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The *COMPLETE* list of 27" 5K Displays?
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They should really mention that the studio display is using an LG lcd panel design from 2014 with a ground-breaking 1000:1 contrast ratio ;-)
tenthousandthings
Contributor
The unreleased gaming displays that currently stand as the only 27" 5K competition with MiniLED will be much less, like half that. At CES, LG said the UltraGear was expected to launch in April or May.
ASUS is usually the bellwether, so the question is, will they produce a ProArt to compete with this? 120Hz+ with Adaptive Sync and 2,304 MiniLED with Thunderbolt 5 won’t be cheap, but it could be something like $2,000? Will LG do an UltraFine?
mtbdudex
macrumors 68040
That showed up in my Facebook feed, here’s the post
The new Studio Display vs Studio Display... - Apple Hub
The new Studio Display vs Studio Display XDR
www.facebook.com
I would be pretty happy with that
Don’t love the gaming monitor aesthetic, but I also don’t need cameras or speakers or ports or what have you of the a Apple option
tenthousandthings
Contributor
Apple has frustratingly not provided clarity about that. For the 2019 XDR they did a “technology overview” PDF that answered some of these questions, but I don’t see anything like that yet for the 2026 XDR.
We can assume true 10-bit for the XDR because Apple is marketing this as the successor to the 2019 XDR.
For now, we must also assume Apple has not changed the panel in the Studio Display. Here is the history of LG Display’s AH-IPS 27" 5K panels (based largely on the work of @PaulD-UK and others in the DIY thread):
2014 iMac LM270QQ1 SD (A1) and (A2)
mid-2015 iMac LM270QQ1 SD (A3)
late-2015 iMac LM270QQ1 SD (B1) [91% P3]
2017 iMac LM270QQ1 SD (C1) [98% P3]
2017 iMac Pro LM270QQ1 SD (D1)
2019 iMac LM270QQ1 SD (E1)
2020 iMac LM270QQ1 SD (F1)
[The first two iMac 5Ks had 16.7 million colors at launch. But in late 2015, they all got 1.07 billion colors. So the LM270QQ1 panels always had that capability, but Apple didn’t support it until macOS Catalina.]
The panels in the two variants of the Studio Display (2022) are also known entities, Apple supplies them as replacement parts for DIY repairs:
LM270QQ2 SD (A1) (standard glass)
LM270QQ29 SD (A1) (nano-texture glass)
The two LG UltraFine 5K:
2016 — LM270QQ2 SP (A1)
2019 — LM270QQ2 SP (A3)
tenthousandthings
Contributor
One further comment on the LM270QQ2 panel in the Studio Display (2022). Remember, it was developed in partnership with Apple in 2016. The LG UltraFine 5K (the first generation of that panel) was introduced in the Apple Store as the successor to the Thunderbolt Display.
So, just in terms of trying to understand why Apple would stay with this panel, it is their panel, as it were. It was built to their specifications from the start.
Apple’s apparent choice in 2026 not to make a change says a lot about what they think of IPS Black and other next-generation IPS-type panels with somewhat greater contrast ratio, as @tornado99 has been saying/wondering. I think perhaps it can be summed up as follows:
- The difference between 1100/1200:1 contrast ratio and 1500/2000:1 contrast ratio is marginal at best, comes at a cost, and is not even remotely close to adequate for real-world HDR motion, even with improved luminance. The lowest tier of OLED True Black crushes it and any LCD panel with local dimming also leaves it in the dust. In relative terms, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio is the same distance from 1,000:1 as it is from 2,000:1 or 3,000:1.
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tenthousandthings
Contributor
The BenQ MA270S is aimed at you.
MA270S｜27" 5K Nano Gloss Monitor with Thunderbolt 4 for Mac Creators
BenQ MA270S shows Mac Colorsand brings your creative vision with 5K clarity, a vivid Nano Gloss panel, and a seamless Thunderbolt 4 connection, expanding how you create, connect, and see the world.
www.benq.com
The BenQ MA270S is aimed at you.
MA270S｜27" 5K Nano Gloss Monitor with Thunderbolt 4 for Mac Creators
BenQ MA270S shows Mac Colorsand brings your creative vision with 5K clarity, a vivid Nano Gloss panel, and a seamless Thunderbolt 4 connection, expanding how you create, connect, and see the world.www.benq.com
Thanks for the reply.
But $1000 and no 120hz? I'm going to scream.
tenthousandthings
Contributor
They aimed and they missed! Really, though, your choice right now is wait for the 165Hz-180Hz 5K/1440p ("QQHD/QHD") wave of dual-mode gaming monitors coming soon, or go 4K. Lots of great things in the 4K sphere. M4 Air will drive all of them.
I think we can expect, now that Apple has played its hand, a second wave of 165Hz-180Hz 5K aimed at creatives. It looks to me like Samsung might have the inside track on the best panels.
As for whether or not the M4 Air can drive them, I think so. Anything that can drive the Studio Display XDR should be able to handle a Thunderbolt-5 version of this:
https://rog.asus.com/us/support/faq/1056320/ (the page does not reformat correctly in iOS/iPadOS Safari -- view it in macOS)
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Thank you again. Unfortunately I can't wait.
Do you have any good picks for 4K/120 options? I believe that 4k at 27 inches will be a good enough resolution while using Better Monitor or whatever it is called.
--
Sorry, I realised this is a specifically 5k monitor thread. Forgot that. 5k would be great obviously but I don't think it's essential based on my prior research.
tenthousandthings
Contributor
Thus the A19 Pro in the Studio Display XDR. I also think there will be some Apple Intelligence AI features, as yet unannounced. WWDC?
I'm fine with that as long as I can turn it off.
tenthousandthings
Contributor
It's fine, it's a key question that has been argued about quite a bit here. Suffice it to say that opinions differ.
I've been thinking of initiating a "curated list of 4K monitors" WikiPost with features we wish existed in the 5K/6K/8K sphere, but don't, at least not at consumer prices. Another really great monitor that launched recently is the Kuycon P20, a Retina-class 28.2" with 3:2 aspect ratio (ignore the weird errors in the URL):
Kuycon P20 28.2" 4.5K Ultra-HD+ Monitor (3:2) |IPS Black Panel | Mac & PC Ready
Upgrade your workspace with our 28-inch 4.5K Monitor (4500x3000). Features a productivity-boosting 3:2 aspect ratio, 100W USB-C PD for Mac, and 99% DCI-P3 color accuracy
clickclack.io
tenthousandthings
Contributor
This is OT, but I think there's a decent chance of a 32" 6K Studio Display Plus (no XDR), which would sit in the middle.
The Pro Display won't re-emerge until OLED is ready. TFT Central is tracking OLED developments closely, I think we are almost there. The Koreans have bet the farm on OLED, but if I were them I'd be worried about LCDs from China with RGB MiniLED backlights. The one that was shown at CES has a VA-type (not IPS-type) panel (HKC M10 Ultra), but that's obviously not a requirement.
The Pro Display won't re-emerge until OLED is ready. TFT Central is tracking OLED developments closely, I think we are almost there. The Koreans have bet the farm on OLED, but if I were them I'd be worried about LCDs from China with RGB MiniLED backlights. The one that was shown at CES has a VA-type (not IPS-type) panel (HKC M10 Ultra), but that's obviously not a requirement.
tenthousandthings
Contributor
New entry (listed under "China"), moved from "Announced" to "Available" -- although I'm not sure if it is up on Taobao yet (you have to login to see everything), perhaps not. It went up on their web site yesterday, which is good enough for me. Likely matte, but not sure.
I listed the Chinese for "AGON" because it is fun, 爱攻 (àigōng) means something like "love attack" (or maybe "love achievement" -- you'd have to ask a native speaker, which is not me):
AOC AGON 爱攻 PRO AGP277KX - 2026
Panel: Fast IPS (BOE) - 27" - 5120x2880 - 218ppi - 180Hz Adaptive Sync (VRR) (dual mode 175Hz/350Hz) - 400 nits (SDR) - 500 nits (HDR) - 1000:1 contrast (typical)
Glass: [?]
Color: 10-bit depth - 99% DCI-P3 - DeltaE<1 accuracy
I/O: 2x HDMI 2.1 (175Hz), DisplayPort 2.1 (180Hz, 80Gbps UHBR20), USB-C (180Hz, DP Alt Mode, 65W); USB 3.2 Hub (3x USB-A, 1x USB-B)
## KVM switch, PiP/PbP, 3.5mm audio out, 2x 5W speakers
AOC site (China)
Taobao.com official store
I listed the Chinese for "AGON" because it is fun, 爱攻 (àigōng) means something like "love attack" (or maybe "love achievement" -- you'd have to ask a native speaker, which is not me):
AOC AGON 爱攻 PRO AGP277KX - 2026
Panel: Fast IPS (BOE) - 27" - 5120x2880 - 218ppi - 180Hz Adaptive Sync (VRR) (dual mode 175Hz/350Hz) - 400 nits (SDR) - 500 nits (HDR) - 1000:1 contrast (typical)
Glass: [?]
Color: 10-bit depth - 99% DCI-P3 - DeltaE<1 accuracy
I/O: 2x HDMI 2.1 (175Hz), DisplayPort 2.1 (180Hz, 80Gbps UHBR20), USB-C (180Hz, DP Alt Mode, 65W); USB 3.2 Hub (3x USB-A, 1x USB-B)
## KVM switch, PiP/PbP, 3.5mm audio out, 2x 5W speakers
AOC site (China)
Taobao.com official store
I'm currently using the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG after a Nano Texture ASD which I hated for being blurry
This ain't it bros.
Can somebody PLEASE give me hope someone will really a damn GLOSSY 5K 120 Hz panel this year ? I don't want matte or nano texture garbage anymore.
This ain't it bros.
Can somebody PLEASE give me hope someone will really a damn GLOSSY 5K 120 Hz panel this year ? I don't want matte or nano texture garbage anymore.
Really? I am not so sure. We will see but if that were the case there is no reason they couldn't release it at anytime, if it is just a standard black IPS panel, cause we had several of those at CES if I recall, plus all the other ones that have come out already from China.
tenthousandthings
Contributor
You've got four that have been announced (see the list, "Standard" = glossy), so odds are you'll get one.
I'm not sure standard means glossy. Apart from Benq and Kuycon, every manufacturer makes their display matte because high refresh rate and dual modes are targeting gamers more. And no gamers want a glossy panel.
I just realized BenQ prices the glosssy 5K@60 at 1000 euros. That means we're never getting 5K@120 at this price.
Almost every gamer wants a matte display. Don't force your opinion
tenthousandthings
Contributor
Sorry for not being clear (no pun intended), I meant for the purposes of our list, “standard” just means “not matte.” I don’t think any manufacturer actually says “standard” — that’s just a shorthand we use for glass with no haze. They all use a variety of coatings with different properties, so it’s a mess but there’s a basic distinction between clear glass without haze and matte glass with various degrees of haze.