Studio Display XDR Impressions

[jr5x]

@jr5x "I'm using the SD XDR with my MacBook M1 Pro."

There never was a MacBook (12" 2015-19) with an M1 Pro SoC.

So, assuming you have a MacBook Pro M1...
"...when I plug the hub's USB cable into one of the USB ports on the back of my XDR, my MacBook can't see the peripherals."

Apple's Tech Specs for M1 MBPs say:

"Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports with support for:
DisplayPort
Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s)"

EDIT:
I think maybe with the earlier Apple Silicon Macs, the ASD or ASD XDR will run using two channels of TB 3 data, each uncompressed stream covering half the screen, left or right.

When in this mode I don't think there is enough bandwidth for any USB 3.x data to pass down the cable.

If the video data IS being sent compressed, using DSC, another factor may be that at start-up the Mac is pre-allocating enough bandwidth allow 5K120 settings for the ASD XDR, (even though it can't be run from an M1 at more that 60Hz), so that a TB3 stream hasn't got enough to also send USB 3.x...

They do say M1 Macs are compatible (at 60Hz for the XDR), so it's all a guess, but it fits the circumstances you describe. 😵‍💫

Your keyboard, being USB 2, will work fine, because the USB 2 signals have their own separate wires in a USB-C or TB3/4/5 cable, so will always work.

As an afterthought, if your USB Hub self powered? Because if it's trying to take too much power from the ASD port, then that would be problematic...

You are correct. My System Information says my Model Name is MacBook Pro with Chip Apple M1 Pro.

Thank you very much for the information and your thoughts. I'm hoping you're not correct about my MBP pre-allocating so much bandwidth that there's not enough left for my USB 3 devices on the TB cable. 🙂 But that seems like it might be the issue.

My USB hub has its own power from a wall wart power supply. I believe you suggested the opposite, but I will try unplugging the hub's own power supply and let the ASD's USB port supply any needed power to see if that fixes the problem. The three devices I have connected via this hub all have their own PSUs, so they don't need the hub's power. I plugged it in because the cable run from the hub to the computer is about 15' so I figured it couldn't hurt.

TY again for that detailed response.

 

[ascender]

Has anyone had issues with the different camera options (centre stage, portrait etc) not appearing?

Was working fine with the M5 MacBook Pro but the only one there now is "edge light" with the M4 Max.

 

[iamFredT]

Hi,

Anyone with a 5080 who's able to get 5k@120hz? I have tried with a cable that theoretically should support it but I can get at most:
- 5k@60hz;
- 4k@120hz with VRR.
I'm using this cable (https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005010522228844.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2ita).

 

[mightysashiman]

Has anybody had any chance passing hdmi content (switch 1 output through the official doc or an unofficial active dongle) to the Studio Display (XDR) screen? Presumably through some kind of active HDMI to DisplayPort converter?

 

[couscousboulette]

Yep, there on switch 2

 

[Cobalt`]

Has anybody had any chance passing hdmi content (switch 1 output through the official doc or an unofficial active dongle) to the Studio Display (XDR) screen? Presumably through some kind of active HDMI to DisplayPort converter?

I'm assuming this will still work:

 

[aMunster]

More news about daisy chaining. This person has three Studio Display XDRs. Daisy chaining three displays works with the M1 Max (at 60hz) but not the M4 Max. That seems like a negotiation / display generator issue that ought to be fixed. Hopefully this fixes the 1080p resolution on my Surface Laptop 6 as well - it drove the 2026 Studio Display non-XDR at 5k 60hz just fine.

 

[PaulD-UK]

@aMunster
All M4** Macs, like earlier generations, only have two channels of DP video connected to each TB 5 controller chip.
So the maximum number of displays you can drive is two per TB 4/5 port, up to the overall limits Apple specify.

With M5 Pro/Max Macs there are now four channels of DP connected to each TB 5 controller, so in theory (subject to TB 5 bandwidth limits) four lower resolution monitors can be connected to each port, subject to Apple's overall limits.

@joevt discussed it:

The *COMPLETE* list of 27" 5K Displays?

Yes, it does look like each Thunderbolt 5 port can support 4 displays. That doesn't mean you can connect 12 displays. Here's the relevant parts: | | +-o acio0@A1F00000 | | | +-o AppleThunderboltHALType7 | | | | +-o AppleThunderboltNHIType7 | | | | +-o...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[aMunster]

@aMunster
All M4** Macs, like earlier generations, only have two channels of DP video connected to each TB 5 controller chip.
So the maximum number of displays you can drive is two per TB 4/5 port, up to the overall limits Apple specify.

With M5 Pro/Max Macs there are now four channels of DP connected to each TB 5 controller, so in theory (subject to TB 5 bandwidth limits) four lower resolution monitors can be connected to each port, subject to Apple's overall limits.

@joevt discussed it:

The *COMPLETE* list of 27" 5K Displays?

Yes, it does look like each Thunderbolt 5 port can support 4 displays. That doesn't mean you can connect 12 displays. Here's the relevant parts: | | +-o acio0@A1F00000 | | | +-o AppleThunderboltHALType7 | | | | +-o AppleThunderboltNHIType7 | | | | +-o...

forums.macrumors.com

I am reading your reply precisely as M4 but not M4 Pro / M4 Max.

This link says both M1 Max and M4 Max should drive 3 external displays at up to 6k 60hz.

I am a little surprised that OP in this thread was able to drive 3 XDRs via Thunderbolt on M1 Max, as my first link says the limit is two (plus a third via HDMI).

 

[AbeLincoln1984]

I am reading your reply precisely as M4 but not M4 Pro / M4 Max.

This link says both M1 Max and M4 Max should drive 3 external displays at up to 6k 60hz.

I am a little surprised that OP in this thread was able to drive 3 XDRs via Thunderbolt on M1 Max, as my first link says the limit is two (plus a third via HDMI).

Of course you can't daisy chain more than one display at 5K@120Hz for video.

Not to insult anyone's intelligence. I guess trying to daisy chain more than one display hasn't come up here yet, but of course... That's a fat video signal!

Damn people. I'd honestly like to meet the guy that bought 3 of these and tried to plug them all into one port... The magic port, the port for the end of time... I'm sure he'll be fine. Obviously a successful person, buy three of the new apple monitors, of course we'll plug them in and they'll all work later, right? It's apple, it just works.

Whoops.

 

[Chancha]

More news about daisy chaining. This person has three Studio Display XDRs. Daisy chaining three displays works with the M1 Max (at 60hz) but not the M4 Max. That seems like a negotiation / display generator issue that ought to be fixed. Hopefully this fixes the 1080p resolution on my Surface Laptop 6 as well - it drove the 2026 Studio Display non-XDR at 5k 60hz just fine.

How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support

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

According to this Apple doc, all previous Apple Silicon MBPs can only daisy chain up to 2 displays.
Only on the M5 Pro the limit is 3, and the M5 Max is 4.

In your above linked thread on Apple discussion forum, there is a confusion that seems to be mixing up daisy chain with just direct plugging. The bit talking about M1 Max is direct connection, not chained.

Then if we disregard daisy chaining, only talk on the topic of direct connection where M4 Max has trouble showing the 3rd Studio Display XDR, we are speculating that the first 2 connected already occupied all available 4 DP streams, even after you manually push the refresh rate down to 60Hz it wouldn’t “give back” the available bandwidth. The fact that the M1 Max has no issue doing the same, is because the chip falls in the list of Macs that can only do 5k60, so the dual stream mode is never engaged between the XDR and the Mac, the Mac sees it as a 5k60 from the beginning.

 

[Delarock]

Guys what is limit for daisy chaining? My M5 pro handle dual XDR via daisy chaning no issues. Is it possible to have with M5 max 3 XDR with DSC via one TB 5 cable ?

 

[AbeLincoln1984]

Guys what is limit for daisy chaining? My M5 pro handle dual XDR via daisy chaning no issues. Is it possible to have with M5 max 3 XDR with DSC via one TB 5 cable ?

Good news: the m5 max can handle all 3 XDR displays at 5K120Hz, the apple support site answers that.

How to plug it in, however, they do not answer.

If you're on a macbook it'll matter so your question is, can you daisy chain your 3 XDR 120Hz displays off of one tb5 port on the macbook, or do you have give up one of those precious ports?

Apple's own website doesn't have any information about how best to get chained up.

If I were you, I'd try it and see what happens, but don't be surprised if you don't get 120 Hz on the second display or third displays.

I think you'll have to do two displays from one tb5 port, the other from a second one. I don't see all that video going through one cable.

Although it seems you could daisy chain them all at 60 Hz, that'd be a crying shame for leaving performance on the table.

 

[tenthousandthings]

~

I think you'll have to do two displays from one tb5 port, the other from a second one. I don't see all that video going through one cable.

I think this is correct. The XDR tech specs only say two of them can be daisy chained, meaning two XDR at full specs:

 

[eilavid]

horizontal × vertical × refresh rate × bit depth × RGB
5120 × 2880 × 120 × 10 × 3 = 53.08 Gbit/s

I don't think it is possible to daisy-chain a third one on a 120 Gbit/s TB5 connection.

 

[Geekett]

I'll chime in on this. Nano-texture is the most amazing invention since sliced bread. If the device I am buying has that option I am buying every single time. It feels like I am writing on textured paper and I am so incredibly happy with the result.

- Text sharpness is incredible compared to any display. Yes it is not as razor sharp as standard glass but I am writing this currently on the new MacBook Neo and although also an amazing and fun machine the glare in my house is so incredibly distracting. I will take reduced glare any day of the week over the 0.1% less text sharpness.

- The white backgrounds have improved significantly since the original Pro Display XDR to the point where I barely notice the grain as I'm going about my day. With the original Pro Display XDR it felt as though there was this prismatic grain where the texture was really obvious and there were hues of red, green, and blue on white surfaces. This is almost non-existent on the latest models.

- The contrast is fantastic and exceeds standard glass in many situations particularly during the day which I spend most of the time on my computer. At night, there is the slightest graying of blacks but again even with minimal light sources on standard glass I see full on reflections on light which annoys me to no end.

Lastly, it's gotten significantly easier to clean since the original Pro Display XDR and I don't fear getting water or smudges on it any longer which is the only real initial drawback when it was initially released.

I know everyone tries to be differential but I am unequivocal on this question. If you can afford nano-texture glass and your work area has even minimal amount of uncontrollable lightning you should DEFINITELY get nano-texture there is nothing like it on the market and it's worth it's weight in gold.

I know that this thread is about the Studio Display XDR but I went to the Apple Store Opera (Paris, France) this week and none was exposed (Apple employee told that she sold only one and none asked to see it, which I found a bit dull).

I lean to buy an Apple Studio Display standard with nano texture option. I care only about text, web pages and eye strain, I don’t need the fancy HDR and nits party. I’m still hesitating because, in the Store, the text on the nano texture Studio Display (standard) seemed less pleasant to see, not fuzzy at all though. On the other hand, maybe it’s just a question of getting used to, since I’ve been working on glossy iMacs screens for ages. That’s why I’m not convinced by the posts saying they dislike nano texture after having comparing it in the Apple Store. The experience, too short, seems biased.

I wonder if nano texture is better on Studio XDR ? Or is the Apple Studio Standard 2026 with nano texture the best choice in my case (reduce reflections and eye strain while working on texts and web pages) ? Thank you

 

[tenthousandthings]

I wonder if nano texture is better on Studio XDR ? Or is the Apple Studio Standard 2026 with nano texture the best choice in my case (reduce reflections and eye strain while working on texts and web pages) ? Thank you

We don’t know who makes the panel and backlight assembly for the XDR, but I think it’s safe to assume Apple specifies the same outer glass and bonding method for the nano texture part in both the 2026 Studio Display and Studio Display XDR, regardless of who is manufacturing them.

The real question is, to my mind, is have they improved it in 2026, versus 2022?

 

[btrach144]

horizontal × vertical × refresh rate × bit depth × RGB
5120 × 2880 × 120 × 10 × 3 = 53.08 Gbit/s

I don't think it's possible to daisy-chain a third one on as 120 Gbit/s TB 5 connection.

Apple had a setup for media day with two XDR and one Studio Display. Not sure if any were daisy chained though.

 

[AnInanimateCarbonRod]

Apple had a setup for media day with two XDR and one Studio Display. Not sure if any were daisy chained though.

I recall it being one XDR and two Studio Displays, all daisy chained through one TB5 cable.

 

[the-doctor]

Found a workaround for getting dual XDRs running (at 60Hz) on my M4 <null> MBP (company provided so no option to update.

I bought a 4k HDMI dummy plug on Amazon and use it to keep one of the display engines occupied while I plug in my TS5 that has both my XDRs downstream. Then after one of the two XDRs wakes up, and takes the other display engine, I can remove the 4k dummy plug which lets the second XDR come up. Luckily MacOS seems to prioritize letting the second XDR light up over renegotiating the first one up the 120Hz 🙂

Really annoying, wish there was some way in software to prevent this hardware song a dance. The base M4, and presumably M5, clearly can support dual XDRs at 60Hz if the display engines allocation weren’t so greedy.

 

[iamFredT]

I placed a Caldigit thunderbolt 4 dock in-between the Mac Studio and the Cable Matters Switch and used one of these (https://a.co/d/0bt9PnEq) cables between the thunderbolt 4 dock and the usb-c switch and now everything works as expected. Kinda complicated though. I'm sure there is an easier way to do this.

So the Mac Studio to thunderbolt dock and DisplayPort/USB-C cable works plugged directly into the Studio Display, but the second I put that into the USB-C Switch it drops the data (no camera or audio). Odd that it works fine on the PC side.

UPDATE: It's actually working now. All I did was unplug everything and plug it back in.

Hi, sorry to bother you do you confirm that that cable matters switch can run 5K@120hz with 20gbps bandwidth? I'm really interested but I have to import it.
I'm just making sure it would run well with my Macbook and eventually my Windows PC (5080 but no TB/USB 4 port)

 

[Tymscar]

Just got my studio display. I love it, but I wanted to give it a go with my 4080 gaming rig.

I bought a bidirectional usb-c to dp1.4 cable off of amazon, and it instantly connected however, I can't get anywhere higher than 640x480@60hz. Resolution dropdown is greyed out and if I go to the nvidia preferences, there's no resolutions there either.

I have tried to use CRU to force 1920x1080 for example, but nothing outside of 640x480 works. I have even applied that EDID thats floating on reddit from a previous ASD.

Is my cable a dud? I have bought a different one, and will test with that tomorrow. None of the cables people talk about are available in the UK from what I gather.

 

[aMunster]

How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support

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

According to this Apple doc, all previous Apple Silicon MBPs can only daisy chain up to 2 displays.
Only on the M5 Pro the limit is 3, and the M5 Max is 4.

In your above linked thread on Apple discussion forum, there is a confusion that seems to be mixing up daisy chain with just direct plugging. The bit talking about M1 Max is direct connection, not chained.

Then if we disregard daisy chaining, only talk on the topic of direct connection where M4 Max has trouble showing the 3rd Studio Display XDR, we are speculating that the first 2 connected already occupied all available 4 DP streams, even after you manually push the refresh rate down to 60Hz it wouldn’t “give back” the available bandwidth. The fact that the M1 Max has no issue doing the same, is because the chip falls in the list of Macs that can only do 5k60, so the dual stream mode is never engaged between the XDR and the Mac, the Mac sees it as a 5k60 from the beginning.

Good comment. In some threads people have tried both daisy chain and direct connections and had issues with both.

Just got my studio display. I love it, but I wanted to give it a go with my 4080 gaming rig.

I bought a bidirectional usb-c to dp1.4 cable off of amazon, and it instantly connected however, I can't get anywhere higher than 640x480@60hz. Resolution dropdown is greyed out and if I go to the nvidia preferences, there's no resolutions there either.

I have tried to use CRU to force 1920x1080 for example, but nothing outside of 640x480 works. I have even applied that EDID thats floating on reddit from a previous ASD.

Is my cable a dud? I have bought a different one, and will test with that tomorrow. None of the cables people talk about are available in the UK from what I gather.

There are reports that a recent Nvidia driver has this issue. Try rolling back to an older version.

 

[iamFredT]

Just got my studio display. I love it, but I wanted to give it a go with my 4080 gaming rig.

I bought a bidirectional usb-c to dp1.4 cable off of amazon, and it instantly connected however, I can't get anywhere higher than 640x480@60hz. Resolution dropdown is greyed out and if I go to the nvidia preferences, there's no resolutions there either.

I have tried to use CRU to force 1920x1080 for example, but nothing outside of 640x480 works. I have even applied that EDID thats floating on reddit from a previous ASD.

Is my cable a dud? I have bought a different one, and will test with that tomorrow. None of the cables people talk about are available in the UK from what I gather.

Hi,
It's not the cable. You need to install previous drivers. Nvidia's most recent ones cause that issue

 

[thenewepic]

Anyone with a 5080 who's able to get 5k@120hz? I have tried with a cable that theoretically should support it but I can get at most:
- 5k@60hz;
- 4k@120hz with VRR.
I'm using this cable

in the other topic an owner also had 4K@120Hz with a similar cable but, meanwhile, with a plain bidirectional USB-C to DisplayPort 2.1 cable he had full 5K@120Hz.

Guys what is limit for daisy chaining?

Thunderbolt technology allows daisy-chaining up to six devices on a single port/bus.
Or did you mean XDR displays specifically?

horizontal × vertical × refresh rate × bit depth × RGB
5120 × 2880 × 120 × 10 × 3 = 53.08 Gbit/s

it doesn't work that way. Studio XDR connects its internal panel through DP1.4 with DSC even if host device supports TB5/DP2.1.
That means 5K@120 would take either 15 (at 8 bpp) or 23 (at 12 bpp) Gbps. Even 23 Gbps will fit into one DP1.4 stream. As we know, M5 Pro supports 3 display streams on one TB controller and M5 Max supports 4. Since DisplayPort over Thunderbolt operates with negligible performance overhead (because Thunderbolt natively tunnels DisplayPort packets) we can assume that one symmetric (80 Gbps) TB connection could handle three DP1.4 streams i.e. three Studio XDR displays.
But as there is no device that can handle 3 external 5K@120 displays from one TB controller (Macbook Pro M5 Max and Mac Studio M3 Ultra support only two) we cannot check such a capability. For now.