Apple's Studio Display vs. LG's UltraFine 5K Display

[Zest28]

The accuracy you get with a 27” 5K display. What did you think we were talking about?

Looks like you have been drinking a lot of the Apple Koolaid. 4K @ 27 inch is already retina on a normal viewing distance, so text is fine.

So all those Pro monitors @ 4K resolutions which are more colour accurate than the Apple Studio Display are doing it wrong according to MacRumors?

In any case, since I'm a shareholder of Apple, it is good that you guys pay $2000 for a height adjustable Apple Studio Display.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I can easily afford it. But the thing is, I can buy a 4K mini-LED 27" 144hz monitor for $999, which is not that far off from the mini-LED in my 16" M1 Max MacBook Pro.

But Apple wants to me to bring a lot of lube to the Apple Store and buy that $2000 Apple Studio Display (you cannot height adjust the basic $1600 model) instead, as Apple computers only work with their own displays (and I'm sure they do it on purpose for more $$$$$).

That 27" 4K display has 8.3 million pixels versus the 5K Studio Display which has 14.7 million pixels - roughly 77% more.

If you think that's no big deal because 4K at 27" is basically "already retina...so text is fine" then save the money. I'm happy to trade mini-LED and 144hz for premium design (no cheap plastic) and a display that works with my Mac perfectly every time (no blank screens or fiddling with clunky monitor buttons and menu systems).

I didn't need the adjustable height model, so $1,599 was worth it to me. $1,999 is a lot, but you'll probably have it for many years and be happier with the device continuity.

 

[star-affinity]

Looks like you have been drinking a lot of the Apple Koolaid. 4K @ 27 inch is already retina on a normal viewing distance, so text is fine.

Still, a very clear difference in sharpness from an arm-length distance on a 27"@5K compared to a 27"@4K. I have compared displays here at work.

I can understand if many people think a 27" 4K display is ”sharp enough” – it is after all a much more pixel dense display than a 2560 x 1440 pixels display at 27" – but I still think 27" with 5K pixels is clearly better and can see why Apple went for that. It also scales evenly to ”looks like 2560 x 1440” so there's no potential performance loss from uneven scaling.

Just wish we had the power to run 5K at higher refresh rates than 60 Hz. 5K@120 Hz would have been something. Maybe next year?

 

[jdb8167]

Just wish we had the power to run 5K at higher refresh rates than 60 Hz. 5K@120 Hz would have been something. Maybe next year?

There are barely any 5K@60Hz displays. What good would a 5K@120Hz output be if there are no displays that can use it?

 

[Feek]

Still, a very clear difference in sharpness from an arm-length distance on a 27"@5K compared to a 27"@4K. I have compared displays here at work.

Initially, I didn't agree with this, I thought there was no real noticeable difference. Then when I had an ASD next to an Asus 4K monitor, the difference was surprisingly visible.

That's why I now have two ASDs connected to my MSU.

 

[star-affinity]

There are barely any 5K@60Hz displays. What good would a 5K@120Hz output be if there are no displays that can use it?

True. It was more of a wish/dream. But I take it DisplayPort 2.0 and up will make this become reality.

 

[jdb8167]

True. It was more of a wish/dream. But I take it DisplayPort 2.0 and up will make this become reality.

Bandwidth wise it will but I doubt anyone will make a display that supports it. At least not soon.

 

[BayouTiger]

I think a lot of folks miss the point about scaling. Apple has always considered 2560x1440 to be the best resolution for a 27" display (I agree), so they take a 5K and scale it to be there. I have the 27" LG 5k and an LG 4K next to it. I do my primary work on the 5K and use the 4K as a secondary. The 4K is actually fine, but I love the LG 5K.

As to the quality of the Apple displays, I can say that the older ones I owned were also stupid expensive at the time, but my old Thunderbolt Displays are still in use by friends and relatives, and even my old 30" Cinema display was used well beyond it's expected life, and was only scrapped because it got knocked over and broke.

So many folks seem to think that mainstream monitors are great and outlast several PC's but in my office where I have about 50 23" screens on desktops, we replace them all the time. I really do not have an issue paying a premium for a great display if it will last me several years.

 

[FlaNolan]

I would definitely get the Apple display over the LG for it's other abilities and its aesthetics. The $380 27" 4K display I am using now looks good to me, so for me to actually buy one of these, the LG would need to cost about $500 and the Apple maybe about $900.

Which monitor are you using now? I think we are on similar wavelengths about both being a bit pricey. I am pondering an upgrade from my Mac Pro Classic 2012 (12 cores @3.33) with 2 30” Apple displays to either the Studio or new Mac Mini w/ m2 pro. In any event, I will likely upgrade my displays soon and am looking at 4k and 5k options.

 

[ADGrant]

Which monitor are you using now? I think we are on similar wavelengths about both being a bit pricey. I am pondering an upgrade from my Mac Pro Classic 2012 (12 cores @3.33) with 2 30” Apple displays to either the Studio or new Mac Mini w/ m2 pro. In any event, I will likely upgrade my displays soon and am looking at 4k and 5k options.

For a 27" screen, 5k is much better than 4k and there is a new 5k monitor just launched by Samsung.

 

[KPOM]

For a 27" screen, 5k is much better than 4k and there is a new 5k monitor just launched by Samsung.

Though it isn’t available yet and we don’t know the price. I assume it will be less than $1599, though.

 

[FasterQuieter]

Which monitor are you using now? I think we are on similar wavelengths about both being a bit pricey. I am pondering an upgrade from my Mac Pro Classic 2012 (12 cores @3.33) with 2 30” Apple displays to either the Studio or new Mac Mini w/ m2 pro. In any event, I will likely upgrade my displays soon and am looking at 4k and 5k options.

I’ve been using this since October 2021 and really like it. I paid about $400. Can’t believe how cheap it is now. LG 27UP650-W Monitor 27” UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS Display, VESA DisplayHDR 400, DCI-P3 95% Color Gamut, 3-Side Virtually Borderless Display, Height/Pivot/Tilt Adjustable Stand – Silver https://a.co/d/gC2zTr9

 

[DCline]

So here I am waiting for my new M2 mini pro, bought to replace my 2012 iMac 27. Held off on the monitor because of too much discussion on the shortfalls of the current 27 inch Studio monitor. With the announcement of the 6K Dell 32 inch Ultrasharp and the 5K Samsung S9 Viewfinity 27 inch display, I will try to figure out how to temporarily use my iMac display until the dust settles. To add my two cents to the existing posts, I use a Dragonfly A/D and a desktop Fatman tube amp and speaker system with a separate sub so built in speakers don't matter to me. A good video camera integrated with the monitor is a bonus but could be purchase separately ($100-200). HDR or HDR+ is something I want for my TV screen. Capability as a powered hub is a big plus but I could always buy one ($2-300). I average 2-3 hours a day screen time and I do not get eye fatigue based on my iMac so would not pay an arm and a leg for nano textured anti-reflective glass. Waiting, waiting, waiting to see if Apple refreshes its 27 inch Studio Display and/or what the price will be on the Samsung or Dell offerings...

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

I’ve been using this since October 2021 and really like it. I paid about $400. Can’t believe how cheap it is now. LG 27UP650-W Monitor 27” UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS Display, VESA DisplayHDR 400, DCI-P3 95% Color Gamut, 3-Side Virtually Borderless Display, Height/Pivot/Tilt Adjustable Stand – Silver https://a.co/d/gC2zTr9

Crazy price. Sounds like it has reliability issues though.

 

[FasterQuieter]

Crazy price. Sounds like it has reliability issues though.

Mine has been fine so far. Fingers crossed.