I'm genuinely surprised by the negative reviews of the Studio Display

[StudioMacs]

Face ID requires confirmation on iPhone and iPad (double click) so on the Mac it would require touching the keyboard or mouse anyway (since you don’t want to accidentally confirm an action by just looking at the dialog box).

Also, when using universal control, my iPad (propped up alongside the Studio Display) will sometime complain my face is too far away for Face ID, so it may be that it’s easier to tune Face ID for handheld devices since the distance from the camera will be more predictable.

Imagine a Face ID Studio Monitor: you’re leaning back in your chair and the Mac says you need to move your face closer, so you then move closer, and now it tells you to double click the mouse or keyboard to confirm. Might as well just put Touch ID on the keyboard to create a more predictable and one-step process.

 

[4419867]

Face ID requires confirmation on iPhone and iPad (double click) so on the Mac it would require touching the keyboard or mouse anyway (since you don’t want to accidentally confirm an action by just looking at the dialog box).

Also, when using universal control, my iPad (propped up alongside the Studio Display) will sometime complain my face is too far away for Face ID, so it may be that it’s easier to tune Face ID for handheld devices since the distance from the camera will be more predictable.

Imagine a Face ID Studio Monitor: you’re leaning back in your chair and the Mac says you need to move your face closer, so you then move closer, and now it tells you to double click the mouse or keyboard to confirm. Might as well just put Touch ID on the keyboard to create a more predictable and one-step process.

Good point. Keyboard with TouchID or just use a YubiKey. I don't feel like I would actually use FaceID personally but hey, people think different. I would however use something to block the webcam for peace of mind. Still like the convenience of having the webcam built-in though.

 

[zach-coleman]

Face ID requires confirmation on iPhone and iPad (double click) so on the Mac it would require touching the keyboard or mouse anyway (since you don’t want to accidentally confirm an action by just looking at the dialog box).

I had been thinking this for a while, but it feels like it would add the benefit of you being able to use whatever keyboard you wanted even if it didn't necessarily make the device easier to use. It would be trading no custom keyboard for no custom monitor however, so it would be bad if Face ID was the total replacement for touch.

 

[theluggage]

The only reason this thing needs active cooling is because they put the power supply *inside* the case. Had they used a MagSafe brick (like the M1 iMac) this wouldn’t be a problem, and it would also have been a way better design for the power cable too. Just smacks of not trying.

Well, (a) it's not just a power supply - it's an ultra-thin power supply with enough spare capacity to charge a MacBook Pro at 96W and (b) LED-illuminated LCD panels generate heat, too especially if they're large and offer extra-bright illumination.

The LG Ultrafine has a fan, too: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lg-ultrafine-5k-owners-thread.2023452/post-27148541

There's a lot of form-over-function and jack-of-all-trades in this display - it didn't need to be so thin (which hampers cooling) and it's #1 purpose should have been to pair with Minis and Mac Studios as an iMac replacement - Apple have lived without a MacBook display/dock (other than the LG) for 5 years, they didn't suddenly need one now.

I’m not an expert on Apple designs but if I had to guess I would say they originally designed this monitor case to be a computer, like an iMac, and then for some reason scrapped it and came up with MagSafe instead,

Doesn't make sense - the internal arrangement is all wrong: In an iMac the biggest source of heat would be the CPU/GPU SoC, and the cooling system would be centred on that: either a fan mounted on the processor, or fans either side closely linked to the processor with heatpipes. In the Studio Display, the fans are nowhere near the processor.

I think the clue is in the cost - that low-profile PSU is very fancy and probably very expensive and the 24" iMac and the (discontinued) low-end i5 5k iMacs (<$2500) are relatively low-end (for Apple) products... The external brick is a cost-saving thing.

...and not everybody likes power bricks. You end up with power bricks lying on the floor in the middle of the cable run, subject to damage, and look forward to buying a whole new power brick if the fancy magnetic cable gets broken.

(NB: stickle - the 24" iMac isn't MacSafe in that it isn't designed to pull out easily if the cable gets tugged - it's just a way of making an ultra-shallow connector. True MagSafe is a great idea for a laptop, which has its own battery and will keep going when unplugged but it would be stupid for a desktop, which will crash if unplugged and is meant to live on a desk where the cable can be safely tucked away).

 

[theluggage]

Face ID requires confirmation on iPhone and iPad (double click) so on the Mac it would require touching the keyboard or mouse anyway

If you're in the process of using your desktop computer then you're probably already touching the keyboard or mouse - especially since you've just interacted with something to make the computer require authentication. Double-clicking or hitting Enter probably requires less effort than moving your hand over to the power button and pressing your finger flat against it, too.

...and the alternative to FaceID is to be forced to use an Apple Magic Keyboard, which isn't everybody's cup of tea. It should be a no-brainer in an iMac and would be an added attraction of a Studio Display.

 

[OW22]

Just got mine delivered. Loving it so far, but that's to be expected with any new Apple product!

Love the audio on this thing. I've already been experimenting with Spatial Audio with the AirPods Max and it's a game-changer IMHO.

 

[StudioMacs]

If you're in the process of using your desktop computer then you're probably already touching the keyboard or mouse - especially since you've just interacted with something to make the computer require authentication. Double-clicking or hitting Enter probably requires less effort than moving your hand over to the power button and pressing your finger flat against it, too.

you have suggested a two-step process based on “probably” twice. It’s not a good idea when there is a one-step processs that definitely works.

 

[theluggage]

you have suggested a two-step process based on “probably” twice. It’s not a good idea when there is a one-step processs that definitely works.

...the "one-step" process doesn't work if you don't have a Magic Keyboard and is only "one step" for the specific purpose of waking your computer from sleep, which is only one use of Face ID, and even then the "one step" only matters if you're waking it up just so you can sit back in a comfy chair and stare at it idly for a while.

Personally, I usually like to prod the keyboard and waggle the mouse a bit while pointing my face in the vague direction of the screen, to at least give the impression of doing something to justify owning a $3000 computer - so one click vs. two clicks isn't really a big deal vs. repeatedly having to type in a long password because I don't use a Magic Keyboard.

 

[StudioMacs]

...the "one-step" process doesn't work if you don't have a Magic Keyboard and is only "one step" for the specific purpose of waking your computer from sleep, which is only one use of Face ID, and even then the "one step" only matters if you're waking it up just so you can sit back in a comfy chair and stare at it idly for a while.

Personally, I usually like to prod the keyboard and waggle the mouse a bit while pointing my face in the vague direction of the screen, to at least give the impression of doing something to justify owning a $3000 computer - so one click vs. two clicks isn't really a big deal vs. repeatedly having to type in a long password because I don't use a Magic Keyboard.

You’re focused on imagining a worse user experience for everyone else just because you don’t own a magic keyboard.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

it didn't need to be so thin (which hampers cooling)

I think it needed to be thin for the most important reason… folks with $1,599 to spend on precisely this display LIKE thin things. That’s very likely only 10 million people, but I would not be surprised if that’s Apple’s lifetime goals (5-6 years in production) for sales of this monitor

 

[dugbug]

LOL...I owned two Lexus, an M5 and even a Hellcat. I spend serious cash on actual cars and worked with an exporter on exotics. Don't you know what Hyundai and Kia have done with their assembly plants? Their robotic systems are now the most advanced. Do you think Apple was talking to them for fun?

Do you know that Kia took on Won Kyu Kang and Pierre Leclercq?

Why on earth would I keep a car until 60K miles?

Your knowledge about this is badly dated and you're just repeating stuff from years ago...same stuff that people still say about Jeeps while knowing nothing about modern Jeeps. Kia is the #1 most reliable car currently in production. It's not 2012 anymore. Time to catch up.


Robert

You should really go for a nano. anything else and you are just branding dude

 

[theluggage]

You’re focused on imagining a worse user experience for everyone else just because you don’t own a magic keyboard.

Did I say that Touch ID should be removed?

 

[4419867]

Well, (a) it's not just a power supply - it's an ultra-thin power supply with enough spare capacity to charge a MacBook Pro at 96W and (b) LED-illuminated LCD panels generate heat, too especially if they're large and offer extra-bright illumination.

The LG Ultrafine has a fan, too: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lg-ultrafine-5k-owners-thread.2023452/post-27148541

There's a lot of form-over-function and jack-of-all-trades in this display - it didn't need to be so thin (which hampers cooling) and it's #1 purpose should have been to pair with Minis and Mac Studios as an iMac replacement - Apple have lived without a MacBook display/dock (other than the LG) for 5 years, they didn't suddenly need one now.

Does the LG 23,7'' UltraFine 4K also has a fan? 🤔

 

[lcubed]

Does the LG 23,7'' UltraFine 4K also has a fan? 🤔

if you look up the repair video by beintech on the Ultrafine 4K, there's clearly a fan inside

 

[dotnet]

it's #1 purpose should have been to pair with Minis and Mac Studios as an iMac replacement

Are you saying that’s not its #1 purpose? Then what is? That’s certainly the reason I’m looking at it.

It does seem like very good value for money, considering that an XDR monitor stand and a set of Mac Pro wheels would cost you US$1,400…

 

[theluggage]

Are you saying that’s not its #1 purpose? Then what is? That’s certainly the reason I’m looking at it.

It’s (also) a deluxe docking station for a MacBook. A large part of the innards is a super-low-profile power supply big enough to charge a MacBook Pro at 96W - expensive, contributes to the need for fans, and mostly wasted if you plug it into a desktop Mac.

On reflection (you quoted a 9 month old post) since the performance advantage of desktops over laptops has been greatly reduced with Apple Silicon it may be that more punters will replace their desktop with a laptop, in which case the “docking station” market could be a big one.

 

[CalMin]

It’s (also) a deluxe docking station for a MacBook. A large part of the innards is a super-low-profile power supply big enough to charge a MacBook Pro at 96W - expensive, contributes to the need for fans, and mostly wasted if you plug it into a desktop Mac.

On reflection (you quoted a 9 month old post) since the performance advantage of desktops over laptops has been greatly reduced with Apple Silicon it may be that more punters will replace their desktop with a laptop, in which case the “docking station” market could be a big one.

I was surprised to see my old post brought back to life here!

I like this notion of it being a deluxe docking station, because that's exactly how I use it (although I have to go through a CalDigit to get my other monitor to run with one connection). I've used a laptop as my primary device for years, and with Apple silicon, I don't ever see the need to use a bulkier machine than a laptop for productivity.

 

[dotnet]

I was surprised to see my old post brought back to life here!

Sorry about that, I didn’t pay attention while researching the ASD… ☺️

 

[jr5x]

“6. Ain't no technology supporting 120Hz at 5K. How you going to get that to the display? Thunderbolt 4? Doubtful. What Mac could even drive this via existing video output? None.”

Again let me ejumacate you some on video tech…it would work the same way the Pro Display XDR works at 60Hz at 6K at 10-bit RGB (with HDR metadata!).

It uses DSC, display stream compression…DSC is natively supported on all modern video cards with DisplayPort 1.4 and on all M series macs. The video stream is compressed in real time, without any visible artifacts or chroma subsampling.

There have been plenty of 4K/144hz (I believe some even higher with overclocking) monitors on the market for awhile.

There’s also a rumor that Apple will indeed announce a 120Hz VRR ProMotion version of the Studio Display at WWDC or this fall.

I would be grateful for your thoughts on this - TY! I’ve been bringing my MBP 16 M1 back and forth to the office every day and use an external 4K monitor. I really want a desktop Mac at the office so I don’t have to do this (and for additional reasons). I plan to upgrade my 4K monitor to a next gen Apple display that has 120 Hz and other improvements. A Mini M2 Pro with 32GB/2TB is $2,300+tax. I DON’T want to buy this if it won’t be able to run Apple’s new display(s) at 120 Hz and take advantage of other features they might have. Buy now or wait a whole year to be sure my desktop will be compatible with the next gen of displays?

 

[Zest28]

I would be grateful for your thoughts on this - TY! I’ve been bringing my MBP 16 M1 back and forth to the office every day and use an external 4K monitor. I really want a desktop Mac at the office so I don’t have to do this (and for additional reasons). I plan to upgrade my 4K monitor to a next gen Apple display that has 120 Hz and other improvements. A Mini M2 Pro with 32GB/2TB is $2,300+tax. I DON’T want to buy this if it won’t be able to run Apple’s new display(s) at 120 Hz and take advantage of other features they might have. Buy now or wait a whole year to be sure my desktop will be compatible with the next gen of displays?

Mac's are not for gaming, so I highly doubt Apple will give high priority to launch a new gaming monitor.

But you can buy mini-LED gaming monitors that can do 240hz even, so there is no need to wait for Apple.

 

[Zest28]

It’s (also) a deluxe docking station for a MacBook. A large part of the innards is a super-low-profile power supply big enough to charge a MacBook Pro at 96W - expensive, contributes to the need for fans, and mostly wasted if you plug it into a desktop Mac.

On reflection (you quoted a 9 month old post) since the performance advantage of desktops over laptops has been greatly reduced with Apple Silicon it may be that more punters will replace their desktop with a laptop, in which case the “docking station” market could be a big one.

Indeed. I can carry my 16" M1 Max MacBook Pro with me and when I'm home I can connect it with a single cable to the Apple Studio Display, transforming it into a 27" M1 Max iMac Pro.

So there is no need to have a seperate desktop and latop anymore as they have 100% the same performance. Unless you need the M1 Ultra chip.

 

[jr5x]

Mac's are not for gaming, so I highly doubt Apple will give high priority to launch a new gaming monitor.

But you can buy mini-LED gaming monitors that can do 240hz even, so there is no need to wait for Apple.

Thanks - but it’s not for gaming, it’s for productivity. Since late 2017 I’ve been using the iPad Pro 10.5 at 120 Hz, and now my iPhone has 120 Hz. I love the smooth scrolling. There’s much less blur when I scroll. If the new Apple displays are smoother when they scroll because of 120 Hz/ProMotion, I want that.

 

[Zest28]

Thanks - but it’s not for gaming, it’s for productivity. Since late 2017 I’ve been using the iPad Pro 10.5 at 120 Hz, and now my iPhone has 120 Hz. I love the smooth scrolling. There’s much less blur when I scroll. If the new Apple displays are smoother when they scroll because of 120 Hz/ProMotion, I want that.

In the monitor market, there are 2 types of monitors:
1. Productivity monitors.
2. Gaming monitors.

And the monitor that you describe falls in the category of gaming monitors, which is not what Apple makes.

BenQ also has a seperate line of monitors aimed at productivity / professional and an other line aimed at gaming. And it's only their gaming monitors that do 144hz+.

 

[tstafford]

In the monitor market, there are 2 types of monitors:
1. Productivity monitors.
2. Gaming monitors.

And the monitor that you describe falls in the category of gaming monitors, which is not what Apple makes.

BenQ also has a seperate line of monitors aimed at productivity / professional and an other line aimed at gaming. And it's only their gaming monitors that do 144hz+.

I agree that 4K 144Hz and above is generally considered to be a "gaming monitor". And also that Apple isn't a strong gaming system.

However, I'm not sure I agree that Apple isn't going to make a high refresh rate monitor. They seem committed to ProMotion in all their mobile devices. And while I think the ProMotion impact is higher on smaller screens, there are people out there that want a smoother scroll for non-gaming tasks (web, documents, etc.).

As it sits today, you are forced to choose 5K 60Hz (sharper text) or 4K 144Hz+ (smoother motion). When the ASD came out a primary complaint was no ProMotion. I expect Apple to make an expensive MiniLED 27" ProMotion display and that the XDR replacement will be ProMotion. I also believe they will retain the ASD as a "cheaper" 60Hz option for people who don't care. (So three options)

The annoying thing will be that TB4 can't support 5K above 60Hz. We need to see if Apple has some compression magic, opts for dual cables or something else.

My guess - we'll know more when they launch the Mac Pro.

 

[Zest28]

It is not comparable because mobile devices like Android smartphones had 120hz screens for years, thus Apple had to respond to keep their product competitive.

Professional / productivity monitors that Apple is competing against are all 60hz, even $5000+ monitors from Eizo and Asus.

The only monitors that are 120hz or higher are all gaming monitors and that is not the competition of Apple their monitors. So I don't believe those "promotion" rumours that people are talking about if you look at the current market.