Was the Studio Display a flop?

[Zest28]

This idea that non apple displays are not working well on Apple computers is nonsensical.... My displays work extremely well with my mini and my MBA. Again I was not saying that my display is 5K or even that it is as crisp as my iMac 5K. But I am using my mini with my BenQ for photo editing and I prefer it over the iMac.

I have heard video peeps preferring certain non apple displays for quality of image, of course those displays are also worth an arm and a leg but the point is that there are a lot of great monitors out there that are not Apple and that work amazingly well with Apple.

I'm at a complete loss at the peace of mind.... what peace of mind do you have with a display that is $2000 over what I have... I actually feel that if something happens to my $400-$600 monitor I'll be less distraught than having something happen to a display that is at least 3x the value of mine.

Again.... if I did not care about money I would get the XDR but then again I would also be driving a Rolls Royce and not a JEEP (wait, no I would still have a jeep also) .

Let's ignore the flickering issues people here at MacRumors talk about. There is an other issue when not using retina resolution display and that is scaling.

My older Intel 15" MacBook Pro is literal fan noise city on my Samsung 4K display, but on the laptop display the fans don't spin that often. And same on the Apple Studio Display, the fans are more quite.

The problem with using 4K displays on a 27" display is that Mac OS has to apply scaling and this costs performance. It's enough cost to cause the fans to act up.

Now with Apple Silicon Mac's, you probably won't notice the fans because the M1 / M2 chips are more energy efficient so the fans don't kick in that fast, but there is also a performance hit.

Mac OS is intended to be used with retina resolution in the end and not what PC monitors are doing (there is one exception and that is if the resolution is 1440p, because no scaling needs to be applied in Mac OS in that case).

 

[coachbb94]

I haven’t seen one positive review of the ASD. Was it a flop? Is it a good display? Is there any real alternative? Is this a great product or a quirky one?

Are you saying that because, in your experience, it is a bad monitor, or is that just your opinion? I don't know what you have been reading because most things I have read have the opposite opinion from what you stated. A lot of the articles and videos I have seen have liked it. The main dislike was the cost, especially the stand.

I will not buy one because I don't need it for what I do. If what I do changes and it is the right monitor, I would not hesitate to purchase one.

 

[PH39]

As someone who was waiting for years for an updated Apple Cinema or Thunderbolt Display at 5k, I agree with most of the people here who say it is all about the price. I don't "need" 5k/6k - but would like it. As the rumors were getting stronger that Apple was finally coming out with a monitor (lower price than the professional XDR) I set in my mind that at <$1000 it was going to be a day one order. But at $1499 (education discount) I just can't justify it. I'm using a good, solid 27" 4k that was <$500. Text actual looks very sharp, but it takes a few seconds longer to wake up, doesn't have a camera - and so far haven't been able to get the keyboard to control volume and brightness. But again - $1000 less. I don't bash the ASD. Sounds like a very good monitor (with some notable limitations), but just not for me.

I bet at $999 they would be flying off the shelves.

 

[tornado99]

Why does nobody seem to like the LG Ultrafine 24" 4K? It actually has better contrast ratio than the ASD, 1250:1 instead of 1000:1. Personally I don't need a massive TV-sized 27 inch monitor. I run the LG at 2240 x 1260 HiDPI and its pin sharp with deep black text.

 

[blicked]

Absolutely love mine. Replaced an ancient Thunderbolt monitor that is now working on another computer. I don't do a ton of video calls, and when I do, I use my phone instead so that my computer screen is completely unobstructed. Speakers sound great, and the image itself is great. Bitching about the bezels is ridiculous - they're plenty small, and if the screen didn't have them at all it would just look strange. Have an ethernet adapter in the back, and have my wired keyboard and mouse on the back. Couldn't be happier.

 

[JaredJenkinsDesign]

I was one of those people who bashed the Studio Display at launch and then admitted I was wrong once I bought it. The display is gorgeous and it's really simplified my setup as I don't have to deal with external speakers taking up space on my small desk or getting my external webcam out of my desk and plugging it in. No technical issues either (knock on wood).

Let's ignore the flickering issues people here at MacRumors talk about. There is an other issue when not using retina resolution display and that is scaling.

My older Intel 15" MacBook Pro is literal fan noise city on my Samsung 4K display, but on the laptop display the fans don't spin that often. And same on the Apple Studio Display, the fans are more quite.

The problem with using 4K displays on a 27" display is that Mac OS has to apply scaling and this costs performance. It's enough cost to cause the fans to act up.

Now with Apple Silicon Mac's, you probably won't notice the fans because the M1 / M2 chips are more energy efficient so the fans don't kick in that fast, but there is also a performance hit.

Mac OS is intended to be used with retina resolution in the end and not what PC monitors are doing (there is one exception and that is if the resolution is 1440p, because no scaling needs to be applied in Mac OS in that case).

Yup that has been my experience as well. Running a 27" 4K monitor at 2560x1440, Zero performance issues with my M1 Max but when I use my 2016" MBP, it gets laggy. Now that the weather is getting warmer where I'm at, it's starting to become even laggier to where I have to run it at 2560x1440 low resolution which makes the text look atrocious.

 

[Originalblez]

I absolutely adore my ASD. Aside from being only 60hz, it's flawless.

I agree. i know I love it because I never think about it… I immerse in the work. 120hz miniled or oled would be great.

 

[H_D]

We have 3 in the studio, basically feeling the same as the wonderful 27" 5K Displays, but with better sound. Do not use the camera much, but the whole Thunderbolt/USB-workflow and the hardware works and feels flawless. Eizo Hardware-calibrated 27" which costs almost twice feels plastic-y compared to it. Tried to save money and got a Huawei 28" for work at home, thinking its might be okay for doing some stuff on the Weekends. It absolutely was not, so I also got the Studio for work at home. There really is not solid alternative when you work with Mac. Bigger size, smaller bezels and 120Hz would be welcome, also the hinge should simply be standard option at this price level, not 400$+.

 

[Schismz]

Yeah, or two dell 4k’s that are around 7-800usd.

What bothers me is that no reputable reviews have said that this is a great product that everyone should buy. In fact, I would not be bothered if they said “normal users should not get this, but power users definitely should if they can afford it and it is a real treat for them!”

I havent seen any statements like this for any group of users

Uhm, there are many threads here, some of them quite endless, praising the studio display.

It's... an LG panel inside an Apple industrial-design case, with a webcam, speakers, and old iPhone CPU tossed in there.

Nobody I know who purchased is it is miserable or hates it. It's ... an LG panel in a nice case. The cam and speakers are fine for Zoom or whatever, just like the LG is adequate for same (but considerably worse).

At the end of the day there is absolutely nothing wrong with this display. If I was purchasing a 5K monitor today I would get it.

Having said all that, it's exceptionally unexciting. It's the same panel from a 2014 iMac, so it's nearly a decade old tech. I don't think this was what Apple had planned for their "lower-end" non-super Pro display, I just think it's what they could manage to kick out the door with supply chains and political situations of planet Earth being what they are.

 

[mushy peas]

It stands alone at the top.

It’s the best 5K monitor because it’s the only 5K monitor. That definitely matters because 5K just works better with macOS.

But mini-LED and OLED 4K monitors have this thing beat in every other way but resolution because the underlying tech in the ASD is just so very old now.

Charging this much money for an edge lit IPS display is as disappointing now as it was when Apple released it.

Yeah. I'm not sure I've ever used a monitor "that wobbles with every mouse click"

I’ve noticed on MR that some ASD owners are very defensive over their choice - there’s quite a few wild claims about non-ASD monitors in this thread and even more about the performance about the ASD.

The ASD is adequate. No more, no less, in comparison to other monitors. People can go read a few reviews on rtings if they need confirmation.

Especially now that Samsung has unveiled the ViewFinity S9 which everyone was banking on, and priced it similarly

People keep repeating this misinformation. All we have as regards a US price for the S9 is a few converted prices from random Swiss and German websites that have prices up but no stock. What we do know is that in the countries it has been released, Vietnam and South Korea, the street price is roughly 35-40% cheaper than the ASD. That’s not nothing.

Judging the price of a Samsung product by its retail price is just silly.

Is it a good display?

It’s OK. Not good, not bad, just OK.

If you need 5K it’s the only alternative right now. And will probably be the only glossy 5K we ever get.

I suspect the industry is going to bypass 5K and 6K for professional monitors and just settle on 4K and 8K at the 27” and 32” sizes respectively.

If you don’t need one now, I’d wait. More MiniLED monitors are likely just 12 months away and will be far superior to the ASD, just as the MBP displays are.

 

[Matt Leaf]

I own one and dig it. I got the height adjustable stands it looks great in a room, dig having the display on a table in space as the back of it is great to look at and worth putting on display rather than having against a wall.

My only complaint it’s power management. I’d love it to deep sleep but for whatever reason in various situations the fans inside it stay on.

I note they didn’t offer another display during the M2 cycle, but for me I was happy to put money behind the ASD as I want Apple to contribute to this market. I think if Apple had sold the height adjustable for the price of the standard, and the standard for less, it would have been a steal and less controversial. Never use the webcam personally, maybe once.

As a monitor I love it and it makes me want to sit down and do some work. The height adjustable is great for ergonomics. Plug and play is so great, with M series it’s instant.

I kindve shudder to think what another level up monitor would cost, with say 32” and pro motion as other folks want. 60hz is fine for my purposes.

I suspect when M3 comes, it may launch in the iMac, at 24” and possibly 32”. And the question will be raised again on the value proposition on the ASD again given all the features the iMac will have such as better camera, better display, etc etc.

However, I’m so glad Apple offers an option where one can detach the computer from the display and update the Mac independent of the monitor. It was always one of the bummers about the iMac, great screen but internals that became dated and slow.

My thoughts is the ASD is going to be with us for some time in its current shape or form. There may be another monitor that slots in between it and the XDR, but that’s in another ballpark of cost that won’t suit everyone.

The price of the ASD was a tough pill to swallow but I’m glad I coughed up and went for it.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I have the 'full trifecta' - Apple Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, and 24" M1 iMac (left to right).

I think they're all brilliant. I don't think the Studio Display is a flop. Do I wish it was cheaper? Sure. But I also had a very nice 27" 4K LG display ($500), and I think the Studio Display is worth the premium if you're using macOS.

 

[Analog Kid]

The Apple Studio Display is a fantastic display. I'm thrilled with mine. It's a really, really well made display with excellent display quality and I expect I'll be using mine for a very long time to come.

 

[rm5]

The Studio Display is very much a flop. 100%. Never going to buy one, because I think my current LG monitor is good enough. The HDR isn't great, but I just have it turned off anyway, so it doesn't matter. I bought my Ultrafine (50% off during Best Buy's sale) for $200, but let's be real, it's a $400 monitor. And the studio display is at least $1600. No way this LG is 1/4 as capable or as good as the studio display, just no way. Sure, it's not as good as the studio display, because it's not 5K, not as bright, whatever... I still think the studio display is not worth it, and it will never be. When I get a Mac that supports more than one external monitor, I'm getting more Ultrafines, I like them a lot!

 

[aevan]

Nice display.
Way WAY overpriced.

Compared to what? If you want a 5K display, the only alternative is the LG one which is less expensive, but made out of plastic.

You might say that you're fine with a 4K display, which is understandable, but that's a different product. For people who want perfect, native scaling - this is the only option.

So again, it's not overpriced as it's a category in its own, you are just not willing to pay the asking price for it. In other words: it is more expensive than you would like, but that's not "overpriced", that's subjective (and just to be clear, I didn't want to spend that much money on it either).

 

[zapmymac]

Can’t say. I don’t like the idea of having 99% of an iPhone / Apple TV as my MONITOR though.

Apple could brick it or other Apple-like **** they pull every now and then.

To me it seems like it’s an odd way to build a decent monitor and then charge way too much.

Also, I’m probably not their intended audience either; but I feel it is gimmicky.

I guess we all will know in about 5-7 years.

I wish monitor companies would step up and compete with Apple for an affordable nice monitor, it’s 2023.

 

[aevan]

The Studio Display is very much a flop. 100%. Never going to buy one, because I think my current LG monitor is good enough. The HDR isn't great, but I just have it turned off anyway, so it doesn't matter. I bought my Ultrafine (50% off during Best Buy's sale) for $200, but let's be real, it's a $400 monitor. And the studio display is at least $1600. No way this LG is 1/4 as capable or as good as the studio display, just no way.

Well, a $5000 camera is not 10x better than a $500 camera. And the $50,000 Hasselblad is not 10x better than a $5000 camera. No way.

Because that's not how pricing works - the higher you go, the more you pay for slight improvements. Premium is expensive. If you want a 5K monitor made out of metal - you have to pay 4x the price of a perfectly fine 4K monitor.

 

[ThomasJL]

Does the iMac (Pro) have a webcam and speakers? That's why the Apple Studio Display have it, as it turns any Mac into an iMac or an iMac Pro.

So I guess you buy $400 Android smartphones instead of "overpriced" iPhones?

With the hundreds of dollars in potential cost savings customers could've had if Apple omitted built-in webcam and built-in speakers in the Apple Studio Display, that same savings could've been spent by customers on much higher quality external webcams and external speakers.

Apple's makes among the very the best consumer-level monitors, but their built-in webcams and built-in speakers are subpar. There are customers out there who want such a high-quality monitor, and would prefer to have an external webcam and external speakers are also high in quality instead of the mediocre internal offerings.

 

[BeatCrazy]

The Studio Display is very much a flop. 100%. Never going to buy one, because I think my current LG monitor is good enough. The HDR isn't great, but I just have it turned off anyway, so it doesn't matter. I bought my Ultrafine (50% off during Best Buy's sale) for $200, but let's be real, it's a $400 monitor. And the studio display is at least $1600. No way this LG is 1/4 as capable or as good as the studio display, just no way. Sure, it's not as good as the studio display, because it's not 5K, not as bright, whatever... I still think the studio display is not worth it, and it will never be. When I get a Mac that supports more than one external monitor, I'm getting more Ultrafines, I like them a lot!

I own both that 4K LG and the Studio Display. It’s worth it, to me. (anyone need a good deal on a 27UL-850 ha)

 

[MrMacintoshIII]

As a computer diehard, I love that it plugs into both my gaming laptop and my mbp, but has Apple’s pedigree. Better still with the nano-texture and a vesa-arm. It’s one of my favorite Apple products. Overpriced for sure but also one of a kind.

 

[Analog Kid]

With the hundreds of dollars in potential cost savings customers could've had if Apple omitted built-in webcam and built-in speakers in the Apple Studio Display

Where does that number come from?

 

[rm5]

Well, a $5000 camera is not 10x better than a $500 camera. And the $50,000 Hasselblad is not 10x better than a $5000 camera. No way.

Because that's not how pricing works - the higher you go, the more you pay for slight improvements. Premium is expensive. If you want a 5K monitor made out of metal - you have to pay 4x the price of a perfectly fine 4K monitor.

Okayyyy, you're right about the price part. Still don't think the Studio Display is worth it though.

 

[mushy peas]

Well, a $5000 camera is not 10x better than a $500 camera. And the $50,000 Hasselblad is not 10x better than a $5000 camera. No way.

That’s only true if you equate specs with value, which Apple fans of all people should know is a mistake.

A $5000 camera will absolutely be 10x better to a sports photographer on the sideline of the Super Bowl, who needs the extra frame rate and Ethernet-based workflow to get images to news desks ASAP. Likewise, to a wildlife photographer, a $15,000 lens would be 10x better than a slower lens because it gives them more reach at a lower aperture, providing a better, more saleable image in more light conditions.

When it comes to monitors, if have you HDR as part of your workflow, for example, an LG OLED TV will be far better for you than an ASD despite its lower overall brightness and resolution because of the superior specular brightness and the much, much, much higher contrast.

Not all specs are equal either, and it seems to me that some ASD fans who talk about it as an industry leader are way too fixated on resolution and not aware of the many other elements that go into whether a monitor is a good fit for the various workflows that Apple has pitched for the ASD.

 

[Analog Kid]

it seems to me that some ASD fans who talk about it as an industry leader are way too fixated on resolution and not aware of the many other elements that go into whether a monitor is a good fit for the various workflows that Apple has pitched for the ASD.

So those of us that are happy with our displays are ignorant?

Is it possible that when you say "not all specs are equal", that it could also be that not all people value the same spec equally and that for some of us it presents reasonable value for the price?

 

[mushy peas]

So those of us that are happy with our displays are ignorant?

Is it possible that when you say "not all specs are equal", that it could also be that not all people value the same spec equally and that for some of us it presents reasonable value for the price?

I didn’t say anyone was ignorant. Please don’t put words into my mouth.

There’s no need to be so defensive.

As I said, if you need or want a 5K option, right now it’s the only one you can buy. And if you need a glossy 5K monitor, it’s probably the only option that will ever exist. There’s not much more to say about it than that in my view.

But I think it’s fair to push back against some of the hyperbole in this thread about how good it is compared to other alternatives, because the picture is more complicated than that.

And for the record, if my 27” iMac died today I’d go out and buy one. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be disappointed that Apple didn’t deliver a better display when we’ve seen what they’re capable of with the Pro Display XDR and mini-LED displays in the MBPs.