PSA: Studio Display Stands Are Not Interchangeable

[Kissmo1980]

Wow there’s some rich people on MR!

Every time a new product is coming, no matter the amount everyone’s worrying about which model and shipping time.

Fixed, adjustable or vesa mount… everyone seems to be bursting with money and creating content.
Looks like buying an expensive monitor, a Mac or iphone every end of the week is like buying bread.
😬

Anyway… At least check it first in an Apple Store.
You don’t just buy displays blindly online.
You need to see it in action with content you trust - then you can decide also about the stand.
When you have money to buy everything Apple throws at you, the stand is something that shouldn’t be so problematic after a bit of a hands on.

No judgement- just a recommendation.
Now go spend those money - Tim Cook needs golden rims for his bike this summer!

 

[lilkwarrior]

can you recommend a specific cable? the Display uses a thunderbolt port so why would a USB-C cable work?

Thunderbolt is compatible with a variety of USB standards; that is why Apple very much prefers Thunderbolt 3/4 Ports to account for the headaches that is the USB standard today. Thunderbolt 4 is compatible with USB4 (only caveat in the future is that a USB4 cable in the future is superior to a Thunderbolt 4 cable because it will have more bandwidth to accommodate Displayport 2.0 for support up to 16K@60hz + Thunderbolt 4 support) as well as all the previous versions of USB.

Anyhow, cords from the likes of Belkin and Club3D get the job done; For my desktop that uses a 3090 or A series GPU, I used a Club3D USB-C to Displayport 1.4 cable to connect my Pro Display XDR monitor to it.

Just make sure you use Displayport 1.4+ to have enough bandwidth for high-res Thunderbolt monitors

 

[fwmireault]

Little bit OT but how exactly is Mac Studio modular when everything is soldered to the board and there are no additional slots available? Or do they mean modular as you can connect external USB drives to it?

I think what they meant by modular is a separated display and computer. They were making their case for killing the larger iMac

 

[Quu]

Apple takes 3 steps forward (M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro's) then 2 steps backwards (a disposable monitor where you can't change the stand).

I honestly don't understand why they self sabotage it's so needless. Just put standard VESA bolt holes on the back and have the standard stand use that square area with latches like every other computer monitor.

Remember this thing costs over a thousand bucks. This isn't some walmart $299 monitor with non-removable plastic stand. It's just so stupid and maddening from an observer.

 

[lilkwarrior]

I’m more upset at the lack of HDR than anything else. If it had HDR, I’d buy one right now.

It has HDR, but abysmal HDR being only HDR600. It's surprising that they didn't go with 1000 nits (just not sustained like the Pro Display XDR). Pros very much prefer 1000 nits for LCDs monitors.

In comparison the Pro Display XDR has 1000 sustained nits + peak 1600nit brightness. Monitors like Asus Pro Art PA32UCG monitors also achieve this with more Mini-Led zones but at only 4K vs. the Pro Display XDR's 6K.

That said, few make 27" monitors with what the Studio Display provides in build quality and PPI (being 5K instead of 4K like most). It's obviously a hard thing to do at Apple's scale; it was just surprising to be associated with the Studio that is for creative professionals that aren't accommodated much by it. Glad those who wanted a Apple monitor for whatever reason at a middle-of-the-road tier of monitor quality have an option now.

 

[gomichaelgo]

$400 extra for the height adjustable stand. Ugh wtf

 

[lilkwarrior]

Apple takes 3 steps forward (M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pro's) then 2 steps backwards (a disposable monitor where you can't change the stand).

I honestly don't understand why they self sabotage it's so needless. Just put standard VESA bolt holes on the back and have the standard stand use that square area with latches like every other computer monitor.

Remember this thing costs over a thousand bucks. This isn't some walmart $299 monitor with non-removable plastic stand. It's just so stupid and maddening from an observer.

I respectfully disagree; Apple's approach to monitors is very much more preferred to be adopted than emulate the rest of the industry. It's far more green, and it should be standard to order monitors without a stand if aimed at professionals. It's common knowledge a VESA mount is far more ergonomic than using a stand. It's ridiculous to be shipped a chunk of metal/plastic you never intend on using.

It'll also makes product designers think very hard on having so much variations on stands for a product line.

A stand can be useful for those with not ideal desk situations. I don't understand why it's not interchangeable like it is for the Pro Display XDR; it's a weird way to upsell the Pro Display XDR.

 

[Saturnine]

I was really hoping this would be the product for me. I’ve been looking for a pair of monitors for a while now and the rumours seemed promising. Unfortunately I can’t personally justify spending £4,000 on two height-adjustable displays.

I think I’m settled on the BenQ PD2725U now. Only 4K and no integrated speakers/webcam but I have a pair of studio speakers anyway. It’s not quite as bright but does support HDR and is height adjustable. Less than half the price too.

 

[IBINX]

I figured as much as much seeing as the new M1 iMacs only come as either VESA mount models or with the stand built in. I guess Apple doesn't want another SnazzyLabs incident on their hands. It would have been nice to have the option to switch the base to VESA or high adjusted after purchase but as usual you either get one configuration and deal with it or spend more money on the others.

 

[ViktorEvil]

4K monitors for less than $350, which is a much better price point for the amount the desktop space you get.

LG UltraFine 27-Inch Computer Monitor 27UL500-W, IPS Display with AMD FreeSync and HDR10 Compatibility, White

Immerse yourself completely with phenomenal image precision and ultra deep granularity with 4K UHD (3840x2160), presenting four times the resolution of Full HD with HDR 10’s industry standard for High Dynamic Range imaging. This IPS computer monitor helps keep colors consistent at a wide viewing ...

www.amazon.com

I have one and it’s not very good at all.

It squeaks and rattles when I type so I have to give it a tap on one side, this stops it for a few hours then it starts to rattle again.

The speakers are absolute crap.

HDR setting does not work properly.

It doesn’t always wake up when my MacBook Pro does.

But it was cheap to buy 😊

 

[lilkwarrior]

Get the monitor with vesa mount and then get this stand for forty bucks:

Single Monitor Stand Freestanding 27-43 Inch Monitor Arm Curved Screen Monitor Mount Tempered Glass Base Adjustable Motion Tilt -15° to 10° Swivel ±45° Rotation 360° Weight Capacity 77lbs HT05B-003

this stand is ideal for monitor screen, and TVs, please make sure whether your monitor size is 27 inch to 43 inch, Second, please check the weight of your computer monitor or tv, it must be less than 35KG/77lbs, most importantly please make sure that the distance of the mounting holes (VESA Hol...

www.amazon.com

It's not ergonomically wise to use a stand whatsoever. Great for those in pinch in in-production/on-the-go use cases that this + the Mac Studio's form factor keeps in mind.

 

[Digital Skunk]

... Seems Apple designers could have easily made this thing VESA compliant with a stand included. It's something virtually every other monitor maker seems to achieve.

This right here!

They could've tried to do something similar to the XDR, or at the very, VERY least gave us an ugly, but standard method of changing the mount out.

There may not be any 27" 5k monitors on the market, but paying 3x less for a stellar 27" 4k monitor, or $500 less for a 32" 4k monitor (both with Bolt ports and USB-C) seems like a more promising option.

There was a time, long long long long ago, when buying an Apple monitor was a great deal. Right now, some may be better served by picking up the 5k Ultrafine.

 

[Quu]

I respectfully disagree; Apple's approach to monitors is very much more preferred to be adopted than emulate the rest of the industry. It's far more green, and it should be standard to order monitors without a stand if aimed at professionals. It's common knowledge a VESA mount is far more ergonomic than using a stand. It's ridiculous to be shipped a chunk of metal/plastic you never intend on using.

It'll also makes product designers think very hard on having so much variations on stands for a product line.

A stand can be useful for those with not ideal desk situations. I don't understand why it's not interchangeable like it is for the Pro Display XDR; it's a weird way to upsell the Pro Display XDR.

I think you've missed what my criticism is completely. The stand is not changeable. I would order this monitor with a VESA mount but when it comes time to sell it years from now the buyers will more than likely want a proper stand for it and not VESA.

Similarly there have been circumstances where I had to change from a VESA mount to the original stand that my monitors shipped with and then go back to VESA later. Again something this monitor cannot do.

By all means sell just the monitor without any type of stand and let us buy those separately (like with the Pro Display XDR). But to make the stand non-removable is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[deeddawg]

There may not be any 27" 5k monitors on the market, but paying 3x less for a stellar 27" 4k monitor, or $500 less for a 32" 4k monitor (both with Bolt ports and USB-C) seems like a more promising option.

There was a time, long long long long ago, when buying an Apple monitor was a great deal. Right now, some may be better served by picking up the 5k Ultrafine.

The discontinued $1300 LG 27" 5K Ultrafine is still available in some places, I can order one for pickup today at my closest Apple store.

Worth noting that LG managed to provide a tilt/height adjustable stand while maintaining VESA 100x100 compatibility.

 

[TVreporter]

Share the wealth MR community!

What a greedy move to not enable the stands to be interchangeable. Handcuffing the consumer yet again.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Then ya buy the one that is.

A $2500 iMac isn't height adjustable and yet, it's never been a big issue. Where was the article and uprise about that?

Well, to be fair it did come with a computer and beefier IO. And you did have plenty of options to add a VESA mount to it after market, then put the stand back on if you wanted to.

That might happen with these displays.

Right, because so many people are going to change their mind and have no choice but to throw their monitors in the trash.

*rolls eyes at nonsensical faux outrage*

The only problem is that there are TONS of people who change their minds.

Since when did people never change their minds?

They won't toss their monitors, but they'll have to sell and buy new ones or .... trade I guess.

But for those who work in deployment and consulting this is a new issue. Most monitors are like the XDR, you choose your stand or buy it stock then remove the stand easily.

 

[bsolar]

It has HDR, but abysmal HDR being only HDR600. It's surprising that they didn't go with 1000 nits (just not sustained like the Pro Display XDR). Pros very much prefer 1000 nits for LCDs monitors.

Peak brightness aside, AFAIK it also lacks local dimming. Said that, 600 nits is actually above what most 4k "consumer oriented" monitors provide although they are still marketed "HDR".

 

[SSDGUY]

I find it amusing a suggested use case is to have two or three of these displays. I would have much preferred a dumb display because now I would end up paying for three sets of speakers and cameras if I took Apple's advice. Do they use some software trick to integrate them all?

$999 dumb monitor would be the best option but even then I could see $1299 being viable to without camera or speakers.

By making a thick display loaded with tech, and a desktop machine that runs a bunch of them at once (as shown in the slick product launch) simply shows Apple's "commitment to the environment" is marketing hype and/or a joke. On that topic, I don't believe you, Apple.

 

[AppleMad98004]

Anyone know how the speaker system in the Studio Display works when you have a dual monitor set up. Do they all work in collaboration or is only one monitor pumping out the sound?

 

[SSDGUY]

Right, because so many people are going to change their mind and have no choice but to throw their monitors in the trash.

*rolls eyes at nonsensical faux outrage*

I can see myself doing this, ie. needing to change my studio setup's monitor configuration. It's not the smallish percentage of folks who might want to do this that should get eye-rolled, but Apple for insisting on this over-priced nonsensical proprietary lunacy when it comes to accessories.

 

[Euroamerican]

People who design accessories that are hard to configure or not swappable between similar products deserve to work in the Desktop Support Hell-Desk for a really long time. Idiotic stuff like monitor stands/arms not fitting when we have to swap out hardware is a factor in end-user complaints and repeat fiddly service calls.

 

[4nNtt]

The enclosure is based on the iMac 24", so this shouldn't be surprising. It would have been nice if Apple offered an after purchase option for at least a VESA mount, but it is what it is.

Personally, I ordered some with the VESA mount which I'll pair with AmazonBasics re-branded Ergotron stands. They are a really good deal at $70 off for some excellent monitor stands.

 

[MRrainer]

Wait. So if you buy the monitor and later decide you need to mount it on an arm, you need to sell it and buy a new one? SRS?

Technically, you don't need to sell it....

"I'm not a hoarder, but...."

 

[CordovaLark]

Come on... they really should have thought this one through.

What makes you think they didn't? This is typical Apple and has been for years.

 

[jsalda]

Famous last words:

View attachment 1970343

For real, this is probably the worst thing about this display. There is no reason why I should be limited to a stand that can't be changed later for a VESA mount, or vice-versa, especially at this price point. This is greed at is best.

Greed or design, marketing, engineering all working separately; or just a combination of all of it.