Apple's Studio Display vs. Dell's Latest $655 27-Inch UltraSharp Monitor

[Zdigital2015]

Dell used to make one, I have it; the P2415Q. Still not quite retina but a lot closer. Was my preferred screen (over a 27” 4K) until I got the Studio Display. I actually wish Apple made one with the same panel as the 24”iMac.

I have the Dell P2415Q…great monitor and works well at 2304*1296 for me most of the time unless I am text heavy and I switch to true 1080p@2x which is fine even though not a lot of info gets displayed. Could be worse. I run my BenQ SW271 at 2560x1440, which works the best on a 27” monitor.

 

[rgwebb]

Here’s the secret though: the overwhelming majority of people wouldn’t know the difference unless they were using them side-by-side. I get that 5K is a better resolution for this size, but the differences aren’t as major as people like to make out.

Here’s the deal though: I am a special person with very special eyes.

 

[anthogag]

I mean, you could spend the difference on better speakers or a camera, maybe even both. Not everyone wants or needs all of that built in.

Right, you can get external speakers and a camera for the difference. My 5K display has minimal speakers and no camera. It is connected to a Harman/Kardon system. Still, it would be nice to have good speakers in the display. Portability is better and it is another "redirection" for a MacOS app like SoundSource".

 

[mousekiks]

Have you even tried the ASD with HDR content? I have and having a LG 32UN880-B 4K HDR next to my ASD, all I can say HDR content looks 10 times better in the ASD than in the LG 4K HDR. Even that the ASD does not “officially” support HDR, it really does. In fact, YouTube and Apple TV apps enable HDR content in the ASD. All my HDR/DV movies purchased over Apple TV play in HDR in my ASD.

I’m just stating the facts. I buy my monitors based off rtings.com
Their methodology is quite detailed and they seem the best in the business when it comes to display reviews.

 

[hans1972]

I don’t understand why people think macOS does fractional scaling poorly… I’ve been using Retina MacBooks for years at fractional scaling and never had an issue. Same with a Mac mini and a 27’ 4K monitor.

Take a 5K iMac and connect a 4K monitor to it and you will see the difference in text sharpness when viewed side by side.

 

[hans1972]

It's hard for many to understand why not everyone wants to fork over $1600 for a 7 year old panel that doesn't raise up or down like every other monitor in 2022. Folks that spend that money will defend it all day long like it was the only buying choice there was.

I have been using TVs and monitors as screens since the early 80ties and I have never raised or lowered any of them. At work I don't have a specific place to sit and just use desks that are available. There are numerous different monitors with regards to sizes, types and how low or high they are. I just use the monitor the way it is if I need it.

I'm not sure I would now how to rise or lower a monitor since I have never done it.

 

[hans1972]

I have personally compared 163 ppi, 185 ppi, and 220 ppi monitors at 60cm. The latter two are indistingushable in sharpness, and the 163 ppi is such a minor difference I certainly wouldn't spend an extra $1000 to step up the ppi.

It's the 2x scaling we are after. I sit about 45 cm from my 5K iMac and I even like to lean closer to the screen sometimes. I have also seen an 5k iMac with an extra 4K monitor attached and I could clearly see the difference in sharpness for text when sitting close to the screens as I do.

 

[Blowback]

Studio display doesn’t support HDR…

My first thought.

 

[macduke]

We've been at 4K for ages, why won't more companies compete with 5K and 6K displays? I want a 32" 6K display so bad but can't shell out $5200 minimum for one with a VESA mount.

 

[hans1972]

This is exactly right

If people are not doing some side by side analysis, they find 4k scaled resolutions look outstanding

It's even true for me -- I've done the 5k/4k side by side routine and I can see a difference..

But it's not really that big of a deal honestly and once the 5k goes away, in about 20 mins I'm fully acclimated to 4k and loving it.

But if 4K is great, why even wait for or even consider an Apple monitor? There is nothing Apple could have improved on for 4K monitors. There have been great 4K monitors out there for at least a decade.

 

[Tagbert]

The Dell monitor does support HDR. And the article makes it sounds like the studio display has better HDR which is obviously impossible.

The Dell is rated for HDR400. That kind of just means that it won’t choke on HDR material but, as the review points out, the dynamic range is insufficient in those brighter levels and it just gets washed out.

 

[Karma*Police]

It’s funny how Mac users are now defending Apple based on specs when in the past, the argument was always that specs didn’t matter.

It’s still not important… there’s virtually no discernible difference between 4k and 5k from a normal viewing distance. Most users won’t notice the difference between 400 and 600 nits unless they were side by side. For 99% of users, the Dell and most other monitors that are a $1,000 cheaper is the better value.

 

[Tagbert]

We've been at 4K for ages, why won't more companies compete with 5K and 6K displays? I want a 32" 6K display so bad but can't shell out $5200 minimum for one with a VESA mount.

Probably price.

4K has the benefit of large volumes due to use by PCs and by Televisions. When you go to higher resolutions, those are lower volume production and the price for a panel goes up substantially. Most people won’t pay a premium for better quality.

 

[Dazza1976]

I do have this 27" Dell monitor, bought last week.
It's fine, works fine and it's plenty sharp for design work.
I could have spent $2600 Australian, but I do't think you gain much.
I honestly Apple has overpriced their monitor for what it seems to me an updated LG.

Yes, it would have been nice to have the speakers and the camera. But, I use my MacBookPro as a second monitor and camera. I have some Genelec monitors I'll plug in for music and Audio.

Thanks

 

[citysnaps]

Here’s the secret though: the overwhelming majority of people wouldn’t know the difference unless they were using them side-by-side. I get that 5K is a better resolution for this size, but the differences aren’t as major as people like to make out.

Yup. If you're not fussy and use your computer for surfing the web, email, word processing, spreadsheets, etc., a low cost/resolution display is fine.

If you're doing something creative such as editing image files or processing video, where display quality/resolution/color gamut/etc is meaningful and critical, then naturally you'll pay more money for a much better display. Because you care, the differences are major, and you're fussy.

I have a 2012 27" iMac and a late 2015 27" 5K iMac. Putting them side by side it's immediately obvious my 5K iMac display is far superior.

There's no secret about that.

 

[SlaveToSwift]

I said yuck on Studio Display launch day too. Until Apple gets something 120Hz+ out. Just like our MacBook Pro 14 Promotion.

My work laptop is a 2020 model stuck in 60Hz output and I definitely tell the stutters.

Hmm, do you think 120Hz eliminates stutters? Or do you think that anyone in the world sells a 5k monitor that can run at 120Hz? Do you not understand how many pixels that is and how many megabytes per second it would require a cable supporting?

 

[SlaveToSwift]

You aren’t we.

Then why can I hear you in my head? Listen closely, I'm talking to you

 

[SlaveToSwift]

Humm...I agree and have dealt with the same issues, especially if your work demands many hours in-front of the display.. continue to live with the eye & headache issues too, regardless of the monitor.

I thought the reflective mirror was also the cause (as with my beloved Apple Thunderbolt monitor). I also heard that Retina can cause eye strain and headaches to some too.

If what you say is the facts, then though Apple's Studio Display is quite expensive in comparison to it limitations and issues..but..."if" it does minimizes eye strain and headaches...then I would take a second consideration and look at it.

Hope to go somewhere and see the screen under the store's florescence lighting (as most stores have) to check the glare etc. Usually by looking at the screen for a few minutes, you can tell about eye strain etc.

I've heard that not using a Retina display is linked to stinky breath and bad hygiene.

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

Another comparison to a non-retina, low-PPI display. 4K 27" is really not that sharp - it's only as sharp as the original non-retina iPhone (around 160 PPI)

This absurdity has to stop.

4K is an appropriate resolution for a 27" monitor. Someone with 20/20 vision will not be able to see the difference between 4K and 5K at the typical viewing distance of ~2ft.

 

[WilliamG]

27" 4k is not retina. Over and out.

This. Pointless comparison when 5K is so much higher res than 4K, more than 50% more.

 

[currocj]

does the Studio Display support DisplayPort 1.4/DSC/HBR3? Has anyone confirmed this?

Please no “why does it matter?” responses!

 

[currocj]

Have two studio displays on my desk. Audio running stereo through either side. Needs a sub but sound great a low to med vol. more importantly they look great. Color reproduction is perfect, and theyre sharp. Webcam is a let down. I note that chrome doesn’t allow the cinema part to move around which is better, I just get a wider view. Be nice for apple to give us the option.

I moved from a higher end dell 4K admittedly older monitor. Worth it.

Can you run them both through 1 tb4 dock? Just curious…

 

[ruka.snow]

Another round of comparing two things that aren’t even remotely similar. This dell screen is a great low end option but you might as well compare it with a TV instead of the Apple Studio display. I know which of the three is colour accurate out the box with my printer.

 

[Jeo_cz]

Take a 5K iMac and connect a 4K monitor to it and you will see the difference in text sharpness when viewed side by side.

I used to have a 5K iMac. Now I have the MacBook Pro 16 next to the 4K Dell UP2720Q because I need to have a color accurate monitor (full Adobe RGB). The is NO DIFFERENCE in text sharpness between MacBook Retina display and 4K display.

As I wrote it before you just need to adjust or completely turn off the font smoothing in macOS's terminal:

defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

 

[iSayuSay]

Dell has one big benefit. Versatility. It has multiple inputs with which you may connect any devices you want, including Thunderbolt computers.

You may even connect Apple TV, game console, gaming PC, Macs or laptops and you don’t have to worry about “firmware updates” that requires you to connect it to a Mac or iPad.

For $665, a bit less brightness and color accuracy, I’d still take it anyday.