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

[Lihp8270]

I didn't buy it with intention to keep. I could make it work if I really want to but I'd rather afford it properly, with a budget towards a new monitor. Because Apple's monitor releases are rather infrequent, I haven't been saving for a product I didn't envision coming for a while. Especially when the prior release starts at $5k..

Edit: I also am waiting to see whether Costco adds the VESA version for a little discount as that makes more sense for me than the tilt option I returned.

So you bought a product with the intention of just trialling it? Because you can?

 

[noone]

So you bought a product with the intention of just trialling it? Because you can?

This isn't really uncommon, especially among Apple products. Hell, I was in the Apple Store the other day and was looking at the iPad Pro 11-inch. The employee I spoke with said if I was hesitant on the size (I'd be downgrading from 12.9-inch Pro) I should buy it, try it, and return it if I didn't like it.

 

[4sallypat]

Not quite on-topic, but I'm wondering why, since so many of you already have this display, from local Apple store, Costco and even Walmart, why did I order from Apple with a mid-May delivery?

If you ordered a hard to find: VESA, adjustable height and/or nano texture display then ordering thru Apple online might be the best as they are hard to find at Apple Stores.

I wanted the base display and Mac so I did a double order this time around since I was not happy with last time's Apple release of the iPhone on launch day orders not being fulfilled.

This time I placed orders online AND wanted to see if an Apple Store pickup might best to get both.

The 5am PDT launch day online for the Apple Store netted me BOTH the Mac Studio and Studio Display.

So I cancelled my previous online orders.

 

[aParkerMusic]

I dont think they did. People expected a display for the masses, and got one who was higher in price than expected, especially given it uses a 5 year old panel.

I am actually a bit surprised that LG havent really done any development on it. Must be a miniscule market, surprisingly.

“higher in price than expected”

Based on what, though? “Leakers” and “analysts“ who were wrong? Part of the problem for Apple customers are these incessant unfounded rumors. Yes, we enjoy reading about them on rumor sites, but, as in this case, it’s not reasonable to be upset about the price of a product based on things Apple never said they were offering. Rumors are fun, but they have a dark side.

 

[aParkerMusic]

I wouldn't mind having one, but not at that price point. And an extra $400 for height adjustment, that's insane!

That’s fair. But I’d also like a Mac Studio and Studio Display…..but not at that price. I’d also like to eat at Ruth’s Chris Steak House every night, because their steak is delicious…but not at that price. Ya?

 

[aurora_sect]

Not quite on-topic, but I'm wondering why, since so many of you already have this display, from local Apple store, Costco and even Walmart, why did I order from Apple with a mid-May delivery?

I think you can answer that better than I can, but if you haven't been charged for your order and the display you want is available locally, you can go grab what you want today and cancel your online order. The VESA mount option isn't available at stores near me, so I will continue waiting for my online order.

 

[MetalProgrammer]

You don’t seem to get it. A “crappy 4K monitor” is about what this is. It’s a huge downgrade from what I have. Perhaps apple could’ve made it more compelling with mini led, tvOS and a remote.

I've heard that nonsense before. But who wants to watch TV on a 27 inch monitor? Anyone who wants an Apple TV, can get one quite cheaply, no need to buy a $1600 monitor for it.

 

[Belifant]

if you don't play games, watch movies or color grade for HDR movies, why would you want a 600 nit or a 1000 nit HDR monitor? For office work? You're gonna go blind. I have HDR turned off on my screen and it is calibrated to 120 nit, and that is still often too bright. Nits seem just to be the new megapixel war.

Happy to learn other use cases I may have missed.

 

[mansplains]

So you bought a product with the intention of just trialling it? Because you can?

I thought this was the whole point of a return policy including non-defective items? Do you have something you'd like to say?

Seeing a product in a store doesn't tell you that it will fit your setup. You also can't test particular software. And when the product isn't in stores yet (as it's brand new) and you don't want to wait three months for it to ship, you wouldn't pre-order it?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

“higher in price than expected”

Based on what, though? “Leakers” and “analysts“ who were wrong? Part of the problem for Apple customers are these incessant unfounded rumors. Yes, we enjoy reading about them on rumor sites, but, as in this case, it’s not reasonable to be upset about the price of a product based on things Apple never said they were offering. Rumors are fun, but they have a dark side.

Based on what people want to pay for a mediocre specifications (Other than resolution) display, even with an Apple logo on it.

 

[kwijbo]

So you think the cheap plastic stand on the LG ultrafine marks it up $300 because it's $1300? Even if they didn't include none of the extra features it would still be about the same price as the LG with the stand included. This is if they didn't charge more for the better construction or did similar to the cheap plastic of the LG with a ? on the back. There would be no point of selling a consumer level monitor with the stand separate. People had a fit when they did it with the Pro monitor and that kind of made sense but not so much for a consumer level product.

So if you got to make the call instead of Tim, Apple would be be selling an LG ultrafine 5K shoved into an Apple housing with no extras for $999 + $300 for a stand. I don't see this as a logical decision because Apple wants to make their product work for the largest market thus more sales. Everyone that had an existing LG ultrafine 5K would have zero reason to upgrade other than looks. There would be no Apple specific features other than the logo so even some people might not buy it new because even at $1299 total vs $1599 that's about double the price of a pretty good 4K so it has no webcam, low quality or no speakers and no Siri... Yeah that would be a flop.

seems like you're awfully defensive about this product. not sure why but im not critiquing your or anyone else here who may have purchased the Studio display. if it fits your needs then great!

this is simply discussion of a product and how it could have been different. nothing more nothing less.

also im not sure why you keep comparing it to the LG 5k as if that is some kind of benchmark when the display tech in the Studio Display is literally on par with the retina iMac from 2014. Maybe it has a brighter backlight. I'd say that is a valid criticism of the display when it is a premium priced offering. Apple gets these panels for probably $200 a piece at scale, put in some non-overkill components, surround it with glass and aluminum and thats all it needed to be. There are just a bunch of questionable design decisions here and the more that comes out the less appealing it is.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Based on what people want to pay for a mediocre specifications (Other than resolution) display, even with an Apple logo on it.

That doesn’t speak to expectations. The idea of “higher than expected” has to do with context, I’ll give you that. But, without knowing what was coming, no one had any reasonable expectations of anything. It would only be reasonable if Apple announced a display, specs given, but didn’t announce a price and people “expected” it would cost a certain amount only to find it wasn’t priced that way.

It is not a mediocre display (you can acknowledge and still think it costs too much, btw. I personally find the $400 height adjustment arm bizarre), it doesn’t have to do with an Apple logo, this is all so tired.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I would've been willing to pay $2000 or even $2500 for an Apple monitor with mini-LED or HDR (NOT 120 Hz, I realize this is impossible) with height adjustment and a good webcam. I think $2000 for height adjustment, mediocre webcam, and no HDR is not worth the price.

No, I don't think it is a bad monitor. But I think some of the criticisms are valid.

 

[BotchQue]

if you don't play games, watch movies or color grade for HDR movies, why would you want a 600 nit or a 1000 nit HDR monitor? For office work? You're gonna go blind. I have HDR turned off on my screen and it is calibrated to 120 nit, and that is still often too bright. Nits seem just to be the new megapixel war.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

if you don't play games, watch movies or color grade for HDR movies, why would you want a 600 nit or a 1000 nit HDR monitor? For office work? You're gonna go blind. I have HDR turned off on my screen and it is calibrated to 120 nit, and that is still often too bright. Nits seem just to be the new megapixel war.

Happy to learn other use cases I may have missed.

Photo-editing is another use case. For me, it's mainly movies/YouTube and photo-editing (I take a lot of HDR photos). It's also just the simple fact that the screen looks better (blacks especially) with HDR/mini-LED. It's hard to go back to SDR/LED when you've seen the 14"/16" MBP displays. I really want a Mac desktop, but not until there's an option with a display that matches the quality (or comes close, don't care as much about ProMotion) of the M1 Pro/Max MBPs and isn't a $12,000 Mac Pro/XDR setup. I do think it's coming. It's just not here yet.

 

[mrmister]

OP: I own a Dell U3223QE, so I hope you return and give us a rundown on what it is like compared to the Apple Studio Display.

 

[petvas]

Photo-editing is another use case. For me, it's mainly movies/YouTube and photo-editing (I take a lot of HDR photos). It's also just the simple fact that the screen looks better (blacks especially) with HDR/mini-LED. It's hard to go back to SDR/LED when you've seen the 14"/16" MBP displays. I really want a Mac desktop, but not until there's an option with a display that matches the quality (or comes close, don't care as much about ProMotion) of the M1 Pro/Max MBPs and isn't a $12,000 Mac Pro/XDR setup. I do think it's coming. It's just not here yet.

Each to their own I guess. I have a 14" MBP and have zero issues going back and forth between my laptop and the Studio Display. I actually like the Studio Display better, because of its size, retina resolution and overall color accuracy.

 

[Freida]

This display should have been $1199. A bit more than the previous TB Display but still within reach for the targeted audience. Right now, its price really wrong. Before you would get a base model iMac which even though it wasn't awesome it was still great for a lot of things. The fact that iMac had keyboard and mouse pretty much made the small price difference between these 2.
So yeah, I think Apple should reduce the price on this and they will have a winner. I got one on my desk but will be returning it and will wait for WWDC and what will be shown there. If the PRO version is bigger and won't be crazy expensive than maybe I would rather pay more and get better deal. It will all depend on what they will offer.

Shame, Apple could have delivered something of great value. Right now they priced a lot of people out for no reason.
The margin on this must be insane

 

[clevins]

Wait so you expect Apple to sell what is basically an LG ultrafine 5K with "Apple build quality" for cheaper than what LG is selling it for?

Sorry but you're not going to get that


It sounds like you just wanted a bare display for the lowest cost with a 5K panel but with an Apple logo.

What I *don't* want is a bunch of extra crap that has nothing to do with making a screen a good *display* and hiking the price several hundred dollars because of BS like Spatial Audio and an A13 that, as far as I can tell, does nothing more than enable Hey Siri... which is another thing that has zero to do with making the display better.

That's the core of the problem - NONE of what I described makes the Studio Display better at its core function of being a good *DISPLAY*.

Take the Apple sticker that comes with your Mac and stick it on the back and you have an Apple 5K display. It's not going to be for $999 unless you get it used but it's a basic panel

Better yet, why don't you take the logo, fold it up and then...

 

[palmor]

That's the core of the problem - NONE of what I described makes the Studio Display better at its core function of being a good *DISPLAY*.

I don't think the people who want a basic display are the target market. I can only assume Apple is the targeting current iMac owners who won't want lots of extra stuff on their desk (wires for speakers, web cams etc).

The problem is that there is no competition for Apple for this monitor. If there were other 5k monitors that drove the market price down maybe we would have gotten something cheaper but there isn't. Dell had one a few years ago but discontinued it (and it was ~$2k originally). Even looking at 4k monitors over the last week the only one that really moves the needle (ASUS ProArt PA27UCX-K) with it's 4k and MiniLED but it is $3k.

Personally I run my 5k iMac at its native resolution so unless I want to go with an XDR display (or try to hack the Dell 8k to work) I really have no options in the 27"+ to keep the same screen realestate I'm used to. The LG 5k is not interesting to me since the price difference isn't enough for me to downgrade on build quality etc.

 

[urbanman2004]

For all the negative reviews of the Mac Studio display - I have to say that overall I really like it. I was expecting it to suck with all the comparison's to LGs years old 5K display tech, lack of HDR support and all the other things that YouTubers have been griping about.

I’ve had it setup about 24hours now and the only thing might might prevent me keeping it is the 27in size - which feels a bit cramped coming from a ~8 year old 30” Dell U3014 which currently sits alongside it. The Dell runs at 2560 x 1600 vs. the Studio Display 5120 x 2880, so the new monitor is quite the upgrade.

Disclaimer - I'm not a graphics pro and my work is all MS Office based.

Overall -

• The Apple display is crisp, bright.
• I love Apple’s fit and finish - even the unboxing was fun.
• It integrates beautifully with MacOS. Brightness and volume adjustments just work.
• Auto-brightness and True Tone!
• Speakers and microphone are excellent.
• Webcam is good enough - although I look forward to it getting better with some software tweaks. The scathing reviews don't make sense - it's perfectly fine for Zoom and FaceTime. Center stage is pretty cool - although I can see it being distracting.

The only issue is the price. And I suppose if the Studio Display was <$1,000 it would have reviewed better with some. As it stands, it feels expensive, but so do all Apple Products e.g. AirPods Max, MacBooks, HomePods, keyboard/mice. It's priced as a luxury item vs. a commodity.

For me, the test will be against the $900 Dell U3223QE (32" 4K) that I have on order and which arrives next week. The best monitor will stay and the other will get returned.

Overall though I really like it.

View attachment 1977502

Its price for the lack of nits and HDR compared to other comparable units from other brands puts this Studio Display to shame and paying that amount of money for the lack of a refresh rate higher than 60Hz is a crime w/in itself, smh... Sounds like you must not be hard to please. Reminds me of that old Chex commercial from back in the day: "Let's get Mikey to try it! He'll eat anything!" and you're Mikey ????‍♂??‍♂????

 

[russell_314]

What I *don't* want is a bunch of extra crap that has nothing to do with making a screen a good *display* and hiking the price several hundred dollars because of BS like Spatial Audio and an A13 that, as far as I can tell, does nothing more than enable Hey Siri... which is another thing that has zero to do with making the display better.

That's the core of the problem - NONE of what I described makes the Studio Display better at its core function of being a good *DISPLAY*.

Again without any of that the panel is $1299 with a cheap plastic housing from LG. Even if they did nothing and only upgraded the housing to the current setup it would be more than that. So even if it was $1399 without any of the extras you're unhappy about a $200 upcharge for a webcam and speakers? Again I'm not sure how you think the price would be somehow magically cheaper than what LG was selling a much cheaper built version using the panel.

Better yet, why don't you take the logo, fold it up and then...

No thanks ?

 

[russell_314]

Its price for the lack of nits and HDR compared to other comparable units from other brands puts this Studio Display to shame and paying that amount of money for the lack of a refresh rate higher than 60Hz is a crime w/in itself, smh... Sounds like you must not be hard to please. Reminds me of that old Chex commercial from back in the day: "Let's get Mikey to try it! He'll eat anything!" and you're Mikey ????‍♂??‍♂????

What other 27" 5K monitors are you comparing it to? If there's a better deal that has a brighter panel I'm interested!

 

[russell_314]

Here's an interesting video on the topic. MKBHD is more neutral than many YouTube creators that review Apple so I tend to take what he says with more value.

 

[CalMin]

Sounds like you must not be hard to please. Reminds me of that old Chex commercial from back in the day: "Let's get Mikey to try it! He'll eat anything!" and you're Mikey ????‍♂??‍♂????

Oooh - that's a bit harsh, but I'll try and take it the right way given all your LOL emojis. True - I'm not a power user from a display requirements perspective but I work hard for my money and demand quality in return.

If you actually get in front of one of these monitors you will see that it's an absolute joy to use. The colors really pop and I finally understand why 5K is important - the text rendering is stunning. Sure - there are better specification displays available but Apple's polish and industrial design sensibilities are a real thing. It's like it's crafted from a solid block of aluminum. It feels premium. It feels expensive. It feels high quality.

I guess I might put it this way. There are many cheaper cars that can boast better specs than a Porsche 911, but I know which one's going in my garage.*


EDIT:

Thanks @russell_314 -I agree *MKBHD put this brilliantly at 11:14 in this video (with a similar car analogy).