In 2019, Apple launched the Pro Display XDR, setting its price at $4999 without a stand, offering an optional Pro Stand for an additional $999. Despite improvements in display technology over the years, Apple has not made significant updates to this model. While detailed information is sparse, there are a few indicators that suggest potential developments are underway.
Apple Silicon Chip
The Studio Display, released in 2022, featured a notable edge over other displays: it was driven by the A13 Bionic chip, enabling capabilities like Center Stage and spatial audio.
In contrast, the Pro Display XDR, which debuted three years earlier, lacks an Apple Silicon chipset. However, a Bloomberg report from 2022 hints that Apple is planning to integrate such technology in the next iteration:
Apple is developing several new external monitors, including an update to the Pro Display XDR that launched with the Intel Mac Pro in 2019. It’s possible, though, that the next high-end display will release after the Mac Pro, due to the computer being further along in its development.
These new monitors, akin to the Studio Display launched with the Mac Studio, will utilize Apple silicon, reducing reliance on the connected computer’s resources.
If this two-year-old speculation proves to be accurate, we may see an Apple Silicon chip in the Pro Display XDR 2, which could enable features like integrated cameras and speakers that the current model lacks.
Quantum-Dot Display
Display analyst Ross Young has indicated that Apple plans to incorporate quantum-dot films into the next generation of the Pro Display XDR, similar to the features in the new M4 MacBook Pro:
With Apple now using [quantum dot] films in the MacBook Pro, it will be intriguing to see if these films will replace KSF films and phosphors in other Apple products. KSF films are currently utilized in previous MiniLED MacBook Pros and the Mac Pro Display XDR, and we anticipate the next version of the Pro Display will adopt this technology.
It remains uncertain whether this means Apple will switch to mini-LED in the upcoming Pro Display XDR, which at present features a premium IPS panel with local-dimming zones. There also isn’t any established information on the refresh rate, though a 120Hz panel would be desirable, especially since MacBooks have included this feature for over three years, and the Pro Display XDR is priced above $5000.
Other Rumors
In 2023, supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that Apple plans to unveil a 27-inch miniLED display in 2025. While this may not pertain directly to the Pro Display XDR due to its 32-inch size, it is worth mentioning, as Kuo refers to it as a “high-end monitor.” He claims this display will be thinner and feature narrower bezels.
Moreover, reports from DMN suggest that Apple is also developing a display with a 7K resolution, which seems feasible for a future version of the Pro Display XDR.
Release Date
Display analyst Ross Young has conveyed to DMN that he currently anticipates the arrival of the Pro Display XDR 2 in late 2025 or early 2026, though there is as yet no definitive information.
In a recent issue of the Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman noted that the next-generation Pro Display XDR is not a major priority:
This raises the question: What is the status of the Pro Display XDR? The development of a new iteration of a product priced at $5,000 (excluding the stand) is less urgent for Apple. This monitor is beyond the reach of many consumers, and Apple has faced challenges with high-end products—such as the $3,500 Vision Pro.
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