I am currently using a 32" 4K at its 3840x2160 native resolution (no retina mode). I would love to have a 42" 8K display on my desk after I get a Mac Studio with M3 Ultra (will there be one?). Unfortunately a 42" 8K monitor is even less likely to exist than an M3 Ultra Studio. I probably will settle with a 32" 6K. Question is just Dell or Apple.
Really, someone, make a 42" 8K and get my money!
Issue with 8K is that it would require Thunderbolt 5 I believe -- Thunderbolt 4 doesn't have enough bandwidth.
But I agree with you. Is a 42" 8K the same ppi as a 32" 6K?
I have the Dell 6K. Happened to be in the Apple store over the weekend, and took another look at the XDR. The XDR has incredible build quality, and I like the glossy screen better than the matte screen of the Dell (although the matte screen of the Dell is much better than those of yore). Panel-wise they otherwise seem identical to me (I use it for general office work ... couldn't tell you about color fidelity or whatever; the Dell has less "pop" but that's because it has the matte screen).
I paid $2,250 for the Dell, whereas the Apple is $5K + $1K for the stand. I would pay an Apple premium, but not >2x. If the Apple was $4K with stand -- hell, maybe even $5K with stand -- I would have been much more inclined to buy it.
There is also a Dell 8K, which has a less matte screen -- not super glossy, but near glossy; almost perfect to my eyes (I had an old Dell 5K with the same screen coating), but it is 32" as well. For Macs you need an M2 Pro or Max I believe, and it takes up two Thunderbolt ports.