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New MacBook Pros only reach 500 Nits on non-HDR content, measured by Notebookcheck

side by side next to my M1 13 pro for my 14, the peak brightness on standard content is ever so slightly dimmer but on HDR content, I don't doubt that it can hit a 1500 nit peak brightness

When watching the LG Jazz HDR clip below, the reflections of the spotlights off the saxophones are so bright it's as if there was a high powered spotlight shining on the metal in real life

 
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I want a petition for Jony Ive's return! The new Macbooks offer absolutely no benefit over the beautiful 2016 design. Fat, big, ugly machines with tons of outdated ports and still 500 nits brightness. What a disaster!
 
Have you guys seen the new Twitter video? On SDR content (500nits) when you hover a flashlight in front of the camera/sensor. It increases the brightness even more. Which is prob more than 500nits (prob need auto brightness enabled. But idk. My MBP hasn't come yet)
 
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heinzdembowski said:
Oh, but as long as the display thinks "this is HDR" it is?
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HDR is a special mode. The same applies to all TV sets that support HDR and Dolby Vision. They increase their brightness considerably compared to standard SD content. Why is it so difficult to understand? And if you don't like it, just return your Macbook and get on with your life. As simple as that.
 
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Bandaman said:
It's like when your internet provider says "up to 100 Mbps" and you average 20.
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Not the same. In your example, you get lower than advertised values most of the time, and get advertised values only if you’re lucky.

In the case of Apple, you get advertised values whenever you’re viewing content mastered for these values. Every time, consistently.

Complaining over this is like complaining that wide-color is false advertising because you use only black and white content.

On a side note, I don’t think there is a single HDR monitor or tv that goes full brightness in SDR. And not a single manufacturer mentions this. Why? Because SDR is mastered for much lower values. It is lower by design. This is not an issue, this is a matter of: 1. Apple not explaining things well, 2. People having wrong expectations. You’re all within your return windows so the problem is easily rectified.
 
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white7561 said:
Have you guys seen the new Twitter video? On SDR content (500nits) when you hover a flashlight in front of the camera/sensor. It increases the brightness even more. Which is prob more than 500nits (prob need auto brightness enabled. But idk. My MBP hasn't come yet)
Click to expand...

I assumed this would be the case. It may also explain why my iPad Pro M1 is still legible outside, even in SDR.
 
Assumption: Many careers are now hybrid/remote, even post-COVID, and working from the patio is a much more common scenario than in the years past. And this emphasizes the non-media use cases for bright(er) displays.

Marketing shenanigans aside, I think many of us are curious, whether this generation of MBPs is indeed better for working in open air, or if it's pretty much the same. Better contrast ratio and glare management may play a role in this.

So, those of you who have the new Macs in front of you, please report your findings in a cloudy weather / sunlight, in a shadow / open air, whether there's an observable improvement compared to whatever you used before ... or if it's too subtle to make a meaningful difference.
 
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Anything under 7 bars brightness, the screen dims drastically and looks like trash.

Apple cutting cost by not putting more than 10,000 MINI LEDs In these displays.
 
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Sooo…has anyone actually thought to see if a “1000 nit” SDR screen is possible/available in a laptop right now (regardless of the impracticalities of such a display). My very cursory glance uncovered only a few above 500 nits…
 
Looking at MBP 14" next to mye MBA M1 running Safari I cannot see any difference in the display quality or brightness
 
laptech said:
This better not be a prank because others will see your message and try the same thing.
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Just got off the phone with a product specialist. I pointed out a lot of the things that people were saying here on this thread. They issued me a apology for "misleading me" and they will send me 400 candles as a gift to lit them at night..
 
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I made account just to chime in on this thread.

1. I'm not aware of any HDR screen manufacturer who has terms like 'sustained' and 'peak' brightens associated with SDR specifications of the screen.
2. All Apple HDR screens are branded as XDR, having XDR Pro display as flagship while other products are catching up, one by one (iPad Pro, now MacBookPro). So by pure logic and what is stated in all materials, specs of XDR displays are inherited from most expensive model, hopefully.
3. SDR and HDR are terms reserved for video and photo content, media creation and consumption. I never ever heard of HDR emails or word processing or coding before reading this thread.
4. I understand that someone wants to work outside and ramp up screen up to 1000 nits. And that could be possible soon, but you barking at the wrong tree here. In order for that to happen, software companies needs to enable PQ curve in their UI design, rethink interface for high contrast scenario and thats it. But let's blame Apple for actually making that doable with no actual software to support HDR interface.
5. Not sure how smart would be to have HDR interface: shorter screen life, battery life, burn ins...

I'm surprised with these complaints, expectations and with general lack of knowledge about matter discussed.
 
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I can confirm that my 14 inch MBP is clearer and seems brighter/more usable outside in my garden, when compared side by side to my M1 MBP. It's not drastic, and could be due to other factors such as the much better contrast, but the difference is definitely there.

I have no way to measure the nits, but I believe this is the same situation as with iphones, where with auto-brightness the max brightness will go even higher than it normally would inside, when bright light is shined at the ambient light sensor.

That all being said, one of the reasons why I bought the M1 MBP over the air was the higher brightness screen, and I never had any issues using the MBP in my garden. With this 14 inch, it's even better so even less of an issue.
 
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