Apple Unveils $1,599 27-Inch 5K 'Studio Display' External Monitor

[LonestarOne]

5K shmive K. Sacrificing HDR, 120hz+ and multiple inputs for a bump in pixel density that most people can't even notice is a terrible trade-off.

So, you decided to change the subject instead of answering the question.

A 5K display allows video editors to work with 4K video at full resolution while having tool palettes open simultanously on the same monitor. If you don’t understand why that‘s important, well… there’s no shortage of 4K monitors out there you can buy.

 

[fwmireault]

5K shmive K. Sacrificing HDR, 120hz+ and multiple inputs for a bump in pixel density that most people can't even notice is a terrible trade-off.

People are complaining about two opposite things in this thread. 27 inch screen is too small, and 60 hz refresh rate is too low. Problem is that for now, there is not enough bandwidth in Thunderbolt 3/4 to deliver 5K or 6K 120hz displays over a single cable. And apple could not go backward to the retina resolution on mac, the backlash would be insane. So what is the best option? Delivering a 24 inch 4K Promotion display, or a 27 inch 5K 60 hz display? The second option seems to be the better compromise between refresh rate and screen real estate, until displayport and thunderbolt give us the possibility to output more bandwidth for 5K, 6K, 7K 120 hz displays.

So yeah sure you could find great 4K 120 hz displays with OLED or Mini-LED, but they are not anywhere near the pixel density of the apple displays. And I disagree with your last sentence, the difference in pixel density between a 27 inch 4K display and a 27 inch 5K display is very noticeable. maybe it’s not important for you, but that’s an other story

 

[Rychiar]

They could have at least used mini led I mean what the hell. Otherwise I’d rather they strip all the bells and whistles away and just put out the iMac display as is for $800 or less. I wish I could just plug the mac studio into an existing iMac and use it as a display

 

[ommachi]

If an iPad Pro (2018 and above) is connected to this display, would it inherit the camera (and speakers) of this display or would it still be stuck with its internal (front and back) cameras? If we know it as an yes for the former, that setup would perhaps be a good WFH option using only an iPP (with external KB/M)…

 

[Eksdad]

It seems as if it is only compatible with newer Macs, see https://www.apple.com/studio-display/specs/:

Compatibility
Studio Display is compatible with the following Mac models running macOS Monterey 12.3 or later:

• Mac Studio (2022)
• 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019 or later)
• 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
• 13-inch MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
• 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
• MacBook Air (2018 or later)
• Mac mini (2018 or later)
• Mac Pro (2019 or later)
• 24-inch iMac (2021)
• 27-inch iMac (2017 or later)
• 21.5-inch iMac (2017 or later)
• iMac Pro (2017)

Studio Display is compatible with the following iPad models running iPadOS 15.4 or later:2

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Air (5th generation)

It is not compatible with my 2008 Mac Pro. Hard pass.

 

[mrr]

This monitor is sweet and would look great next to a new 27” iMac. Apple are you listening?

 

[0924487]

An A13 chip? I can't believe everything they've crammed into that display - it has more tech than some laptops 🤣

True, A13 is more powerful than most laptops.

 

[d5aqoëp]

I would’ve definitely preferred 120/119.88hz for this.
but yea nothing available yet.
For that kind much bandwidth you would need DisplayPort 2.0

Which I read should be coming soon.
I’m guessing this will come with the next gen Pro Display XDR. Which is way out of my budget

HDMI 2.1 can do 4K 120hz with 4:4:4 chroma
DP 1.4 can do 4K 120hz with 4:4:4 chroma with DSC (Display Stream Compression)

 

[frumpsnake]

A 5K display allows video editors to work with 4K video at full resolution while having tool palettes open simultanously on the same monitor. If you don’t understand why that‘s important, well… there’s no shortage of 4K monitors out there you can buy.

More important to a video editor than proper HDR output? Please. It's 2022.

I can deal with overlapping tool palettes and zooming in and out. I *can't* deal with the monitor being edge lit and not outputting HDR video worth a damn.

 

[0924487]

The only important thing missing is miniLED feature.

I root for OLED and MicroLED technology to mature and bring the display cost down.

 

[LonestarOne]

More important to a video editor than proper HDR output? Please. It's 2022.

I can deal with overlapping tool palettes and zooming in and out. I *can't* deal with the monitor being edge lit and not outputting HDR video worth a damn.

Then go out and buy whatever monitor you think is better. No one’s putting a gun to your head. And no one’s required to forego what they want just because you don’t like it.

 

[Jack Burton]

I would’ve ordered one of these ASAP If it had more than one input. I’ve got a work laptop and a personal desktop. I’m looking for more and more ways to simplify and declutter. More minimalist is worth a premium to me. And if the MacBook Pro speakers are anything to judge this by, The speakers inside this monitor would suit me just fine.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I think this display and the Mac Studio have dashed any hopes of a 27" iMac or iMac Pro.

But hey, at least you got your black bezels, guys!

That said, we're a long way to the "end-of-2022" AS transition "deadline" and at least three Apple events remain.

 

[frumpsnake]

Then go out and buy whatever monitor you think is better. No one’s putting a gun to your head. And no one’s required to forego what they want just because you don’t like it.

I will have to, and that is a great shame.

Just highlighting that it's no longer 2014, 5K is now a tradeoff, and the use cases for the higher pixel density are now the very same use cases that are suffering from Apple's design decisions that lead to missing features that are -- arguably -- even more important.

 

[AppelGeenyus]

People are complaining about two opposite things in this thread. 27 inch screen is too small, and 60 hz refresh rate is too low. Problem is that for now, there is not enough bandwidth in Thunderbolt 3/4 to deliver 5K or 6K 120hz displays over a single cable. And apple could not go backward to the retina resolution on mac, the backlash would be insane. So what is the best option? Delivering a 24 inch 4K Promotion display, or a 27 inch 5K 60 hz display? The second option seems to be the better compromise between refresh rate and screen real estate, until displayport and thunderbolt give us the possibility to output more bandwidth for 5K, 6K, 7K 120 hz displays.

So yeah sure you could find great 4K 120 hz displays with OLED or Mini-LED, but they are not anywhere near the pixel density of the apple displays. And I disagree with your last sentence, the difference in pixel density between a 27 inch 4K display and a 27 inch 5K display is very noticeable. maybe it’s not important for you, but that’s an other story

I don't care if you disagree, you are wrong ?. It isn't "very noticeable", I've already proven this to someone else a while back in another thread, as I actually work on both 163 and 254 ppi side by side daily, which is an even wider gap than 163 vs 218. You can go find it if you like.

So, you decided to change the subject instead of answering the question.

A 5K display allows video editors to work with 4K video at full resolution while having tool palettes open simultanously on the same monitor. If you don’t understand why that‘s important, well… there’s no shortage of 4K monitors out there you can buy.

No that's not how video editing works at all, the viewer is pretty much always smaller than 4k while editing even on a 5k display. When you need it native res you throw it onto your second monitor, or leave it there the whole time.

It's amazing how powerful Apples marketing of "5K" has been...

 

[tks900]

Turns out, what I really want is a Studio Display SE.

 

[Mizouse]

HDMI 2.1 can do 4K 120hz with 4:4:4 chroma
DP 1.4 can do 4K 120hz with 4:4:4 chroma with DSC (Display Stream Compression)

Yes, but we were talking about 5K 120hz

 

[iZac]

It bothers me that the Thunderbolt connection is wayyyy over to the left rather than tucking under / near the PSU

 

[SlipSlidinAwa]

Ummm...do you mean Apple Studio Display?

Yes

Ummm...do you mean Apple Studio Display?

Obviously

 

[anshuvorty]

Yes, but we were talking about 5K 120hz

There are no cables or technologies out in the market today, bespoke or otherwise that can handle 5K 120hz...

 

[haruhiko]

I'm pretty let down by the studio display. The Studio CPU seems like a very capable professional tool given the performance capabilities, so the display doesn't quite match up to me since it seems more like a lower level consumer product instead of a mid tier item as reflected by the price.

- I was hoping for something more than a standard IPS 600 nit display. They didn't mention anything about MiniLED or pro motion, which makes it strange to have them market to colorists and photographers who would have a less capable screen compared to a MacBook Pro.

- The focus on audio capabilities is also kind of strange since anyone even slightly interested in production would use external speakers no matter how relatively good the monitor audio is.

-As for the price tag, it seems like you're getting the similar to a 5K iMac display with upgraded audio and webcam while shaving off an entire Mac computer for only $100 off what a base model 27" imac was.

This. Exactly my thought. We used to get an excellent 27" 5K P3 Display at 600nits WITH A COMPUTER at that price. But it's good to unbundle the computer part because after a few years the computer part will be seriously outdated but the monitor usually has a much longer lifespan. But this is Apple, they would release a monitor at the price of the 27-inch iMac without the iMac.

 

[d5aqoëp]

Yes, but we were talking about 5K 120hz

So clearly going with 5K was a dumb decision.

I am using 4K 120hz Acer Nitro and it is amazing but it’s almost 2 yrs old and cannot do 4:4:4 10 bit and doesn’t have DSC. I was looking forward to Apple’s release but it’s as expected half baked Gen 1 product. I will buy a proper 4K 120hz monitor with HDR1000 and enjoy smoothness and I am sure it would be considerably cheaper than the expensive thing apple has released for display.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I don't care if you disagree, you are wrong ?. It isn't "very noticeable", I've already proven this to someone else a while back in another thread, as I actually work on both 163 and 254 ppi side by side daily, which is an even wider gap than 163 vs 218. You can go find it if you like.

Not quite sure how you'd go about proving how someone else perceives a visual phenomenon, but whatever.

My eyeballs are 50 cm from where my monitors are mounted, and I typically use terminal glasses which provide a little additional magnification.

I have been extremely annoyed with the blurry text on my HP Z27 monitors that I have been using since I sold my 5K iMac, and I am so happy that the Studio Display finally exists. I don't want anything larger than 27", and I absolutely want 5K, so this is perfect.

Would variable refresh rate with a higher maximum have been nice? Sure. Would a more modern lighting technology have been preferred? Of course. Are blacker blacks desirable? Absolutely.

Do I currently care enough to be upset? Absolutely not. My must-have requirements have been fulfilled.

(Also, I can now take the bulky EOS 5D mk III I have been using as a webcam off the wall.)

 

[Delarock]

There are no cables or technologies out in the market today, bespoke or otherwise that can handle 5K 120hz...

With DSC no problem 5k 120hz ,

My question is this the same panel as 5k imac ?? So with high risk of image retention nad ghosting?

 

[haruhiko]

Am I the only one to have noticed that there seem to be TWO FANS in this display, while watching their video?

I'm interested, sort of... but there are legit complaints here. This is the display they should have released for the 2013 Mac Pro AGES AGO! Instead... nothing; for many years.

Aside from some of the other complaints mentioned here, I am wondering when these things will crash. It's got a SOC in it. That means it's running an embedded OS. To do ... what? That's a LOT of complexity. That was my concern when they put them in MacBooks for stuff like the Touch Bar. Added complexity is always a negative for reliability.

Even a cable has an SoC and a mini OS on it now.