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The *COMPLETE* list of 27" 5K Displays?

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Hi, sorry if this has been answered to death before I just keep seeing different answers.
I'm trying to buy a monitor for my MacBook Pro and I can't tell what monitor I should get, I have a budget of around $800. I've been seeing the OLED is supposedly good but VA and IPS monitors seem to do similar things and don't risk burn in. I've also been hearing that ultrawides are good for productivity but that they also have issues with looking at text. I've also heard resolution is not that important but then that you need to have 5k for Macs because of something to do with UI. I stumbled across this thread and would like some advice.
 
ommy said:
Hi, sorry if this has been answered to death before I just keep seeing different answers.
I'm trying to buy a monitor for my MacBook Pro and I can't tell what monitor I should get, I have a budget of around $800. I've been seeing the OLED is supposedly good but VA and IPS monitors seem to do similar things and don't risk burn in. I've also been hearing that ultrawides are good for productivity but that they also have issues with looking at text. I've also heard resolution is not that important but then that you need to have 5k for Macs because of something to do with UI. I stumbled across this thread and would like some advice.
Click to expand...

this thread is more about a specific monitor size and resolution so I suppose for most they've already made that decision

it really depends on your priorities and use case

I've been using an lg 4k 32" monitor for a a couple/few years for a mix of "productivity" (excel, email, quickbooks, some other ERP type stuff), music production (Logic Pro) and gaming with no issues at all. I think I paid the equivalent of about US$300 for it

you don't NEED 5k for Macs, but it will certainly give you sharper text and UI elements if that matters to you

I don't know enough about current OLED to comment on burn in. Some say it's not an issue anymore and some say it is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I know my OLED tv looks amazing

with an $800 budget you can definitely find a fantastic monitor, it's just a matter of figuring out your anticipated use case and priorities
 
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Charlie Bonesx said:
this thread is more about a specific monitor size and resolution so I suppose for most they've already made that decision

it really depends on your priorities and use case

I've been using an lg 4k 32" monitor for a a couple/few years for a mix of "productivity" (excel, email, quickbooks), music production (Logic Pro) and gaming with no issues at all. I think I paid the equivalent of about US$300 for it

you don't NEED 5k for Macs, but it will certainly give you sharper text and UI elements if that matters to you

I don't know enough about current OLED to comment on burn in. Some say it's not an issue anymore and some say it is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I know my OLED tv looks amazing

with an $800 budget you can definitely find a fantastic monitor, it's just a matter of figuring out your anticipated use case and priorities
Click to expand...
That's fair, I thought 27" and 5k would be good based on what I've seen online but I'm honestly not too sure.

I'd also be using it for "productivity" (work related stuff, reading research papers, etc.) I'd also want to do some light gaming on it as well as video editing. It'd also end up being my primary display for watching movies etc.

Honestly, as long as the display looks good and is readable it'd be fine for me.

Thank you so much for your help!
 
ommy said:
a budget of around $800. I've been seeing the OLED is supposedly good but VA and IPS monitors seem to do similar things and don't risk burn in. I've also been hearing that ultrawides are good for productivity but that they also have issues with looking at text. I've also heard resolution is not that important but then that you need to have 5k for Macs because of something to do with UI.
Click to expand...
Resolution matters, but how much to who varies. Where 27" displays are concerned, many people are happy with 4K, but some (e.g.: excellent eye sight, sit close, detail work with small fonts, picky, etc.) consider 5K meaningfully superior. The 4K displays tend to be substantially cheaper. ASUS has a 5K 27" ProArt display that premiered at around $800, and it was at the low end of the 5K 27" market when it came out. You'd have to price them now.

Here's the thing with the UI. The Mac experience was designed for a screen resolution close to 220 ppi; the sizing of the user interface screen elements was intended to be 'right' (not too big or small) on screens with that resolution. 5K 27" meets that criteria; we call that 'retina' resolution. When you use a screen with a lower (non-retina) resolution (let's say a 4" 27" screen at 163 PPI), your Mac has to resize the UI so it looks like it would if seen on a retina screen. In other words, you're looking at a 4K resolution screen said to 'look like' a lower resolution because the UI elements are blown up.

When your Mac blows up the UI elements to make the size look right, this puts a little extra processing burden on the Mac, and there may be a small sharpness loss in text.

VA panels have a rep. for a narrow viewing angle; if you move off to view it from the side instead of straight on, you lose quality.

If you want to take a dive into choosing a display check out this old thread from late 2024: Initial Thoughts on Dell UltraSharp U2723QE

Since then, more 5K 27" (and now 6K 32") retina class displays have come out, there are more 27" displays with higher than 60-Hz refresh rates, the Apple Studio Display has a new (2 if you count the very expensive XDR) version, time moves on.
 
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drrich2 said:
Resolution matters, but how much to who varies. Where 27" displays are concerned, many people are happy with 4K, but some (e.g.: excellent eye sight, sit close, detail work with small fonts, picky, etc.) consider 5K meaningfully superior. The 4K displays tend to be substantially cheaper. ASUS has a 5K 27" ProArt display that premiered at around $800, and it was at the low end of the 5K 27" market when it came out. You'd have to price them now.

Here's the thing with the UI. The Mac experience was designed for a screen resolution close to 220 ppi; the sizing of the user interface screen elements was intended to be 'right' (not too big or small) on screens with that resolution. 5K 27" meets that criteria; we call that 'retina' resolution. When you use a screen with a lower (non-retina) resolution (let's say a 4" 27" screen at 163 PPI), your Mac has to resize the UI so it looks like it would if seen on a retina screen. In other words, you're looking at a 4K resolution screen said to 'look like' a lower resolution because the UI elements are blown up.

When your Mac blows up the UI elements to make the size look right, this puts a little extra processing burden on the Mac, and there may be a small sharpness loss in text.

VA panels have a rep. for a narrow viewing angle; if you move off to view it from the side instead of straight on, you lose quality.

If you want to take a dive into choosing a display check out this old thread from late 2024: Initial Thoughts on Dell UltraSharp U2723QE

Since then, more 5K 27" (and now 6K 32") retina class displays have come out, there are more 27" displays with higher than 60-Hz refresh rates, the Apple Studio Display has a new (2 if you count the very expensive XDR) version, time moves on.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much! Your comment helped so much especially the thread you linked. It's especially helped me reduce some of the fear with buying blind online knowing that more likely than not it'll turn out fine.
 
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ommy said:
That's fair, I thought 27" and 5k would be good based on what I've seen online but I'm honestly not too sure.

I'd also be using it for "productivity" (work related stuff, reading research papers, etc.) I'd also want to do some light gaming on it as well as video editing. It'd also end up being my primary display for watching movies etc.

Honestly, as long as the display looks good and is readable it'd be fine for me.

Thank you so much for your help!
Click to expand...

Your welcome

27” 5k will definitely be good. But you may also be fine with 27” 4k

It matters more to some then others
 
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Kuycon 酷优客 P27Z - 2026 (pre-order, ships April 25)
Panel: Fast IPS (BOE) - 27" - 5120x2880 - 218ppi - dual mode 165Hz/330Hz (5K/1440p QHD) - 600 nits - 1500:1 contrast
Glass: Standard ("Mirror")
Color: 10-bit depth - 98% DCI-P3 - deltaE<2 accuracy
Input: 2x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps), DisplayPort 2.1 (80Gbps), USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 100W)
USB 2.0 hub: 2x USB-C downstream,
## 3.5mm audio out; 180Hz overclock in 5K; VESA mount in box, two cases*
Alibaba.com verified factory direct (ask for free shipping with first order): $1150/$1250 (without stand); $1250/$1350 (with stand)

* "Perforated" case includes six-speaker sound system (not included with "Minimalist" case)

Appears to be the same panel as the ASUS ROG and the Philips Evnia?

"Kuycon Official" (the Amazon seller) now has a web site, at kuycon.group, where you can pre-order it (to ship April 25), it isn't listed yet on the US Amazon site, I don't know about other Amazon sites:

www.kuycon.group

Kuycon P27Z 5K Monitor

Kuycon P27Z 5K Monitor: 5120x2880 resolution meets 180Hz speed. Features Ultra Fast IPS 1ms response, integrated speakers, and 100W USB-C charging. Professional color accuracy (98% DCI-P3) for creators and gamers alike. Order the P27Z for the ultimate desktop setup!
www.kuycon.group www.kuycon.group

None of the third-party sites have it yet.
 
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just!ns said:
I'm guessing it's glossy. Both the P27Z and P27D show "Four-edge equal-width full lamination panel" and "Coating and Curvature - Glass and Flat" ... P27D is indeed glossy so makes sense that P27Z would be as well.
Click to expand...

Yea, the website mentions mirror finish and doesn’t detail any anti reflective properties. For me, this monitor is priced too high, right now at £1,000. That could change if they are available via a good local reseller but I’d not want to spend that amount on buying direct from China.
 
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1776596295928.png

Regarding the brand-new Kuycon P27Z, does that mean the 5K 180/330Hz monitor features a MiniLED backlight, or is it actually a standard backlight?
 
LiE_ said:
Yea, the website mentions mirror finish and doesn’t detail any anti reflective properties.
Click to expand...
Thanks -- I was a bit too quick on the uptake -- the "product description" section wasn't complete when I first encountered it.

I've seen the "obsidian" thing elsewhere recently, I'll try to track it down. I think it might be BOE's version of "IPS Black" but that's just a guess.
 
just!ns said:
I'm guessing it's glossy. Both the P27Z and P27D show "Four-edge equal-width full lamination panel" and "Coating and Curvature - Glass and Flat" ... P27D is indeed glossy so makes sense that P27Z would be as well.
Click to expand...
I've updated the entry (and my earlier post) to reflect this.

I also adjusted the Amazon vendor's link -- my original approach was ill-advised, the MacRumors bot and/or mods kept changing that to an Amazon link.

I think this settles the question of whether or not the Amazon vendor ("Kuycon Official") is connected to Kuycon, and it isn't just another third-party vendor. Their web site shows they also handle AliExpress, and they've got the P27Z ahead of all the third-party vendors.
 
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antibolo said:
It's wild to me that gaming-oriented 5K displays are now a thing.
Click to expand...
I guess once gaming on a mac is a thing, then accessories marketed as gaming also become a thing.

Still says something about the marketing departments that a display with a higher refresh rate automatically becomes a gaming product.
 
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