The thought of paying the Apple premium makes me sick. With the hundreds upon hundreds of display options available, you would think I wouldn't have to worry about it.
But looking for a large (32+ inch) display that's even close to Apple's retina screens and LG Ultrafine 4k and 5k displays is mind numbing. You can find the size, but the resolution is lower than a 14" MacBook Pro. You can find the size and resolution is good, but the brightness is only 250-300. You find a 450-500 brightness display, but there's only HDMI and Display Port connection and no Thunderbolt... Then, as if it weren't difficult enough just finding the right specs, when you do and you read the reviews—it's nothing but complaints about light leaks, etc.
I hope Apple does release a 32" display. I know it will be retina resolution, I know it will be Thunderbolt. I know the brightness will be 400 or higher. And I know there will be little to no chance that's it's a poor quality panel with light leaks. Unfortunately, I also know that I'll probably pay close to $2,000 if not more. But I also know I won't have any regrets.
Well, I've got good news and bad news for you.
I have on good authority that within the next month, you'll be able to purchase exactly such a display from Apple. It's 32", retina quality, more nits than you can shake a stick at. It will be an absolutely gorgeous display.
The bad news? It will cost $6000. $5000, if you don't include the stand.
I feel like there's a fair number of people who are misunderstanding Apple's intentions in re-entering the display market. They are obviously doing so reluctantly. They are doing so because there are Mac users whose display needs are not being met—at any price—by the current market. They are not going to make a display on par with the LG 5K or any other display on the market because they are perfectly content to tell users that if that's the display you want, go purchase that display. They are not interested in competing on price. They are interested in making things that don't exist.
You want retina quality? At 32", that's 6K. 27"? 5K. 23.5"? 4.5K. Those are the monitors that Apple is going to release. They are also highly unlikely to release anything that is of lower quality than the displays on their MacBook Pros. They will be awesome, and they will get their 40% margins on them, if not more, because they can. They won't exist elsewhere, and their prices will reflect that.
I will be happy to be wrong, but I fully expect Apple's rumored 5K display to cost at least $2000, if not $3000. A lot of people will complain about that, but it will actually be good price compared to what else is on the market. (Again, non-retina 4K miniLED displays list for $3000 and higher.) It will be too much for me to pay personally, but that doesn't make it an unfair price.
