Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Should I Buy an Apple Studio Display in 2024?
- Thread starter SteveVA
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
No “best” alternative. Depends on budget and feature set desired. Google for “5K Thunderbolt”. You will see options. There is also long thread.
I have several issues with the studio display. Does that mean it won’t work for you? Not necessarily—it might be great for your needs. But there are a few glaring issues:
- Slow refresh rate - only 60Hz, which is honestly abysmal for a $1600 monitor.
- Slow response time. An issue if you do any big gaming or anything.
- Not OLED
- Limited hardware compatibility (ie. not compatible with Windows machines).
I just bought two if them, a glossy tilt a couple months ago, and a nano height adjustable yesterday. More than likely we aren't getting an updated display from Apple anytime soon. In practice I much prefer the nano over the glossy and the reports of lost contrast and hazy text are so overblown that it's ridiculous. As far as buying the height adjustable, I'd save your money and just go with the cheaper tilt only, or get the vesa mount if you really need it.
It’s a kinda bizarre product that has its own niche, if only because the entire monitor market has been dragging ass for a decade. I was hopeful Apple would push the space harder, but I guess the bean counters decided it not profitable enough. A relatively low volume product
i do love the pixel density, grey uniformity, color accuracy, macOS integration, brightness and build quality. During the day the contrast ratio is fine. In darker environments it is really lacking; every other device I use in my life is better lol... OLED TV, phone, iPad, MBP 14
the mediocre contrast ratio is probably the worst thing about it. It’s the best edge-lit IPS Monitor I’ve ever seen, but its contrast is hilariously bad next to the deep punch of OLED panels or miniLED MacBooks.
i do love the pixel density, grey uniformity, color accuracy, macOS integration, brightness and build quality. During the day the contrast ratio is fine. In darker environments it is really lacking; every other device I use in my life is better lol... OLED TV, phone, iPad, MBP 14
the mediocre contrast ratio is probably the worst thing about it. It’s the best edge-lit IPS Monitor I’ve ever seen, but its contrast is hilariously bad next to the deep punch of OLED panels or miniLED MacBooks.
The broader market (and tech investment) has all gone to gamers, and some to smaller devices (phones and tablets).
Apple for its part has at least given us good and affordable MacBook Pro screens. The fact that is hasn’t scaled up is mostly on cost and niche. They could probably make the studio display same as the XDR but it would cost $4,000 and almost no one would buy it.
Do you really believe that it would be that costly to implement the same dimming zone tech that they already nailed with the MBP in 2021? Mini LED isn't some other worldly display technology, but rather a solid compromise until self-emissive display tech like OLED is viable. I think Apple absolutely had to make a significant upgrade to the MPB display with the 2021 redesign, in order to be competitive with the OLED laptops on the market.
The Pro Display XDR came out in 2019. It doesn't use miniLED backlighting. It has just 576 dimming zones across a giant 32" panel, not unsimilar to cheap LCD TVs from years ago.
Usually MacRumors thoughtfully caters to all aspects of Apple products out there with guidance, but in this instance it's Apple that lacks choices for consumers against displays. Recently Asus has a new alternative for consideration, and its only $799 vs the Studio Display for $1599, on sale for $1299 often.
ASUS Announces Early-November Availability of ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV
ASUS announces early-November availability of the ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV, a 27" USB-C monitor designed for creators. It features Delta E<2 color accuracy, 99% DCI-P3 gamut, Auto KVM, and extensive connectivity options. Subscribe to ASUS Pressroom for the latest technology news!
press.asus.com
There’s a $300 price difference between the comparable spec Air and Pro. You’d need 4 screens to get the surface area of a 27” so your already at $1200. The pro screens are probably $500 each so $2,000. Add the increased cost of actually producing larger panels without flaws and you can probably add another $500. Then you add an aluminum housing plus Apples 40% margins, plus not being a mass market product and easily the price balloons up to $4,000.
I think the reason we have the nice screens on the pro is they are amortizing the cost with things like $200 ram upgrades and other shenanigans.
The XDR display is based on a panel provided by LG. Recently higher resolutions have been coming down in size as the economics of reliability and using those smaller sizes improves. Example very few 32" 4K OLED displays are marketed by 4K TV vendors. Larger OLED panels are much easier/cheaper to make without flaws. Its why there are far more 43" TV panels sold then 32". Putting a display into an aluminum housing and charging an arm and leg for that is rip off. The fault here rests with Apple not being progressive with display technology and pitching two solutions that have depreciated with time for their worth. Both need modern updates.
Anybody know what the price of the Asus ProaArt 5k will be in the UK?Usually MacRumors thoughtfully caters to all aspects of Apple products out there with guidance, but in this instance it's Apple that lacks choices for consumers against displays. Recently Asus has a new alternative for consideration, and its only $799 vs the Studio Display for $1599, on sale for $1299 often.
ASUS Announces Early-November Availability of ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV
ASUS announces early-November availability of the ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV, a 27" USB-C monitor designed for creators. It features Delta E<2 color accuracy, 99% DCI-P3 gamut, Auto KVM, and extensive connectivity options. Subscribe to ASUS Pressroom for the latest technology news!
Personally think Asus missed a trick by not having symmetrical borders 👎
It's impossible to predict what Apple will do with this display.
By the spring 2025 announcement season this display will be 3 years old, and the LCD matrix itself will be 10.5 years old. It's time to upgrade, you might think. However, you can never assume this will happen.
I'd recommend just buying a used one on eBay now instead of waiting for at least 6 months (the wait can easily be 2-3 more years). If you buy a cheaper used ASD on eBay, and they release a new ASD in spring, you will lose only $100-200 if you sell your used one.
It's an ABSOLUTE rip off. For the same $1600 - you could get a 4-inch Liquid Retina XDR display MacBook Pro!!!! An ENTIRE computer plus a XDR display!! It's disgusting. I have to think Apple will release an update to this monitor. It's also only 60hz and doesn't support pro motion. If people stop buying this garbage, and be willing to be blatantly ripped of with 10 year old tech at an outrageous price, maybe the'll finally upgrade it.
To correct: studio display works perfectly fine for Windows, with brightness control either with bootcamp control panel or Twinkle Tray app. Or you can ask for the utility by Chris_Poland. This limitation has been debunked enough in these forums.
There is no Center Stage on Windows and the camera defaults to the high position. Which is way too high and if you have multiple meetings and random video calls through the work day, it gets annoying to keep tilting the screen on Win. External USB-C webcam may be helpful.
I picked one up earlier this year on one of those $1200 Amazon sales. I love it. My 13 yr old Thunderbolt is my other screen, when that one dies (which apparently will be never) I'm going to get another ASD. Be angry all you want, but this 10 yr old tech is pretty damn sweet.
It’s particularly egregious in that you used to be able to buy a whole base iMac in 2020 for $1800 and that came with the 5k display and KB, mouse (essentially making the computer part free if going by today’s price). Worst thing Apple ever did was refused to make iMac support target display, relegating all these old systems to the trash heap. Old 2014 5k’s can be had for about $300 nowadays.
"Worst thing Apple ever did was refused to make iMac support target display..."
It's easy for a keyboard warrior to gush with negative superlatives, but the technology to do what you say they 'refused' to do didn't really exist until 2018/19.
To have done it in 2014 was impossible, and to do it after about 2015/16 would have required more resources in the source and target computers to have between them about twice the Thunderbolt 3 control circuitry in an iMac Pro, and two TB3 cables connecting them to get the necessary bandwidth
Not to mention the years of R&D required to catch up with what Apple did in 2014.
So to take your comment at face value, you mean Apple should have kept the 27" iMac at 1440p, because they could't implement a feature that hitherto was within the realms of the then current technology.
Once the technology became available a solution (for those who really wanted it), was forthcoming.
Not for everyone, but as you say there are a lot of 'obsoleted' old 5K iMacs out there:
It's easy for a keyboard warrior to gush with negative superlatives, but the technology to do what you say they 'refused' to do didn't really exist until 2018/19.
To have done it in 2014 was impossible, and to do it after about 2015/16 would have required more resources in the source and target computers to have between them about twice the Thunderbolt 3 control circuitry in an iMac Pro, and two TB3 cables connecting them to get the necessary bandwidth
Not to mention the years of R&D required to catch up with what Apple did in 2014.
So to take your comment at face value, you mean Apple should have kept the 27" iMac at 1440p, because they could't implement a feature that hitherto was within the realms of the then current technology.
Once the technology became available a solution (for those who really wanted it), was forthcoming.
Not for everyone, but as you say there are a lot of 'obsoleted' old 5K iMacs out there:
Last edited:
The issue I have with this is that components like the camera and the internal chip are now behind other Apple products - I don’t want to buy a $1,500 monitor with a camera that is a couple of generations behind the current iMac
I am strongly considering building out a Mac mini setup in a bedroom in my house, but at this point I would rather buy a $500 (or less) 4K monitor because I feel like a Studio display upgrade is coming soon, and I don’t wanna buy it ahead of time
I am strongly considering building out a Mac mini setup in a bedroom in my house, but at this point I would rather buy a $500 (or less) 4K monitor because I feel like a Studio display upgrade is coming soon, and I don’t wanna buy it ahead of time
@Adelphos33 To be fair, this monitor is no longer a $1,600 monitor. Brand new around $1.2k, open box cheaper from there. I expect ebay prices to lower. Still expensive But I don't think a new model is around the corner.
I used Dell 4k 27" display with 163 PPI and I have to say I can't stand it after using the Studio display. First world problems, I know. But if I can avoid any eye fatigue through the work day, I will pay for that. At the same resolution setting, Studio display text and images are so so much clearer, smoother, sharper. It's a pleasure to use on a mac and windows. LOL, you could have my Dell S2721Q - advantages being lower power consumption, normal vesa mount, price. In everything else - Studio wins.
But I don't think a new model is around the corner.I used Dell 4k 27" display with 163 PPI and I have to say I can't stand it after using the Studio display. First world problems, I know. But if I can avoid any eye fatigue through the work day, I will pay for that. At the same resolution setting, Studio display text and images are so so much clearer, smoother, sharper. It's a pleasure to use on a mac and windows. LOL, you could have my Dell S2721Q - advantages being lower power consumption, normal vesa mount, price. In everything else - Studio wins.
I love mine. I’m coming from a 2017 iMac and the asd is perfect for my use: multiple open docs, some content creation, and regular zoom teaching and webinars. I was pleased to find that the top of the monitor/webcam is lower than my iMac, so I can sit in my regular desk position and look directly when teaching instead of raising my seat to avoid looking up. (I’m 5’7 w a long torso btw).
I paid just over $1300; with the new mini edu priced my cost was about the same as my old intel iMac. My desk nook is small, so I don’t want or need a bunch of extra accessories or a giant screen. I plan to get a rear shelf so I can tuck my backup drives there.
Some people dislike the glare so it’s worth checking out in a store. Mine is not near a window. I use blue light blocking glasses instead of just reading glasses if working for an extended period.
I didn’t want to pay $1600 so I just waited until a price drop.
I paid just over $1300; with the new mini edu priced my cost was about the same as my old intel iMac. My desk nook is small, so I don’t want or need a bunch of extra accessories or a giant screen. I plan to get a rear shelf so I can tuck my backup drives there.
Some people dislike the glare so it’s worth checking out in a store. Mine is not near a window. I use blue light blocking glasses instead of just reading glasses if working for an extended period.
I didn’t want to pay $1600 so I just waited until a price drop.
Last edited:
Could not decide myself. Was afraid of the glare as I sit next to a window which stands 90 degrees on the display. Wonder how much it would show?
The real headache was the height adjustment or not. Is it at the right height for you at 5’7?
If I am being honest, I am very interested in the display also, and I know a lot of people are saying it is ripoff but damn if it isn't pretty especially with the height and tilt stand. I am personally holding off until around WWDC25 because there were rumors to the effect of we might get a refresh next year with 120Hz and miniLED, and I assume they would upgrade the camera tech to be inline with the recently refreshed M4 computers. If I don't see it by June, I'm honestly probably just going to buy an old Apple Thunderbolt Display for the meantime, and wait until they actually refresh it. If I were you, I'd do that, or look into getting a Thunderbolt Display for now to tide you over. You can get them for $200 or less pretty often in the box, with minimal or no damage.
It definitely feels as a rip-off to me. Like the way it looks, the integration, …
Spending an additional 600 simply to adjust height which dell Providence by default. I do not know. Especially the fans. I understand why they were added but it makes me wonder when they will break.
I finally decided to spend my money on sonos and to keep using my existing display to learn there is an audio delay.