Pro Display XDR

The Pro Display XDR is a 32-inch flat panel computer monitor created by Apple, based on an LG supplied display,^[1] that was released on December 10, 2019. It was announced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 3, 2019 along with the 2019 Mac Pro.^[2][3][4] It is the first Apple-branded display since the Apple Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016.^[5] "XDR" stands for "Extreme Dynamic Range."^[6] Since 2022, it has been one of two displays sold by Apple, alongside the consumer Apple Studio Display.

Pro Display XDR

Pro Display XDR with Pro Stand
Developer	Apple Inc.
Type	Computer monitor
Release date	December 10, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-10)
Predecessor	Apple Thunderbolt Display
Related	Apple Studio Display
Website	Official website

Overview

 

The back of the Pro Display XDR, connected to power and the Mac Pro via Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)

The Pro Display XDR contains a 6016 × 3384 6K color-calibrated panel, and its rear cover contains a similar lattice pattern to the third-generation Mac Pro. To improve its contrast ratio and HDR capabilities, it uses blue-colored LEDs for its backlight instead of white, at a higher refresh rate than the display itself, and contains a system of "custom lenses and reflectors". The aforementioned lattice serves as a heatsink: Apple stated that this design gave the display sufficient thermal management to operate "indefinitely" at 1000 nits of brightness across the entire screen, and up to 1600 nits in an environment cooler than 25 °C (77 °F). The display is available with an optional laser-etched "nano-texture" glass finish to reduce glare.^[2][4][7] The nano-texture version requires a custom "dry polishing cloth" included with the display and sold by Apple to clean it.^[8]

Mounting options are optionally purchasable separately as an accessory, either the "VESA Mount Adapter" or "Pro Stand". Both use a proprietary magnet system to attach the display. The Pro Stand allows for height adjustment and rotation, and includes a lock switch that releases rotation when the display has enough clearance to rotate 90 degrees. The VESA Mount Mount Adapter allows one to use a VESA-mounted stand. Sensors in the display automatically rotate the user interface to portrait mode.^[9][10] Apple partnered with Logitech to create a 4K webcam that attaches to the top of the display magnetically.^[11]

 

VESA Mount Adapter for the display

Compatibility

The Pro Display XDR runs at full resolution in high dynamic range with iPad Pro models with an M-series chip (fifth-generation and newer) and the following Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15.2 or later:^[6][12][13]

• iMac (2019 or newer)
• MacBook Air (2020 or newer)
• Mac Mini (2020 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020 or newer, except May 2020 model with two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021 or newer, all models)
• MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019 or newer, all models)
• Mac Pro (2019 or newer)
• Mac Studio (2022 or newer, all models)^[14]
• Intel-based Macs with Thunderbolt 3 paired with a Blackmagic eGPU or eGPU Pro or a Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck RX 5500 XT or 5700

Macs and iPad Pros with DisplayPort will output to it, including Thunderbolt 2-equipped Macs using an adapter, but are limited to lower resolutions and standard dynamic range.^[15][16][17] Windows and Linux-based systems supporting DisplayPort can output to it but lack configuration abilities like brightness control.^[18]

It provides up to 96 W of host charging for MacBooks.^[6] The rear USB-C ports require a Mac with an internal GPU supporting Display Stream Compression (2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2019 Mac Pro with W5700X, W6600X, W6800X, W6900X or W6800X Duo, 2020 27-inch iMac, and Macs with Apple silicon) to run at 3.0 speed, otherwise they will run at 2.0 speed.^[19]

Reception

Shortly after the announcement, the stand came under criticism and mockery for being sold as a separate product, and at what was perceived to be an excessive cost for its function—retailing at $999.^[20] Gizmodo noted, "the price for Apple’s Pro Stand is so high, the crowd at WWDC 2019 let out an audible gasp when its pricing was announced, and that was in a room filled with reporters, Apple employees, Apple developers, and other assorted Apple followers who really ought to be immune to Apple sticker shock by now."^[21]The Verge jokingly dubbed the Pro Stand "the most expensive dongle ever".^[9]

Technical specifications

Model	Pro Display XDR^[6]
Component	576 LED-backlit LCD
Release date(s)	December 10, 2019
Model number(s)	A1999^[22]
Display	32 inches, TFT IPS active-matrix LCD, glossy glass or nano-texture glass covered screen, 6K (6016 × 3384) resolution, LED 576-zone full array local dimming backlight.
	16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen)
Pixel density (in pixels per inch)	218
Response time	5 ms
Refresh rate	47.95 Hz (48000/1001), 48.00 Hz, 50.00 Hz, 59.94 Hz (60000/1001), 60.00 Hz
Colors	P3 wide color gamut, 10-bit depth for 1.073 billion colors (true 10-bit panel)
Contrast ratio	1,000,000:1
Brightness	1000 nits sustained (full screen), 1600 nits peak
Viewing angle	178° horizontal; 178° vertical
Power input	100-240 V AC @ 50–60 Hz
Material	Aluminium frame and glass front
Cables and peripheral connections	Cables AC power cord Peripheral connections 3× powered USB-C ports for peripheral devices (USB 3.2 Gen 1 for Macs with a GPU supporting Display Stream Compression; otherwise USB 2.0) 1× 96 W powered Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port supporting DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC) and Forward Error Correction (FEC)^[23]
Mounting	Pro Stand VESA Mount Adapter
Dimensions	16.2 in × 28.3 in × 1.1 in (41.2 cm × 71.8 cm × 2.7 cm) (display) 25.7 in (65.3 cm) – 21 in (53.3 cm) (height range in landscape mode) 31.7 in (80.6 cm) (height in portrait mode)
Weight	16.49 lb. (7.48 kg) (without stand) 26 lb. (11.8 kg) (with stand)

See also

• Apple displays
  • Apple Studio Display (1998–2004)
  • Apple Cinema Display (1999–2011)
  • Apple Thunderbolt Display (2011–2016)
  • Apple Studio Display (2022–present)

References

1. "LG Display to Supply Panels for Apple's High-End Monitor 'Pro Display XDR'". Businesskorea (in Korean). 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
2. Lee, Dami (June 3, 2019). "Apple announces $4,999 Pro Display XDR". The Verge. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
3. "Apple unveils powerful, all-new Mac Pro and groundbreaking Pro Display XDR" (Press release). Apple. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
4. "Our first look at the new Mac Pro and Pro XDR 6K display". Engadget. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
5. "Apple releases the $5,000 Pro Display XDR, a 32-inch, 6K display available this fall". TechCrunch. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
6. "Pro Display XDR - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
7. "XDR vs. HDR: Why Apple's new 1,000 nit 6K monitor is such a big deal". Digital Trends. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
8. Peters, Jay (2019-12-10). "Apple's most expensive Pro Display XDR requires a special, Apple-made cloth to clean it". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
9. Gartenberg, Chaim (June 3, 2019). "Apple's $1,000 Pro Display XDR stand is the most expensive dongle ever". The Verge. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
10. Holland, Patrick (June 3, 2019). "Mac Pro's crazy expensive Pro Display XDR doesn't even come with a stand". CNET. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
11. Gartenberg, Chaim (2019-12-10). "Logitech made a bespoke $200 magnetic 4K webcam for Apple's Pro Display XDR". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
12. "Set up and use Apple Pro Display XDR". Apple Support. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
13. Stein, Scott. "iPad Pro: Apple's new M1 tablet shares the Mac's processor, and its price". CNET. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
14. "Mac Studio - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
15. Potuck, Michael (2019-12-13). "Apple Pro Display XDR works with iMac Pro, but with limitations". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
16. Potuck, Michael (2019-12-16). "iPad Pro and 12-inch MacBook compatibility with Apple Pro Display XDR tested in new video review". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
17. 6K Pro Display XDR Tested with Macs, Windows PCs, & more!, retrieved 2020-05-31
18. Patel, Nilay (2020-03-02). "Apple Pro Display XDR review: category of one". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
19. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
20. Woodyatt, Amy (June 5, 2019). "Apple monitor stand that costs more than an iPhone sparks online uproar". CNN. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
21. "How Ridiculous Is Apple's $1,000 Monitor Stand, Really?". Gizmodo. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
22. "Find the serial number of your Apple display". Apple Support. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
23. "Pro Display XDR Technology Overview" (PDF). Apple Inc. Feb 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2021.

External links

• Apple Pro Display XDR – official site