Pro Display XDR availability/question

[macman4789]

Hi,

Couple of questions:

1) I’ve noticed that whenever I look for availability in the Apple stores online for the XDR it says order now here within 4 weeks approx. When I check in store stock they all say unavailable. Is this because there is a particular shortage or high demand? I can’t imagine there being a particular high demand that there is a 4 week backlog but it makes me wonder why stores don’t stock at least 1 or 2?

2) On the same topic, there doesn’t seem to be any second hand on eBay or similar where I am and I’ve been checking for quite a while. Again, trying to establish is that because nobody wants to get rid of them or not many people owns them!?

3) I’ve been to Apple Store to look at both in person and watched some reviews but can anyone give me a long term opinion of using this say compared to an Apple Studio display? I know one is bigger and far more expensive but in terms of day to day picture quality, how big is the jump from the 5k to the 6k panel with the 500+ dimming zones.

Many thanks in advance

 

[tstafford]

I owned an XDR and now own several ASD and the Dell 6K. Assuming cash doesn't matter, there is no comparison. The XDR is simply sublime. That said, one needs to really appreciate it justify the cost. For me the multiple ASD and Dell set-up is a better solution. Now that Apple resolved the TB4 issues re: 6K HDR and the Dell, I think it might be the best bang for the buck. But I will admit I miss the XDR from time to time.

Note: I am not a professional. I use this stuff simply for basic office work.

 

[macman4789]

I owned an XDR and now own several ASD and the Dell 6K. Assuming cash doesn't matter, there is no comparison. The XDR is simply sublime. That said, one needs to really appreciate it justify the cost. For me the multiple ASD and Dell set-up is a better solution. Now that Apple resolved the TB4 issues re: 6K HDR and the Dell, I think it might be the best bang for the buck. But I will admit I miss the XDR from time to time.

Note: I am not a professional. I use this stuff simply for basic office work.

Thanks for your reply and information. How do you find the Dell 6K compared to the XDR? I don’t know much about it but I think it doesn’t have the exact same features I.e local dimming etc

 

[JimmyG]

Hi macman4789,

The Pro Display XDR product introduction was, IMO, an announcement to the community of video/stills creatives that Cupertino was planting a flag in the HDR world and their subsequent XDR panel releases for iPad Pro and MBP and iPhone let the world know that there was an armada of HDR displays to follow.

It's "early days" for HDR adoption and the PDXDR is certainly a "horses for courses" purchase decision for most, methinks. Having either a 32"/6K or 42"/8K HDR to work with for my own personal HDR footage and images is high on my wishlist and I'm greatly encouraged by the rumor-mill reports that a AIO 32" XDR iMac is in the works (we'll see).

In the meantime I've been keeping an eye out for a used PDXDR myself to accompany my M1 Max MBP as a hold-me-over until the fabled "iMac XDR" arrives. So, to your questions...

1. Yes, I've noticed the same 4-to-6 week arrival times being posted at retail providers. Clearly the product moves at a constant rate as I've seen it be in stock and then fall out of stock regularly. I suspect a "just in time" assembly process for these units on Apple's part so I don't think the item(s) will suffer from stale retail stock...or come down in price, ever. Speculations on unit sales is an irrelevance for making a purchase decision by my metrics.

2. I'm not an ebay shopper but I do see PDXDR show up on craigslist here in the metro-NYC area sporadically, but purchasing either route finds one with the predicament of risking purchasing someone else's, er, "problem child" and then having to deal with out-of-warranty repairs which (as I've read here on these boards) can be quite expensive and logistically difficult. Also, for this particular item, I would never "green light" a used purchase without getting to see the display in operation and run some basic display uniformity tests prior to forking over any cash, finding one that lived a "pampered life" in someone's studio would be ideal. "Ha!", on finding that unicorn! Also, anyone comfortable carrying that much cash around in public?! LOL

3. If we consider design-time-to-actual-production the "released-12/10/19" PDXDR technology, while still relevant, is now ancient in terms of HDR display tech. For me, holding out for whatever advancements on the MBP-class XDR mini-LED tech (i.e. as found in their current product lineup) would arrive in an upcoming XDR iMac (and, hopefully, an accompanying XDR Studio Display!) makes best sense. If one's metric is merely the gaining of an extra 1K of pixels vs Studio Display I should think that any SDR display offering such resolution would suffice for a daily driver. However, if >1,000-nit, DCI-P3, >4K resolution, HDR capabilities is "mission critical" the offerings, here in 2023, are pretty slim.

Anyhoo, wish I had better news.

 

[tstafford]

Thanks for your reply and information. How do you find the Dell 6K compared to the XDR? I don’t know much about it but I think it doesn’t have the exact same features I.e local dimming etc

I'm no expert at all. My experience is this:
- XDR is amazing. Both the screen and the overall unit are works of art
- ASD is very, very good. Originally I thought price was absurd and tried several 4K options. I finally broke and bought one - now I have three. It just works
- The Dell is different. It lacks the glossiness of the Apple displays which I love however it makes up for it in size. 32" 6K is just nice. The text is equally as sharp as the ASD, And now that Apple fixed the TB4/HDR problems it works almost as seamlessly as the ASD
For me the perfect option would be a 32" ASD even if it had no HDR.

Net/net: If you can pay the price for the XDR it's the no compromise solution. For me, it's hard to pay the XDR price given the age of the product and the lack of promotion.

I wrote a long post in the Dell thread laying out what I like (and didn't) about the display. I'd buy it again for sure. And would chose it over the ASD for me. However I'd chose the ASD for my wife because of its tight integration to the Apple ecosystem and ease of use.