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

[AppelGeenyus]

I'll ask you again.

Are you accusing me of lying when I claim I have had a 5K iMac on my desk next to a 4K HP Z27 allowing me to move text windows between them and clearly see the difference?

View attachment 1970888

It was one possibility. Your statements are still wrong, though.

 

[Arctic Moose]

It was one possibility.

No, you definitely accused me of lying, it is just not entirely clear to me what you were referring to.

No you're just lying about what you've used and doubling down on bs.

Your statements are still wrong, though.

How so? (I.e. which specific statement is factually incorrect?)

You seem really mad that others can appreciate a difference in pixel density that you cannot.

 

[CWallace]

From the Apple website I can not figure out, if the studio display has an external power brick, like the 24"iMac or in internal power supply. Does anybody know this?

There is no reason for the Apple Studio Display to need an external power supply. It is thick enough to have an internal power supply.

And in addition: Would it be possible to power the Mac Studio via the Studio display (or the studio display via the Mac)?

I am sure the Mac Studio needs more than the 96 watts of power the Apple Studio Display can provide, so that would be a "no".

You have a source fort this?

Yes. LG Display only makes one family of 5K panels and they have all been IPS. And it's edge-lit because the iMac 5K was edge-lit and if Apple had moved to Mini-LED, they would have noted that.

And is that panel as the one in the now pretty old LG UltraFine 27MD5KL 27" 5K IPS?

It is the same panel used in the last iMac 5K and the current UltraFine 5K.

Was thinking something should have happened panel wise since then, but maybe the 5K panels doesn't evolves as fast as the 4K ones seem to do. ?‍♂️

Apple is by far the largest buyer of 5K panels from LG Display so they are the one that has driven what advancements we have seen (True Tone, Wide Color, etc.) since the initial release in 2014. Well behind them are LG Electronics (who use it in the UltraFine 5K) and then iiyama (with the XB2779QQS). Dell and HPE did offer 5K displays in 2014, but discontinued them after a few years.

 

[Vangeli]

Hmm, wonder if two Studio displays can be plugged into an M1 Mac Mini. It’d take up the only two Thunderbolt ports but add six USB-C and it can handle a Pro Display XDR at 6K plus a second display up to 4K, so two 5K displays seems potentially possible. Would be interesting.

 

[CWallace]

So Ross Young tweeted this morning that Apple will release an "Apple Studio Display Pro" at WWDC with a MiniLED display.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1501784633049976834

I didn't think Apple was this dumb, but I guess I was wrong.

I wonder how many Apple Studio Display cancellations the Apple Store is recording this morning.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I wonder how many Apple Studio Display cancellations the Apple Store is recording this morning.

I put off ordering a second one. Since delivery has slipped to six weeks I thought I might as well have an order in, but I think I'll trial the first one until WWDC to see what happens.

 

[AppelGeenyus]

No, you definitely accused me of lying, it is just not entirely clear to me what you were referring to.

How so? (I.e. which specific statement is factually incorrect?)

You seem really mad that others can appreciate a difference in pixel density that you cannot.

Yes I was guessing what I thought was most likely based on a combination of things you said, your attitude, and the outcomes of conversations I have had with others.

Re statements, these ones.

..."the blurry text on my HP Z27 monitors"...

"You really need to work on your reading comprehension."

"4K is simply not enough pixels for a 27" display for some of us, but 5K is."

"You cannot see (or at least cannot appreciate) the difference and that's fine. I'm happy for you."

"You seem really mad that others can appreciate a difference in pixel density that you cannot."

I have neither claimed that I or anyone else can't see a difference between 4k/5k @ 27", nor that there is nothing to appreciate. Assuming someone is really mad based on nothing is always a classy move isn't it ?

 

[Cashmonee]

What math?

The human eye is not capable of differentiating a particular size of pixel at a set distance. For a 27" monitor at 4k resolution, the human eye cannot see individual pixels at any distance of 21" or more. So, those that say they are seeing a difference either:

1. Sit very close to their monitor (on a typical desk the monitor is going to be at least 24" from your face and usually more like 26" or 27").

2. Have above average vision (like 20/15, which 30% of people have).

3. Are having this experience for another reason such as brightness settings or placebo effect.

I suspect most of those in this thread claiming they can see the difference fall into the third group, though I readily admit there will be some that truly do see the difference.

 

[ghostwind]

5k on a 27" monitor is fantastic for playback, but real crappy for judging sharpness when editing photos or video.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Have above average vision (like 20/15, which 30% of people have)

Assuming all this is true almost every third person would benefit from 5K over 4K in a 27” display. Not very convincing math.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Humans may not be able to see pixels at a certain distance but they can definitely see when things drawn on screen are smoother as a result of more pixels in a given area.

I can see the difference between 5K and 4K at 27 inches

I say this as somebody who still uses a 1600p 30” monitor personally
No dog in this hunt

 

[Cashmonee]

Assuming all this is true almost every third person would benefit from 5K over 4K in a 27” display. Not very convincing math.

Well, not exactly. Most people still would sit too far even for 20/15 vision. But there would certainly exist people that do have good enough vision. Those people would also likely be young, which if you look at many of the people claiming to see a difference, they don't really fall into that category (when they claim to be coding for 20 years, having used an Apple II, etc.).

All I am trying to do is make sure that people get unbiased information. The unbiased fact is that the overwhelming majority of users cannot in fact see a difference between a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor based on resolution alone at a normal viewing distance.

 

[dandeco]

$1599 is high but makes sense for so much tech that it offers.
Most 5k displays are anyway over $999.

Analysts predicted $3000. So this is quite a steal at almost half that amount.

Being $1599 doesn't surprise me too much, given that it's a 5K display with fancy speakers, a built-in webcam and microphone, and a USB-C hub. Makes a bit more sense than the Apple Thunderbolt Display costing $999 and not even being Retina and still having USB 2.0 ports (sure, it came out in 2011, but afterward it continued to have USB 2.0 ports well after Apple's Macs abandoned that in favor of USB 3!)

 

[LonestarOne]

1. Sit very close to their monitor (on a typical desk the monitor is going to be at least 24" from your face and usually more like 26" or 27").

That distance is not fixed, however. People can and will lean closer when they want to see details.

 

[LonestarOne]

All I am trying to do is make sure that people get unbiased information. The unbiased fact is that the overwhelming majority of users cannot in fact see a difference between a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor based on resolution alone at a normal viewing distance.

I can instantly see the difference between my 4K and 5K monitors based on font size. Trying to pick out individual pixels is irrelevant because that’s not what I use the monitor for.

 

[Cashmonee]

I can instantly see the difference between my 4K and 5K monitors based on font size. Trying to pick out individual pixels is irrelevant because that’s not what I use the monitor for.

The math behind it all suggests that if you were given a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor without knowing their resolution you would not be able to consistently tell which was which. Assuming of course that you were sitting the normal viewing distance away.

To be clear, I am not suggesting someone not buy the monitor they want. If you prefer the Studio Display to other alternatives, go for it. All I am saying is that many are suggesting they are seeing something they almost assuredly are not.

 

[LonestarOne]

The math behind it all suggests that if you were given a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor without knowing their resolution you would not be able to consistently tell which was which. Assuming of course that you were sitting the normal viewing distance away.

Then you’d better check your math, or your eyes.

The difference between 4K resolution and 5K resolution is the difference between 8-point type and 10-point. If you can’t tell the difference between 8-point and 10-point type, it’s time for bifocals.

 

[LonestarOne]

The math behind it all suggests that if you were given a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor without knowing their resolution you would not be able to consistently tell which was which. Assuming of course that you were sitting the normal viewing distance away.

All you have to do is open up a 4K video, at full resolution, in Final Cut Pro. On a 4K monitor, you won’t have any room for tool windows. On a 5K monitor, you will. No matter what your viewing distance is.

 

[KennyJr]

For those folks discussing the possibility of lower cost displays by other manufacturers to use with a Mac:

Just a quick reminder .. When the new Mac mini first came out - I bought one - then searched for a display that was a good match for the mini. I ended up with a 32" $1000 LG UltraFine. I was lucky. The interface was clean. But if you check the forum discussions from that era, A key issue was one of finding a display that worked seamlessly with the Mac mini (or any Mac for that matter). There were a lot issues relating to how well the display would conform with the Mac's display output.

I'll get the Studio display - knowing that I'll have a perfect match with my Mac, a good camera, good speakers, and significantly higher pixel density then I experience with my UltraFine.

 

[pacificblue]

Because some of us actually own and use the things we discuss. Some of us have actually tested this stuff extensively. Some peoples understanding of how this stuff works actually extends beyond Apples marketing terms. Some people prefer to only engage in conversations in an accurate and truthful manner, instead of posing and/or misleading others with utter nonsense.

That doesn't really counter my point, buddy. I'm typing this response on the same 5k panel used in the Studio Display (218 PPI), next to it a quality display from Dell with 185 PPI (much higher PPI than a typical 27" 4k display). I can absolutely see a significant difference between the two, sitting at a typical working distance.
You babble on about how you really understand the tech and the anybody who disagree is a victim of "Apple marketing". Meanwhile, your claims are absolute nonsense and anybody with a high PPI display knows that you're wrong.

 

[Lyoha]

No you're just lying about what you've used and doubling down on bs. I've already mentioned this elsewhere before but if Apple released a 6k iMac back in 2014, people like you would be claiming today that 5k is blurry and anything less than 6k is unacceptable.

Really bro? You know how other people perceive things? I have excellent visual acuity and I can certainly tell the difference between 4K and 5K. I can also see individual pixels on 2x retina screens at typical viewing distances, whether that be on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, external monitor, etc. Once we get to 3x, I have to bring the phone within 5 inches of my face to discern the pixels. All that said, I do find 4K on a 27" monitor to be adequate to my tastes, but don't tell people who's eyes you haven't seen through that they can't see things just because you can't.

 

[KPOM]

As one of those people that was expecting a much higher price, that was upon the expectation that the monitor would be miniLED. I didn't expect them to release the same panel as the LG 5K.

What does perplex me are the complaints from people for whom existing monitors seem to be adequate. Yes, you can buy a 4K 32" monitor for less than a third the price of the Studio Display. It's not nearly as good. Apple was never going to release something like that and try to compete on price, because why bother doing so when there are so many such monitors to choose from? They built something that didn't exist for people whose needs are not satisfied by existing monitors and priced it very reasonably. Just because I'm not one of those people doesn't mean I can't appreciate how good the Studio Display is for those who do need or want it.

If the rumors are correct, another display with miniLED may be coming soon, perhaps to replace the XDR or slot in between. It appears Apple views the Studio Display as the "replacement" for the 27" iMac (paired with the Mac Studio at the high end, or the Mac mini at the low end). Hence, the display has similar specs as the outgoing iMac, albeit with a brighter screen and apparently true 10-bit support, and not 8+2 like the LG UltraFine 5K.

 

[KPOM]

It does not. (If it did, it would surely have been mentioned during the presentation and in the tech specs.)

I wonder if Apple plans to add that in the next version of macOS. Certainly there is no technological reason why they couldn't, but they might not want to since they wouldn't yet be able to expand it to the MacBook Air or even the new MacBook Pros.

 

[KPOM]

I am curious why Apple needs an A13 chip in the display

It supports Spatial Audio and Center Stage.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I wonder if Apple plans to add that in the next version of macOS. Certainly there is no technological reason why they couldn't, but they might not want to since they wouldn't yet be able to expand it to the MacBook Air or even the new MacBook Pros.

If there is hardware support it will surely be discovered by ifixit as soon as the first Studio Display ships.

Supposedly it is not currently possible to fit the Face ID hardware in the thin laptop lids.