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Pro Display XDR on my 16" MacBook Pro

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Nomad110

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 16, 2012
166
49
Hello,

So I was happy to receive one of my two ordered Apple Pro Display XDR screens today. The display is amazing however I have a question regarding scaled resolutions on my MacBook Pro 16" (maxed out spec). I don't have a Mac Pro to test against so hoping the collective intel of the forum will be able to figure this out.

The issue:

When I plug in my 16" MacBook Pro the display defaults to a resolution of 3008 x 1692 HiDPI mode which is an exact pixel doubling of the displays native resolution of 6016 x 3084. To my eye this makes the UI quite large so I was hoping it would have a larger scaled resolution like on my Ultra Fine 5K which has a "more space" option of 3200 x 1600 (larger than the 6K display). Sadly it seems to top out at 3008 x 1692.

Pro Display XDR - System Preference.png
LG Ultra Fine 5K - System Preference.png


system profile.png


So I wonder if this the same on the new Mac Pro driving this display. Anyone know?

Work Around:

So the work around that I got to work is to use SwitchResX. To my eye the best resolution that looks best is 3840 x 2160 at 60hz in HiDPI mode.

Messages Image(3592987911).png


Does the Mac Pro have the same scaled UI resolution? It would be great if Apple gave us a "more space" option on the MBP. Their website makes it sound like the MBP can drive the display without any limitation. Anyone else have some more information to share on this?
 
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joelypolly said:
Do you get more options when you hold down the options key as you press "Scaled"?
Click to expand...

Thank you. Yes I did check that but forgot to mention the results. As you can see, it just lists 3008 x 1692 (the default resolution) and then the full native resolution (6016 x 3384).

option.png
 
I wonder if anyone tried to turn on this display with a Windows PC, and if it could be turned on, what it'll look like...
 
That's really strange if not annoying but suits to all the problems these new products seem to cause.

But Apple is actually not saying that the 6K can be run in default resolution on the MBP16". It only says it's compatible ...
 
Coyote2006 said:
That's really strange if not annoying but suits to all the problems these new products seem to cause.

But Apple is actually not saying that the 6K can be run in default resolution on the MBP16". It only says it's compatible ...
Click to expand...

I do have to say that the SwitchResX solution is working perfectly. Even switching back to the display remembers my preferred resolution of 3840x2160@60hz. So at least it's a good work around. I'm really just looking for confirmation of what resolution the MacPro drives the scaled UI of this display at. Hopefully someone with access to a MacPro and Pro Display XDR chimes in with the answer.
 
I'm encouraged that someone actually received their Display Pro XDR. My order has been stuck in 'processing' mode for 10 days.
 
Thanks for hashing through all this. I’ve been considering this exact set up - maxed out 16 MBP + XDR to replace my current rig (maxed out 2014 5K iMac) and was wondering just what Apple meant by compatible.

Interestingly, in all the write ups they always seem to mention that the iMac Pro can drive it but only up to5K resolution. Weird that that would get specified everywhere yet the limitation you’re encountering does not.
 
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> Weird that that would get specified everywhere yet the limitation you’re encountering does not.

Not convinced this is a really a "limitation" per se as no one has verified what resolutions are available on the Mac Pro when connected to the XDR. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mac Pro lists the same options — 3008 x 1692 is the optimal and advertised resolution for this display.
 
adamwathan said:
> Weird that that would get specified everywhere yet the limitation you’re encountering does not.

Not convinced this is a really a "limitation" per se as no one has verified what resolutions are available on the Mac Pro when connected to the XDR. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mac Pro lists the same options — 3008 x 1692 is the optimal and advertised resolution for this display.
Click to expand...

That's a fair take, and the OP has verified that it can also be set to its native resolution.

Still, I'm surprised their aren't more 'in between' resolutions offered as there are for example on the 5K iMac. It offers two resolutions between native and 'ideal' including 3200 x 1800, similar to what the OP was looking for.
 
So, how is the MBP 16" working together with the 6K? Open and closed? Do the fans run all the time?
 
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adamwathan said:
> Weird that that would get specified everywhere yet the limitation you’re encountering does not.

Not convinced this is a really a "limitation" per se as no one has verified what resolutions are available on the Mac Pro when connected to the XDR. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mac Pro lists the same options — 3008 x 1692 is the optimal and advertised resolution for this display.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this as a possibility. It's just that UI scaling on some of the YouTube videos out there seem to be higher resolution at least to my eye... I know not very scientific.
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Coyote2006 said:
So, how is the MBP 16" working together with the 6K? Open and closed? Do the fans run all the time?
Click to expand...

No. The MBP at least with one display doesn't break a sweat. Totally silent. That is of course until you load it down.
 
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Nomad110 said:
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I would agree with this as a possibility. It's just that UI scaling on some of the YouTube videos out there seem to be higher resolution at least to my eye... I know not very scientific.
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No. The MBP at least with one display doesn't break a sweat. Totally silent. That is of course until you load it down.
Click to expand...

Not sure if you've seen but a user in this thread:

forums.macrumors.com

The Pro Display XDR buyers thread

6016 x 3384 3008 x 1692 2560 x 1440 1920 x 1080 1504 x 846 1280 x 720
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

...listed the resolutions for the Pro + XDR and there's nothing between native and ideal the way there is on the iMac 5K. Kind of weird if you ask me.
 
anthonymoody said:
Not sure if you've seen but a user in this thread:

forums.macrumors.com

The Pro Display XDR buyers thread

6016 x 3384 3008 x 1692 2560 x 1440 1920 x 1080 1504 x 846 1280 x 720
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

...listed the resolutions for the Pro + XDR and there's nothing between native and ideal the way there is on the iMac 5K. Kind of weird if you ask me.
Click to expand...

Ah brilliant!! Thank you! So it's confirmed. The Mac Pro has the same limitation. Apple's got to fix this.
 
^^^
Agree. I'm not familiar with the res switcher program you're using...any limitations or issues with it? i.e. does it not fix this issue?
 
anthonymoody said:
^^^
Agree. I'm not familiar with the res switcher program you're using...any limitations or issues with it? i.e. does it not fix this issue?
Click to expand...

It actually works really well. Check it out here. Worth the small change the developer is asking IMO, but you can do a trial period. So far I haven't seen any limitations or issues. Even the auto portrait rotation mode works and it remembers all of my multiple desk screen arrangements and their respective resolutions. I'd still like to see Apple offer a better "more space" option natively or at least understand why they didn't. Even the local backlight zone dimming that someone alluded to looks just as good at this higher res than native. HDR videos on this thing are stunning.
 
Nomad110 said:
It actually works really well. Check it out here. Worth the small change the developer is asking IMO, but you can do a trial period. So far I haven't seen any limitations or issues. Even the auto portrait rotation mode works and it remembers all of my multiple desk screen arrangements and their respective resolutions. I'd still like to see Apple offer a better "more space" option natively or at least understand why they didn't. Even the local backlight zone dimming that someone alluded to looks just as good at this higher res than native. HDR videos on this thing are stunning.
Click to expand...

Great to hear. I guess I have to set that $10k aside to mimic your set up 😂😂😂.

And yeah that local dimming notion makes zero sense to me.
 
anthonymoody said:
Great to hear. I guess I have to set that $10k aside to mimic your set up 😂😂😂.

And yeah that local dimming notion makes zero sense to me.
Click to expand...

If you spend your work looking at a screen...it's so worth it to me. Also what I really wanted to do was get away from two displays and have one larger one front and center. I had two 5K Ultra Fines which I always felt like I spent my life looking 15 degrees to either side. But without an increase in UI resolution this would have been impossible.
 
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