Apple has begun testing a new monitor that is expected to succeed its current Pro Display XDR offering. That development in itself isn’t too surprising, but according to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple’s new display boasts an A13 Bionic chip, the same SoC that powers its iPhone 11 range and second-generation iPhone SE. The new display is also said to leverage the A13’s Neural Engine, presumably for accelerating tasks that benefit from machine learning. One exciting theory is that the SoC in Apple’s new monitor will work in tandem with Mac chips to boost graphics performance and minimize the demand on the computer’s SoC, although it’s also possible that the A13 might merely be reserved for enabling select smart features. Apple’s Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999 for the standard glass model.
Having a CPU/GPU built into the external display could help Macs deliver high-resolution graphics without using all the resources of the computer’s internal chip. […] Apple could also combine the power of the display SoC with the Mac’s SoC to provide even more performance for running intensive graphic tasks. Another possibility is to use this SoC to add some smart features to the Pro Display XDR, such as AirPlay.
Source: 9to5Mac