LG's UltraFine 5K Display Is a Worthy Companion to the New MacBook Pro, Even Without Apple's Looks

[9081094]

Unpacking this monitor, I thought, this feels like a crappy, bargain-basement experience. I'm also not crazy about the look of the plastic shell, although it's actually of decent quality and the base is metal. The wires and dongles hanging off the back don't make me happy either.

However, I can tell you that the actual screen is AMAZING. It's by far the most beautiful, vibrant screen I've ever used, including the screen on my 15" MBP with touch bar. Also, it does seem like magic plugging in one cable and getting power, monitor, and all my peripherals instantly working. Finally, the height adjustment really is nice.

To recap, looking at it off on my desk makes me a little sad, but using it is truly a pleasure.

I'm happy for you and I truly believe the screen itself is amazing. When the base, back and bezels would match the rest of materials Apple is using it would be totally perfect and I forgot to mention the Apple logo on it. As Apple is using lg screens in all of it's iMacs for ages now, I can't help to see it as a missed marketing/branding opportunity and see it as something not fitting in the small Apple ecosystem. That said: I'm honestly happy for you and the screen itself will be, without a doubt, breath taking

 

[SSDGUY]

1. I can't imagine the next iMacs won't have Thunderbolt 3, so they'll be able to drive these.
2. It seems like it technically should be supported with Thunderbolt 3, but whether Apple will allow it or not remains to be seen.

I'd not be surprised if future iMacs ditch the silver aluminum look and become more like the new MBP's (space grey) and newer lines of Samsung and LG appliances at Best Buy.

Ah, Ok. My bad.

Forgiveness granted.

 

[Garrod]

Someone get a load of magnets and some copper wire and wrap it around Steve right now; he'll be spinning so fast in his grave he'll be generating enough electricity to power their new campus.

 

[poorcody]

Anyone know if you push the monitor up to its maximum height, will it clear a 15" MacBook Pro's screen? (In other words, can you "stack" one above the new MacBook Pro?)

 

[idunn]

"Make no mistake, this doesn't look like an Apple display, but it's certainly not terrible."
— per article


That is hardly resounding praise.

If nonplused in the moment, the more I dwell on it the worse Apple's decision seems to exit the external display market. Basically an insult and personal betrayal to their customers who would use such a device. As in not just because they might like to with a MBP, but need to with a Mac Pro. Yes, they may as well be discontinuing the Mac Pro too, but that is an even greater insult and another discussion.

While fine in some respects these LG monitors suck because they do not represent the best Apple is capable of. Aside from the questionable excising of widely used ports they've outright dismissed all their customers who wished to remain within the Apple ecosystem and in this and routers and what not have been summarily excised from it. Since not everyone is impressed they even have to radically downsize the price.

No, it's not terrible, but not at all what one should expect from Apple.

 

[PortableLover]

Pair this monitor with a 2017 mac pro with a 32 core skylake xeon monster.

 

[citysnaps]

Worthy companion, my ass. The display have a limited colorspace. They can't do full, or even close to full, Adobe RGB 1998. I would have bought a new monitor since the one I am using is aging. These are useless to me...

Not true.

Looking at chromaticity diagrams, the DCI-P3 gamut has roughly the same area as Adobe RGB, but with different color ranges. P3 displays more magentas, reds, yellows, and some greens. Adobe RGB def displays more greens, cyans, and some blues.

 

[hollandog]

Worthy companion, my ass. The display have a limited colorspace. They can't do full, or even close to full, Adobe RGB 1998. I would have bought a new monitor since the one I am using is aging. These are useless to me...

You sound smart. Please explain Adobe RGB vs P3.
[doublepost=1483134429][/doublepost]I'm sure people will bitch about the price if Apple put the display in it's logo shell and put $1999 tag on it.
[doublepost=1483134546][/doublepost]

Anyone know if you push the monitor up to its maximum height, will it clear a 15" MacBook Pro's screen? (In other words, can you "stack" one above the new MacBook Pro?)

From another thread someone posted a photo of this setup and answer is yes.

 

[bartvk]

am eyeing Google Pixel for phone and tablet in the coming months too.

Don't forget that Android has its warts, too. I've got a Nexus 5, one of Google's flagship phones, last sold in March 2015. Which did not get updated to Android 7.0.

 

[pjny]

Waiting for the "the monitor on my Compaq Portable 386 looked better and was cheaper. apple sucks. can't even produce a sub-1k monitor with adobe rgb that matches the look and feel of my 386 machine" comment....

 

[kevinof]

First released in oct 2013. You expect something that old (tech wise) to get the latest os?

Don't forget that Android has its warts, too. I've got a Nexus 5, one of Google's flagship phones, last sold in March 2015. Which did not get updated to Android 7.0.

 

[sudo1996]

This begs for a i76700k and a 8gig RX480 not a silly 2016 macbook pro. Sad mac pro days.

This begs for a Xeon, not a silly i7.
[doublepost=1483136914][/doublepost]

I did a Quicktime video using the camera and it recorded in 720p, so I'm assuming that is the resolution of the camera.

I agree the speakers are plenty loud, but kinda tinny. I'd say a notch or two below the sound quality of the Thunderbolt Display.

The ATBD has pretty nice speakers. I was playing music through mine in the empty office yesterday.

 

[MRrainer]

Now, a MacMini that can drive that at the full resolution and be powered by it at the same time - that would be cool.

 

[eatrains]

First released in oct 2013. You expect something that old (tech wise) to get the latest os?

iOS 10 works on phones released in Sept 2012, so yes.

 

[Yojimbo007]

Its a shame apple axed the display buisness...
Its a shame that we have to shine LG logos rather than Apple where Apple devices are being used.
Specially at the high end level/ power user level.

For a company the size of Apple making their own casing for a display is a breeze....
even if its not a profitable buisness.. do it for marketing ressons... break even at worst.. but let the Apple Logos Shine everywhere !

 

[Chrisandy]

I'd love to know how it works with an iMac 5K. Once you have the writer cable, can it match the look of the iMac 5K in resolution, screen height, etc?

Will work at 4K resolution using Thunderbolt 2 - 3 adapter:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207448
[doublepost=1483138704][/doublepost]

So do these actually work reliably with the 12 inch MB and new MBP?? USB-C external displays were/are (depending on who you ask on the Apple support forums) quite a problem area.

Will work on new MacBook Pro which is what they're meant for. Will not work on the 12" MacBook, but the 21.5" will. The reason is that this monitor uses Thunderbolt to carry video and the 21.5" uses USB C.

 

[hiphopdan]

the box looks nicer than the display

 

[cult hero]

At least it's adjustable, everyone here with an iMac or Thunderbolt Display has a stack of books under them.

Or an expensive aluminum stand/USB hub.

I'd love this in aluminum but seriously, it's nice to have a decent stand and easy VESA mounting.

 

[DVD9]

I simply cannot understand why LG did not cooperate with Apple on the design of this monitor, which was clearly meant for Macs. Jony Ive could have designed something better on his lunch break.

Partnering with Samsung instead of LG would also have worked out better. This display reveals how Tim Cook and his team feel about computers. "Here's a display for ya, now shut up while I get back to marketing the iPhone"

And of course iPhone sales are falling too. Pepsi is back in charge.
[doublepost=1483144544][/doublepost]

Don't forget that Android has its warts, too. I've got a Nexus 5, one of Google's flagship phones, last sold in March 2015. Which did not get updated to Android 7.0.

That's also made by LG. Try Samsung. The S7 Edge is awesome and it comes all-band unlocked like the Google phones for three hundred less but the Samsung looks like five hundred bucks more.

 

[cult hero]

Don't forget that Android has its warts, too. I've got a Nexus 5, one of Google's flagship phones, last sold in March 2015. Which did not get updated to Android 7.0.

Ha! I got a Samsung Galaxy Nexus which ran 4.0 which they stopped issuing upgrades for within about 18 months despite a major focus of the 4.x series being a reduction in CPU/memory requirements.

Apple's release cycle and length of support is far superior to anything in the Android world.

 

[zeronil]

At Apple's MacBook Pro media event back in October, the company unveiled a pair of LG-branded high-resolution displays it co-developed with the display manufacturer. The UltraFine 5K and 4K displays are optimized for the Mac with tight software integration, and the 5K model in particular with single-cable connection over Thunderbolt 3 has been highly anticipated.

Apple has just begun shipping the UltraFine 5K display, and while a handful of lucky customers received their deliveries late last week, availability is significantly increasing this week and we've had about 24 hours with ours to develop some initial impressions.


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Article Link: LG's UltraFine 5K Display Is a Worthy Companion to the New MacBook Pro, Even Without Apple's Looks

[doublepost=1483147739][/doublepost]The biggest drawback for me with this display was that it didn't work. Spent an hour on the phone with Apple, but the longest we could get it to run was about 30 seconds on a new MacBook Pro 15. Sent it back and now in the queue again waiting for a replacement.

 

[thekev]

Worthy companion, my ass. The display have a limited colorspace. They can't do full, or even close to full, Adobe RGB 1998. I would have bought a new monitor since the one I am using is aging. These are useless to me...

Actual gamut is a far worse criteria than people seem to realize. They're ultimately looking for a close match to other outputs, but the volume of a color space doesn't tell you this. It's possible to have a wide gamut with terrible color reproduction, even if that seems unintuitive. If you're concerned about this, keep an eye on something like NEC rather than Apple.

 

[glindon]

The monitor looks much better in person. I'm just happy that I can finally have a 27" retina screen without having to purchase an iMac that can't be upgraded.

Yes it's a bummer that it's not glass and aluminum with an Apple logo but once you start using it you completely forget about it.

 

[ProjectManager101]

It would be fun if I could fit that screen into the 30" Apple Cinema Display enclosure.

 

[hollandog]

Partnering with Samsung instead of LG would also have worked out better. This display reveals how Tim Cook and his team feel about computers. "Here's a display for ya, now shut up while I get back to marketing the iPhone"

And of course iPhone sales are falling too. Pepsi is back in charge.
[doublepost=1483144544][/doublepost]

That's also made by LG. Try Samsung. The S7 Edge is awesome and it comes all-band unlocked like the Google phones for three hundred less but the Samsung looks like five hundred bucks more.

Samsung? Samsung?? Samsung???