Pro Display XDR

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]

The Pro Display XDR runs at full resolution in high dynamic range with iPad Air (fifth-generation and newer) and iPad Pro (fifth-generation and newer) models with an M series chip 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 Radeon RX 5500 XT or 5700

Macs and iPads 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]

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]

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