With important hardware change: Hint at Apple's new professional monitor
Details about Apple's Pro Display XDR 2 are found in the code of the third developer beta of macOS 26.1. Apple likely fixes at least one feature deficit.
Pro Display XDR: Dusty and still very expensive. Is the successor coming now?
(Image: Apple)
Speculation has been circulating for several months that Apple might replace its aging Pro Display XDR with a new variant. The developer beta of macOS 26.1, released on Monday, now contains concrete evidence for this: The Apple%20blog%209to5Mac discovered a code leak that reveals initial details.
Camera reveals new display
The relevant strings are “Pro Display XDR Camera” and “Pro Display XDR Desk View Camera.” As is well known, the current Pro Display XDR, which was launched almost six years ago, does not have a built-in camera. Accordingly, Apple can only be referring to a new, second model that finally integrates a webcam. Since there are strings for both “Camera” and “Desk View Camera,” there is still a lot to suggest that it will be a Center-Stage camera (German term: “Follow Mode Camera”).
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This will likely feature at least 12 megapixels and, in addition to the regular recording mode, will also offer Desk View (i.e., “Desk View”). This currently exists on Macs with the Studio Display, the iMac M4, and MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with M4, among others. For other configurations, an iPhone (from 11 onwards) can also be used as a camera. The desk view uses algorithmic image distortion to show objects lying on the table in front of the camera and can be switched on if desired.
Hardware upgraded again
From macOS 26.1 Developer Beta 3, it is not yet possible to determine what further innovations can be expected for the Pro Display XDR. A resolution of up to 7K, Thunderbolt 5, and hopefully a higher refresh rate are considered possible. The backlight has also likely been improved, and the display might possibly use quantum dot technology. It is unclear whether the screen diagonal will remain 32 inches.
The Pro Display XDR currently achieves 6K and can operate continuously at 1000 candela thanks to special heatsinks, with a maximum of 1600 candela possible. 526 LEDs are used as backlighting. The maximum refresh rate is only 60 Hertz. With a retail price starting at 4855 Euros, the hardware is still extremely expensive—with a matte nano-texture coating, you even pay over 900 Euros more.
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