I do not understand the hate for the studio display

[PegLegDreg]

Supposedly, people are shocked by the price. No, nobody’s shocked. Nobody’s sitting there with a Pikachu face. The price is being criticized, but nobody’s shocked.

And as for your “simplistic claim” that using a button on a Samsung is so terrible that it justifies any price at Apple… sorry, but I’ve never heard anyone make such comparisons. Not even when it comes to other aspects of the monitors.

Why don't you just look at the facts with two popular competitors and compare them, instead of accusing everyone of being nothing but haters? You're already assuming the answer you want.

BenQ MA270s and LG 27GM950B-B 999$
Apple Studio Display 1.599$

LG and BenQ can be adjusted in all directions. With the Apple Studio, you can only adjust the viewing angle.

BenQ offers 70 Hz, LG 120 Hz, and Apple 60 Hz

LG and BenQ can be connected to three computers at the same time, or to one computer plus two monitors.
Apple allows one computer and a maximum of one additional monitor. Provided it supports Thunderbolt. That’s because Apple doesn’t like HDMI or DisplayPort.
(I’ll leave out daisy chaining here)

LG and BenQ have physical buttons and therefore work with any computer. Apple relies on proprietary touch controls, thereby excluding any devices the company no longer favors from use.

Oh, and Apple has proven that its monitors are disposable products. While you can still use a BenQ, LG, or any other monitor 20 years from now, or connect it to a computer from 20 years ago, Apple arbitrarily renders its monitors completely unusable for the own products.

Studio Display (2026) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

Studio Display (2026) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

Let’s see if you’ll really still be able to use the monitor you bought today for $1,599 in five years. To be fair: Yes, of course. If you also buy the Macs Apple wants you to use.

These are the facts that raise the question of why a built-in camera (which was flawed in the first version) and built-in speakers justify a $1,000 price premium.
($600 if you don’t care about ergonomics)

Just because the design is pretty? Just because the monitor feels “cool”? Or because the marketing hype makes it seem like the device is groundbreaking?

It’s a monitor that relies on proprietary standards and, by design, has software locks to force customers to buy new products.
Of course, if you say: “Hey, a monitor is just like a computer. I replace mine every three years anyway. Debts for the world.” Then it’s a different story. Then you might not care whether the monitor will still work with your current computer in four years. Because until then you will have a new computer.

But I and many other people don’t buy a new monitor every few years. There just isn’t enough progress. Now, after ten years with the Dell UP2715K, there are finally enough innovations to justify a purchase.

And I, like many others, look at the monitor’s technical specs. They’re not competitive. I can get P3 from BenQ, too. LG and even Asus allow for smooth scrolling without any software restrictions. Offer glossy or matte displays.

The market is bigger than just Apple and Samsung. Those two just keep popping up because they have the most aggressive marketing.

That’s fine…. But you are a fan of apple products. If you weren’t you wouldn’t be posting on this forum. Just build a PC for half the cost I could quite easily say.

 

[PegLegDreg]

I still don't understand why they have to have an A19 silicon in a monitor. To process audio and the webcam? What on earth for? These things are only supported on Apple Silicon Macs, which have plenty of power to process audio and a webcam, and already do in Macbooks & iMacs.

Now, if they had like a "Smart TV" function, like built in Apple TV, since the hardware is already there, it might be worth the extra money.

I guess so? I haven’t really thought about it to be honest. It does seem a bit strange!

 

[PegLegDreg]

Again, my intention was to compare the display panel specs. You're free to collect the other specs and to post them yourself.

I am not interested in display panel specs. I have a ps5 connected to my tv for my games and I am not a creative professional. Why would I care? What is more important is that it is an Apple display so you can (correctly) assume it will look good. It will also interface perfectly with my mac and iPad and mirror those experiences with zero hangups or incompatibilities. Case in point using its webcam with the iPad for FaceTime.

 

[Petite messe solennelle]

I am not interested in display panel specs. I have a ps5 connected to my tv for my games and I am not a creative professional. Why would I care? What is more important is that it is an Apple display so you can (correctly) assume it will look good. It will also interface perfectly with my mac and iPad and mirror those experiences with zero hangups or incompatibilities. Case in point using its webcam with the iPad for FaceTime.

Again, my intention was to compare the display panel specs. You're free to collect the other specs and to post them yourself. If you're not interested in that, just forget about that post – but don't tell me what I should post and what not!

 

[PegLegDreg]

Again, my intention was to compare the display panel specs. You're free to collect the other specs and to post them yourself. If you're not interested in that, just forget about that post – but don't tell me what I should post and what not!

I’m not telling you what to post or not post. I am just trying to illustrate (apologies if I came across as rude, wasn’t my intention) that the panel specs do not matter to me personally. It is like how my messages sync from my iPhone to my mac. You pay extra for that, I could just get an android. It’s the same thing with the Studio Display. THAT is where its ‘value’ is. The niceties. In my opinion. But hey, everyone is different.

 

[Petite messe solennelle]

I’m not telling you what to post or not post. I am just trying to illustrate (apologies if I came across as rude, wasn’t my intention) that the panel specs do not matter to me personally. It is like how my messages sync from my iPhone to my mac. You pay extra for that, I could just get an android. It’s the same thing with the Studio Display. THAT is where its ‘value’ is. The niceties. In my opinion. But hey, everyone is different.

You were not being rude, you were illogical:

Big important part missing here...

That's how the whole conversation started: I should have posted what you wanted to read. Therefore my logical answer was:

That is not missing. My intention was to compare the display panel specs. You're free to collect the other specs and to post them yourself.

Anyway, I'm done for today.

 

[PegLegDreg]

You were not being rude, you were illogical:


That's how the whole conversation started: I should have posted what you wanted to read. Therefore my logical answer was:

Anyway, I'm done for today.

Illogical even though I explained my position firmly… multiple times. Panel specs. Got it 👌

 

[leifp]

Maybe there just wasn't a panel available that was suitably upgraded?

This is typically where Apple leads. The LG UltraFine displays were expressly commissioned by Apple and used on the iMac long before they became available as standalone monitors. 5K, 6K, miniLED, tandemOLED all were Apple “in-house” first (for monitors/computer screens rather than TVs).

This is a me problem, but I won’t buy a pro display with speakers, mic, and camera. I have negative interest in them as I have external speakers of much higher quality than could be built into a monitor and if I want a mic and/or camera, I can use my phone or buy higher quality separates. Does anyone else care? No idea; the market will provide what it thinks works and it will stop selling things that don’t sell.

 

[leifp]

People mentioning LG displays in this thread should probably make themselves aware of the contents of this video.

I certainly would be intrigued on what occurs on a Mac… my ASUS ProArt 6K replaces an LG 4K and I simply won’t buy Chinese or Korean hardware as they’re both known to feel that spying is JUST FINE™. Not that it gives carte blanche to anyone else; lots of tech spies on users and we live in an incredibly caveat emptor time…

 

[thisispeak]

(Probably slightly off topic but…)

I'm happily, still, using a 2011-2016 Thunderbolt Display (bought 2015/2016 for a 2013 MBP) with my 2023 Mac Book Pro. A dongle was needed for the Thunderbolt of course but it all works just fine, no issues…

That's pretty good value

 

[diblasio]

Genuinely baffled?

Really? 🙄

 

[Populus]

I recently purchased a Studio Display 2026. It works flawlessly with both my MacBook and iPad with zero configuration and looks and sounds great. It looks cool. I thought that was the whole reason people liked Apple (it just works).

Why are people so shocked by the price of this thing? Why is it that when it comes to monitors people suddenly start saying that the Apple experience does not matter and that it is far superior to use a Samsung monitor with a thumb nub on the back that you have to use to change any settings? Bit simplistic but I’m genuinely baffled by the response to this monitor’s release considering the audience it is targeted at.

Because it is an IPS LCD 60Hz panel at the price of a high end Mini-LED. And you can actually buy great mini-LEDs for less than half the price.

Soon, you’ll even be able to get a 27” 5K glossy mini-LED @ 160Hz for less than $1k.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Well, that would be useless without adding adding networking

Easy to do when there is already an iPhone chip in there

a remote control

iPhone. I don't think that is much a stretch given you're already expecting the user to be plugging Apple devices into it.

and having your Studio Display logged in to your Apple ID - and probably a bunch of HDCP digital restrictions management complications (which are the most likely reason you can't get 4k on some browser apps)

Hence wanting the Apple TV mode.

and regular forced firmware updates on your display if you want your third party apps to keep working.

What's wrong with firmware updates on a display when it's got an iPhone chip in it? You wouldn't have to use the feature.

 

[ayephoner]

One of the main rules of the internet in 2026:

take all negativity with a grain of salt.

If a new product gets 40-80% negative reviews/comments, it's probably a perfectly normal product. People LOVE negativity, especially on the internet now.

 

[Xeem]

That’s fine…. But you are a fan of apple products. If you weren’t you wouldn’t be posting on this forum. Just build a PC for half the cost I could quite easily say.

Being a fan of Apple products does not mean you aren’t allowed to care about specs or value. Other manufacturers allow you to get more of what many Apple users want such as better size/refresh rate/ergonomics than what the Studio Display offers, and for less money.

Do you expect everyone on these forums to use Apple mice and keyboards too instead of cheaper and arguably better alternatives?

 

[aidler]

I recently purchased a Studio Display 2026. It works flawlessly with both my MacBook and iPad with zero configuration and looks and sounds great. It looks cool. I thought that was the whole reason people liked Apple (it just works).

Why are people so shocked by the price of this thing? Why is it that when it comes to monitors people suddenly start saying that the Apple experience does not matter and that it is far superior to use a Samsung monitor with a thumb nub on the back that you have to use to change any settings? Bit simplistic but I’m genuinely baffled by the response to this monitor’s release considering the audience it is targeted at.

I don’t know about hate. But it's a 10-year-old display, and it's an abysmally bad deal. Almost comically bad.

 

[jabbr]

I think of the standard studio display as a giant MacBook Air quality screen

 

[Analog Kid]

What’s hard to understand? In the modern world there is no indifference. You love what you like, you hate what you don’t. I’m old enough to remember a time when people just ignored stuff that they didn’t need or care about, but those days are gone.

 

[uacd]

I actually love all Apple Studio Displays from all generations. I am just simply too poor to offer one🤣 When I will actually offer myself to spend money on it, I will use it for the next 20 years.

Apple makes gorgeous displays, in fact best displays on the market. Anything photo or video related… you can make literal art on ALL Apple displays. They have best-in-class calibrated OLEDs, best LCDs, they definitely know what they do and that’s why professionals chose those.

Having said that, there are probably many good monitors from Asus, Samsung and Dell, as well as you can buy an iMac for much cheaper. But in my honest opinion, Apple Studio Display wins because of how aesthetically pleasing it is

 

[The Clark]

I use my apple Studio Display with my MacBook, my Alienware laptop for gaming, and my work dell and it is PHENOMENAL for all three devices. The picture is crisp and the scaling even on windows is perfect. I’m prestige master in black ops 7 and iri in ranked and it does a hell of a job performance wise. If I could afford two I’d own two but alas, the ASD is one of my best purchases of all time.


Everyone complaining about specs completely misses what matters - the experience. If you know Apple, then you know that specs != experience. If the opposite were true none of us would be here, and we’d all be running high end windows laptops instead.

 

[JoeG4]

I like Apple's displays. They're quite pretty.

I don't own one, because they don't fit my use cases or my preferences.. but I think they're pretty sweet! Honestly I think it was just a screen size thing for me.. I already had a 57" monitor and wanted a 32" 6k to match it in height, so I bought an Asus ProArt 6k. For $986 (tax included) it has a beautiful picture, better build quality than I expected, and even a 5 year warranty. Between the 2 monitors I have over 6ft of screen space LOL. The 32" is always connected to my Mac Studio, while the 57" may also be connected to my gaming PC or my work computer. When it is, it's nice that the studio has a large screen I can get lost in when I need to.

But if you haven't been spoiled by larger screens or want something smaller and cleaner? That studio display is fantastic!

 

[jay-A]

I have one 2023 studio display at work, I bought it because 1) it was work money and 2) I couldn't live with less than the 5K Imac quality that I needed to replace because of CPU and RAM needs. Apart from that, it's true it's outrageously overengineered for a monitor (stand, sound...) and hence overpriced, especially when you know that it's only running in SDR and at 60Hz. The XDR version is even pricier but overall makes a better statement as a niche, elite product of the highest possible quality.

 

[Basic75]

Its awesome, the size difference between the 34" and 32" wasn't big enough that it was terribly noticable, and given that I moved up from 1440p to 4k, gave me more screen real estate.

And a 32" with 16:9 aspect ratio has more area (square centimeters) than a 34" with 24:10. Which resolution are you running the 32" at?

 

[The Clark]

I have one and 3 Pro Display XDR models. I think the value of it is much better than the Pro Display. And the build quality is almost identical. I just don’t want to lose the screen real estate from 3x 32” to go back down to 27” displays. But I have a Studio Display in my home office and it works great for home. I think it’s either people are willing to pay for the look, or they want a cheap 4K alternative. The problem is 4K doesn’t scale well on MacOS. And all other brands are mostly plastic. Inherently, aluminum is not so expensive. But it is something other manufacturers just don’t see the value in versus plastic. So people can go cheap and get what they pay for. Or go expensive and pay too much for what they get. It’s each person’s choice.

I have to ask.. what is it that you do for a living that requires 3 pro XDR displays? Not hating… genuinely impressed (and slightly jealous)

 

[ThailandToo]

I have to ask.. what is it that you do for a living that requires 3 pro XDR displays? Not hating… genuinely impressed (and slightly jealous)

Investment company founder/executive. 75% of their use is based on tracking valuation data and tools that signal the technology I built to favor buy/sell/etc decisions. Cheers!