I had a 27" iMac around 2016. I'm not sure if their Anti-Reflective Coating has changed since then, but I do remember it being glossy and somewhat reflective.
The Nano-Coating offering is pricey, and from the looks of the reviews online, some people are advising going with the regular standard glass (burry text, extra-care for the coating, etc). I would be wary of getting that option if you're not in direct sunlight or bright rooms. I have a home office/work studio which was converted from a media room, no windows, and direct control of lighting. Not worried about the standard glass and I'm not noticing any real issues with my MBP 16".
I remember buying a $20 matte film you could place on the 27" iMac, and I did use that for a year or so before I removed it. If you're looking to cut cost and get a matte finish, just be aware that there are cheap matte films made by third party sellers that does a decent job of reducing glare. Although, with anything matte, the texts do get blurry and you lose that crispiness.
I went with the Studio Display for the following reasons:
1. Solid Aluminum Housing, Quality Build.
No plastic, No wobbly stand.
2. Integration with Mac Lineups.
This is a big one for me, I don't think any third party monitor will come close to the integration Apple is able to have across their own product line. I would argue that this is a fact, based on the 7 or so years since Apple discontinued display manufacturing. After 7 years, nobody has come close to what LG has done, and even LG hasn't come close to what Apple does. I'm unwilling to wait another 7 years for a third party company to try. Frankly, very tired of the "waiting game" for companies to step it up with their build quality and integration into Mac lines. I think it's obvious they simply don't care the same way Apple does.
3. Streamline Clean and Simple Design, No visual distractions on the Build.
Tacky logos, plastic bezels, chunky stands. I want to see my content on the monitor, not the monitor itself.
4. 12MP Compact/Built-In Web Camera Guaranteed to work with Apple Silicon.
Most third party webcams, even Logitech is lagging behind on Mac compatibility, resolution, image quality. Better options require upgrades to Mirrorless or DSLR which is expensive, bulky, and clutters workspace. The integration alone requires extra purchases, software, capture cards etc.. it gets expensive fast for similar quality and integration. It's a headache. I know because I've looked and read up a lot.
5. Quality Built-In Speakers and Sound Engineering.
I use noise cancelling headphones at all times (Sony), so the speakers are not necessary for me, but one of the benefits is reducing clutter* by eliminating extra purchases such as external speakers or bluetooth speakers in case you ever need it.
6. Resale Value.
This is a big one especially when it comes to reducing e-waste. I like knowing my old electronics find a new owner and a good home where people will use them and find enjoyment using the products. Apple retains their value so much better than most other manufacturers. I think the quality and reliability creates a used market that makes it easy to offload older Apple products and get some of your money back to put towards future upgrades and essentially keeping it out of the landfills and dumps. That solid aluminum build is something even the used product market recognizes as quality worth paying a bit more for than their plastic counterparts.
7. USB-C Only.
It's a plus for me, as I've offloaded almost all of my USB-A devices and swapped to USB-C.
That's my list of upsides.
My downsides?
1. Price, price, price
2. No Mini-LED
3. No non-camera, non-audio options (for dual or triple setups)
There were more upsides than downsides, and so I went with the Studio Display* but I won't be doing a dual setup. That would be way too expensive, even for me lol I might wait a few more years to see if Apple decides to upgrade their display lineup with more options or wait for refurbished models? For now though, I'll have a decent quality display to last several years and I'm fine with that ?
That being said, I think if you're absolute on the dual setup. I would go with the Dell.
Edit: I would like a dual Studio Display setup, but I can't justify the purchase - it seems excessive. 2 Webcams, and 2 sets of sound system with one only ever being utilized? I'll wait for the refurbished market and prices and reconsider at a later time, but one is enough for now.
