Why does the M1-M4 iMac Display feel a bit disappointing?

[leifp]

How does your Studio Display compare to your iMac 5K?

I had a 2019 iMac 5K I just replaced with loaded iMac M4. I thought long and hard about going with a Mini and the Studio Display. But doing a Mini to match the specs of the iMac M4 and then adding the Studio Display resulted in a price difference of about $1,100, a bridge too far at this point in my life. Other than size, of course, but when I ran the iMac 5K next to the iMac M4, I could not tell much of a difference--or that's what I tell myself, anyway.

I was lazy. There’s a way to convert the iMac 5K into an external display (search the Mac Rumors site and you’ll likely find several links) but I didn’t have the necessary, well anything, and I wasn’t going to invest the time and energy to get it. I had the original 2014 iMac 5K so the Studio Display is noticeably brighter. Otherwise, basically the same thing. Contrary to most, I find the speakers inferior to my old iMac but that could be due to luck.

The two reasons I didn’t go with the 24” iMac are that I don’t want to go smaller on screen size and I require a Pro level processor (I chose the Max chip for longevity and because I could afford it).

 

[tornado99]

I think it's related to brightness, I recently bought an M3 iMac and still keep my 21" 4k retina (2017) iMac. I immediately noticed difference in light output from the new display, for a week I had them side by side, comparing anything. With the same ambient light the new one (M3) had lot less punch and when comparing screen settings you see the old one has more brightness remaining from the slider on screen settings. My room has lot of ambient light, the old one is always about half setting but the M3 is always near max, so I am concerned about hardware failure in the future. About colors, the old one is more blueish and the M3 is more accurate, due to having additional "true tone" setting which adjusts color temperature with the built-in light sensor (top left corner). Both displays are really great, but I still prefer the old one, marginally more contrast due to the reflective glass and much more backlight output.

Yes. I actually measured my 21.5" 4K iMac 2017 about a year ago. These were the results:

24" iMac - 1150:1 Contrast, 510 nits in the centre

21.5" iMac - 1200:1 Contrast, 600 nits in the centre
24" Ultrafine - 1250:1 Contrast, 615 nits in the centre

So it seems the older LG panels were noticeably brighter and (slightly) higher contrast

 

[TSE]

Yes. I actually measured my 21.5" 4K iMac 2017 about a year ago. These were the results:

24" iMac - 1150:1 Contrast, 510 nits in the centre

21.5" iMac - 1200:1 Contrast, 600 nits in the centre
24" Ultrafine - 1250:1 Contrast, 615 nits in the centre

So it seems the older LG panels were noticeably brighter and (slightly) higher contrast

Prove it with pictures of the measurer on the display or I don't believe

 

[JUMA55]

I was lazy. There’s a way to convert the iMac 5K into an external display (search the Mac Rumors site and you’ll likely find several links) but I didn’t have the necessary, well anything, and I wasn’t going to invest the time and energy to get it. I had the original 2014 iMac 5K so the Studio Display is noticeably brighter. Otherwise, basically the same thing. Contrary to most, I find the speakers inferior to my old iMac but that could be due to luck.

The two reasons I didn’t go with the 24” iMac are that I don’t want to go smaller on screen size and I require a Pro level processor (I chose the Max chip for longevity and because I could afford it).

I watched the video on converting the iMac into a Studio Display. Not something I'd want to do. Maybe when I was younger and was building these things from scratch but not now.

The amount of money involved was one reason I didn't want to go to a Studio Display+Mini right now. The other reason is I'm sort of hacked at Apple over some of its recent practices and the current quality of some of the gear. I'm not even in the same universe as some of the folks who want to burn the joint down. I just don't want to give them more money than I have to the moment. I sure as hell am not going back 20 years in time to Windows!

 

[tornado99]

This is for one of the 21.5" 4K iMacs I own. As bright as an Apple Studio Display and native temperature blueish.

 

[Adelphos33]

In a word - no. The screens have been excellent since the M1 iMac.

 

[GMShadow]

OP, is it possible it's the white bezel throwing your perception off?

 

[JUMA55]

OP, is it possible it's the white bezel throwing your perception off?

There's a white bezel? Hey, you're right. There is one.

When I was thinking about moving to iMac M4 I thought the white bezel might bug, me having had a black one for years and years. But to be 100% honest, I never even notice it until someone mentions it.

 

[tornado99]

OP, is it possible it's the white bezel throwing your perception off?

That could definitely be a factor. That white glossy surface is going to scatter a lot of light into your eyes in a bright room. They could have at least made it matte. There's a reason professional displays all have black borders, or even black hoods.

Here's my measurements for my 2021 M1 iMac display. 100 nits dimmer than the 2017 iMac.