Should I buy a Pro Display XDR at a discount?

[Macdude2010]

Hello all,
I’m having a bit of a conflict (very dumb first world problem). I have wanted an Apple Monitor since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016. When I heard the news of Apple making a monitor back in 2017 I was so happy! I expected to pay around $2500 for the rumored 32inch 6K display. When it finally came out, bam, $5000, so i canned that idea. Now I have an opportunity to buy an XDR for about 30% off, which drops the price to around $3500. I can also sell my LG 5k for about 800, which brings my cost down to being around what I was originally thinking of spending on an Apple Monitor.
My use case is mostly software/hardware development, but I also am a hobbiest photographer and do a little bit of video work. I have an OLED TV and I would love to have that kind of contrast on a computer monitor.
I have the LG 5k right now but:

1. I like to have only one monitor and 27 inches is small at times
2. The build quality is not very good
3. Contrast ratio is pretty bad, there is a lot of glowing on glowing colors.

I expect I’d probably keep this monitor for about 8-10 years, or whenever microLED tech is out. I know people out there are still using the 30 inch Cinema Display from 2004.

What would you do if you could get an XDR for $3500?

 

[Ron21]

Hello all,
I’m having a bit of a conflict (very dumb first world problem). I have wanted an Apple Monitor since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016. When I heard the news of Apple making a monitor back in 2017 I was so happy! I expected to pay around $2500 for the rumored 32inch 6K display. When it finally came out, bam, $5000, so i canned that idea. Now I have an opportunity to buy an XDR for about 30% off, which drops the price to around $3500. I can also sell my LG 5k for about 800, which brings my cost down to being around what I was originally thinking of spending on an Apple Monitor.
My use case is mostly software/hardware development, but I also am a hobbiest photographer and do a little bit of video work. I have an OLED TV and I would love to have that kind of contrast on a computer monitor.
I have the LG 5k right now but:

1. I like to have only one monitor and 27 inches is small at times
2. The build quality is not very good
3. Contrast ratio is pretty bad, there is a lot of glowing on glowing colors.

I expect I’d probably keep this monitor for about 8-10 years, or whenever microLED tech is out. I know people out there are still using the 30 inch Cinema Display from 2004.

What would you do if you could get an XDR for $3500?

I'd definitely buy one if I had access to that type of discount. I'm also searching for a monitor (now that I'm working from home) and there is simply nothing comparable on the market in terms of build and image quality.

The only thing stopping me is also the high price tag (+stand) and just overall justifiability

It's interesting that you mention the 5K LG, I've been so close to pulling the trigger on it but keep rethinking it due to the design and plastic build.

BTW, is this discount by any chance something others might have access to?

 

[calderone]

Mostly for Ron21.

I just got the LG 5k and while it isn't a looker, it really isn't as bad as you'd believe based on reports. Honestly, when you're using it the design fades away. The build quality is overblown, sure it is plastic but that doesn't automatically mean it has low build quality. It is understated and put together well IMO. The one criticism that holds true is the stand having some wobble, I planned to mount whatever monitor I purchased so this wasn't an issue for me.

I purchased the latest 5k model with the 3 year warranty (business version) for under $1200 and can extend the warranty out to 6 years for another $70.

At $3500, I'd consider the XDR, but I'd still have a hard time justifying it especially without AppleCare+ on it.

 

[Macdude2010]

I'd definitely buy one if I had access to that type of discount. I'm also searching for a monitor (now that I'm working from home) and there is simply nothing comparable on the market in terms of build and image quality.

The only thing stopping me is also the high price tag (+stand) and just overall justifiability

It's interesting that you mention the 5K LG, I've been so close to pulling the trigger on it but keep rethinking it due to the design and plastic build.

BTW, is this discount by any chance something others might have access to?

Unfortunately this is a one time discount, so I can only use it once. As far as my full thoughts on the build quality of the LG 5K are:

The main monitor itself is *fine* I do hear some plasticy sounds when i touch it to move it and such. The two big problems I have with it are the fact the stand wobbles when I am typing, and the speakers rattle the casing while they are playing, and I’m super sensitive to that. The LG 5K is also not optically laminated, so there is slightly less clarity in the LG, but its really only noticeable side by side. Besides that, its the best monitor out there besides the XDR.

One thing that might have been fixed now but I noticed this on several of the LG 5K’s I looked at is this weird rainbow shimmer on the display. It was randomly placed and looked like light refraction, you can see what it looks like in the Ultrafine-bug/issues post on this forum.