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. The display is available with an optional laser-etched "nano-texture" glass finish to reduce glare. The nano-texture version requires a custom "dry polishing cloth" included with the display and sold by Apple to clean it. Stands 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. Sensors in the display automatically rotate the user interface to portrait mode. Apple partnered with Logitech to create a 4K webcam that attaches to the top of the display magnetically.
Compatibility
The Pro Display XDR runs at full resolution in high dynamic range with the following Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15.2 or later:
iMac: 2019 or newer, supports one display
MacBook Air: 2020 or newer, supports one display
MacBook Pro 13-inch: 2020 or newer, supports one display
MacBook Pro 15-inch: 2018 or newer, supports one display
MacBook Pro 16-inch: all models, supports two displays
Mac Pro: 2019 or newer, supports two displays, three displays, four displays, or six displays
Macs and iPad Pros with DisplayPort will output to it, including Thunderbolt 2-equipped Macs using an adapter, but are limited to lower resolutions and standard dynamic range. Windows and Linux-based systems supporting DisplayPort will output to it but cannot configure it. It provides up to 96W of host charging for MacBooks. The rear USB-C ports require a Mac with a GPU supporting Display Stream Compression to run at 3.0 speed, otherwise they will run at 2.0 speed.
Reception
Shortly after the announcement, the stand came under criticism for being sold as a separate product, and at what was perceived to be an excessive cost for its function—retailing at $999. 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."The Verge jokingly dubbed the Pro Stand "the most expensivedongle ever".
