Apple’s Pro Display XDR: Dusty professional screen, expensive price

The time has come on December 10: Apple’s Pro Display XDR will celebrate a big birthday. The professional screen with LED backlight has been on the market for exactly five years – without any overhauling. This also applies to the price: from the manufacturer you pay The “standard glass” version is still 5,499 euros for the naked display – and 6,499 euros for the matte “nanotexture glass”. Also, because you have to attach the screen somehow, either a VESA mount for 219 euros or, if you want something more elegant, this The stand became a meme online For 1099 euros per stand.

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Already in stores for less than 5000 euros

Of course, these specifications are still worth seeing five years after going on sale. The 32-inch model offers 6K and HDR displays with “extreme dynamic range” and the colors are also very accurate. LEDs lit in the background are built into a “2D system of 576 local dimming zones arranged in a matrix.” Despite the price, what’s unfortunately missing is Apple’s promoted 120Hz playback. Overall, it will be difficult to explain to the budget department of your own company why you should spend up to 7,817 euros in 2024 for a fully equipped display from the manufacturer (with nano-textured glass, Pro Stand and VESA mount that can be replaced Is) ). in business The price is a little better. The price of standard glass starts at less than 5,000 euros and the price of nano-textured glass starts at 5,829 euros. If you’re lucky (or on eBay) you can buy a new Pro Stand cheap for less than 930 euros.

Apple is not currently taking any steps to provide a successor to the Pro Display XDR. There have been recurring rumors in recent years – notably about an upgrade to the ProMotion and its little brother, the Studio Display, with mini-LED technology. However, nothing has happened till date. Apple has also left the Studio Display unchanged on the market since March 2022, because the combination of 5K resolution and 27 inches, well-optimized for the Mac, is still quite rare. It is not at all likely that this device will even celebrate its fifth birthday.

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Apple is stubborn about old hardware

But why is Apple so stubborn about old hardware? This development is not new. For example, a completely outdated Mac Pro with Intel technology remained on the market for years because there were always customers who needed it.

The current Mac Pro and Mac Studio have also now fallen into the realm of scrap metal – both have the company’s last SoC (M2), albeit in a special Ultra edition (on request for the Mac Studio). Currently it looks like Apple will overtake both models with the M4 SoC next year, but no one knows yet if this is actually true or not.

(B.Sc.)