diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/dcp.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/dcp.c
index 58767d653ee8d..7244b8946f643 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/dcp.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/dcp.c
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ void dcp_firmware_metadata_attributes(struct apple_dcp *dcp,
 void dcp_firmware_metadata_timing(struct apple_dcp *dcp)
 {
 	unsigned long flags;
-	unsigned int i;
+	unsigned int i, best = UINT_MAX;
 
 	if (!dcp_firmware_metadata_enabled(dcp))
 		return;
@@ -764,16 +764,30 @@ void dcp_firmware_metadata_timing(struct apple_dcp *dcp)
 	dcp->metadata.timing_valid = false;
 	if (!dcp_firmware_metadata_complete(dcp))
 		goto unlock;
+	/*
+	 * The EDID's detailed timing: the preferred mode when the firmware
+	 * describes it fully, otherwise the highest-scored timing it marks
+	 * IsPreferred, the one the sink's own EDID lists first.  An external
+	 * display's preferred mode need not be one of those.
+	 */
 	for (i = 0; i < dcp->nr_modes; i++) {
-		if (!(dcp->modes[i].mode.type & DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED) ||
-		    !dcp->modes[i].metadata_timing_valid)
+		const struct dcp_display_mode *m = &dcp->modes[i];
+
+		if (!m->metadata_timing_valid)
 			continue;
-		dcp->metadata.preferred = dcp->modes[i].mode;
+		if (best == UINT_MAX || (m->mode.type & DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED) ||
+		    (!(dcp->modes[best].mode.type & DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED) &&
+		     m->score > dcp->modes[best].score))
+			best = i;
+		if (m->mode.type & DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED)
+			break;
+	}
+	if (best != UINT_MAX) {
+		dcp->metadata.preferred = dcp->modes[best].mode;
 		/* Desktop 26.x publishes its modes without their polarity. */
-		dcp->metadata.preferred.flags |= dcp->modes[i].metadata_sync_flags;
+		dcp->metadata.preferred.flags |= dcp->modes[best].metadata_sync_flags;
 		dcp->metadata.timing_ticket = dcp->chunks.metadata_ticket;
 		dcp->metadata.timing_valid = true;
-		break;
 	}
 unlock:
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&dcp->metadata.lock, flags);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/iomfb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/iomfb.c
index d2c7273e75e24..924d0063e8e2e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/iomfb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/iomfb.c
@@ -2195,7 +2195,11 @@ int dcp_takeover_trial(struct platform_device *pdev, const char **reason)
 		*reason = "not-connected";
 		return -ENODEV;
 	}
-	/* The boot-like mode first, then the preferred one. */
+	/*
+	 * The preferred mode first, the one the firmware ranks highest (the
+	 * panel's native refresh), then the boot-like one: the mode that works
+	 * stays the preferred one, which is also what a desktop picks.
+	 */
 	mutex_lock(&dcp->modes_lock);
 	for (i = 0; i < dcp->nr_modes; i++) {
 		const struct dcp_display_mode *m = &dcp->modes[i];
@@ -2214,13 +2218,11 @@ int dcp_takeover_trial(struct platform_device *pdev, const char **reason)
 	}
 	if (pref == UINT_MAX)
 		pref = 0;
+	cand[n++] = dcp->modes[pref].mode;
 	/* Only a mode within 1% of the boot loader's clock counts as boot-like. */
-	if (boot != UINT_MAX && best <= DCP_DESKTOP_BOOT_PIXEL_CLOCK_KHZ / 100)
+	if (boot != UINT_MAX && best <= DCP_DESKTOP_BOOT_PIXEL_CLOCK_KHZ / 100 &&
+	    boot != pref)
 		cand[n++] = dcp->modes[boot].mode;
-	else
-		boot = UINT_MAX;
-	if (pref != boot)
-		cand[n++] = dcp->modes[pref].mode;
 	mutex_unlock(&dcp->modes_lock);
 
 	st = kzalloc_obj(*st);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.c
index 9dc6b0eb27b3b..63b1f55ce9aa5 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.c
@@ -608,6 +608,7 @@ static int parse_color_modes(struct dcp_parse_ctx *handle,
 	out->sdr.score = -1;
 	out->best.score = -1;
 	out->pq.score = -1;
+	out->sdr_usable = false;
 	out->has_bootstrap = false;
 
 	ret = iterator_begin(handle, &outer_it, false);
@@ -693,6 +694,11 @@ static int parse_color_modes(struct dcp_parse_ctx *handle,
 
 		if (limits_known)
 			collect_pq_mode(&out->pq, &best_pq_rank, &cmode, limits);
+		if (cmode.eotf == DCP_EOTF_SDR_GAMMA &&
+		    (!limits_known ||
+		     (!timing_color_contains(&limits->unsafe, cmode.id) &&
+		      !timing_color_contains(&limits->dsc_required, cmode.id))))
+			out->sdr_usable = true;
 
 		if (external_sdr) {
 			unsigned int rank;
@@ -987,6 +993,7 @@ static int parse_mode(struct dcp_parse_ctx *handle,
 	out->timing_mode_id = id;
 	out->color_mode_id = best_color_mode;
 	out->preferred = is_preferred;
+	out->firmware_preferred = external_sdr ? preferred : is_preferred;
 
 	trace_iomfb_timing_mode(handle->dcp, id, *score, horiz.active,
 				vert.active, vert.precise_sync_rate,
@@ -1097,6 +1104,66 @@ static bool dcp_180hz_ids_current(struct dcp_parse_ctx handle,
  * A timing mode that the firmware marks as preferred ranks above every mode
  * that it does not mark; the firmware score orders the modes of each group.
  */
+/*
+ * An external display defaults to its native resolution at the highest
+ * refresh rate it can take, as other systems pick it, rather than to the
+ * timing its EDID lists first.  Among the timings of that resolution with a
+ * usable SDR element, the higher refresh rate ranks first, then IsPreferred,
+ * then the firmware score.
+ */
+VISIBLE_IF_KUNIT bool dcp_mode_default_above(const struct dcp_display_mode *mode,
+					     s64 score,
+					     const struct dcp_display_mode *best,
+					     s64 best_score)
+{
+	/* clock / (htotal * vtotal), compared without dividing */
+	u64 refresh = (u64)mode->mode.clock * best->mode.htotal * best->mode.vtotal;
+	u64 best_refresh = (u64)best->mode.clock * mode->mode.htotal * mode->mode.vtotal;
+
+	if (refresh != best_refresh)
+		return refresh > best_refresh;
+	if (mode->firmware_preferred != best->firmware_preferred)
+		return mode->firmware_preferred;
+	return score > best_score;
+}
+
+/*
+ * The native resolution: the largest the firmware marks IsPreferred, or the
+ * largest of all when it marks none.
+ */
+static struct dcp_display_mode *dcp_external_default(struct dcp_display_mode *modes,
+						     unsigned int count)
+{
+	struct dcp_display_mode *native = NULL, *best = NULL;
+	unsigned int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
+		const struct dcp_display_mode *m = &modes[i];
+		u64 area = (u64)m->mode.hdisplay * m->mode.vdisplay;
+
+		if (m->automatic_rgb8_quirk || !m->sdr_usable)
+			continue;
+		if (!native ||
+		    (m->firmware_preferred && !native->firmware_preferred) ||
+		    (m->firmware_preferred == native->firmware_preferred &&
+		     area > (u64)native->mode.hdisplay * native->mode.vdisplay))
+			native = &modes[i];
+	}
+	if (!native)
+		return NULL;
+	for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
+		struct dcp_display_mode *m = &modes[i];
+
+		if (m->automatic_rgb8_quirk || !m->sdr_usable ||
+		    m->mode.hdisplay != native->mode.hdisplay ||
+		    m->mode.vdisplay != native->mode.vdisplay)
+			continue;
+		if (!best || dcp_mode_default_above(m, m->score, best, best->score))
+			best = m;
+	}
+	return best;
+}
+
 VISIBLE_IF_KUNIT bool dcp_mode_ranks_above(bool preferred, s64 score,
 					   bool best_preferred, s64 best_score)
 {
@@ -1162,6 +1229,7 @@ struct dcp_display_mode *enumerate_modes(struct dcp_parse_ctx *handle,
 
 		/* Process a successful mode */
 		(*count)++;
+		mode->score = score;
 
 		if (!mode->automatic_rgb8_quirk &&
 		    dcp_mode_ranks_above(mode->preferred, score, best_preferred,
@@ -1172,6 +1240,13 @@ struct dcp_display_mode *enumerate_modes(struct dcp_parse_ctx *handle,
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* A panel keeps the timing its firmware prefers. */
+	if (!internal) {
+		struct dcp_display_mode *def = dcp_external_default(modes, *count);
+
+		if (def)
+			best_mode = def;
+	}
 	if (best_mode != NULL)
 		best_mode->mode.type |= DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED;
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.h
index 605629b9af27d..81c75143c8f9d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/apple/parser.h
@@ -140,6 +140,12 @@ struct dcp_display_mode {
 	bool preferred;
 	bool metadata_timing_valid;
 	bool automatic_rgb8_quirk;
+	/* IsPreferred on every path; an external display's native resolution */
+	bool firmware_preferred;
+	/* An SDR color element that is neither unsafe nor DSC only */
+	bool sdr_usable;
+	/* The firmware score of the timing */
+	s64 score;
 	/* The sync polarity flags of the timing, if it reports them */
 	u32 metadata_sync_flags;
 	/*
@@ -175,6 +181,8 @@ struct dimension {
 int parse(const void *blob, size_t size, struct dcp_parse_ctx *ctx);
 bool dcp_property_complete(const void *blob, size_t received, size_t advertised);
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_KUNIT)
+bool dcp_mode_default_above(const struct dcp_display_mode *mode, s64 score,
+			    const struct dcp_display_mode *best, s64 best_score);
 bool dcp_mode_ranks_above(bool preferred, s64 score, bool best_preferred,
 			  s64 best_score);
 #endif
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/gpu/apple-dcp/rate.py b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/gpu/apple-dcp/rate.py
index 9ca6841c74755..6224f3e6c721c 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/gpu/apple-dcp/rate.py
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/gpu/apple-dcp/rate.py
@@ -89,6 +89,31 @@ def color(i, score, depth, eotf, colorimetry, encoding=0, dynamic=0):
     ycc_raw = bytearray(struct.pack('<I', 0xd3))
     wire(ycc_fixture, ycc_raw)
     timing_source += 'static const unsigned char ycc_blob[] = {' + ','.join(map(str,ycc_raw)) + '};\n'
+    # Default mode: an external display's native resolution at its highest
+    # usable refresh rate; a panel keeps the timing its firmware prefers.
+    def timing(i, w, h, hz, pref, score, unsafe=False):
+        base = timing_fixture[0]
+        return dict(base, ID=i, Score=score, IsPreferred=pref,
+                    HorizontalAttributes=dict(base['HorizontalAttributes'], Active=w, Total=w + 160),
+                    VerticalAttributes=dict(base['VerticalAttributes'], Active=h, Total=h + 45,
+                                            PreciseSyncRate=hz << 16),
+                    ColorModes=[color(200 + i, 1, 10, 0, 10)],
+                    UnsafeColorElementIDs=[200 + i] if unsafe else [])
+    defaults = {
+        # EDID-preferred 1080p60, native 1920x1080 up to 180 Hz
+        'acer': [timing(1, 1920, 1080, 60, True, 16224), timing(2, 1920, 1080, 180, False, 15553),
+                 timing(3, 1920, 1080, 144, False, 15443), timing(4, 1280, 720, 60, False, 16155)],
+        # IsPreferred on 1080p240 and 1440p60; 1440p300 only with an unsafe element
+        'msi': [timing(1, 1920, 1080, 240, True, 20000), timing(2, 2560, 1440, 60, True, 16000),
+                timing(3, 2560, 1440, 280, False, 15000), timing(4, 2560, 1440, 144, False, 15100),
+                timing(5, 2560, 1440, 300, False, 15200, unsafe=True)],
+        # a panel whose firmware prefers 60 Hz keeps it
+        'panel': [timing(1, 3456, 2234, 60, True, 16000), timing(2, 3456, 2234, 120, False, 17000)],
+    }
+    for name, catalog in defaults.items():
+        raw = bytearray(struct.pack('<I', 0xd3))
+        wire(catalog, raw)
+        timing_source += f'static const unsigned char default_{name}[] = {{' + ','.join(map(str, raw)) + '};\n'
     proof_checks = []
     for path, value, count in [
         (("IsPreferred",), None, 1), (("IsPreferred",), False, 1),
@@ -288,6 +313,25 @@ def color(i, score, depth, eotf, colorimetry, encoding=0, dynamic=0):
         assert(!IS_ERR(m) && n == 1 && m[0].pq.id == 95 && m[0].pq.depth == 12);
         assert(m[0].color_mode_id == 85);
         free(m);
+        /* The default modes; the timing ID that carries DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED. */
+        static const struct { const unsigned char *blob; size_t size; bool internal; u32 id; } d[] = {
+            { default_acer, sizeof(default_acer), false, 2 },
+            { default_msi, sizeof(default_msi), false, 3 },
+            { default_panel, sizeof(default_panel), true, 1 },
+        };
+        for (unsigned int k = 0; k < ARRAY_SIZE(d); k++) {
+            unsigned int found = 0;
+            assert(!parse(d[k].blob, d[k].size, &c));
+            m = enumerate_modes(&c, &n, 600, 330, 0, d[k].internal, false);
+            assert(!IS_ERR(m) && n);
+            for (unsigned int j = 0; j < n; j++)
+                if (m[j].mode.type & DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED) {
+                    assert(m[j].timing_mode_id == d[k].id);
+                    found++;
+                }
+            assert(found == 1);
+            free(m);
+        }
         /* The external SDR path keeps its SDR element and the same PQ one. */
         assert(!parse(pq_blob, sizeof(pq_blob), &c));
         m = enumerate_modes(&c, &n, 600, 330, 0, false, true);