Which display preset are you using? According to the "Technology Overview", some modes are optimised for latency, while others are optimised for quality, but at the cost of responsiveness. I suspect that the default mode under Windows could be different from the macOS default.
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Studio Display XDR Impressions
- Thread starter gsilver
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Which display preset are you using? According to the "Technology Overview", some modes are optimised for latency, while others are optimised for quality, but at the cost of responsiveness. I suspect that the default mode under Windows could be different from the macOS default.
Last week, I went to the Apple Store to buy a Studio Display or the Pro Display XDR. I spent around half an hour comparing the standard Studio Display and the XDR version. I’ll mostly be using it for software development. Plus web surfing, YouTube and etc.
When I compare the iPad vs. the iPad Pro, the 120 Hz difference is extremely noticeable. But between the XDR and the regular Studio Display, I honestly couldn’t feel that kind of difference while scrolling on the web or in Word.
Watching 8K HDR videos on the XDR is absolutely stunning—it really pops and looks incredible. But beyond that, I’m not sure how much extra value it adds for me. Instead of paying double, I went with the regular Studio Display, even though 60 Hz feels a bit outdated.
Now I still have about a week left to return it, and since I plan to use it for many years, I’m wondering if I should go back and upgrade. But I’m still not sure if it’s really worth it. I’ve also seen some complaints about the XDR online.
Are there any people who use the regular Studio Display and then switch to the XDR and feel that the difference is worth it? I personally prefer glossy screens.
What would you recommend I do?
When I compare the iPad vs. the iPad Pro, the 120 Hz difference is extremely noticeable. But between the XDR and the regular Studio Display, I honestly couldn’t feel that kind of difference while scrolling on the web or in Word.
Watching 8K HDR videos on the XDR is absolutely stunning—it really pops and looks incredible. But beyond that, I’m not sure how much extra value it adds for me. Instead of paying double, I went with the regular Studio Display, even though 60 Hz feels a bit outdated.
Now I still have about a week left to return it, and since I plan to use it for many years, I’m wondering if I should go back and upgrade. But I’m still not sure if it’s really worth it. I’ve also seen some complaints about the XDR online.
Are there any people who use the regular Studio Display and then switch to the XDR and feel that the difference is worth it? I personally prefer glossy screens.
What would you recommend I do?
What kind of miracles were you expecting, exactly? Going from 60 to 120 Hz on a large screen might not seem as dramatic as it does on a small display like an iPhone or iPad. If you pay attention, you’ll definitely notice it, but otherwise the effect will likely work more on a subconscious level with the XDR. I’d keep the XDR. What you have, you have.
But 6K would actually be more important to us than 5K... well, I’ve been working in 5K for over 10 years now. If there’s a 6K with 120/240 Hz, then I’ll definitely switch.
Starwolf01
macrumors newbie
Personally I'm conflicted, HDR content is not that commonly available and mini-led is not that big of a difference in SDR content.
I'm not sure between keeping my Studio Display 2022 and the XDR.
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Personally, I think this is a huge failure for Apple. I went through two XDR's and returned them because of uniformity issues on white backgrounds. The first had a pink tinge in the bottom left side of screen and second one had warm/yellow tinge on the left side. The speakers sounded worse than my 2022 Studio display. Webcam, definitely better. The XDR is way too expensive and should cost half the price. Honestly they should have just upgraded the standard model to the XDR and sold it for $1999 with tilt/height stand included and get rid of the tilt stand completely.
Apple chose to have 2 displays, why? It is stupid and if Steve Jobs was still around we would have real displays fully updated to current technology or even more advanced. The standard display would have HDR!!
I will stick with my 2022 display and the screen is way more uniform than the XDR screen, got lucky in my case.
Dell monitors are leap years ahead of Apple displays and another telling sign was that there was no delayed eta's on the 2026 displays which means not a lot of people purchased the new models.
Apple chose to have 2 displays, why? It is stupid and if Steve Jobs was still around we would have real displays fully updated to current technology or even more advanced. The standard display would have HDR!!
I will stick with my 2022 display and the screen is way more uniform than the XDR screen, got lucky in my case.
Dell monitors are leap years ahead of Apple displays and another telling sign was that there was no delayed eta's on the 2026 displays which means not a lot of people purchased the new models.
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AnInanimateCarbonRod
macrumors regular
For what it's worth, I was talking to an employee at my local Apple Store yesterday about the new displays and they mentioned their surprise at selling through their inventory of XDRs. They've had a couple of restocks this week and within hours they're gone.
At the end of the day I don't think Apple expects either display to be a volume seller. The Studio Display exists as an option the sales people can suggest in store when someone is buying a Mac mini or Studio. Are there better options if people shop around? Sure, but some people will pay for the convenient option. For the XDR, Apple is targeting the professional market, of which they know is a niche and plan accordingly (as well as enthusiasts, like myself).
Also - frankly - no one beats Apple in industrial design. Some people value aesthetics and a lot of options out there are very gamer-oriented with interesting designs and RGB, while others are plastic and cheap looking. I know I'll have my XDR for many years to come and it will always look clean and professional with my MacBook Pro next to it, or a Mac mini, or a Mac Studio...whatever comes in my future.
kostya_sheng
macrumors newbie
The SoC is M5 or M5 Pro? Because they differ tremendously when it comes to external display support.
I'm currently driving a M5 (Non-Pro) MacBook Pro and can only get 5K@60Hz when connected via Thunderbolt and daisy-chained to another 4K@60Hz monitor. But if I only connect the Studio Display XDR, it can run at 120Hz without problem.
M5 Pro MacBook Pro should be able to support 2 displays with 5K@120Hz.
I was just thinking, no point me trying that USB / DP to USB C cable as I need my works laptop to charge from the monitor as well. So I will test out as you did the TB cables in the store or take my own. I haven't got the space for more power adapters, I calculated to make my Mac and works PC work with the Studio Display XDR will cost me around an extra £600 with all the cables etc, because I don't have a Cal Digit which I will need to buy anyway for my next monitor to charge my various things up and Mac replacing its power adapter, if I stick with a laptop that is.
Use this Apple support doc instead, where ever you quoted the above from is not update:
How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support (HK)
The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.
edit: I screwed up, was reading the M5 Pro section instead, assuming it must be placed on top lol. Read it carefully again it seems to say the 2nd XDR won’t run at 120 at all.
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I read that asUse this Apple support doc instead, where ever you quoted the above from is not update:
According to this link, the M5 MBP can do 2 XDR at full 120Hz (Adaptive uses at most the same bandwidth as 120Hz).How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support (HK)
The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.support.apple.com
2x 5k @60
So, 0
Vincent Hanna
macrumors regular
My new ASD I ordered from Amazon on March 9th has had its shipping date pushed back twice. I’m not expected to get it now until April 14th, more than a month after release day.
ascender
macrumors 603
OK, so having spoken with Apple Support, the MacBook M5 should support two XDRs at 60Hz plus the internal display.
Except its not working.
They've raised a case with their engineering team, but for the time being I have a very expensive second monitor sitting here which is just a blank screen as I am working from a different location so no desktop to use.
Except its not working.
They've raised a case with their engineering team, but for the time being I have a very expensive second monitor sitting here which is just a blank screen as I am working from a different location so no desktop to use.
Does it make a difference between:
plugging both daisy chained at the same time
vs
plugging one first, have picture show, then plug in the second one?
Guys did someone try to daisy chain XDR 120 hz + XDR 120 hz into the macbook pro M5 pro ? are there any limitation ?
ascender
macrumors 603
Nope. Been through all of those combinations.
In system info, when daisy-chained, they are both detected on the TB ports, but only one displays. Was on with Apple for nearly an hour this morning doing all of the different combinations, order etc.
Before talking to someone to go through the steps I was chatting with (presumably) 1st line. There's still some confusion over the ASD XDR v Pro Display XDR and also the supported monitor specs for each model - the different combinations of refresh rate and resolution as well as what number of displays are supported over which sort of physical connection.
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If I were in this situation I would at least try installing BetterDisplay to see if it changes anything. With apps like these it is possible to decrease the bandwidth used by one display to spare more for another, assuming that’s what keeping from your setup working correctly.
I only experienced 5k 60hz or 4k 120hz when I was using a DP 1.2 cable. Can you confirm which one you bought?
Zubba
macrumors regular
If you don't see the difference between the two displays side by side... the XDR isn't for you.
I don't understand how anyone can't see the difference since it's massive, but hey I kind of envy those that can't. I guess for purely text work the blooming, contrast, and color uniformity issues of the standard display might not be a huge issue, but if you even just watch standard definition video the difference is.... how can you NOT see it?
A good side by side to highlight the insanity of the idea that they aren't very different images.
Starwolf01
macrumors newbie
I don't think people can't see the difference, but rather that the brighter the overall image, the less difference you will see between the two monitors.
For example, if you look at 5:10 on the video you linked, you will see both monitors look essentially the same.
The person you replied to said they were going to use it for surfing the web, coding and youtube, which are hardly activities that will regularly benefit from improved black levels, which makes them question if the high price of the monitor is really worth it for their workflow, and I suspect they already know the answer.
Zubba
macrumors regular
Well, sure; that's largely the case through the entire industry from cheap $300 IPS panels to $2k OLED... the challenge isn't IQ in bright output, the challenge is uniformity, contrast (blacks), and color rendition.
Even for the tasks listed you'll very much notice a difference in the dsiplays. Any web page that is in dark mode, or black will be obvious between the two. Obviously watching any video with a dark scene will look significantly better on the XDR. Finally, as someone that codes I don't know anyone that works with black text on a white background, because white text on a black/grey background exhibits massively less blooming/halo on the XDR vs. the standard.
gtg465x
macrumors 6502a
While there is a huge difference in blacks specifically, people usually code on gray backgrounds, and there doesn’t appear to be much difference in grays. Look at the dark gray UI at 5:43 in the video… no noticeable difference. Blacks, sure, grays not so much IMO.
Zubba
macrumors regular
There is still a noticeable difference; enough that you instantly see which is better (especially in person) in something like pycharm. The section you're referencing is almost entirely washed out from the overexposed portion of the photo.
We can split hairs over what is "better", or "acceptable", but the fact is you can very clearly see a difference. Is that difference worth the extra money of the XDR over the standard? That's entirely up to the individual... all I'm pointing out is that it's really silly to suggest there isn't much of a difference between the displays when there is so very obviously a significant difference in IQ.