HP Launches 4K ENVY Display With USB-C for New MacBook Pro

[jwsound]

LG's UltraFine 4K display is $524--only $25 extra--until December 31. Afterwards, its price returns to $699.95, which will make it a less attractive option compared to HP's ENVY 27 display, although still worth consideration.

I purchased the LG UltraFine 4K display hoping to use it with my MacBook (native USB-C) and with an older Mac Mini using an adapter that Apple sales person determined would work. The monitor works fine with a native USB-C port (MacBook and new MacBookPro) but I was not able to get it to work on any other Mac even utilizing several different USB-C adapters. Maybe there is a way but I couldn't find it. The HP monitor provides several other connection options (HDMI, etc.) so that would be preferable I believe for anyone wishing to use the monitor on a Mac that does not have USB-C.

 

[nol2001]

Good stuff. But where are those IPS 4K @ 120hz displays utilizing Display Port 1.3/1.4?

I am waiting for that. Once you go 120hz, you cannot go back.

Can macOS output 120hz?

 

[scott911]

industrial designers: put a port or two on the front please!

trust me - we won't mind a little improved functionality now and then!

 

[sirozha]

It's truly inexplicable why Apple would not want to make money by selling Apple branded 5K displays now that Thunderbolt 3 is out. They could make it connect to Macs via two Thunderbolt 2 cables (for MacBook Pros 2015) or one Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect to MacBook Pros 2016. They don't need to invent anything at this point. Just use the existing iMac body, remove the CPU, memory, etc. and add Thunderbolt 3. This is probably $10 million in R&D and they have a product that will fly off the shelves for $1299. They will make up their R&D costs in one hour of sales.

 

[Wowereit]

Since when is thunderbolt 3 an Apple-only invention?

The thing is that Thunderbolt 3 doesn't include DP 1.3 for native 5k but 2x DP 1.2.
You can do 5k with 2x DP 1.2 but there is no standard solution for this and compatibility will be hit or miss, so you need manufacturer's support.

 

[indiekiduk]

It's only pushing 1 4k display - nothing else. How would there be bandwidth issues?

USB-C supports 20Gbps, display port 4k @ 60hz requires 18Gbps and uses all the high speed wires for alternate mode. It might be possible to use USB 2.0 over the low speed wires but even if it was physically possible you are talking only keyboard/mice. So you won't see a USB 3.0 hub (5Gbps) for hard drives or gigabit ethernet dongles on a USB-C display because it isn't possible.

 

[Rob_2811]

27 inch is too big at 4k

 

[TMRJIJ]

You can't send USB and display port over the same cable at the same time. For that you need thunderbolt which is $$$ and requires Apple's involvement.

since they chose only to support their own chipset

You should probably do a little bit of research before posting complete crap.

 

[indiekiduk]

I'd like a clarification on the 4K resolution on screen sizes larger than 22" for connecting to Macs. I've read numerous posts on the web on this, and it seems that there's a good reason not to go beyond 22" on 4K displays for macOS because if pixel doubling is enabled, the screen elements are effectively displayed at 1080p (2160 pixels / 2), which makes icons and fonts too large on 27" monitors. Without pixels doubling, the screen elements (icons and fonts) are too small at 4K.

It seems that for macOS screen elements to be displayed at optimal size on 27" monitors, the displays should be either 2560 x 1440 (non-retina) or 5120 x 2880 (retina with pixel doubling).

I would appreciate a clarification on this. Thank you.

If you think 1080p doubled is too large icons then you can scale higher, e.g. 2304x1296 and 2560x1440 are some built in scales. Might look blurry though and hurt performance.

Personally I find 1080p doubled on a 4k 24" quite nice, although is lower ppi because you are sitting further back from the monitor it effectively looks the same as the higher ppi 15" MBP. Plus i'd rather everything sharp and max performance than scaling. You can always switch up and down depending on what you are doing though.

 

[chabig]

Just so I'm clear - this couldn't charge a 15" mbp right?

Sure it could. It would just take a little bit longer than with Apple's 87 Watt charger.

 

[BeamWalker]

Not a fan of the chrome accents on the stand, but this is gonna be a much more useful Display than the new LG "Apple" Displays.

 

[chabig]

Isn't putting a 15" on the 60w bad for the battery? Like using an iPhone charger for an iPad, I thought that reduced the battery health?

Not at all. The battery can accept charge at varying rates without any problem.

 

[Superhai]

Looking at more info on FreeSync, it doesn't look like this will benefit gaming much, unless you somehow get image-tearing under 60 FPS.

Which is not uncommon, especially on 4k displays.

 

[greenmeanie]

I Like the looks of it.

[QUOTE

="MacRumors, post: 24033105, member: 3"]


HP today launched its 27-inch ENVY display with 4K Ultra HD resolution and a built-in USB-C port for charging the new MacBook Pro, 12-inch MacBook, or most other USB-C devices at up to 60 watts over a single cable.

The IPS LED-backlit display features a clean design with a micro-edge bezel, matte black rear panel, and a thin aluminum stand. The base can be detached for VESA wall or arm mounting, but a bracket is not included.

The display has a 60Hz refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync, designed to eliminate stuttering and tearing in games and videos by locking the refresh rate to the framerate of the graphics card.

Tech specs:

o 27-inch IPS LED display with ultra-wide 178° angle viewing
o 4K Ultra HD resolution (3,840×2,160 pixels)
o 16:9 aspect ratio with 142 PPI
o 60Hz refresh rate
o 99% sRGB color gamut
o Typical brightness of 350 cd/m2
o Built-in ports: 1 USB-C, 1 DisplayPort 1.2, 1 HDMI 2.0, 1 HDMI 1.4
o USB-C Power Delivery up to 60 watts
o AMD FreeSync
o VESA mounting

Included in the box:

o A/C power cable
o USB-C cable
o DisplayPort cable
o HDMI cable

HP's new ENVY 27 Display is available on HP.com and at select retailers in the United States for $499 starting today. The price point is about $200 cheaper than some competing USB-C displays, such as the LG 27UD88 and Lenovo ThinkVision X1, but features and connectivity vary.

One display that may be a better buy in the near term is LG's and Apple's new UltraFine 4K display. While it has a smaller 21.5-inch screen, the UltraFine has true 4K resolution (4,096×2,304), built-in speakers, 3 additional USB-C ports, higher 500 cd/m2 brightness, and a wider DCI-P3 color gamut.

LG's UltraFine 4K display is $524--only $25 extra--until December 31. Afterwards, its price returns to $699.95, which will make it a less attractive option compared to HP's ENVY 27 display, although still worth consideration.

Article Link: HP Launches 4K ENVY Display With USB-C for New MacBook Pro[/QUOTE]

 

[zorinlynx]

Why do they make these things without standard USB-A ports?

I get it, USB-C is "the future" and they want us to migrate. But there needs to be a transition period where equipment has both kinds of ports.

 

[OzyOly]

Are you sure? Timmy is in acting a little crazy at the moment.

I for one would buy an easily serviceable Dell running MacOS in a heartbeat as I'm sure many others would.

Replacing MacPro and Mini? I wouldn't be totally shocked at this move...

 

[Marx55]

Apple should make a new Thunderbolt 3 display.

 

[Born Again]

Never forget guys

 

[johnnyturbouk]

Whilst this monitor seems to deliver in some regards, it lacks some critical attributes:

- Not P3
- Not Retina
- Lower brightness
- No software integration

The following are really irrelevant for my needs; or quite frankly, disadvantageous.

- Doesn't just have USB-C ports

DP + HDMI would be a no-brainer, expanding their market.

- Not "built for Mac"

I always found this a bit gimmicky, albeit, in the past mac users did have different requirements that led to specialist solutions provided iby the likes of OWC [i.e. custom ssds], notwithstanding, I found the moniker a way for manufacturers to essentially sell the same products, but for a healthy markup, as it is aimed at mac users, like the portable HDDs, firewire peripherals; were the mac versions extortionately more expensive.

- Not exclusively sold through Apple

Again, do not see this as a disadvantage, having used macs for over 12 years, I quite welcome universal connectivity and the ability to use all peripherals that I, the end user desire. Although I do tend to stick to apple peripherals, there are times I welcome the ability to use non-apple peripherals, and finally, avoiding the apple tax for third party products is a good thing IMHO.

 

[thejoshhoward]

Yes, it could. It would charge, just slower. If you use the 15" MBP really hard, it could very slowly discharge while being plugged in. The 15" MBP could use up to 89 Watt, but usually uses less power. If you use 60 Watt all day, it would run forever. If you use 89 Watt, it will discharge. Many people will be able to use their 15" MBP all day without the battery even starting to discharge. If you're not one of them, that's why the 15" MBP has four USB-C connectors, so you'd have to plug in your charger.

I've got the 21.5" Ultrafine at home with a 15" MacBook Pro/Touch bar. Used it all day yesterday and the battery never discharged. So, I agree and confirm what you've said. Of course, I wouldn't trust it to charge if I was doing heavy video work, but it's works just fine for 2d design.

 

[dugbug]

This monitor is crap:

• Not 5K
• No USB-C hub
• No DCI-3P

If only LG had this design...

It's not crap. Hyperbolic?

 

[tjleonard]

USB-C supports 20Gbps, display port 4k @ 60hz requires 18Gbps and uses all the high speed wires for alternate mode. It might be possible to use USB 2.0 over the low speed wires but even if it was physically possible you are talking only keyboard/mice. So you won't see a USB 3.0 hub (5Gbps) for hard drives or gigabit ethernet dongles on a USB-C display because it isn't possible.

I misunderstood the previous post - I thought they were saying that USB-C wouldn't even handle the 4k monitor - not that it wouldn't handle a hub plus the video. That makes sense.

 

[Spectrum]

Why on earth produce an external USB-C monitor that can't act as a USB hub?

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

You can't send USB and display port over the same cable at the same time. For that you need thunderbolt which is $$$ and requires Apple's involvement.

Not so. Read the USB-IF specifications.

USB-C supports four data lanes simultaneously (by default, two upstream and two downstream) which can be configured dynamically to deliver both USB plus native displayport in alternate mode where each display port (DP 1.2) lane is separate and rated at about 5.4Gbps

Of course, in addition it will deliver power iaw. the USB-C Power Delivery Specification Rev. 2.

For example, you could have two lanes of USB-C as USB 3.0 (one up and one down), and two lanes as displayport (both up) for about 2x5.4Gbps to the display. But would not support a UHD display at 60Hz in this configuration. (It would support UHD at 30Hz, or the display at a lesser resolution, but not at UHD.)

Quick CALC: A UHD 3840x2160 16:9, 30-bit color, 60Hz display requires about 15Gbps, or three dedicated lanes (three-out-of-four). The USB-C cable can deliver USB 2.0 always (via dedicated, separate lanes), and of course power.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Lol, so every new display is for MacBook Pro now? No other computer can use them?

5k and 4k displays require A) graphics power and B) i/o bandwidth. So yes, many new displays require devices with BOTH graphics AND i/o competence, which eliminates many other laptops.