The Apple Studio Display dilemma

[coolerkid]

Was very happy to see the Mac mini announcement today. I've been wanting a new Mac for years to replace my iMac 27". I was hoping for a silicon iMac, but the new mini is a good alternative. Now I need to figure out the monitor. There's no displays on the market that come close to comparing to the iMac 5k/Apple studio display. Even the best 4k monitors only come in matte, which I hate.

My problem with the Studio display is that the base model stand is unusable, I need height adjustment. So the options are for a VESA mount, which for some reason is $100 more than a stand and I know this is nitpicking, but I hate that it covers half the Apple logo. Or spend $400 for the height adjustment, which is just insane to me. I was hoping Apple would announce new displays today too, but still stuck with the same options. It's a great monitor, it's just such a bad deal. What's the best option right now? Do I just suck it up and get the hight adjustable stand?

 

[anshuvorty]

Was very happy to see the Mac mini announcement today. I've been wanting a new Mac for years to replace my iMac 27". I was hoping for a silicon iMac, but the new mini is a good alternative. Now I need to figure out the monitor. There's no displays on the market that come close to comparing to the iMac 5k/Apple studio display. Even the best 4k monitors only come in matte, which I hate.

My problem with the Studio display is that the base model stand is unusable, I need height adjustment. So the options are for a VESA mount, which for some reason is $100 more than a stand and I know this is nitpicking, but I hate that it covers half the Apple logo. Or spend $400 for the height adjustment, which is just insane to me. I was hoping Apple would announce new displays today too, but still stuck with the same options. It's a great monitor, it's just such a bad deal. What's the best option right now? Do I just suck it up and get the hight adjustable stand?

Yes, suck it up. The stand is worth it, IMHO.

 

[mystery hill]

So the options are for a VESA mount, which for some reason is $100 more than a stand

VESA and tilt-adjustable stand are the same price from Apple.

 

[ascender]

Depends on your desk setup. The stand is great, but the VESA one will free up some desk space and be more adjustable.

 

[coolerkid]

Yes, suck it up. The stand is worth it, IMHO.

Unfortunately it looks like the hight adjustable stand isn't even high enough for me, I'm quite tall. I just looked at the specs and it looks like it only goes to 23" and I need about 25". Guess I could buy a riser. I wish Apple would just make it fully adjustable by default and removable with a VESA option out of the box like literally other monitor on the market.

 

[anshuvorty]

Unfortunately it looks like the hight adjustable stand isn't even high enough for me, I'm quite tall. I just looked at the specs and it looks like it only goes to 23" and I need about 25". Guess I could buy a riser. I wish Apple would just make it fully adjustable by default and removable with a VESA option out of the box like literally other monitor on the market.

Apple has a 2 week no questions asked return policy. You can buy the height adjustable version and if it doesn’t work, simple return it.

 

[coolerkid]

Apple has a 2 week no questions asked return policy. You can buy the height adjustable version and if it doesn’t work, simple return it.

Yeah true. I've used an iMac 5k for years so I know I'll be more than happy with this monitor and know I wont be happy with any other, I just wish Apple made normal options for the stand that weren't so limiting or gouged customers.

 

[Zest28]

What you mean there are no "normal" options available and Apple is limiting. You can add your own stand to it if you don't like Apple their stands, so there is plenty of choice.

 

[coolerkid]

What you mean there are no "normal" options available and Apple is limiting. You can add your own stand to it if you don't like Apple their stands, so there is plenty of choice.

Yes, if you get the VESA option and buy your own stand or arm. Every other monitor on the market comes with a very good height adjustable stand, most even do portrait mode, and you can take them off and use a VESA mount. Apple makes you choose between a stand, a fixed VESA mount, or pay $400 for a little piece of metal to make it height adjustable. It's unusable for most people to not have it height adjustable. This would be like car makers coming with seats that don't move and charging an extra $15k, or coming with no seats with no discount in price.

 

[jz0309]

Yes, if you get the VESA option and buy your own stand or arm. Every other monitor on the market comes with a very good height adjustable stand, most even do portrait mode, and you can take them off and use a VESA mount. Apple makes you choose between a stand, a fixed VESA mount, or pay $400 for a little piece of metal to make it height adjustable. It's unusable for most people to not have it height adjustable. This would be like car makers coming with seats that don't move and charging an extra $15k, or coming with no seats with no discount in price.

your 27 iMac wasn't height adjustable ...
There are some discounts to be found, got my height adjustable for $100 off at B&H

 

[okkibs]

There's no displays on the market that come close to comparing to the iMac 5k/Apple studio display.

The Ultrafine 5K from LG comes very close with better ergonomics at almost half the price.

 

[Macintosh1984]

I have an iMac 27" Late 2012 and since there is no such thing as an iMac 27" Apple Silicon, I'm thinking of abandoning the all-in-one world and switching to the new Mac mini.

I don't want to spend money on the Apple Studio Display, as an alternative how about LG 27MD5KL and Dell U2723QE? They're both glossy screens, aren't they?

My 27" is not retina, and I use it at the native resolution of 2560-by-1600, if I understood correctly by setting the resolution to 5120-by-2880 I would see smaller writing and icons, is that true?

However, I read that by setting LG to 2560-by-1440, the text and icons would look sharp as long as they are still a retina resolution, is that true?

Which other 27" monitors do you recommend differently?

 

[coolerkid]

The Ultrafine 5K from LG comes very close with better ergonomics at almost half the price.

The image quality is comparable, but the build quality and appearance of the studio display is waaaay better. Aluminum & glass vs all plastic and large bezels. If the LG was far cheaper it would be a contender, but it's only like $300-400 cheaper. I may get the Ultrafine 4k as a second monitor though.

 

[coolerkid]

I have an iMac 27" Late 2012 and since there is no such thing as an iMac 27" Apple Silicon, I'm thinking of abandoning the all-in-one world and switching to the new Mac mini.

I don't want to spend money on the Apple Studio Display, as an alternative how about LG 27MD5KL and Dell U2723QE? They're both glossy screens, aren't they?

My 27" is not retina, and I use it at the native resolution of 2560-by-1600, if I understood correctly by setting the resolution to 5120-by-2880 I would see smaller writing and icons, is that true?

However, I read that by setting LG to 2560-by-1440, the text and icons would look sharp as long as they are still a retina resolution, is that true?

Which other 27" monitors do you recommend differently?

I'm in the same boat. I'm finally abandoning the all-in-one, and although the iMac was an amazing computer, I think it's for the best to go with a modular setup. I think I'll want to upgrade the computer way more than the display. The iMac made more sense when the only option for a pro computer was a bulky tower on your desk, but with these new Mini's that wont be an issue and they are pro-level performance for what I do. I've had this iMac for nearly 9 years and it's still running great, but I do think it's time to get a new computer. But if I could keep this display and only update the internals I would.

As for a monitor, if you don't want to go with the ASD and you don't mind a matte coating I would highly recommend the U2723QE. I tried a ton of different monitors in my attempt to not have to buy the ASD and the Dell was the closest in quality to the retina Display on my iMac. I had them side by side and if you're not sitting super close it looks just as good. My only issue with that monitor is that it only comes in matte, otherwise I would have bought that instead. But think I'm gonna buy the ASD, don't think I'll be truly happy with anything else and it will probably last me 10+ years. The LG is glossy, but you're not really saving much money, even the used ones are still selling for a lot, so might as well get the ASD at that price unless you can get one for a lot less.

 

[BotchQue]

Buy the ASD, get a VESA arm, then order this bracket for $10:
Mac Mini VESA mount
An arm gives you max flexibility, max desk space, and your "covered up" Apple logo on the monitor is replace with the logo on your Mini, albeit upside-down.

 

[xraydoc]

Was very happy to see the Mac mini announcement today. I've been wanting a new Mac for years to replace my iMac 27". I was hoping for a silicon iMac, but the new mini is a good alternative. Now I need to figure out the monitor. There's no displays on the market that come close to comparing to the iMac 5k/Apple studio display. Even the best 4k monitors only come in matte, which I hate.

My problem with the Studio display is that the base model stand is unusable, I need height adjustment. So the options are for a VESA mount, which for some reason is $100 more than a stand and I know this is nitpicking, but I hate that it covers half the Apple logo. Or spend $400 for the height adjustment, which is just insane to me. I was hoping Apple would announce new displays today too, but still stuck with the same options. It's a great monitor, it's just such a bad deal. What's the best option right now? Do I just suck it up and get the hight adjustable stand?

VESA option is the same price as the basic stand, not $100 more. I have two VESA mount Studio Displays each attached to an Amazon Basics VESA arm. Cheaper than the $400 adjustable stand option (which would have been an extra $800 for the pair) and far more flexible. I'm perfectly happy.

Back of the displays are to the wall, so I couldn't care less about covering up the Apple logo.

 

[coolerkid]

VESA option is the same price as the basic stand, not $100 more. I have two VESA mount Studio Displays each attached to an Amazon Basics VESA arm. Cheaper than the $400 adjustable stand option (which would have been an extra $800 for the pair) and far more flexible. I'm perfectly happy.

Back of the displays are to the wall, so I couldn't care less about covering up the Apple logo.

You're right. It used to be $100 more, guess Apple came to their senses on that one. Thanks, I think that's the way I'm going to go.

 

[xraydoc]

You're right. It used to be $100 more, guess Apple came to their senses on that one. Thanks, I think that's the way I'm going to go.

I don't think that's correct. I've had mine for quite a while and AFAIK they've always been the same price.

 

[tatarin]

VESA option is the same price as the basic stand, not $100 more. I have two VESA mount Studio Displays each attached to an Amazon Basics VESA arm. Cheaper than the $400 adjustable stand option (which would have been an extra $800 for the pair) and far more flexible. I'm perfectly happy.

Back of the displays are to the wall, so I couldn't care less about covering up the Apple logo.

The Amazon Basics dual monitor stand lift engine arm mount is currently heavily discounted at about $65. It usually sells for about $180. It works very well.