Next-gen consumer-level Apple display

[Martius]

Few days ago Jonathan Morrison posted this video that really speaks for a lot us waiting for a consumer level (sub $1500) Apple branded display. I didn't found an active thread talking about this (already rumored) future Apple product, so I told myself I will start it here.

I really hope we could see a cheaper Apple display alongside the upcoming Macbook Pros. Not sure why Apple left the external monitor market. I think that market has been in really bad shape for a last few years. The panels might got better since the 27" thunderbolt display, but none of those monitors got close in overall build quality.

The smaller iMac got a bigger screen, so we can conclude that the iMac Pro (I think the sucessor of the 27" iMac will be called Pro to match the iPad / MacBook line) will get 32" 6K (non-XDR) screen. And I think it would make sense to just introduce 24/32" standalone monitors with those panels.

24" + Mac Mini / MBA = consumer level
32" + MBP / Mac Mini Pro = prosumer level
32" XDR + Mac Pro = pro level

Of course the 24" + Mac Mini / MBA would be more expensive than the base level iMac, but you pay more for the flexibility. For me personally it's much more practical to have MBP + external monitor, but I bought 2020 iMac 27" simply because I love the panel and don't really need to travel that much. But if there is a cheaper standalone Apple display, I will switch to M1 MBA / Apple display combo as soon as possible.

What are your thoughts?

 

[salamanderjuice]

Because they weren't making money? I think at this point the high end consumer monitor market is driven by PC gamers who want features Apple isn't going to deliver like high refresh rates, Nvidia Gsync and ultra wide displays. Most consumers are happy with their laptop screen and a few pick up a couple hundred dollar panel for working at home or something.

Doesn't help that Apple was really uncompetitive in feature set. VESA? Oh that's an extra add-on. Full sized display port? Nah. HDMI? Ha! Plus they were basically unusable on non-Macs as you can't adjust stuff like brightness. Some like the Thunderbolt models were literally unusable even on PC laptops with TB! Sure they look slightly better and have "better" (what you mean is metal) build but why would anyone spend $1500 on a monitor that won't play nice with anything else but the current range of Macs without some adapter?

 

[Fishrrman]

Apple has "been there before".
My guess is they didn't make enough (or any) profit from having a "consumer display line" of products.
I don't think they're going to bother with it again.

How many "Apple printers" have you see lately...?

 

[naughtybehavior86]

I think the XDR Display is the only display we will see for some time.

 

[blairh]

Few days ago Jonathan Morrison posted this video that really speaks for a lot us waiting for a consumer level (sub $1500) Apple branded display. I didn't found an active thread talking about this (already rumored) future Apple product, so I told myself I will start it here.

I really hope we could see a cheaper Apple display alongside the upcoming Macbook Pros. Not sure why Apple left the external monitor market. I think that market has been in really bad shape for a last few years. The panels might got better since the 27" thunderbolt display, but none of those monitors got close in overall build quality.

The smaller iMac got a bigger screen, so we can conclude that the iMac Pro (I think the sucessor of the 27" iMac will be called Pro to match the iPad / MacBook line) will get 32" 6K (non-XDR) screen. And I think it would make sense to just introduce 24/32" standalone monitors with those panels.

24" + Mac Mini / MBA = consumer level
32" + MBP / Mac Mini Pro = prosumer level
32" XDR + Mac Pro = pro level

Of course the 24" + Mac Mini / MBA would be more expensive than the base level iMac, but you pay more for the flexibility. For me personally it's much more practical to have MBP + external monitor, but I bought 2020 iMac 27" simply because I love the panel and don't really need to travel that much. But if there is a cheaper standalone Apple display, I will switch to M1 MBA / Apple display combo as soon as possible.

What are your thoughts?

Gurman has already reported about Apple making a cheaper monitor. I believe it will come in the fall of 2021.

My thoughts are that an Apple monitor is sorely needed in the marketplace. My options in the 5K and 6K range are limited and uninspiring to the point that I wouldn't purchase any of them personally.

 

[Martius]

Because they weren't making money? I think at this point the high end consumer monitor market is driven by PC gamers who want features Apple isn't going to deliver like high refresh rates, Nvidia Gsync and ultra wide displays. Most consumers are happy with their laptop screen and a few pick up a couple hundred dollar panel for working at home or something.

Doesn't help that Apple was really uncompetitive in feature set. VESA? Oh that's an extra add-on. Full sized display port? Nah. HDMI? Ha! Plus they were basically unusable on non-Macs as you can't adjust stuff like brightness. Some like the Thunderbolt models were literally unusable even on PC laptops with TB! Sure they look slightly better and have "better" (what you mean is metal) build but why would anyone spend $1500 on a monitor that won't play nice with anything else but the current range of Macs without some adapter?

PC gamers are a completely different market. There is a market for 60-120hz highres well-build macOS ready monitors that do not cost $5000. Developers, photographers, video producers. Maybe it's more prosumer than consumer market, but a lot of people are buying iMacs just for the screen. And the 27" thunderbolt display still keeps its resale value really high, even though it's basically 10 years old monitor. That's a prove there is a market for a cheaper Apple branded display.

Apple has "been there before".
My guess is they didn't make enough (or any) profit from having a "consumer display line" of products.
I don't think they're going to bother with it again.

How many "Apple printers" have you see lately...?

I think Apple realized in recent year or two what they have forgot years before – to invest money not only into products which generate the most income. Car brands like Porsche know that. Cayenne / Panamera generates more income than Porsche sport cars, but the sports cars are the soul of the company. iPhone is making the most profits, but the creators are the soul of Apple brand. So they are going to bother, actually they do as we can see right now (Mac Pro etc.).

Gurman has already reported about Apple making a cheaper monitor. I believe it will come in the fall of 2021.

My thoughts are that an Apple monitor is sorely needed in the marketplace. My options in the 5K and 6K range are limited and uninspiring to the point that I wouldn't purchase any of them personally.

Yes, that is the rumor I was talking about.

 

[Vangeli]

I figure we’ll maybe see a mini-LED refresh of the Pro Display XDR, with the current model only dropping in price a little bit.

Though seeing as Apple posited both the 6K beast and the 12.9” iPad Pro as the same on paper, maybe not. Would probably need another new feature to justify it. Etched glass wireless charging pad seamlessly inserted into the bottom of the stand and new Magic accessories with wireless charging built in, perhaps?

 

[tornado99]

Hi,

A few things to add to the discussion.

1. Hauwei are launching a 3:2 computer monitor 4500x3000 pixels, which is just about Retina level (170 dpi)

Huawei MateView: High-end external monitor leaked with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a built-in wireless charging stand

Huawei has recently certified a monitor at the 3C, and now renders of it have started circulating online. The so-called Huawei MateView has slim bezels, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a built-in wireless charging stand.

www.notebookcheck.net

2. Dell already launched their 8K 32 inch a couple of years ago, so I suspect 8K 27 inch will start becoming more common (5K was always an oddity that didn't fit in the LCD manufacturers roadmaps)

3. I wrote a review of a very affordable 24 inch 4K monitor here, proving that they are not expensive to make these days.

A 4K 24 inch matte "Retina" Display does exist, and I just bought one! [Review]

I have been on the hunt for a 4K 24 inch monitor, and finally I found one! The Electriq Eiq-244kMHDR. It has a light matte AG coating, 10 bit IPS panel, 300 nits, and costs £140 ($190). Text looks ultra-smooth like a printed page on this screen! It works perfectly with my Mac and is detected...

forums.macrumors.com

4. If you live in China there are 4K and 5K monitors widely available. It is a market-led decision that very few make it outside China. Most consumers just aren't interested in anything above 1080p.

5. Given that Apple has persuaded a manufacturer to make 4.5K panels for the iMac I wonder how long it will be until someone comes along and packages this panel into a standalone monitor, possibly without Apple's blessing!

 

[salamanderjuice]

PC gamers are a completely different market. There is a market for 60-120hz highres well-build macOS ready monitors that do not cost $5000. Developers, photographers, video producers. Maybe it's more prosumer than consumer market, but a lot of people are buying iMacs just for the screen. And the 27" thunderbolt display still keeps its resale value really high, even though it's basically 10 years old monitor. That's a prove there is a market for a cheaper Apple branded display.



I think Apple realized in recent year or two what they have forgot years before – to invest money not only into products which generate the most income. Car brands like Porsche know that. Cayenne / Panamera generates more income than Porsche sport cars, but the sports cars are the soul of the company. iPhone is making the most profits, but the creators are the soul of Apple brand. So they are going to bother, actually they do as we can see right now (Mac Pro etc.).



Yes, that is the rumor I was talking about.

There is creative focused displays from companies like Dell and Asus. Those are arguably more business oriented anyways. The majority of the consumer monitor market is driven by PC gamers since they're the only ones spending buckets on desktop PCs these days.

Yes, some people want the Apple design aesthetic and pay more for a TB display or Cinema Display than a comparable panel of similar vintage.

People also pay more money for iPod Classics than comparable MP3 players these days too. Doesn't mean its worth Apple's while to start making classic iPods again.

 

[Tarantularock]

🙏 I’m really hoping this comes along for the new MBPs that mini pro rumor and those iPad pro m1d.

 

[211]

I am also hoping Apple will release a consumer level display. If Apple didn't sell many of these before, it would be worth it to reassess due to hybrid working becoming the future. As Martius has said, there is a consumer market and a pro market. Apple has this across Macs, iPads and iPhones. Yet for displays there is only the XDR which only caters for the pro market, unless you're rich. I doubt Apple would make more money from XDRs than numbers sold for a consumer display. Also, LG has stopped selling its Mac-specific Ultrafine displays. I don't know why LG has done that, but there is certainly a gap in the market now with no competition for Apple to sell a display.

 

[tornado99]

Well the Hauwei Mateview 4K+ is available now and at $800 is pretty much the market you're describing. 3840 x 2560 pixels. 3:2 ratio. Custom DCI-P3 panel. CNC aluminium case with ball-joint mount. It's clearly had more effort put into it than most of the plastic junk out there, even the Ultrafines.

HUAWEI Monitors - HUAWEI Global

Explore the latest technologies in monitors with Huawei. Check out HUAWEI MateView, HUAWEI MateView GT, HUAWEI Display 23.8''... Buy and get support from Huawei.

consumer.huawei.com

 

[macsplusmacs]

Now do 5K Hauwei!!

 

[tornado99]

As a computer user who does a lot of word processing and coding I would take 3:2 ratio 4K over 16:9 ratio 5K any day.

I also think 218 dpi "retina" density is overkill for most of us. I work on 94dpi, 122dpi, 185dpi, and 267 dpi displays, and I feel that 122dpi is only a little under the sharpness I need. So the 160dpi of the Hauwei should be very decent.

 

[Martius]

That Huawei monitor is exactly what Apple should do. Hope we get that rumored cheaper Apple monitor this year alongside the new MBPs.

Really made me laught when they were announcing the M1 iPad Pro and there was a person using XDR monitor with the iPad. I guess when you pay $6000 for a monitor you won't be using iPad for video production, at least not at home / work. There is really a missing product in their lineup.

 

[tornado99]

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Apple to release a new monitor. Even if they do, it will probably be 16:9 to fit in with the rest of their lineup. I've played a few times with the new iMac 4.5K display and it still felt as vertically cramped as any cheap monitor you can buy. Beautifully sharp, but cramped!

 

[Amethyst1]

For 16:9 to not feel cramped, I found 27" the sweet spot.

 

[Martius]

I like 16:10 / 3:2 displays, but to be honest... the bigger the screen, the less I care if it's 16:9 or not. Don't get me wrong, it's great on laptops, but my 5K iMac screen feels ok.

What I'm really missing is a well-build macOS ready screen (to support the right pixel-size ratio) for a reasonable price.

 

[tornado99]

From what I've seen Big Sur improves the quality of fractional scaled resolutions (i.e. "more space" options) so that there is little difference to the exact pixel-doubled option. So not having a 218 dpi monitor isn't really an issue. In fact, if you aren't running an M1 Mac you can create your own virtual resolutions using monitor overrides.

I think even some Macs are sold with the default set as "more space".

 

[macsplusmacs]

If we don't hear about new apple displays this fall, then its next spring at the earliest.

If they are even a real thing.

 

[xraydoc]

Well the Hauwei Mateview 4K+ is available now and at $800 is pretty much the market you're describing. 3840 x 2560 pixels. 3:2 ratio. Custom DCI-P3 panel. CNC aluminium case with ball-joint mount. It's clearly had more effort put into it than most of the plastic junk out there, even the Ultrafines.

HUAWEI Monitors - HUAWEI Global

Explore the latest technologies in monitors with Huawei. Check out HUAWEI MateView, HUAWEI MateView GT, HUAWEI Display 23.8''... Buy and get support from Huawei.

consumer.huawei.com

View attachment 1796081View attachment 1796082

Is this available in the US yet?

 

[Martius]

From what I've seen Big Sur improves the quality of fractional scaled resolutions (i.e. "more space" options) so that there is little difference to the exact pixel-doubled option. So not having a 218 dpi monitor isn't really an issue. In fact, if you aren't running an M1 Mac you can create your own virtual resolutions using monitor overrides.

I think even some Macs are sold with the default set as "more space".

Sounds good, I didn't know that.

Is this available in the US yet?

I don't think so.

 

[Fishrrman]

tornado wrote:
" the Hauwei Mateview 4K+ is available now"

But... also be aware that this product does not seem to be available in North America yet (or at all)...

 

[tornado99]

Are Hauwei laptops (Matebooks) available in North America? If so, I imagine these might be some time this year.

 

[Martius]

The availability date in Germany seems to be early August.