Why Consider Buying an Apple Monitor?
I’m one of the holdouts with my 2020 27-inch 5K iMac (with an Intel processor). I would have liked to purchase a new iMac, but 24 inches is too small for my needs. That’s why I am particularly interested in Apple’s displays. I plan to eventually buy a Mac mini or Mac Studio to use with an Apple Studio Display.
Our Windows-using friends often ask us: why buy an Apple monitor? Indeed, these displays are usually pricier than competitors, sometimes with similar or even inferior specs.
My reasons are straightforward. First, Apple products generally work well together. Additionally, they tend to be of higher quality and feature a more refined, understated design compared to those available for PCs. For instance, I dislike monitors that are encased in lots of black/grey plastic with a stand that makes the screen wobble at the slightest vibration.
Ultimately, I’m willing to spend more for a display that I find visually appealing and enjoyable to use every day.
Significant Shortcomings, Especially By 2025
However, the Apple Studio Display was far from perfect at launch, as we noted in our video review.
The display uses an almost decade-old IPS LED panel (quite similar to the one in my 2020 iMac 5K). This results in limited brightness and no HDR capability. It’s particularly unfortunate since HDR is available on MacBook Pros, most iPads, and iPhones. Moreover, you can’t even watch HDR videos shot on an iPhone on your Apple Studio Display (they’ll just display as standard video, not HDR). For nearly $2000, the price of a MacBook Pro, that’s quite shameful.
Another issue with the panel is that it only supports up to 60 Hz, while the MacBook Pro supports 120 Hz (known as ProMotion at Apple), as do the iPad Pro and iPhone Pro (and almost all Android phones for several years now).
The Apple Studio Display also has notably thicker bezels compared to other monitors. This wouldn’t be as much of an issue if it allowed for the integration of Face ID, but it doesn’t! I can forgive its absence on MacBook Pros to achieve slimmer bezels (and even then, there’s the unsightly notch…) or for reasons of slimness. Especially since Apple’s laptops have Touch ID on their keyboards. However, with a desktop, it’s common to have a keyboard other than Apple’s. That’s my case.
Thus, if I had purchased the Apple Studio Display, I would have neither Face ID nor Touch ID. Sure, I use my Apple Watch to authenticate, but it would be nice to have authentication similar to the iPhone on a premium-priced Apple display.
Let’s talk about the price of this monitor, which hasn’t dropped since its release, as is typical under Tim Cook’s leadership. $1999, plus $300 for the nano-texture version that reduces glare (but also decreases display sharpness and contrast). And that’s not all, the default stand doesn’t adjust for height, which makes no sense ergonomically. To get that, you have to shell out an additional $500 for a different stand! Sure, it’s far from the $1200 Pro Stand, but still!
Well, I should probably stop there regarding the numerous flaws of the Apple Studio Display. I could mention the limited connectivity, the poor quality of the webcam, or the absurdity of the non-detachable power cable, but we need to move on…
A Growing Competition
These flaws are even more glaring as the competition has grown significantly since the release of the Apple Studio Display. Back in 2022, there were few 5K 27-inch monitors available. Most were 4K, even up to 32 inches. However, to achieve a Retina display on Macs, 4K is adequate for 24 inches, but you need 5K for 27 inches (and 6K for 32 inches, as with the Pro XDR) as demonstrated in this article.
At the time, almost only the LG UltraFine 5K ticked all the boxes. Despite its good panel, the Korean monitor had flaws, such as its design and finish which were lacking, with its poor-quality plastic and shaky stand. And then, it also had many reliability issues due to a fragile connector.
Today, the situation has significantly changed. The Samsung ViewFinity S9 is a viable alternative. Released in August 2023 at the same price as the Apple Studio Display, it directly competes: 27 inches, 5K, and a design very much inspired by Apple (but we’ve come to expect that from Samsung). It features an ergonomic stand that doesn’t demand an extra $500, an anti-reflective treatment also included, a decent detachable webcam with magnets, and speakers (albeit mediocre). Plus, the Samsung display is HDR-capable! And all this for less than $1000 today, almost half the price of the Apple Studio Display.
Asus, meanwhile, also offers a 27-inch 5K display: the ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV. Like the Samsung, it supports HDR, features an ergonomic stand (that also allows for portrait mode, like Samsung’s). True, the Asus has a less attractive finish with its plastic front and less stable stand, and it lacks an integrated webcam, but it costs less than $800.
Viewsonic has also announced the VP2788-5K, another 27-inch 5K monitor. We have little information so far. The same goes for the BenQ PD2730S, which has similar or even superior specs to the Apple Studio Display.
Lastly, Asus recently announced the ProArt PA32QCV set to release this year. 32 inches, 6K for a price of $1200—need I say more?
Santa’s Wishlist
Therefore, Apple cannot afford to let the Apple Studio Display languish. I would like a new Apple Studio Display for 2025 with the following features.
A new panel with HDR and ProMotion (the competition offers 240 Hz on some models…). A refreshed design with thinner bezels or, if keeping the bezels, at least include Face ID. It would be beneficial if the monitor included a real USB hub, perhaps with both USB-A and USB-C ports, convenient when connected to a Mac mini with limited ports.
And if we could get by with just one choice of stand, that would be great. An ergonomic, height-adjustable stand and let’s end this trend of adding over $400 for a basic feature. And please, give us a cleaning cloth. I remind you it costs $25, more than my book.
The power cable also needs to be changeable. Apple could take a cue from the latest iMac’s cable, which is attached with magnets.
Last but not least, the new Apple Studio Display must feature a better webcam, as the previous one was disappointing.
If Apple can deliver this for under $2000, I’ll be sold. How about you?