Apple's Pro Display XDR 2: Rumors, Features, and What to Expect

[mrhick01]

32" + 6K + 220PPI + minimum of 120Hz + glossy (!) -> PLEASE!!!!

You would not want to pay the price for such a monitor.

You would need two Thunderbolt 5 ports running in parallel to drive a 6K monitor at 120Hz.

If such a monitor came out today, with the tariff and corporate overcharging weirdness, I'd be surprised to see such a monitor at less than $10,000.

 

[Dark-Signature]

You would not want to pay the price for such a monitor.

You would need two Thunderbolt 5 ports running in parallel to drive a 6K monitor at 120Hz.

If such a monitor came out today, with the tariff and corporate overcharging weirdness, I'd be surprised to see such a monitor at less than $10,000.

What makes you think that you would need 2x Thunderbolt 5 connections for this?

 

[1037]

P527 sounds like a new 5k 27" studio display.

 

[bellnen]

I don't think 120Hz was possible prior to TB5 unless you went through HDMI (and who wants to do that!?).

Nop 120hz 6k 10Bit needs about 21 Gbps with using DSC. And before anyone says it is not mathematically lossless (which is true) Apple has been using it already for the current Pro Display XDR.

 

[Dark-Signature]

Nop 120hz 6k 10Bit needs about 21 Gbps with using DSC. And before anyone says it is not mathematically lossless (which is true) Apple has been using it already for the current Pro Display XDR.

Even without DSC I see no problem at all to transfer 6K with 120Hz in 10Bit over a single Thunderbolt 5 connection. The math confirms this

 

[ifxf]

Why buy a monitor with all these internet features that Apple will stop supporting after 5 years.

 

[picpicmac]

8K 40" or die.

 

[switz]

Got two Studio Displays when I got the M1 Ultra Mac Studio computer. This system replaced a 2013 Trash Can Mac with two 27" Thunderbolt Displays. Actually no problems with either system. Added a third Studio Display for a Mac Mini Pro based system at our summer mountain retreat. This display has the Nano screen glass and was on sale at Amazon.

I get 10% off Apple's list price due to being a veteran. So that ends up being a small percentage under list price due to higher sales taxes now.

I have no regrets for any of my Apple gear. It just works for me.

YMMV

 

[S.B.G]

I get 10% off Apple's list price due to being a veteran.

I wasn’t aware of a veteran discount at Apple. How do you get that applied?

 

[Alex.ne]

I don't think 120Hz was possible prior to TB5 unless you went through HDMI (and who wants to do that!?).

I did learn recently here that TB4 / USB-C DP are capable of the video stream 3:1 compression (it is called DSC), so yes, 120Hz is technically possible on the 5k monitors prior to TB5.

 

[Gusjasso]

Apple's Pro Display XDR has now been on the market for over five years, and while persistent rumors hint at a second-generation model, surprisingly little definitive information has emerged about Apple's plans for its premier external monitor. Here's everything we know so far.

In December 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was developing an updated iteration of the Pro Display XDR, this time incorporating an Apple silicon chip, presumably to enable additional functionality. The Studio Display contains an A13 Bionic chip to power its built-in webcam, spatial audio, and always-on Siri.

Since the original Pro Display XDR lacks any of these smart capabilities, it stands to reason that its successor could gain a built-in camera, microphone array, high-fidelity speakers, and perhaps even support for new software features like Center Stage video framing, Face ID for Mac, or automatic color calibration based on ambient lighting conditions.

Hardware improvements are also expected. A second-generation Pro Display XDR could feature a higher refresh rate, Thunderbolt 5 connectivity for faster data throughput, and even a shift to OLED or hybrid OLED/QD-OLED panels. OLED technology would offer significantly better contrast ratios, deeper blacks, and lower power consumption, making it even better at professional color work.

In July 2023, Gurman reaffirmed that Apple was continuing development on several next-generation external monitors, but cautioned that releases were unlikely before late 2024 at the earliest.

In November 2024, a report from Display Supply Chain Consultants analyst Ross Young said that the next Pro Display XDR may adopt the same quantum-dot display technology now seen in the latest MacBook Pro models. According to Young, these newer quantum-dot films offer an equal or better color gamut and superior motion performance compared to the older KSF phosphor film used in the current Pro Display XDR and previous MacBook Pro models. Young's report suggested that the Pro Display XDR 2 could boast even more precise color accuracy, faster response times, and better consistency.

Earlier this year, Gurman noted that a new Pro Display XDR was currently "less of a priority" for Apple, given its niche market and premium price tag. Nonetheless, he revealed in March that Apple is actively developing a new display codenamed J527, intended to launch alongside a second-generation Studio Display. This mystery monitor could turn out to be the long-awaited Pro Display XDR successor.

Since then, no further leaks about the device have surfaced. While the launch timeline remains uncertain, it is plausible that Apple could unveil the second-generation Pro Display XDR alongside refreshed high-end Macs—particularly a new Mac Pro model. The current Pro Display XDR was released alongside the 2019 Mac Pro.

Article Link: Apple's Pro Display XDR 2: Rumors, Features, and What to Expect

It seems like a step towards an iMac without a chin

 

[drrich2]

Part of me thinks these displays are mainly Apple dogfooding — building them for internal use at Apple Park rather than seriously trying to compete in a highly commoditized market. That would explain the strange blend of features (like with the ASD) and the lack of real effort to compete in the broader marketplace with the Pro Display XDR.

Bold emphasis mine. I think Apple has a consistent pattern of avoiding competition in highly commoditized markets. They either produce something fairly unique (at least in terms of features combined, like the ASD, or new like the iPhone originally was), or tie it to a relatively closed ecosystem (e.g.: iOS, iPods/iTunes in the past), or create a sequestered market (e.g.: Macs with MacOS; after Jobs came back to Apple they killed the emerging Mac close market). Look at their historical sequence of weird mice - one button, hockey puck, 'magic,' etc... Anything but a mainstream 2 button mouse like the rest of the computing world was happy with. And then there's standardizing on 5K resolution at 27" in a world where the rest are happy with 4K. Gotta be different and carve out their own little niche...

Once a market becomes commoditized, they are prone to move on. I recall when you could buy an Apple branded printer and wifi router (the Airport Extreme was good for its time).

As for dog fooding, it may well be they want to depict an Apple computing system with few if any 3rd party brands obvious. It makes the brand look more holistic.

But no, I don't anticipate they're likely to make 'just' a display to compete on price/features in a brand-crowded market segment they can't sequester into some sort of closed ecosystem. Exclusivity is a key Apple 'feature.'

 

[bunce66]

There is a 32 inch 8K monitor from Asus on the way. I think that Apple will probably get something like that for its next generation.

 

[Killa78]

I'd like to wait to see a second generation Studio Display, but I have a monitor right now starting to crap out. So I ordered a Studio Display yesterday.

Congrats. I bought mine about 6 weeks ago. Love it.

 

[svish]

Probably it will launch at next year's WWDC. Not sure what Apple will change. Hopefully there won't be a price hike. Already very expensive.

 

[Basic75]

If you're using a Mac mini or a Mac Studio, they don't have mic's built in. That would be one use-case scenario, right?

Sounds like overkill to build Siri into the display rather than just a microphone.

 

[KLZ]

Today 120hz is not even enough though. With Thunderbolt 5 supporting up to 120gbps for displays, it should also be possible with support for 5K 180hz (70gbps) or 5K 240hz (97 gbps).

edit; but yeah... I know. There's no chance at all that Apple would do that leap. And to be fair. Since it's not made for gaming 120hz could be a "good enough nice to have". Maybe 8K 120hz (102gbps) is closer to the truth...

 

[dwaite]

Part of me thinks these displays are mainly Apple dogfooding — building them for internal use at Apple Park rather than seriously trying to compete in a highly commoditized market. That would explain the strange blend of features (like with the ASD) and the lack of real effort to compete in the broader marketplace with the Pro Display XDR.

The broader market of $5k+ video reference monitors?

XDR isn't a general monitor solution - it isn't meant to be a splurge item, it is meant for specific industries. If one doesn't know the practical reason why it ships without a stand, it likely isn't meant for them at all.

Problem was, there was a three year window where it was the only monitor that Apple sold, and a fair number of Apple users don't like looking at a blurry scaled picture in a cheap plastic frame on a wobbly stand all day. Unfortunately when it comes to third party screens, you generally have to accept two of those three.

Rumors of webcams and speakers aren't really likely unless Apple replaces the XDR with a new monitor targeting a different market, and decides to recycle the name.

 

[dwaite]

Bold emphasis mine. I think Apple has a consistent pattern of avoiding competition in highly commoditized markets. They either produce something fairly unique (at least in terms of features combined, like the ASD, or new like the iPhone originally was), or tie it to a relatively closed ecosystem (e.g.: iOS, iPods/iTunes in the past), or create a sequestered market (e.g.: Macs with MacOS; after Jobs came back to Apple they killed the emerging Mac close market). Look at their historical sequence of weird mice - one button, hockey puck, 'magic,' etc... Anything but a mainstream 2 button mouse like the rest of the computing world was happy with. And then there's standardizing on 5K resolution at 27" in a world where the rest are happy with 4K. Gotta be different and carve out their own little niche...

Once a market becomes commoditized, they are prone to move on. I recall when you could buy an Apple branded printer and wifi router (the Airport Extreme was good for its time).

All IMHO/conjecture, but:

Apple is better than Google in that you can get make a case for smaller products as long as they will be financially successful (see: AirPods Max, all iPhone accessories other than cases and cables, 2019 Mac Pro).

Or perhaps more appropriately, low percentage revenue products. The MagSafe Duo Charger wasn't going to move the needle the way that an AI push into smart home automation or autonomous vehicles might. But it was a product they could release alongside phones to show a part of their vision of MagSafe.

Most products wind up being on a 5 year design refresh, and many of these low volume products will get maybe one refresh (USB-C AirPods Max) before they get a new design or mothballed (AirPort). Monitors were mothballed for a while.

But then someone made a case for a video reference display - it could showcase and help refine other display enhancements that Apple was making, and even though it was low volume, the rest of the market was very expensive ($11k+) and didn't have a lot of design thought into workflow for say on-site film editors and directors.

And then someone made a case that with the M1 iMac, they already had done a lot of the design necessary for a more prosumer screen - and that even though there is zero proprietary technology in making a high quality Mac display, nobody in the market had really tried to do so. The XDR showed that there was still a market for Mac users to buy Apple screens, and that selling such screens strengthened the Mac market beyond what sales numbers show on their own. And perhaps most importantly, they could release it alongside a new line of compact, workstation-class Macs.

 

[RandomTox]

I'm really looking forward to the price hike.

 

[Basic75]

And then there's standardizing on 5K resolution at 27" in a world where the rest are happy with 4K. Gotta be different and carve out their own little niche.

IMHO that's not because they want to be different, it's because they don't want to or they can't implement a true resolution indepentent GUI and settled for the much simpler pixel doubling. And the whole "retina" thing of course.

 

[enc0re]

You don't need any Thunderbolt to support 6K120. Newer USB-C ports (such as on the Mac mini pro) support DisplayPort 2.1, which has 80Gbps of bandwidth (so-called UHBR 20). You can do 6K120 uncompressed at 8-bit, or you can do 10-bit HDR if you use DSC.

Don't get me wrong. I expect Apple to use TB5 because in boosted mode it gets you 120Gbps in one direction and another 40Gbps in the other. So you have uncompressed 6K120 10-bit HDR bandwidth plus enough left over to support some USB-C ports on the monitor.

But again, with DisplayPort 2.1, you can do any resolution/refresh rate that Apple is likely to use over plain old USB-C.

 

[EugW]

you cant afford it =)

Asus' price for that (mius

You don't need any Thunderbolt to support 6K120. Newer USB-C ports (such as on the Mac mini pro) support DisplayPort 2.1, which has 80Gbps of bandwidth (so-called UHBR 20). You can do 6K120 uncompressed at 8-bit, or you can do 10-bit HDR if you use DSC.

Don't get me wrong. I expect Apple to use TB5 because in boosted mode it gets you 120Gbps in one direction and another 40Gbps in the other. So you have uncompressed 6K120 10-bit HDR bandwidth plus enough left over to support some USB-C ports on the monitor.

But again, with DisplayPort 2.1, you can do any resolution/refresh rate that Apple is likely to use over plain old USB-C.

5K 120 Hz can also be supported over DisplayPort 2.1, but Apple's most commonly sold machines are DisplayPort 1.4.

Personally, I'm not expecting 120 Hz. Thunderbolt 5 yes, but 120 Hz no, and those Thunderbolt 5 monitors would be backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4.

 

[CalMin]

The broader market of $5k+ video reference monitors?

XDR isn't a general monitor solution - it isn't meant to be a splurge item, it is meant for specific industries. If one doesn't know the practical reason why it ships without a stand, it likely isn't meant for them at all.

Problem was, there was a three year window where it was the only monitor that Apple sold, and a fair number of Apple users don't like looking at a blurry scaled picture in a cheap plastic frame on a wobbly stand all day. Unfortunately when it comes to third party screens, you generally have to accept two of those three.

Rumors of webcams and speakers aren't really likely unless Apple replaces the XDR with a new monitor targeting a different market, and decides to recycle the name.

All really good points.

Apple muddies the waters here with its inconsistent use of the term Pro. In the case of Pro Display XDR - it really is a Pro tool and not, as you say above, aimed at consumers or even Prosumers. With other devices, e.g. AirPods Pro - it's a marketing term indicating luxury or more features.

 

[citysnaps]

Part of me thinks these displays are mainly Apple dogfooding — building them for internal use at Apple Park rather than seriously trying to compete in a highly commoditized market. That would explain the strange blend of features (like with the ASD) and the lack of real effort to compete in the broader marketplace with the Pro Display XDR.

I don't mean to say that they are not good (I have 2x ASD and love them) but it's a low effort to gain marketshare if that's what they are after.

Apple targets their Pro Display XDR to professional/serious photographers and videographers who are fussy about color. And not to the general computer display market, for which there are many nice choices out there.

The same is *somewhat* true with Apple's Studio Display. Since I set my ASD up a few years ago I've never had to tweak it to get my color prints matching the display.