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It's a shame that the Samsung 5K is only available in matte. This reduces the high pixel density of 218PPI again. For me, only glossy displays with at least 200PPI come into question. If you still have matte screens, you don't have high demands on the highest quality, for these users any 08/15 4K display will do!
 
Definitely a great hack. The big caveat here is that unless I'm mistaken you don't get to utilize the speakers or webcam on that iMac 5K.

Yes, I believe that's the case. But having been an iMac guy for well over a decade, I added superior stand alone speakers long ago and there are much better webcams than the one built into them too. With "Continuity Camera" making iDevices into much better webcams, the easiest way to deal with that is use the iDevice we already have.

And then incredible computer stand-alone speakers are priced like a single HomePod or less. Even some very high rated ones WITH subwoofer are priced like one HP Mini. Another great option is to simply embrace a high-rated Soundbar + bluetooth Sub. Again, for the price of a single HP, one can typically get a very good one with Airplay too, so it can offer multiple uses beyond only computer audio.

So it's a bargain, but you're now dealing with additional speakers and a webcam you have to plug in. I wonder if there's anyone out there doing these conversions as a service?

I actually expected some opportunistic entrepreneur to jump right on it as a service but haven't seen anything like that. Someone should step up. There's a LOT of 5K Apple monitors out there, probably retired but ready to come out of retirement as a very low-cost, dedicated 5K "retina" monitor.
 
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Damn good price for a professional who needs color fidelity and response. Or a gamer I suppose. For the rest of us, $1K for a display is about what we'd pay for a MacBook Air or iMac with screens included.
 
Two things prevent me from pulling the trigger on such a purchase. One is the matte screen. Ugh. I hate matte screens. Two is that it’s Samsung. Samsung has a history of poor QC where their monitors have light leakages and when panels get bent. The one Samsung monitor I did buy once ended up being recalled due to horrible quality control. I’d probably take a chance on bad quality control if it weren’t for that matte screen.
 
I actually expected some opportunistic entrepreneur to jump right on it as a service but haven't seen anything like that. Someone should step up. There's a LOT of 5K Apple monitors out there, probably retired but ready to come out of retirement as a very low-cost, dedicated 5K "retina" monitor.
My office has like half a dozen of them sitting in a corner. Sad!
 
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On eBay since beginning of the year for $670-750 open box (sometimes even new). The only deal breaker for me is the lack of glossy. If it had that, I would have bought 2 of them. Still going the Apple route.

Waiting for the magical $1500 for glossy tilt + height.
Might want to check out the Alogic 27. It's 4k but build quality and picture pretty close to Apple Studio (other than speakers). Glossy/Tilt/Height. only 639 right now with a coupon.
 
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I can't speak to the Samsung specifically, but at work with my non-Apple display (an HP, think?) I use this app to get the keyboard's brightness and volume keys to work, and it's very good:

Thanks, appreciate it!
 
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I don't like the webcam on the Apple Studio Display, NOT because of the poor quality, and it is poor, but it has too wide of an angle for just me sitting at my desk, and is too high. Using the iPhone camera instead has been a nice workaround, as I can position that wherever I want, but eek I can't believe they shipped this camera in a $1500+ display. Oh wait, this article is about a Samsung display.
 
I sent back 4 studio displays because they all had massive dirty screen effect. An absolute quality low point from Apple. yet I will not buy this plastic version.
Ugh, I had to stop at two. Luckily I was able to get a decent LG 5K (after one with a pronounced on-axis color shift).

I can't wait until OLEDs finally start ramping up the missing middle between TVs and mobile. The two best displays I own are on my Sony A80J and my iPhone 15; having that kind of quality in a 5k 27" would be incredible.
 
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Just goes to show the profit margin they are getting if they can afford such a big discount.

It's more like the product doesn't make any sense. PC's don't need 5K displays and it doesn't make sense to use a PC monitor for a Mac. If you want the true Apple experience, you get the Apple Studio Display or the Pro XDR display.

So Samsung is more likely unable to sell it and is trying to dump the product as it has no market.
 
It's more like the product doesn't make any sense. PC's don't need 5K displays and it doesn't make sense to use a PC monitor for a Mac. If you want the true Apple experience, you get the Apple Studio Display or the Pro XDR display.

So Samsung is more likely unable to sell it and is trying to dump the product as it has no market.
But Apple users ARE the market. Pretty sure this is a display built for Mac products, just happens to also work with PCs.
 
Definitely a great hack. The big caveat here is that unless I'm mistaken you don't get to utilize the speakers or webcam on that iMac 5K. So it's a bargain, but you're now dealing with additional speakers and a webcam you have to plug in. I wonder if there's anyone out there doing these conversions as a service?
There's a 45 (currently) page thread here about doing this conversion: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/diy-5k-monitor-success.2253100/

You can re-use the iMac speakers and there are cheap cameras you can order and install in place of the existing one. Some folks have re-used the power plug, power switch, speakers, and fan.

I finished one up using a 2015 27" Retina iMac I bought on ebay a few months ago for $300 shipped and about $200 in parts - (so $500 total plus my time) - I have to see if I can sell some of the iMac parts on ebay to bring the total cost down. I only re-used the original power switch. It has replaced my older 27" Dell 4K monitor which I ran at 3008 x 1692. Even though it's still 27", with the 5K resolution and pixel clarity I can run it at 3200 x 1800 and gained more screen real estate!
 
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your iphone has samsung in it.
True, but Apple has done the QC with the supplier for us and if something goes wrong, Apple will step up, unlike dealing with Scamscum and their non-customer service.
I'm not talking about Samsung the supplier. I'm talking about Samsesung the shameless copycat. They are operating separately (for a good reason).
Agree 💯
 
Each year Samsung manages to screw up their supposed-to-be good products by having bad QC.
 
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It’s more for design and office work - not gaming. Same thing with 5k… it’s great for design, but you don’t want to push that many pixels when gaming.
A 5k Monitor is still top to use for gaming, if you are fine with a WQHD resolution. You don't always have to use the full resolution on a 5K monitor to get a great picture when it comes to gaming!
 
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This monitor is a treat at $900 (price I paid) compared to other overpriced Retina external displays. Took me a couple of hours to tweak everything, calibrate colors under the custom profiles DCI/sRGB (I left the factory's DCI/sRGB modes untouched), setup controls via macOS using BetterDisplay (brightness / volume) and despite what some of the reviews on youtube claim, I can confirm the 4K cam was recognized under macOS - you just have to use a quality usb-c (or thunderbolt) cable as not all cables are made equally.

For that price, I'm satisfied with the build quality too as it is sturdy and unless you have a desk that is easily shakable then the monitor won't wobble (it's vesa compatible too so I might get an ergo vesa mount/arm in the future for it). I'm managing it mostly via the remote which recharges via usb-c. You can also control it via a phone and the options button on the back of the monitor. It can also be managed via third-party remote management apps (still looking in to this).

As for the cabling/connection setup - it's connected via the display port on the 5700XT to the mini-display port on the monitor using a true vesa certified cable and a usb-c port on the cMP to the thunderbolt/usb-c port on the monitor.

Oh and it comes with 3-year manufacturer warranty (warranty period might differ between regions). My advice for anyone considering it, take your time to navigate and understand the various options before finalizing your setup and don't go cheap on the cables.

My eyes, and wallet, are thanking me so happy camper here.
 
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