Calibrite Display Plus HL: Apple hardware calibration arrives at consumer budgets

Calibrite's Display Plus HL is the first consumer colorimeter to write calibration adjustments directly to Apple display hardware.

Calibrite's Display Plus HL colorimeter is now Apple-approved, making it the first consumer-grade device capable of hardware-level calibration on Apple displays. Until now, the company says that level of precision required industrial spectroradiometers, usually costing more than the actual displays themselves. Which, given we're talking Apple kit here, is impressive.

Direct writing

The Display Plus HL launched in mid-2023 and is capable of measuring up to 10,000 nits.

Rather than simply creating a color profile in macOS using a colorimeter, which is the time-honored method of adjusting an Apple display, the Display Plus HL can actually write adjustments for white point, luminance, and color accuracy directly to supported Apple hardware. Crucially for the avoidance of faff, a single calibration updates all reference modes simultaneously, covering both SDR and HDR, which is a meaningful workflow improvement for anyone switching between viewing modes.

Supported hardware includes the Apple Studio Display (2022 and 2026 models), the Pro Display XDR, and MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or Max chips and later. The device also supports Apple CMF 2026, Apple's next-generation Color Matching Function that moves beyond the long-standing CIE 1931 standard, and measures up to 2000 nits on the new Studio Display XDR. Hardware calibration requires macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later.

Before and after: the same still-life image on an uncalibrated display (left) versus a Calibrite Display Plus HL-calibrated Apple display (right).

Pricing and availability 

The Display Plus HL is priced at $339, though it is currently on sale for $259 until the end of June 2026.