Pro Display XDR - Owners Thread

[thosmatthews]

Fourth Pro Display XDR unit arrived literally just now. No glue sticking out. Glass mostly on straight (very slightly off at one corner). One dead pixel. Can't really believe that's a 'win' when buying from Apple.

But I'll keep this one. I've been 6 months without a display and I can't have it go on any longer. Does anyone know if there's an email address I can send 'my XDR story' to Apple on? Or should I just email tim@? Fingers crossed for a $25 iTunes voucher.

 

[thosmatthews]

Correction! After a closer inspection, it was in fact a spec of black dust on the top glass that needed a firmer hand and some moisture to remove. It was 'parallax'ing' which made me take a much closer look. So from what I can see I have zero dead pixels. Phew!

 

[rumz]

Correction! After a closer inspection, it was in fact a spec of black dust on the top glass that needed a firmer hand and some moisture to remove. It was 'parallax'ing' which made me take a much closer look. So from what I can see I have zero dead pixels. Phew!

oh that's a relief! Such a ridiculous hassle but I'm glad you held Apple to a higher standard for something so expensive. Sounds like you need AppleCare+ now if you didn't already buy it :S

 

[thosmatthews]

oh that's a relief! Such a ridiculous hassle but I'm glad you held Apple to a higher standard for something so expensive. Sounds like you need AppleCare+ now if you didn't already buy it :S

I couldn't believe it when the little speck chipped off as I wiped it. For such a screen I worked out that with AppleCare+, I'd only have paid for the screen twice after 27 years or something... so definitely worth considering, which I have 59 days to do!

 

[thosmatthews]

(Cue Pro Display XDR 2 dropped on 12th Sept)

 

[rumz]

(Cue Pro Display XDR 2 dropped on 12th Sept)

Right? 😂

 

[Onimusha370]

My extended return period runs out on the 12th - so it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if an XDR2 appears out of nowhere

 

[thosmatthews]

I spoke a little too soon, I have that notorious 'dirty screen effect' on this unit that the XDR is known for. I had it on replacement 2, not at all on replacement 3. I'll just have to live with it but I'm sure to be getting AppleCare+ for it, in case I change my mind in a few months.

 

[Onimusha370]

My extended return period runs out on the 12th - so it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if an XDR2 appears out of nowhere

Haha - and thunderbolt 5 gets announced literally today! Incredible timing. I assume that apple will hold off shipping the XDR update until at least the MBP and Mac Studio have been updated with the new ports, alongside M3 chips. Probably means we're at least 9/12 months away from a refresh, maybe even late 2024 or early 2025 if they wait for the Studio/Mac Pro update.

 

[- rob -]

Probably means we're at least 9/12 months away from a refresh, maybe even late 2024 or early 2025 if they wait for the Studio/Mac Pro update.

I’m a little surprised an update wasn’t announced with the Vision Pro. It is Apple’s best display for building spatial computing software.

As a result, I’d be surprised if an update happened before WWDC next year. Perhaps in tandem with some big shipping feature for Final Cut Pro that helps produce video for use in Vision Pro.

Actually, given spatial video capture is coming “later this year” to iPhone 15 Pro Max, perhaps a related FCP release could accompany it. Also, the capture of 60fps 4K and high speed TX of data via USBC might push forward an event focused on film industry that could include XDR.

These changes might be enough to simultaneously drop an XDR update but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Apple seems pretty preoccupied right now with other stuff and the display is still basically tops in category.

The company can be slow to update hardware that ecosystem cuffs cause high switching costs.

The cool thing for long term users is the value of having invested early continues to hold. Even though it is effectively cheaper now than ever before thanks to unmitigated inflation (in the US).

 

[thosmatthews]

After 4 units I have reluctantly accepted that I won’t get an XDR without issues this year so I’m taking a refund. Apple have seemingly agreed these issues and are asking me to call them for a ‘goodwill gesture’ after all.

It’s a real shame as I don’t think the Studio Display is a good enough advance coming from a 2013 27” iMac.

Hopefully they’ll make a second gen of XDR or a bigger studio display hybrid.

In the meantime, anyone know if a 30” Cinema Display will work with M2 Pro?!

 

[tstafford]

After 4 units I have reluctantly accepted that I won’t get an XDR without issues this year so I’m taking a refund. Apple have seemingly agreed these issues and are asking me to call them for a ‘goodwill gesture’ after all.

It’s a real shame as I don’t think the Studio Display is a good enough advance coming from a 2013 27” iMac.

Hopefully they’ll make a second gen of XDR or a bigger studio display hybrid.

In the meantime, anyone know if a 30” Cinema Display will work with M2 Pro?!

Any chance you'd consider the Dell 6K? I'm enjoying the heck out of mine.

 

[etc]

In the meantime, anyone know if a 30” Cinema Display will work with M2 Pro?!

Yes, it will with a bunch of adapters, like Type-C to Mini Display Port and Apple's Mini Display Port to Dual-Link DVI + Type-C to USB-A (to power up Dual-Link adapter).

 

[thosmatthews]

Any chance you'd consider the Dell 6K? I'm enjoying the heck out of mine.

Thanks for the recommendation I’ll take a look

 

[thosmatthews]

Yes, it will with a bunch of adapters, like Type-C to Mini Display Port and Apple's Mini Display Port to Dual-Link DVI + Type-C to USB-A (to power up Dual-Link adapter).

View attachment 2262447

View attachment 2262448

Ah nice. I’d hoped this XDR would last me 20 years like a lot of 30” CD users… thinking I’ll pick up the original on eBay until Apple update their offer!

 

[tstafford]

Ah nice. I’d hoped this XDR would last me 20 years like a lot of 30” CD users… thinking I’ll pick up the original on eBay until Apple update their offer!

Makes sense. I got frustrated with the eBay prices on the XDR. I wanted a deeper discount on used/old tech. But man I wish I had one. I miss mine. (However the Dell is pretty sweet at $2100 new).

 

[uller6]

Keep your eyes open on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. I picked my XDR up for ~1/2 price a little over a year ago from someone who was moving across the country and didn’t want to carry it!

 

[thosmatthews]

Makes sense. I got frustrated with the eBay prices on the XDR. I wanted a deeper discount on used/old tech. But man I wish I had one. I miss mine. (However the Dell is pretty sweet at $2100 new).

Reading the room of display tech, I’m hoping a lot of what Apple offer with the XDR will become a bit more mainstream soonish and Apple will build on what they’ve done with a second version. I love the enclosure. I love the goal they set themselves. I read some insightful comment here but I forget from whom which said that the XDR is very much 1st gen and it comes with the caveats a 1st gen will have. I know a lot of people are completely over the moon with their XDR and I’m envious, because I think they may have been earlier purchases closer to the initial release, and that my experience comes from that Apple are spending a lot less time (and money) on a now 4 year old product. The Thunderbolt Display lasted only 5 years but gradually built upon a lot that came before. I was holding out for a 5k Thunderbolt Display between 2016 and 2019. Seeing how MacBook Pro displays have leapt since the 2015 MacBook Pro I use at work (about to upgrade that one too, with some extra time borrowed by OpenCore), I just hope they’ll continue to consider standalone displays worth it for the users like myself who want a ‘base’ at home or at work which provides what the cinema displays through to XDRs and Studio displays provide. I’m ready to buy a 20 year stalwart of a display for which I can switch out from a Mac mini or MacBook Pro, but this XDR in 2023 just hasn’t been it and annoyingly I’ve learnt the hard way. I also worry that the Vision Pro is going to suck all the oxygen from non-wearables. Similarly to how the iPad and iPhone probably made standalone 5k displays a lesser worthwhile, and less profitable project in the mid 2010s.

 

[Monomono]

Recently got a Dell 6k to accompany my Pro Display XDR. Hopefully the quality won’t be too different. But was able to get both of them for a great deal.

 

[etc]

Thanks for the recommendation I’ll take a look

Well, this Dell is obviously designed for PC. And I'm not quite sure that it has the same black levels as XDR and it's also matte 🤔

 

[tstafford]

Well, this Dell is obviously designed for PC. And I'm not quite sure that it has the same black levels as XDR and it's also matte 🤔

It's a different thing for sure. Probably more of an alternative to the ASD than the XDR. The XDR is like a Ferrari and the Dell is more like a Lexus.

 

[Regulus67]

In the meantime, anyone know if a 30” Cinema Display will work with M2 Pro?!

It depends on how old the 30" is.
I have one 30" (from Dec 2004) with my Mac Pro 3.1, and it works flawlessly.
BUT, I can not use full resolution on a PC, nor on my Mac Pro 7.1.

I have the Club USB3.2 Gen1 Type-C to Dual Link DVI-D HDCP OFF version.
On my 7.1 it will display 1280x800 just fine, but when I try to use native 2560x1600, it scrambles. Leaving the display on for a few hours does not help. Perhaps a frequency issue, with weird Hz?

 

[etc]

It depends on how old the 30" is.
I have one 30" (from Dec 2004) with my Mac Pro 3.1, and it works flawlessly.
BUT, I can not use full resolution on a PC, nor on my Mac Pro 7.1.

I have the Club USB3.2 Gen1 Type-C to Dual Link DVI-D HDCP OFF version.
On my 7.1 it will display 1280x800 just fine, but when I try to use native 2560x1600, it scrambles. Leaving the display on for a few hours does not help. Perhaps a frequency issue, with weird Hz?

I think this question is out of this thread scope, but I offer you to find an original Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter and use it with another Type-C to mini DisplayPort adapter. I suppose the problem is in yours Club adapter.

 

[Regulus67]

Sorry if I worded my post badly. I just wanted to warn that all those old displays might not work as expected on new hardware. I am not trying to use it, other than with my 3.1

 

[mombil]

And we have another dead XDR display post.

I got mine replaced for 2,5K Euro yesterday. (Post 1 - Post 2)
They claimed to have consulted all the other stores in Germany and said, that they never had another customer with a dead Pro Display XDR so far...
I was given a 10% discount on the first offer...