Blackmagic Releases New eGPU Firmware With Pro Display XDR Support

Blackmagic eGPU and Blackmagic eGPU Pro users who also own a Pro Display XDR can today download a new version 1.2 firmware update that's designed to introduce support for the Apple Pro Display XDR.

The update is available via the Latest Downloads section of the Blackmagic website, and it allows the Pro Display XDR to be used as a display when connected to a Mac with TB3 or with a Blackmagic eGPU.

blackmagic egpu
Apple support documents for the Blackmagic eGPU and reports from Pro Display XDR owners have suggested that the devices were already compatible with one another prior to this firmware update, but it should still be installed as it may further improve compatibility.

The Blackmagic eGPU and eGPU Pro can allow the Pro Display XDR to work with Thunderbolt 3 Macs that do not officially support Apple's new 6K display.

Apple has been offering the Blackmagic eGPU since mid-2018, when it launched alongside the 2018 MacBook Pro models. The base eGPU features a Radeon Pro 580, while the Pro model is equipped with a Radeon RX Vega 56.

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With a Rough iPhone Fold Mockup

Monday December 29, 2025 10:55 am PST by
Apple is rumored to be introducing a foldable iPhone in September 2026, and since it will bring the biggest form factor change since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, curiosity about the design is high. A 3D designer created an iPhone Fold design based on rumors, and we printed it out to see how it compares to Apple's current iPhones. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Users Report Static Speaker Noise While Charging

Tuesday December 30, 2025 10:39 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max owners are having trouble with the speakers of their devices, and have complained about a static or hissing noise that occurs when the iPhone is charging. There are multiple discussions about the issue on Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and Apple's Support Community, where affected users say there is a noticeable static noise "like an old radio." Some people report...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...

Top Rated Comments

poematik13 Avatar
78 months ago
This thing is so overpriced. I mean yes it's also a TB3 hub and is nicely engineered but it's non-upgradeable so you're stuck with last-gen AMD graphics. The Pro should be $799 and the 580 model should be $499.

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
radus Avatar
78 months ago

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.
As far as I know only the blackmagic uses a titan-ridge controller?
You get what you pay for.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JLOAKS Avatar
78 months ago

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.
But doesn’t come with ultra-quiet performance, or daisy-chaining capabilities to LG Ultrafine displays, or the ability to be used as a hub.

You can power a 5k display, have eGPU support, charge your laptop, get 4 USB ports & 3 USB-C ports, with quiet performance all through one USB-C connection on your MacBook.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icrude Avatar
78 months ago
So is the scenario behind this that someone has an XDR connected to a Mac mini and needs more juice?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LiE_ Avatar
78 months ago
I recently bought the 580 Blackmagic used for £400, still with 3 months warranty with Apple. It’s about the right price for what it delivers for me. It’s very well made and super quiet. Drives my UltraFine really well.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SgtPepper12 Avatar
78 months ago

Just returned my Blackmagic eGPU today. In a fit of insanity and seduction by Apple's 6% cash back offer, I ordered the Blackmagic eGPU and Pro Display XDR to pair with my Mac mini. I'm not a graphics pro but dreamed of replacing my plastic-y LG 23.7" Ultrafine with Apple's 32" super high res work of art. But then reality set in and I gave up on my dream:

-Disliked the large bulk and weight of the eGPU. It dwarfs the mini itself.
-Not a fan of legacy USB A ports on the Blackmagic. If I'm building a dream set up, USB A is not part of the picture.
-Lack of built in speakers on Pro Display meant yet more bulky equipment and wires would need to sit on my desk.
-LG has extra thunderbolt port to daisy chain my Thunderbolt 3 UA Arrow audio interface. Not possible with the USB ports on the BlackMagic/XDR.
-eGPU seemed pretty seamless but would see some weird graphics glitches on start up. Not encouraging.
-I don't do intensive graphics work or gaming that would remotely justify the extra graphics output.
-And of course, the $$$$.

Returned the eGPU and cancelled my order for the XDR. Sigh. Hopefully one day Apple will release a more practical update to the classic Apple Cinema Displays.
So basically, you ordered a product you never needed in the first place?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)