Still Worth Buying Pro XDR in 2024?

[seasurfer]

Is it still worth buying the Pro XDR display? or Wait for Apple to release and updated one?

 

[Aggedor]

Apple rarely update their displays. The Thunderbolt display was on sale for five years, the Cinema display before that was on sale for 12 years. The XDR is currently almost exactly 3 years old.

If you need one, get one. But you may be happy with a third-party 5K display instead, which could be cheaper.

 

[tstafford]

I recently bought the Dell 6K and would have preferred (obviously) the XDR. Couldn't get myself to send the extra $3500 it would have been (including the stand). It's just so hard to drop that kind of money on what feels like old tech. I had one for a while and miss it regularly. It's sublime. FWIW - I like the Dell and my ASDs. They just aren't the XDR!

If you need what the XDR does, I'd say buy it. I don't think Apple is updating it any time soon.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

I have 2 studio displays and thinking of getting the Pro XDR to be in the center. I currently have M1 Max 64gb ram with Caldigit TS4 dock. Is there anyway to run 3 monitors with M1 Max or is the M3 Max the only laptop that can handle three displays. WIll plugging in T4 cables from Studio Displays to M1 Max allow me to run 3 displays?

 

[tstafford]

I have 2 studio displays and thinking of getting the Pro XDR to be in the center. I currently have M1 Max 64gb ram with Caldigit TS4 dock. Is there anyway to run 3 monitors with M1 Max or is the M3 Max the only laptop that can handle three displays. WIll plugging in T4 cables from Studio Displays to M1 Max allow me to run 3 displays?

I believe an M1M chip in the MBP can drive three 6K displays - so you can run 2 ASD and 1 XDR. Not sure how the Caldigit will deal with it however. Might need to have them plugged directly to the laptop.

FWIW - I am running 2 ASD and 1 Dell 6K off my M1M Studio.

 

[pi6xjdskfa]

I got the M3 Pro Max 40 core and connected to Caldigit T4 dock. For some reason only 2 apple displays and laptop screen work. I have older NEC PA271 27" 2560pixel wide monitor attached but it will only come on if one apple studio display is unplugged. I have the NEC connected via Displayport.

 

[theorist9]

I got the M3 Pro Max 40 core and connected to Caldigit T4 dock. For some reason only 2 apple displays and laptop screen work. I have older NEC PA271 27" 2560pixel wide monitor attached but it will only come on if one apple studio display is unplugged. I have the NEC connected via Displayport.

Are you trying to plug all three displays into the TS4? Because it only supports two.

You should have no problem driving all three by connecting two directly to the MBP and one to the TS4, or visa versa.

 

[JimmyG]

Is it still worth buying the Pro XDR display? or Wait for Apple to release and updated one?

What are your needs for a monitor? Pro Display XDR is designed for those needing to do color-critical HDR work. From my seat, this circa-2019 device is now long-in-the-tooth and in dire need of updating, that it hasn't come down in price over the intervening years is not a trophy that Apple can place on its mantle, IMHO. At some point (this coming year, hopefully) the market will see ≥4K HDR color-critical displays, I'm, personally, waiting on the competition for my HDR needs. YMMV.

 

[avro707]

Apple rarely update their displays. The Thunderbolt display was on sale for five years, the Cinema display before that was on sale for 12 years. The XDR is currently almost exactly 3 years old.

If you need one, get one. But you may be happy with a third-party 5K display instead, which could be cheaper.

I was in this position and ended up getting the Apple Studio display to go with an LG 5K. I would have preferred XDR but the price is too excessive.

I use 7,1 so no dramas connecting many displays.

 

[robgendreau]

What are your needs for a monitor? Pro Display XDR is designed for those needing to do color-critical HDR work. From my seat, this circa-2019 device is now long-in-the-tooth and in dire need of updating, that it hasn't come down in price over the intervening years is not a trophy that Apple can place on its mantle, IMHO. At some point (this coming year, hopefully) the market will see ≥4K HDR color-critical displays, I'm, personally, waiting on the competition for my HDR needs. YMMV.

Heh. I wish.

I thought that since Adobe did a big update so that still photographers could do HDR and make use of the better displays that there would be more movement toward less expensive DisplayHDR certified monitors. But not much. There's the Asus at what? $3500+ with stand, but it's not for macOS. The reports about Dells UP3221Q, now down to $3600 with stand, aren't so hot either. So I don't think there's any good competition. Sadly.

Not sure what updates you're looking for. I'd like one for HDR, but for now the MBP works fine for that. I'd love for Apple to just pop a 16" XDR panel into a stand and sell that for say the prince of a Studio Display. Be great with my laptop...although maybe an XDR iPad Pro in Sidecar might work....