Last week, analyst Ross Young reported that the new M4 MacBook Pro is the first Apple device to use the company's new quantum dot display technology.
In a subsequent blog post, he says that the same technology will also appear in the next-generation Pro Display XDR. Young also offered a timeline in a post to 9to5Mac, saying that there are no concrete plans, but the next-generation Pro Display XDR is currently expected to arrive in late 2025 or early 2026.
Previous M-series MacBook Pro models used a red phosphor film called KSF to allow the miniLED backlight to produce a wider color gamut than would normally be possible. However, the new M4 models use a quantum dot film, which offers a better color gamut and better motion performance, according to Young.
On this site, Display Supply Chain Consultants, Young detailed the transition and noted that the same display technology is expected to appear in the Pro Display XDR:
Now that Apple has implemented [quantum dot] films in the MacBook Pro, it will be interesting to see if they replace KSF films and KSF phosphors in other Apple products. KSF films were used in previous MiniLED MacBook Pro models and the Mac Pro Display XDR. We expect the next version of the Mac Pro Display to adopt them.
Other Apple products that use on-chip KSF phosphors in an edge-lit design include the MacBook Air, iPad Air, Mac Studio Display, and more. Quantum dots likely won't provide any potential cost savings over on-chip KSF phosphors, but if Apple is trying to standardize a wider color gamut across all of its products, like Adobe RGB+P3, it might make sense for them to make this change.
There are no other details on what to expect from the next-generation Pro Display XDR. Rumors of an updated Pro Display XDR have come and gone over the years.
In December 2022, Mark Gurman reported that Apple was working on a next-generation Pro Display XDR with an integrated Apple Silicon chip. For context, Apple's Studio Display features an A13 Bionic chip for things like Center Stage and Spatial Audio support.
In April 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple was developing a new 27-inch external display with mini-LED display technology. However, the current Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch panel.
The Pro Display XDR launched in December 2019 alongside the Mac Pro. Since then, Apple has continued to sell it without any updates or price changes.
Shop new Mac computers from Apple:
- M4 Mac mini ($50 off)
- M4 Pro Mac mini ($50 off)
- M4 iMac (up to $150 off)
- 14-inch MacBook Pro (up to $150 off)
- 16-inch MacBook Pro (up to $150 off)
