about build quality, but the ASD does have a good reputation for it 'right out of the box.'

Well, good then))) And I never said color accuracy was about build quality...

 

[gugy]

Because nobody outside of Apple's marketing bubble cares about the case around their monitor.

There is literally nothing that Apple's aluminum enclosure does to contribute to their monitor actually doing anything monitor-wise. It looks pretty. That's it. The only thing Apple's aluminum enclosure actually does is convince people who think they need and are buying the equivalent of a broadcast reference monitor (hint: they don't and they're not) to pay a horrendous amount of money for a logo and a case and then convince them to pay more for a stand or a VESA adapter.

As evidenced by this site. Over and over again. Apple seems to be quite successful.

To be fair, Apple monitors and products have a well-built quality, which means they mostly have a longer life. I still have two ACD 30" that I purchased 21 years ago and are still working great.

 

[jakey rolling]

To be fair, Apple monitors and products have a well-built quality, which means they mostly have a longer life. I still have two ACD 30" that I purchased 21 years ago and are still working great.

That thing retailed for $10k when it first came out, so I should hope it lasts. Don't those connect using the Apple Display Connector which hasn't been seen on a Mac since the G4 Cube was a thing?

In either case, sure, Apple has good build quality. I'm not disputing that. What I am disputing is the idea that everyone else who uses plastic has garbage build quality. That is simply not true. Monitors lasting for 15+ years is actually the norm, not an exception (usually the only thing obsoleting a monitor is newer, faster, better monitors coming on the market, not any failure of the monitor itself).

 

[DennisdeWit]

I waited for the new Pro Display XDR for a long time. I own one for around 1.5 year now and I love it. It was expensive, but one of the best purchases I have ever done.

 

[fathergll]

Anyway, I don't understand one thing: why can't some manufacturer produce a really well build monitor like Apple does. Every single non-Apple monitor is just wobbly plasticky piece of electronics. Some have great display technology but always in a sh*tty enclosure.

Because Apple charges a ton of money for them and if they did maybe they end up with years at a time when they don't make any monitors like Apple did https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-says-its-out-of-the-standalone-display-business.2010326/

Apple isn't in the monitor business like other companies. They make a monitor or two when they want to and don't have to update it for years. And if they want to stop selling them then they do that as well. Currently they produce only two monitors for their ecosystem and branding/appearance is important and people will pay for it. There is a reason they exited the business for years.

They do not sell their monitors with the intention of people running Windows/Linux on them. There isn't much of a market of luxury monitors like that in the PC world. Expensive well built ones are for utility(think of expensive monitors for color grading). Then you got monitors speced for gaming and office use which is usually more budget. There isn't a big market in the PC world for $1600 27" monitors or $5000 for 32" ones.

 

[thefrost]

Without tilt.
Tilting will cost extra.

Another $999.

 

[michaeldoshea]

Drop it and make two sizes of the Studio Display at a more affordable price point.

Apple don't do "cheap and cheerful" budget options Sherwin And for that I am grateful too.

 

[gugy]

That thing retailed for $10k when it first came out, so I should hope it lasts. Don't those connect using the Apple Display Connector which hasn't been seen on a Mac since the G4 Cube was a thing?

In either case, sure, Apple has good build quality. I'm not disputing that. What I am disputing is the idea that everyone else who uses plastic has garbage build quality. That is simply not true. Monitors lasting for 15+ years is actually the norm, not an exception (usually the only thing obsoleting a monitor is newer, faster, better monitors coming on the market, not any failure of the monitor itself).

If I remember correctly I paid $2.5k at the time for it. You can still plug it ti current Mac’s. You just need and adapter from Amazon that is around $20.
My only gripe with plastic parts are the most are wobbly in your desk and ugly. I get your point, not disputing it, I rather pay a bit more for better design and quality. Obviously, I’m not willing to pay XDR prices. Hopefully there is a middle option at some point.

 

[deconstruct60]

Because Apple charges a ton of money for them and if they did maybe they end up with years at a time when they don't make any monitors like Apple did https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-says-its-out-of-the-standalone-display-business.2010326/

Apple isn't in the monitor business like other companies. They make a monitor or two when they want to and don't have to update it for years. And if they want to stop selling them then they do that as well. Currently they produce only two monitors for their ecosystem and branding/appearance is important and people will pay for it.

Apple is more so in the 'display docking station' business than in the monitor one. The one, and only one, input is extremely aligned with that docking station viewpoint. It is partially a 'war' on the number of wires (and buttons).

Apple has incrementally walked their display docking station prices higher. TB monitor $999. There two replacements substantially higher. They are not even trying to cover the same 'end user' scope even within their own ecosystem.

As more monitors came into the more general market with thunderbolt/USB-C power delivery capabilities Apple 'retreated higher'. (and smaller volumes).

[ The two concurrent monitors is primarily just because Apple killed off the large screen iMac. Otherwise likely would still be sticking to a 'just one in a narrow scope' strategy. The carbon neutral for who lifecycle goal isn't going to help iMac long term (and is more burdensome of the large screen which likely is going to drop out out of initial buyer needs over time. ]

There is a reason they exited the business for years.

There were huge long pauses between 30" and replacement. Besides the relatively brief, early era where Apple was moving up in LCD sizes , it is always being about squatting on the products for 4+ year lifecycles.

The 5K panel that Apple was using went somewhat unchallenged for a long time. More affordable panels was the major focus of the monitor business for a long time. Apple hid costs in the herding folks into large screen iMac sales (to create own economies of scales without any need for a separate monitor product. )


The LG Ultrafines really were not as much an exit as a risk shifting to the actual manufacturer. Besides the 'plastic' aspect, Apple's backseat driver' status of the specs is relatively clear. Still a Thunderbolt display docking station with one input. Look at anything else LG did without a 'back seat' driver... didn't have those specs.

Disruptive changes in the monitor panel market somewhat brought Apple back. ( HDR , somewhat regular resolution increases, technology min/micro LEDs , etc. ). Couldn't just pick a 5K panel for 4-6 years and squat on it anymore. Or at least until things settle back into a slower paced rate of change.

If competition for the Studio Display heats up to point it starts to loose substantive volume because the technology is becoming commoditized then pretty likely to see Apple 'quit'/'exit' again by trying to pawn it off to a 3rd party.

 

[neutrino17]

FWIW, I wanted to see one in person and was told at the local Apple Store they had one on display in the Union Square Apple Store (SF). I went there and asked to see it. The young lady said they had it but she couldn’t find it. She asked and said it had just been pulled. Maybe it needed to be replaced? Maybe they are getting ready to introduce a new one? Not much to go on.

 

[deconstruct60]

FWIW, I wanted to see one in person and was told at the local Apple Store they had one on display in the Union Square Apple Store (SF). I went there and asked to see it. The young lady said they had it but she couldn’t find it. She asked and said it had just been pulled. Maybe it needed to be replaced? Maybe they are getting ready to introduce a new one? Not much to go on.

Or Apple will 'self boycott' the XDR with extremely high tariffs. Pretty likely one of Apple's primary interests in the XDR is high margins. If the margins disappear, the interest likely fades also. Pull the store demo units for USA warrantee/fix replacements and just don't pull anymore on shore for a long while.

It is also a reduction in 'cost of complement'. If Mini , MBP , Studio , Pro price goes up then Apple will settle for shifting folks to a mac and 'less expensive' monitor rathr than a more expensive monitor and no Mac. There is no 'services revenue' overlay for the XDR. There is for a Mac. The Studio Display likely will be on much thinner ice also.