iPadOS 16 Reference Mode with MacOS Sidecar - Awesome!

[iAdamator]

One of the features for iPadOS/MacOS this year that I was most excited about was the rather under the radar ability to use an iPad that has an XDR display in "reference mode." In particular, how it can be used while in Sidecar Mode with a Mac and display HDR video.

Earlier this year I got my first ever Mac, a 16 inch MBP with M1 Max. I got it primarily for personal video editing, a hobby I very much enjoy. (I wanted to finally try Final Cut Pro.) I really love the screen on it, so much so that I upgraded my 2020 iPad pro to the 2021 one almost solely for the screen.

Since Ventura is officially almost out, I finally downloaded it so I could use Sidecar and the iPad Reference Mode together and it's as great as I had hoped. I can now have essentially a 2 Monitor XDR setup wherever I go. Both the Mac and the iPad screens are pretty identical in quality so it's really nice that they match. In using sidecar with the reference mode turned on on the iPad, I had assumed it might only be in HDR when using specific apps like FCP, but I was surprised to find out that while in SideCar reference mode, even the general Mac Desktop benefits from it. I did some simple tests watching some HDR clips on the desktop and even on the iPad screen, they are clearly HDR.

My only quibble is having to go into my iPad settings to actually turn ON Reference Mode before I start a Sidecar session. It's too bad they don't just make Sidecar now be HDR by default.

I just wanted to share how much I am enjoying this feature. Has anyone else given it a try?

 

[Kierkegaarden]

One of the features for iPadOS/MacOS this year that I was most excited about was the rather under the radar ability to use an iPad that has an XDR display in "reference mode." In particular, how it can be used while in Sidecar Mode with a Mac and display HDR video.

Earlier this year I got my first ever Mac, a 16 inch MBP with M1 Max. I got it primarily for personal video editing, a hobby I very much enjoy. (I wanted to finally try Final Cut Pro.) I really love the screen on it, so much so that I upgraded my 2020 iPad pro to the 2021 one almost solely for the screen.

Since Ventura is officially almost out, I finally downloaded it so I could use Sidecar and the iPad Reference Mode together and it's as great as I had hoped. I can now have essentially a 2 Monitor XDR setup wherever I go. Both the Mac and the iPad screens are pretty identical in quality so it's really nice that they match. In using sidecar with the reference mode turned on on the iPad, I had assumed it might only be in HDR when using specific apps like FCP, but I was surprised to find out that while in SideCar reference mode, even the general Mac Desktop benefits from it. I did some simple tests watching some HDR clips on the desktop and even on the iPad screen, they are clearly HDR.

My only quibble is having to go into my iPad settings to actually turn ON Reference Mode before I start a Sidecar session. It's too bad they don't just make Sidecar now be HDR by default.

I just wanted to share how much I am enjoying this feature. Has anyone else given it a try?

I haven’t yet, but I’m looking forward to trying this out. Have you tried the display scaling feature?

Regarding turning on reference mode, have you considered putting a shortcut on your Home Screen, or as a button in the Assistive Touch menu?

 

[iAdamator]

I haven’t yet, but I’m looking forward to trying this out. Have you tried the display scaling feature?

Regarding turning on reference mode, have you considered putting a shortcut on your Home Screen, or as a button in the Assistive Touch menu?

I have not tried the scaling. I was wondering about the quality though. If you choose "More space" are you losing any image quality? (I really don't know how that works.) But for how I use my iPad, the default space actually works fine.

I don't believe there is a way to make a shortcut for reference mode. I actually thought of that, but the shortcut command to point to that specific setting doesn't seem to be available. At least not yet.

 

[tlnargi]

I have not tried the scaling. I was wondering about the quality though. If you choose "More space" are you losing any image quality? (I really don't know how that works.) But for how I use my iPad, the default space actually works fine.

I don't believe there is a way to make a shortcut for reference mode. I actually thought of that, but the shortcut command to point to that specific setting doesn't seem to be available. At least not yet.

I wish we could have all the reference modes WITHOUT connecting to a Mac. Then my LR mobile and now upcoming Resolve work would definitely match if I start from the iPad.