I'm in the same situation as you. The obvious choice is to wait until March/April if you can. I am also waiting to see if a new M2 Mac mini comes out.
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Apple Studio Display - Owners Thread
- Thread starter KPOM
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No one really knows. It's speculation on top of speculation.
FWIW - I haven't seen any reports of a change to the ASD. The speculation is around a refresh to the XDR and a potential middle monitor that would be 27" and have additional image features over the ASD (Promotion, mini-LED, HDR, etc.).
If that middle monitor comes to exist it will likely be substantially pricier than the ASD. Guessing close to 2X. If it bothers you that the ASD isn't HDR/Promotion (as it does many), you are willing to wait and can afford that kind of price - I would for sure wait.
My two cents - unless you have a specific business need for those features I don't think you will be disappointed in an ASD. I will have zero buyer's remorse about mine.
Note: There is a new Samsung 5K display that is supposed to launch soon. If the ASD seems pricey to you, willing to wait and don't care about all the "Appleness" of the ASD - that might be worth waiting on.
Thanks @tstafford that's good advice. Of course I'd like the Promotion but for an extra 2k (Canada)? I can afford it but I don't think I like it that much more to warrant the extra cost.
I've seen the stories about the new Samsung 5K display, it definitely looks great aesthetically and is the right resolution.
I've seen the stories about the new Samsung 5K display, it definitely looks great aesthetically and is the right resolution.
Following up. Didn't work for me. Issue was that the monitor wobbled (like it does on an arm). I guess the benefit of the VIVO cheap-o one is that the rotation and height are torqued down with Allen keys so it is super steady.FWIW - I just ordered this after chatting with Dell and confirming it is compatible with any VESA 100x100 monitor. Does all the things I want - easy height adjust, cord control, decent looking and I can now use ASD in portrait. Don't love it says "Dell" on it, but maybe that just shows I'm frugal. And they have a fairly easy return policy if I hate it.
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The Dell unit is nice and would probably work well for anyone whose desk is steady (unlike mine). One issue is the cord control is unusable with the ASD because it feels through the neck and it too small for the plug. Edit: I should also add that the height adjust wasn't smooth - nothing like what the Pro Stand on an XDR is like (for example). But it does have the benefit of rotating (unlike the stand for the ASD).
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The new Samsung one looks like a good option - will be interesting to see what price it comes in at.
From the rumours I'm guessing the new monitor is going to be more expensive than the current ASD, but I still maintain that if you can afford it, the ASD is a very good monitor for Macs, if those things it does better than non-Apple monitors are worth something to you.
From the rumours I'm guessing the new monitor is going to be more expensive than the current ASD, but I still maintain that if you can afford it, the ASD is a very good monitor for Macs, if those things it does better than non-Apple monitors are worth something to you.
^^
I agree totally that the ASD is great for folks who like the "Appleness". The tight integration (controls, updates) combined with the style matters to me. I love my ASDs.
It's hard to know what to think about the Samsung until it's priced and we see the final specs. If it comes in at say $999, it's an interesting alternative to the ASD. I think I would have seriously considered it for my 2nd and 3rd display. I could see having a setup with the ASD as the main monitor to take advantage of the speakers and camera (which is fine for my use) and then saving some $$ for the other two. Bugs me that I paid for three cameras and three sets of speakers that of which I don't use several.
Note: I read some speculation that Samsung might price it b/w the gloss and matte ASD. If that's the case, it's a full on no go IMHO.
I agree totally that the ASD is great for folks who like the "Appleness". The tight integration (controls, updates) combined with the style matters to me. I love my ASDs.
It's hard to know what to think about the Samsung until it's priced and we see the final specs. If it comes in at say $999, it's an interesting alternative to the ASD. I think I would have seriously considered it for my 2nd and 3rd display. I could see having a setup with the ASD as the main monitor to take advantage of the speakers and camera (which is fine for my use) and then saving some $$ for the other two. Bugs me that I paid for three cameras and three sets of speakers that of which I don't use several.
Note: I read some speculation that Samsung might price it b/w the gloss and matte ASD. If that's the case, it's a full on no go IMHO.
Not that I’ve seen. I’ve got two ASDs and have to go through the same guessing game.
not easily, but you can use Audi midi setup and select the Display you want to use for input or output a bit more easily.
also, I found that at least on the Mac Studio, the order of displays (facing the front of the Mac Studio) are ordered from right to left (or left to right if looking at the back/ports of the Mac Studio), so if you option-click the speaker/sound icon on the menu bar, its in order from (front) right to left and you can select your input/output based on that. not sure if its the same with zoom but at least in the OS its ordered that way.
also, I found that at least on the Mac Studio, the order of displays (facing the front of the Mac Studio) are ordered from right to left (or left to right if looking at the back/ports of the Mac Studio), so if you option-click the speaker/sound icon on the menu bar, its in order from (front) right to left and you can select your input/output based on that. not sure if its the same with zoom but at least in the OS its ordered that way.
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Not only that, but Dell and Samsung are also going to introduce potential alternatives. I’d wait if there’s no rush.
I just bought one to replace a LG 40" widescreen 40WP95 (which I am going to sell) and am very happy with it.
Come what may, the resale value is going to be good for the ASD.
Why I replaced the LG 40"? Because I got a light stutter in video playback from time to time and as a video editor it bothered me. When connected via DP it was way less - but I lost all the USB ports and was annoyed that the TB4 connection was not a 100% clean then.
And I prefer the glossy display, the true 5K is just so much sharper and the display so much brighter and the colours so much better. I was afraid that I might have a problem not being able to select 50 hz for 25p footage and films (no selection possible in Display prefs, apparently "locked" at 60 hz) but the playback is buttery smooth on any footage, 60p, 50p, 25p, 24p, like on the iPhones and iPads. Could it be that the A13 processor is actually helping with video playback as well? Everything just works, it is very sharp and the backlight uniformity on my screen is amazing, don't know if I was lucky. Even though the blacks are not blacks like on OLED or MiniLED, it is still pretty dark, at least on my display. Nothing compared to other monitors I had before - and I had a few.
Happy customer here. Never again a non Apple Display - I prefer to spend a little more but less frustration with nagging things like long wake up time or playback issues with other brands. And yes, the design of the ASD is nice, so much better than the LG plastic.
Come what may, the resale value is going to be good for the ASD.
Why I replaced the LG 40"? Because I got a light stutter in video playback from time to time and as a video editor it bothered me. When connected via DP it was way less - but I lost all the USB ports and was annoyed that the TB4 connection was not a 100% clean then.
And I prefer the glossy display, the true 5K is just so much sharper and the display so much brighter and the colours so much better. I was afraid that I might have a problem not being able to select 50 hz for 25p footage and films (no selection possible in Display prefs, apparently "locked" at 60 hz) but the playback is buttery smooth on any footage, 60p, 50p, 25p, 24p, like on the iPhones and iPads. Could it be that the A13 processor is actually helping with video playback as well? Everything just works, it is very sharp and the backlight uniformity on my screen is amazing, don't know if I was lucky. Even though the blacks are not blacks like on OLED or MiniLED, it is still pretty dark, at least on my display. Nothing compared to other monitors I had before - and I had a few.
Happy customer here. Never again a non Apple Display - I prefer to spend a little more but less frustration with nagging things like long wake up time or playback issues with other brands. And yes, the design of the ASD is nice, so much better than the LG plastic.
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My ASDs are absolutely the best consumer-level monitors I've ever used. I mean, they better be for $1200 a piece, but in that, they deliver. And I still don't see all the hate for the integrated camera. It's not 4K (ok, maybe it should have been), but it's completely fine for a 1080p-level camera.
We have some medical-grade monitors at work that have slightly better color and grayscale, but they are also over $10,000 each.
Apple advertises it as a 12 MP camera, which is about 50% more than 4K.
It’s not even passable when compared to decent 1080p cameras, which is not fine for a monitor in this price class, especially when iPhone cameras are so much better.
Regarding the camera - is it even in the realm of possibility that software updates can improve this camera or is it strictly a hardware (or lack there of) issue.
Waiting on delivery for my ASD now and a quality camera wasn't really a concern. But I am curious if anyone knows.
Waiting on delivery for my ASD now and a quality camera wasn't really a concern. But I am curious if anyone knows.
They already improved it a bit with software. FWIW - I find it totally fine. But I don't like video calls to begin with!
You're likely going to love the ASD. I know I do. Yeah it's pricey, but it's worth it. Take the MR negativity with a grain of salt.
But its 12MP picture is really on an ultra wide angle lens, then cropped and magnified as the image follows you around. The result is a 1080p-level image. I think Apple did a bad job marketing it — disingenuous about it’s specs, really.
I wouldn’t use it for recording a documentary, but for Zoom calls, it’s far better than the Logitech cameras on my PCs, IMHO.
Yes, a 1080p-class camera image on a $1200 display is below spec, but I don’t see how there’s another way to implement Center Stage without Apple’s current methodology. And I like Center Stage.
But this is all old news and there’s no right answer. So I apologize for soapboxing.
I think Apple did a bad job designing it.
(Or understanding who their users are. Has ANYONE ever walked around the room during a meeting or gathered the family for the call to grandma in front of a Studio Display?)
Mine is covered by a c920s, which also sucks, but it looks better to me, and by a wide enough margin that it is worth the hassle and added clutter.
Studio Display (VESA) owner for about 1 month now as I was able to get it for $100 off during Black Friday. I was one of those people who criticized this monitor when it was announced and had no intention of buying it. Boy was I wrong...
- The 5K glossy screen is simply stunning and is so much nicer than my previous 27" 4K matte monitor right next to it.
- Color accuracy has been spot on which drove me nuts on my old monitor.
- People criticized the webcam but for Zoom meetings, it's not that bad at all. I mean I wouldn't want to record videos off it but for Zoom, this more than gets the job done for me.
- Very impressed with the speakers. I know some audiophiles will prefer expensive external speakers but my desk is small and this meets my needs.
- Really cool how it automatically adjusts the resolution to 1440x2560 when I rotate the monitor. It kinda makes designing portrait content for IG or going through spreadsheets a bit quicker now that I don't need to fiddle through the display settings.
- No issues so far with buzzing sounds
Glad to hear this. I think I will get one soon.
Glad you saw the light! I am a massive ASD apologist. My feeling is that if I'm going to be in front of them for several hours a day, I may as well really like what I'm looking at.
Enjoy yours in good health.
...about to take the plunge on an ASD to pair with my MBP14. My 2011 iMac 27" is on seriously borrowed time although it serves remarkably well for most things.
I've been a big fan of refurbished Apple products over the years (never a single issue) and that seems the way to go on the ASD and save quite a bit.
I've been a big fan of refurbished Apple products over the years (never a single issue) and that seems the way to go on the ASD and save quite a bit.
For someone that is quite picky about their screens, could someone please comment regarding the white uniformity of their screen? Thank you.