Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Apple’s secret monitors leak, hint at a refreshed Mac Pro

When Apple’s revamped Mac Pro launched in 2019, the company also brought out an all-new high-end monitor called the Pro Display XDR — you might remember it for its much-derided $999 stand. Well, one prominent leaker has claimed Apple is working on a new version, which might suggest an updated Mac Pro is also almost ready for prime time.

The news comes from Twitter leaker Dylandkt, who posted a thread outlining new information they claim to have access to. According to the posts, LG is working on three unbranded monitor enclosures that will be used for external displays. Despite the lack of branding, Dylandkt is confident these are headed for Apple products.

The Apple Pro Display XDR monitor next to a Mac Pro.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

One clue to the Apple connection, says the leaker, is that two of the enclosures share the exact same specs as the 24-inch iMac and an as-yet unreleased 27-inch all-in-one (most likely the forthcoming iMac Pro refresh).

These smaller devices could line up with reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who alleged in January 2021 that Apple was working on at least one smaller external monitor to go alongside the $4,999 Pro Display XDR. Gurman believed Apple wanted to offer something cheaper than its costly Mac Pro companion, which could explain the smaller sizes of these leaked monitor enclosures.

As for the third device detailed by Dylandkt, this uses a 32-inch frame just like the Pro Display XDR. The current iteration of this monitor comes with a 6K resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness, and HDR10, so it’s exciting to think about what the next version might offer (though it’s less exciting to consider the potential price tag). If Apple is updating the Pro Display XDR, that implies a new Mac Pro could come with it, since the two launched together in 2019.

Mini-LED and 120Hz ProMotion

The 27-inch and 32-inch models will feature mini-LED panels and a 120Hz variable refresh rate — tech that Apple dubs ProMotion and is found in the latest MacBook Pro. The 24-inch model might lack these features, which would help make it more affordable.

Dylandkt also notes that they have seen “a reference to custom silicon powering the 32-inch display.” The current Pro Display XDR is kitted out with an Apple-designed timing controller chip that is used to modulate its LCD pixels and LED backlighting, so this mysterious chip could be an updated version of the existing silicon.

Although the leaker states they have not seen these silicon references on the 24-inch and 27-inch models, that does not necessarily mean custom chips will be totally absent from these devices. As Dylandkt points out, that information simply isn’t available right now, and might come to light at another time.

If Apple is working on a new Pro Display XDR, it will surely pair it with an updated Mac Pro – something that’s strongly rumored for a 2022 release. With all these displays in the works, Apple fans could get a veritable feast for the eyes in the coming months.

Editors' Recommendations

Alex Blake
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
This one surprising laptop could actually challenge the MacBook Pro
A rendering of the two color options for the Asus Zephyrus G14.

For the last few years, MacBooks have had a serious advantage over its Windows rivals. No one else has been able to combine power and portability in the way Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro does, especially with the arrival of the M3 Max. But that may not be the case for much longer.

Unveiled at CES 2024, the updated Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 seems to have serious ambitions on taking Apple’s crown. It's a gaming laptop, yes, but it's been redesigned from the ground up to cater to a crossover crowd. It’s sleek and svelte, yet doesn’t skimp on the output.

Read more
Apple’s Vision Pro headset officially launches on February 2
A person tries on an Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset in an Apple Store, with an Apple employee alongside them.

The Vision Pro headset will be available to order in the U.S. starting February 2, Apple has just announced, with preorders opening at 5 a.m. PT on January 19. It means the hotly anticipated new product from the Cupertino firm is less than a month away from release.

In a press release on its website, Apple said that the device would be available at both in-store locations and via its website on February 2. Right now, that’s limited to U.S. stores and American online customers. No mention was made of when the headset will be released to users in the rest of the world, although Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said he doesn’t expect we will have long to wait until that happens.

Read more
Here’s why 2024 is going to be a slow year for the Mac
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip seen from behind.

We’ve finally made it into 2024, and if you’re of the Apple persuasion, it feels like there’s a huge amount to look forward to this year. Yet that’s not true for everything Apple makes -- in fact, this could be an incredibly quiet 12 months for the Mac.

I recently wrote about how 2024 is going to be packed with major releases from Apple, yet among all the goodies that will be coming our way this year, there’s only one Mac announcement that I’d consider notable for fans of Apple’s computers. And even then, I’m talking about the MacBook Air getting the M3 chip, something the MacBook Pro got back in 2023.

Read more