Apple Studio Display - Owners Thread

[The Clark]

Nice clean setup. I am looking to revamp mine. Currently using a late 2009 iMac but likely switching to MBP / ASD setup. I was curious how a different color laptop would go with the ASD and your looks great.

Thanks, yeah I def wondered that too before ordering. I actually prefer the look of a space grey Macbook with the silver ASD.

iMac's are great but you'll like this setup more I'm sure.

 

[Slevin]

Sure. It’s temporary, but what I have for now.

View attachment 2032339

I wish I had gone with the VESA mount option

 

[Arctic Moose]

I see that you are using an Apple Extended Keyboard II. Do you have issues with the width while using a mouse on the left or right?

No, the desk (140 cm) and desk pad are both certainly wide enough to accommodate it. I use the mouse exclusively on the left side, so for me it is no different compared to using any other keyboard. I can see how it would be a bit of a stretch on the right side though.

I wish I had gone with the VESA mount option

Yeah, I learned that lesson with the terribly non-adjustable and much-too-low iMac 5K.

 

[TomHyphen]

I've got an audio issue with my ASD, it just cuts out after a couple of seconds on all sources; YouTube, Safari, Music etc.

If I use my M1 Mini speakers audio works fine. I've just done latest MacOS update but that hasn't helped.

EDIT: This was fixed with a power cycle.

 

[trevor-b]

Curious why I don't see TrueTone setting for ASD (which is my main display) but can see it for the MBP (extended display)?

 

[Arctic Moose]

Curious why I don't see TrueTone setting for ASD (which is my main display) but can see it for the MBP (extended display)?

It seems it only shows up for the display set as the main display.

When I asked about it someone commented that setting it there should adjust it for all connected displays.

(The reason I asked though was that my two ASDs obviously were out of sync, one was bright white and the other yellow.)

 

[trevor-b]

It seems it only shows up for the display set as the main display.

When I asked about it someone commented that setting it there should adjust it for all connected displays.

(The reason I asked though was that my two ASDs obviously were out of sync, one was bright white and the other yellow.)

Hmmm! ASD is my main display, I don't see the setting there, but can see it when I choose MBP.

 

[trevor-b]

One more:

Occasionally, the picture will auto refresh soon after I join via Google Meet and the resulting image is much better than the initial one. Any idea why this happens? It doesn't happen all the time.

 

[justmadeupname]

TLR
-------

I think at present my only concern before getting the ASD is if the default 5K ASD scaling (2560x1440) for UI elements is a bit (tad) too small as I'm used to 1080p.


Background Info
------------------

I'm thinking of getting the ASD - only need the standard tilt versions (I'm not that tall ;-).

I've contemplated getting a Huawei Mateview 28.2 which £599 in the UK (ASD is £1499) instead but just not convinced when I dig deeprs and research and there's no return option if I do buy it.

I want a monitor with sharp text (I'm 55 and my eyes are not what they used to be). At present I use a generic Asus 1080p monitor which is playing up.

I've checked out the ASD in person at local Apple Store and it really seems to be the best long term option - yes it's expensive but there's good interest free deals at present in the UK.

I've researched 4K monitors (3840 x 2160) at around £500 but due to MacOS I believe these monitors will default to 1080p although I gather the text will be sharp.

I've thought about getting a 2K 1440p monitor but reading around it seems getting 4K and using this at 1080p with MacOS yields much better results.

I think at present my only concern is if default 5K ASD scaling (2560x1440) for UI elements a bit (tad) too small as I'm used to 1080p.

I will go the Apple Store again and check more carefully the default UI scaling. (2560x1440) but has anybody been threw similar predicament?

The short term plan is to get the ASD (as I need a monitor now), use it with my current MacBook Air 2015 and then also upgrade the MBA 2015 to (perhaps) a M2 mac mini (if it ever happens) or a base model Mac Studio.

PS. The local Apple Store confirmed that my MacBook Air will work with the ASD but at 4k (using - Apple’s bidirectional Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable as confirmed by here)

 

[iSuzan]

TLR
-------

I think at present my only concern before getting the ASD is if the default 5K ASD scaling (2560x1440) for UI elements is a bit (tad) too small as I'm used to 1080p.


Background Info
------------------

I'm thinking of getting the ASD - only need the standard tilt versions (I'm not that tall ;-).

I've contemplated getting a Huawei Mateview 28.2 which £599 in the UK (ASD is £1499) instead but just not convinced when I dig deeprs and research and there's no return option if I do buy it.

I want a monitor with sharp text (I'm 55 and my eyes are not what they used to be). At present I use a generic Asus 1080p monitor which is playing up.

I've checked out the ASD in person at local Apple Store and it really seems to be the best long term option - yes it's expensive but there's good interest free deals at present in the UK.

I've researched 4K monitors (3840 x 2160) at around £500 but due to MacOS I believe these monitors will default to 1080p although I gather the text will be sharp.

I've thought about getting a 2K 1440p monitor but reading around it seems getting 4K and using this at 1080p with MacOS yields much better results.

I think at present my only concern is if default 5K ASD scaling (2560x1440) for UI elements a bit (tad) too small as I'm used to 1080p.

I will go the Apple Store again and check more carefully the default UI scaling. (2560x1440) but has anybody been threw similar predicament?

The short term plan is to get the ASD (as I need a monitor now), use it with my current MacBook Air 2015 and then also upgrade the MBA 2015 to (perhaps) a M2 mac mini (if it ever happens) or a base model Mac Studio.

PS. The local Apple Store confirmed that my MacBook Air will work with the ASD but at 4k (using - Apple’s bidirectional Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable as confirmed by here)

Yes, eyes don't getting better.. I know, I know. I connect my ASD to my M1 MBP or my Intel 2019 iMac. Default resolution is much to small for my eyes so I use scaling with both computers. The ASD still looks super sharp and clear. I love this monitor very much.

 

[dirkske]

I've got an audio issue with my ASD, it just cuts out after a couple of seconds on all sources; YouTube, Safari, Music etc.

If I use my M1 Mini speakers audio works fine. I've just done latest MacOS update but that hasn't helped.

EDIT: This was fixed with a power cycle.

Had the same issue. A power cycle indeed fixed it.
Thanks for the tip! Hope it stays fixed...

 

[Diskutant]

I've researched 4K monitors (3840 x 2160) at around £500 but due to MacOS I believe these monitors will default to 1080p although I gather the text will be sharp.

I bought a cheap 27" 4K monitor as a 2nd display after I bought the ASD. By default it was set to 4k resolution non-retina. So everything was very tiny but a lot of space. I set the resolution to the same as the ASD so if I move a windows from one monitor to the other everything is the same size. The crazy thing is I don't see much of a difference on casual browsing, chatting stuff.

 

[justmadeupname]

Yes, eyes don't getting better.. I know, I know. I connect my ASD to my M1 MBP or my Intel 2019 iMac. Default resolution is much to small for my eyes so I use scaling with both computers. The ASD still looks super sharp and clear. I love this monitor very much.

@iSuzan What scaling do you use to get the resolution at good level for you ?

I believe the default scaling for ASD is half of 5K (5120 x 2880)

 

[trevor-b]

The Yiwentic switch works perfectly fine when connected to single M1 MBP 14". But the display starts to flicker/turn off-on when a second (identical) MBP is connected. Could this be a power supply issue?

I'm using the iPhone cube USB charger.

 

[mactux123]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed, does it work in a non-native 4k resolution? I have a non-Mac work laptop which won't be able to handle 5k, so I wonder if I could still use the display in 4k mode when needed.

 

[justmadeupname]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed, does it work in a non-native 4k resolution? I have a non-Mac work laptop which won't be able to handle 5k, so I wonder if I could still use the display in 4k mode when needed.

@mactux123

I have the same question, I don't have a ASD.

How would your work laptop connect to the ASD screen, for example using HDMI to thunderbolt cable (or adapter), perhaps does your work laptop have a USB-C (thunderbolt)port on it?

From what I gather the ASD expects a thunderbolt connection from PC/Mac/Laptop.

My MacBook Air 2015 can't output 5k but can do 4k from it's the mini DisplayPort and I've been told from my local Apple Store that it will work fine with the ASD in 4K only. However, I'd need the correct adapter and cable to that.

 

[iSuzan]

@iSuzan What scaling do you use to get the resolution at good level for you ?

I believe the default scaling for ASD is half of 5K (5120 x 2880)

At the moment using it with my iMac and the resolution of 2048 x 1152.

 

[GlenK]

ASD speakers started cutting off since upgrading to 12.5. If I go to Preferences and switch to Studio Speakers it works, then when I switch back to ASD speakers they work for a few seconds and then go mute again. Never had this until after update yesterday. Anyone else had this issue?

I restarted but it didn't help.

UPDATE - I just unplugged the ASD waited about 30 seconds then plugged it back in. Seems to have corrected the issue. Will report back if it doesn't last!!!!

 

[bluespark]

Thanks, yeah I def wondered that too before ordering. I actually prefer the look of a space grey Macbook with the silver ASD.

iMac's are great but you'll like this setup more I'm sure.

I went with the silver MBP this year to be match-matchy with my other Apple gear, and I wish I hadn't. Love the computer, but the grey ones look better to me and still look great with silver gear like the Studio Display.

 

[maxsquared]

I went with the silver MBP this year to be match-matchy with my other Apple gear, and I wish I hadn't. Love the computer, but the grey ones look better to me and still look great with silver gear like the Studio Display.

I am on the opposite, got a grey one then was given a silver on by work, the silver one looks much better with the black keyboards. and looks great pairing with my ASD.

 

[justmadeupname]

TLDR; Depends what resolution you want to run the screen at. If you're not bothered about a retina-like experience at native res, go for it. At that lower resolution, everything looks amazing, but you lose screen real estate.

What's the native resolution for the 40" monitor?
Also what lower resolution are you using?

 

[justmadeupname]

I bought a cheap 27" 4K monitor as a 2nd display after I bought the ASD. By default it was set to 4k resolution non-retina. So everything was very tiny but a lot of space. I set the resolution to the same as the ASD so if I move a windows from one monitor to the other everything is the same size. The crazy thing is I don't see much of a difference on casual browsing, chatting stuff.

@Diskutant Thanks. Okay then that could be a good back up plan getting a "cheapish" 4K monitor with USB-C input running at MacOS 1440 scaling - thanks for sharing your observations 👍

 

[iJaximus]

I had to return the new Odyssey G8 from Samsung due to QC issues, never again buying monitors from them.

Placed an order for the ASD, should be arriving tomorrow.

Figured that if I wanted to game, I have my PS5/TV for that. ASD should be sufficient for a sheep like me to do daily work lol.

 

[constructor]

Regarding scaling on a 4k monitor: The scaling options are displayed in points, which means non-retina pixel coordinates, but macOS will actually display double that resolution in pixels, so 1920x1080 points are actually rendered as 3840x2160 pixels, for instance.

I run an additional 4k in 5k downscaled mode next to the ASDs (for identical window sizes) and the 4k is indeed noticeably grainier and fuzzier (softer) especially with text (both in scaled and in unscaled mode), so I really see the benefit of the real 5k resolution for main usage. But the 4k is okay for secondary use.

 

[constructor]

How loud are the fans on these? I was just in Best Buy today looking at one, it looks amazing and I want it, but I noticed constant air blowing out the top, even though it wasn't set particularly bright and the store was fairly cold. Sadly the store environment is too loud to really know how audible it would be in a quiet office.

They were out of stock, and also I can get an EDU discount on Apple, so I put in an order anyway; with the current lead time it'll be over a month that I can change my mind.

We've had a pretty heavy heat wave here and (with no air condition at 38°C / 100F) the fans on my two ASDs have remained inaudible except very softly when putting my ear directly near the outlets at the top of the displays.

So it's not an issue for me, but I'm using them on a Mac Studio (which is slightly audible, but just so in a very quiet room), so the 100W charging power and the speakers aren't being used – maybe if the power supply needs to run at higher power at the same time as the display and the speakers the fans might run faster but that's not happening here.

Anyone using the Studio Display as a developer? Is that so much better compared to a 32" 4K Dell for example (text, IDE)? Do you see some benefits in darker rooms?

I had been using an iMac 5k before so I knew what I'd be getting, but as a developer I love the 5k resolution for perfectly sharp and readable text, even in small notes or Terminal logs. I'd never willingly go back to something worse!