Great review! I have the Studio Display on order with my Mac Studio but was really impressed with the specs and price point of the Huawei you mentioned. Then found out I can't get it in the US. :(
Not gunna buy one. I like my 4K 28” Samsung monitors… and a dual monitor stand. I spent a little more than Apple’s $1600….but I have twice the adjustment and monitors… And I like my Logitech Cam and my Bose speakers… I might still try a couple of the little iPod speakers, but I’m not gunna be trying this monitor.
Great video. Thanks as always @markellisreviews. I really don't want to get the display as it effectively doubles the price of the computer purchase. The Huawei you recommend cant be purchased here in the US. Like the Dell recommendation. I'd love some ideas about a 32" 4k you like instead of the Studio Display. Thanks.
Not going to get Studio display. I think price point is wrong. Way too high for me. Studio Mac is also too high, both versions. They look lovely. Using intel 16” MacBook Pro with 2009 iMac 27inch in target mode as a display.
@@pauljazzman408 I have the 2011 iMac and still love it’s display. Like your setup, would like your view on how easy it is to use your iMac as secondary display and are there latency issues? Take it you can’t make the iMac a primary display for the studio max, but saving money on my screen I may rather get the 16” MacBook Pro like you did. Would appreciate your feedback.
I almost cancelled my order after seeing the mixed reviews but given the 14 days return window, I thought I had nothing to loose and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. Coming from a 700 euros BenQ 32 4K IPS Display, the difference is just night and day. I'm blown away by the Studio Display image quality and the user experience/convenience as a Mac owner. The speakers are incredible and actually produce much better sound than my LG C1 integrated speakers. The lack of HDR, Pro Motion or mini led is not a big deal to me (saying that as a software engineer). People have unrealistic expectations: they demand a 32" 5K mini led promotion display without thinking that perhaps, these demands are not economically, industrially and technically feasible at a reasonable price point. I know I'm going against the grain here but I'll say it: the studio display is a keeper. No regrets!
Ah, interesting. I was thinking of getting the BenQ PD3220U, it’s had so many good reviews. I know it’s not as bright, and 1k less pixels, so I think I’m prepared for that. Was yours the BenQ 3200?
I keep monitors for years so, no hdr 3-5 years down the line when apple is pushing it hard on all their other devices (iPhones, MacBooks, iPads) it’s a dealbreaker for me. Especially for the price
@@brucekennedy5274 my BenQ is a « higher spec one », it’s the sw 271c. The image quality is good, it has hdr (which I don’t use), but: 1) it is ugly 2) it takes forever to wake-up from sleep.
I pre-ordered my studio display almost immediately after it was announced and have been using it for the last day or so. I use it with my 14" MacBook pro and while it is expensive the build quality, 5K display, integrated webcam, excellent microphone and speakers as well as the integrated thunderbolt connectivity make it an almost ideal companion for the laptop. One cable fast charges the laptop and gives me wired internet when I dock it. It's such a convenient solution for turning the laptop into a desktop. I am not so sure that it is really ideal for the Mac Studio. Something like the LG ultrafine OLED might be a better option if you are using the Mac Studio for real creative work. The studio display just seems like a really, really nice consumer grade monitor.
Yeah but £1500 and the webcam looks nothing like Apples advert, they should be done under the trade description act and that panel although admittedly good is very old technology now. I think you will get buyers remorse in a few months time when apple brings out a monitor far superior. Sorry to dump on your parade, if the webcam was absolutely outstanding maybe but no. I cancelled my order after watching a number of reviews.
except that its camera quality, as now evident in plethora of reviews is abysmal. Very expensive too. I ordered base Mac Studio and searching for options.
Could you please explain what you mean by "One cable fast charges the laptop and gives me wired internet when I dock it"? How do you get wired internet with Studio Display + macbook pro 14"?
@@dimitrispanouris I use a USB-C to Ethernet dongle so that the cable is connected to one of the ports on the back of the display. The computer still sees the adapter as a separate device so I set it to automatically switch from wifi to Ethernet when I connect the thunderbolt cable to the computer.
I guess one of the questions not posed, is in the 5K world, what options are better? I would rather pay $1,600 USD for this than &1,300 for LG 5K relative to the build quality, aesthetics and seamless Apple solution that just works.
Yeah I don’t understand why 4K displays are considered viable alternatives to this. The text sharpness differences for 4K vs 5K at this size are huge and I consider all 4K displays to be a tier below even with faster refresh rates.
The reality is there is no "5K world" outside of Apple's 27" offerings because of macOS scaling issues (ie. integer multiple of 1440p for 27" to make the UI look right).
You're right. I have the LG 5k model, but I got it for free from work. The webcam is awful on it, and so is the plastic build-quality, but the screen itself is quite nice. If I had to pay out my own ducats, I would spring for the Apple solution
After using a 5k imac for 6 years it died recently. I bought a mac studio which was expensive, so to save money I bought a second hand thunderbolt display, it was like putting on a pair of blurry glasses. After a week using it I talked my employer into buying a studio display, the difference is amazing. Whatever about the speakers and camera, it is the display bit that matters most.
Thank you for this candid review. I canceled my order, which thankfully had not finished processing, the moment I finished the video. The camera quality, or lack thereof, was one of the main reasons. Also, thank you for providing the alternatives...more homework now. Appreciate the hard work you put into your channel!
I have a 27" imac and given that the studio display costs more than that entire computer I couldn't justify getting one. I have a LG 32" 4K ultrafine display now hooked up to my new mac studio and it's perfect.
Ooh, good to know. I’m looking at similar. Ready to go up to 32” from an iMac 27 too. Even if the ppi is lower, I think my eyes and my brain will prefer more screen real-estate.
Funny that it has a fancy A-whatever chip inside the monitor which could easily run MacOS. You can think of the Studio Display as a crippled 27" iMac. This monitor seems like a dog.
@@bradnelson3595 It does feel like they could do a whole lot more with that chip. It could easily run Apple TV for a start, that would be a pretty nice value-add. Especially since this is "the best sounding monitor we've ever made" which I'm sure it is. Maybe people will be jail-breaking their monitors next, which sounds mad when I say it.
Thank you so much for recommending that alternative Huawei MateView! I have been search for a 4k+ 3:2 ratio monitor because it's so good for productivity when used as a primary or secondary monitor. I used to have a 16:9 secondary monitor in portrait mode, but my neck eventually started to hurt because it's just too Hugh, so ergonomically it is not good. A 3:2 ratio monitor in landscape mode is the best balance!
A colleague of mine bought the Huawei display, I was quite appalled by the (lack of) screen uniformity. And working with a 4k and 5k display side by side, I really don't think these resolutions are comparable for things like font or photo rendering. Compared to 4k, 5k actually has 1/3 rather than just 1/4 more pixels per dimension. If you want a budget solution, 4k is the way to go, but that doesn't mean it's not a significant downgrade. Unfortunately the market for displays beyond 4k has seen almost no development in recent years. Perhaps 8k will kick off at some point, but it still has many kinks to iron out.
As soon as it was announced I was hooked, despite negative reviews about the webcam performance that will hopefully be overcome by the proposed software fix. I will purchase one soon and it will satisfy my needs for a MacBook when traveling and a great desktop computer.
I’ve got one of those Huawei MateView monitors, and am replacing it with a Apple Studio Display. Previously used a 27” 5k iMac and can’t find a monitor that looks as good, for a reasonable price, you can tell 4k from 5k and try plugging a M1 MacBook Air into the Huawei and your hoping it powers up, it’s cheap and it works, but it’s not great.
I have the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE. It features a built in hub with ethernet, USB C up/down stream, and several USB 3.2 ports. It is also fully adjustable (height/tilt/rotation), has a very thin bezel all around with no logo on the chin (they etched it into the stand), and comes calibrated from the factory. You can currently get it $155 off from Dell at $625. Especially like Dell's 3-year panel exchange. But, TBH, if 5K vs 4K is a deal breaker, your options are extremely limited and the Studio Display makes sense.
Yeah…if u want an apple monitor..then this monitor will be good for you…but there are a lot of good, cheaper monitors out there. I have an LG monitor I got for around same price as yours…it’s an amazing monitor I use with my MacBook Pro.
Another feature I would want is in a multimonitor setup have the cameras, microphones and speaker form a array across all the monitors. Centerstage would work across several monitors. It would also be nice if the audio could connect any home pods stereo pairs to form a 5.1 sound stage in the entire rom so you could hear things coming from behind you if the game pods were linked in. Thee is also the question of how this will tie into AR/VR capabilities. There has to be a reason that apple told us we needed this rather than asking us what we wanted.
You know, at first I thought the pricing on this was absurd, but now I’m not so sure. When you look at the monitors that are out there, most monitors peak at 350 nits. In fact I went out and looked at a lot of mid- high end monitors and and most topped out at 450 nits brightness. The studio display says it has 600 nits brightness, and only a handful of monitors actually get that bright (the Alienware AW2721D is an example of one that gets as bright at the studio display - it msrps for 1100 but it can be bought for cheaper). So taken in context, I can see why it’s as pricey as it is. I would love them to add an option of the monitor for the m1 24 inch iMac without the speakers/camera/m1 chip in order to hit maybe a 800& price point(or at least 1,000).
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I scoured B&H a few months ago for a high-quality Thunderbolt Display but the options were very minimal and to be honest not that great. This absolutely shatters EVERY single display I looked at (Samsung, LG, Dell, and BenQ) and comes in at a very reasonable price point. The only displays I found that can compete with this cost $3000+ and we’re OLED/MiniLED displays. Would it be nice if it was cheaper? Yes! Does that mean I don’t appreciate the option of being able to buy this in the first place? Absolutely not! I’ll be getting one for sure!
I am not sure if anybody else experienced this but I found my first Studio Display quite a bit on the warm side (much more yellow than I like). I changed it for a new one and this new one is fine. Both are set for the default 600 nits in display settings. I also find that contrast is a bit high for my liking in both units.
Thanks for this review. Could You please review Huawei Mateview? I was thinking about buying it to replace the old Dell for photoediting but there is a distinct lack of reviews for that monitor out there.
I hesitated for a few minutes on #AppleEvent night before clicking buy, so mine isn't arriving until next week (hopefully), but... not cancelling. For me, I sit at it all day every day looking at text (I'm a programmer cursed with good eyesight) and pixel density is *everything*. I already have an Intel 5K iMac (two years old and already relegated to server duties since getting the MacBook Pro, wasting that lovely but bolted-on screen) and an older Dell 27 inch 4K monitor, and the 4K monitor is *blurry* next to it, to my eyes. I can at best use it as a second-screen, a glance-across screen, from which I pull stuff onto the main screen to actually focus on it. (I also have a 24" 4K display from Dell - a combination that seems not to exist any more - and that has a much better pixel density, though not *quite* "retina" by Apple's standards. It's close enough that this is what I've been using with my MacBook Pro since getting that, in preference to the 27" one.) If you can't *see* the difference between 4K and 5K at 27", you need to go to an optician. 😉 More likely of course, you *can* see it, but your requirements are different (not working with text all day) and it just doesn't matter to you. In which case, yes, you're very well served by the abundance of 4K monitors out there. (I'd also go for the Dell - again. I'd absolutely go for if they made a thunderbolt 5K version...) So yeah, I'm the ideal customer. I work mostly with text, and need it pin-sharp. I'm not working much with photography etc., so don't need the HDR, not using it for watching content (I have a HDR TV for that and a reasonable sound system); I don't care about ProMotion (though I might change my mind once I have the MacBook Pro open next to it!) I'm an inveterate zoomdodger so the webcam is of no interest (though that sounds like it'll be fixed in a software update - I'll probably just stick a bit of black tape over it anyway like I did on the iMac). I just always wanted that panel not welded to an iMac, and finally I can get it. It's exactly all I wanted, but it *is* overpriced for what it is. But there's no alternative if you must have the pixel density. But... it should be a thunderbolt 4 hub that's built in, with downstream-facing thunderbolt 4 ports, not tb3->usb. The fixed power cable is cheap of them. If thickness is an issue, it could have been an iMac 24 style MagSafe to an adapter with an ethernet port... Honestly I'd have preferred a screen to match those in the iMac 24 - and I might have bought two - but I guess that's not happening or it surely would have been announced at the same time
The only valid comparison IMHO is with another 5K display. Comparing the Studio Display to a 4K display is like comparing apples to oranges; they’re not remotely close. The text clarity of an Apple Retina display, along with the gorgeous graphics are reason enough for me to buy this display. Build quality and aesthetics seal the deal. I’m never going to play games on it (and the Diablo-esque RPGs I like don’t require a fast refresh rate anyway), so the 60 Hz refresh rate is a non-issue for me. The only currently available competitor, the LG Ultrafine 5K, has awful build quality and a plethora of functionality issue, making the Studio Display worth the extra $300 US. I got my Studio Display the day they came out and I positively adore it.
I get what you're saying Mark, but I think you're missing the point. We've been waiting for the Apple Studio Display 5K for so long because it has a resolution of 2880 px which is exactly double that of 1440 px, which on a 27'' screen gives a pixel perfect image at double the resolution. Maximum sharpness for text. Mac users with a 27'' 4K display have to choose a scaled in between resolution that isn't perfect. Especially if you're a type designer. That's why the 27'' iMac display is 5K and so popular. Cheers from Portugal.
I cancelled my order for the studio display before watching your review. It’s really not worth the money. Going to wait a couple of months, if apple don’t bring out anything better think I’m gonna go for a 5k ultra wide monitor external speakers and keep my trusty old Logitech 930 webcam and external phantom powered mic. Dearly wanted a 27” iMac all in one but still keeping my m1 Mac mini. Did think about 24” iMac and a second 24” display but now so fed up with it all think the 5k ultra wide the best idea. At least this way I only have to upgrade the Mac mini in future. Apple can bore off, they really should’ve done a 27 or 32 inch version of the 24 “ iMac. Especially post Covid many more people work from home and would like an all in one silicon iMac with a larger screen that 23.5 inches which is what the 24 inch iMac really is again miss leading customers !
Great review. I’ll be honest, the webcam isn’t something I’m too fussed about, so for me the quality of the image is the most important thing. I am also used to ProMotion, so I’m rather disappointed it’s only 60hz, and for the money I would expect better. For that reason i probably wouldn’t get one at that price. I am considering a better monitor though - my AOC 4k display isn’t expensive and has never really got on well with my Mac mini, and for that reason I was very much considering this (it is a very good looking thing). Perhaps a video review of some decent alternative monitors would be a good move? I’d be very interested in that, given your video editing / graphics experience.
And on huawei's website you can get 6 months of Xbox Game pass with that monitor at least the last time I looked. I know because I helped a friend pick out a monitor and that offer is what clinched it for him!!
The panel isnt 5k 120hz because Thunderbolt 5 is not out yet. Thunderbolt 4 cannot output 5k 120hz. But I do agree with you that they will release a pro motion display, id imagine 24" 4k.
Thanks Mark! This is super helpful - admittedly you’re bang on with what I’m hearing elsewhere. But it was *your* review here that made me decide to cancel my order. For this $, Apple needed to hit the bullseye and they clearly haven’t.
This is the rather the most honest review of this monitor. For the price, its very underwhelming. If you have that much money, wait for the upgrade to the XDR. though it'd cost more.
The LG counterpart is 1,300. This isn’t too too expensive given Apple’s build quality and aesthetics. It has built-in camera (which doesn’t look too bad-a computer webcam is not supposed to work like a DSLR or even a phone camera). It has great speakers. And it’s 5K and looks fantastic.
I think something that is overlooked is the PPI of the studio display. Sure those other 2 monitors are good alternatives but they simply won’t be quite as sharp. The Studio display is 218ppi. The Dell is 163ppi and the Mateviews ppi was not listed.
The MateView is also 163ppi. Of course the Studio Display is sharper - I think the question is whether or not it's £1100 sharper so as to justify the price to most people, most of the time.
It’s a little hit and miss. As mentioned a software fix is on the way for the webcam. Wins on build quality alone. So will probably go for it but waiting to see if the Mac Mini or MacBook Air get a refresh.
From an aesthetic point of view, this is just a great looking piece of tech and art to decorate your room with. I'd buy it if I had the money and the need. Apple will bring not only one, but two additional displays: Studio Display SE, which will be smaller and with an A12 or so, and Studio Display Pro with A15, ProMotion and all the bells and whistles. Smart marketing move because compared to the much much more expensive and the cheaper one, this Studio Display will be the best choice for most people - or al least they will think so. Best way to sell more is to offer an alternative almost nobody wants.
Initially, I would have never purchased the Apple XDR, as it didn't have (at least on the surface) any meaningful functionality to me other than size. I was perfectly content with two Apple LG UltraFine 5K monitors. But when I decided to ditch my old MacBook Pro for the 2021 16" MBP Pro, I also decided to drop some hard-earned cash on the XDR. In addition to the size, the XDR provides ready-made reference modes for various tasks. I can change display modes based on what I'm doing. I do Xcode in standard Apple P3, but then switch to P3-D50 mode for color matching photos for the Epson P-5000. The XDR was an instant improvement in my color printing workflow. Though I don't do video, I suspect video creators benefit from any one of the XDR's video reference modes. While Apple's new Studio Display may not rise to the XDR, I suspect that the cumulative benefits of what's under the hood (e.g. reference modes) may easily benefit most workflows enough to justify the price. And comparing it to a low-cost, 4K HDMI monitor is a non-starter for anyone whose income is tied to daily eyeball hours gazing at a monitor.
Great review. Didn’t Apple wait to move away from Retina panels before using ProMotion? I think the panel must have mini led or oled. As far as all the criticism that piled up around the display, that’s typical. Contrary to what’s said in most comment sections, RUclips tech reviewing is not Apple’s “bitch”. Apple gets flamed and dragged often for the most trivial issues. No other manufacturer producing with half of Apple’s quality comes close to the criticism. Not sure if LG has a bad camera or one at all on their display, BECAUSE REVIEWERS DON’T CARE OR TALK ABOUT IT ENDLESSLY! I think the reason for that is despite claiming the role of “underdog” and “David” both Android and PC’s users are the market majority between 75-90%. Apple only has the majority of users in one small demographic and that’s only in the US-teenagers. Reviewers recognize the vast majority of people consuming their content are either PC or Android users and for some reason they LOVE to hear negative Apple stories.
I just got an lg ultrafine 5k and think I will be returning it for a studio display, the reason is that the lg has usb at 5 while the studio display is at 10, so I would spend the difference on a hub… as for the mount, I have an ergotron mxv arm that puts apple and lg to shame, spending on an apple designed stand or complaining about lg stand makes no sense….
Mark I have a lot of respect for this review. It seems you are keeping this (I think?) but are honest enough to agree it’s really not good enough for the money. It’s way too much imo and I was mostly fretting about missing out on a beautifully integrated webcam, but you have totally put that worry to rest here. I’m looking at a BenQ PD3220U - £1000 and been around for a while now, but has had stellar reviews. I’m considering the Mateview you mentioned now, and save even more money. But the lure of that 32” it’s strong 😀
I just unboxed that benq and the pixelated text drove me mad, coming from using the MacBook Pro for years so used to retina dpi. Am returning the 32 for either these or maybe try the benq 27, but probably these.
@@MarkEllisReviews If I was more flush with cash, I'd stop overthinking and just get the Studio Display, but I think you and a few other RUclipsrs may have sold me on the Mateview. Looks like a decent, fair-priced, accurate panel for designers - which is all I care about (I have nice monitor speakers already, and webcam is no biggie to me). What would you say? Is there a link to a review by your friend you mentioned? LOL while I wait for my Mac Studio to arrive, I still have a few more weeks of head-scratching!
@@brucekennedy5274 Check out the latest episode of Eight or Sixteen :) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fat-mac-mini-with-too-much-power/id1567934849?i=1000554547870
Good review. I have ordered base Mac Studio. Can you please do a video of monitor options (preferably with built-in webcams & speakers) 27"-32" between $250-$500? Thank you.
Both monitors you suggested as alternatives are certainly cheaper but are they better. They are both only 4k which is ok for a 21” but not very impressive at 27”. I have a Dell Monitor at work (40”) and I had a 24” 4k at home. Both were OK, but nothing special. I now have the 5k iMac and that screen is much better.
Unfortunately, there will hardly be any alternatives. The aluminum casing, the great speakers and the good webcam are rarely found. However, it would have been great if this monitor was available in 32 inches, and AirPlay was possible due to the built-in chip.
I ordered the Mac studio ultra and currently have an iMac 27". Since the iMac was a 27" monitor with computer, I never had the need to look for another monitor. Now with the new Mac Studio Ultra there is a search for a good and price-conscious monitor Also wasn't sure of the Apple Studio Display. because I do photography and work with Adobe PS and LR and also occasionally make a video that I then edit with FCPX. I personally came across these 2 monitors - Benq PD2725U and PD3220U. And for now I prefer the latter.
I do wonder if the lack of 120hz is due to some sort of hardware limitation Athough regardless of why it doesn’t have 120hz, I won’t be getting one, 1, the price is way above what I would want to pay for a display, 2, i don’t have the space for one, as it won’t be able to replace my existing display due to lack of HDMI
Great video mate, thank you. Finally someone addresses things the right way, cause most of the reviewers, either they are getting payed by Apple or they have no idea about tech.
I also got the studio display and have it next to an LG 4k 32UL950 in dual monitor setup. Your review is spot on. One thing I read that 5k 120 is impossible with tb4 - if that’s true I would not trade the 5k for pro motion. I agree though that the webcams terrible, sound is just good, and for this price they should have made it hdr with at least the local dimming from the xdr display at least to make it somewhat better than the 5k iMac panel (or priced it at 12-1300). I’m probably keeping mine bc there’s no alternative to what it brings.
I am almost certainly going to cancel my order. I have looked at the Huawei Mateview, and for the price of the raise/lower device, I can get a whole monitor. I have looked at reviews for Huawei and I am impressed. yes it's not going to be an Apple display, but hey I have saved a shedload of money, and with the Studio Mac coming out maybe other manufacturers will bring out an alternative 5K display. Just a shame you have not done a review of the Huawei as I trust all your reviews.
Cheers! Have a listen to the episode of Eight or Sixteen I mention (it's linked in the video description). My podcast co-host, Rob, goes into detail about his experiences with the HUAWEI.
My current set up is a 2014 Mac Mini with the Apple Thunderbolt display, so I was considering upgrading both. Now I think I'll upgrade the Mac Mini, and get a different display. Or maybe just wait and see what's next! Thank you for the review!
32 inch sammy M5 will be my next monitor with airplay2 built in - wont be faffing around with cables at all.... currently running 2 hp 27f's off my mba air (via a dell d6000 dock) nice enough for me and plenty of screen real estate
I’ve been using a 4k lg monitor, but drives me mad with the text not being sharp. Scaled to 1440p unless the windows are too small. When connection to the 16inch pro is it perfect quality esp text and photo editing ?
Great review Mark! Can you please connect it to the mac mini and tell us how it performs? And what happend with your red apple watch? Do you change to the 7th gen? Thanks my friend!
Cheers! I may connect that Mac mini at some stage, but I'm sure it'll be fine :) As for the Apple Watch, I still have it, but I'm testing out the OPPO Watch Free at the moment.
It's the price that really stops me from even considering this display. And saw one in person at Best Buy yesterday. After two years of using a 34" ultra wide I find this 16:9 27" way too small for me.
Nailed it with the talking points. Was thinking about picking this up for my MacBook Pro 14 expecting it to have a similar specs to the built in XDR one, but finding out it's only 60Hz SDR pushed me away from it completely. Picked up an LG 27GP950 instead, has everything I'd want out of a Mac monitor apart from P3 colour and native thunderbolt support for half the price.
I think if they had knocked up the monitor to 6k then it might have been more appealing. Yes I understand that the XDR is also a 6k model but the studio display is also a smaller monitor..And this 5k model goes up directly against the LG ultrafine 5k.
I ordered it but then cancelled. The non swappable stand is annoying and the display itself just usn't as good as the MacBook Pro I'd be pairing it with. I'd rather pay a bit more for something I really like than spend this much on a display which is ultimately a compromise. I just want the 27" version of the amazing display that's in the new MacBook Pro. If it was a bit cheaper then maybe I would of excepted it not having HDR and pro motion etc.
Why not just buy M1 iMac entry level model as an alternative to Apple Studio Display. The extra bucks is not that worth it. Instead you get magic keyboard and mouse for your mac studio. Also, the m1 chip in the iMac can be used for minor workloads.
It seem by all reviewers say it would be an excellent monitor if it was not price very high or at least at it current price it should include the mechanical high adjuster.
Ultimately, I agree. It’s just not worth it considering what it offers and the price. It’s not a bad monitor by any means, but for what it offers it should be roughly half the price. OR for the price it is at, it should include 120Hz/HDR at a minimum, but I’d also like to see it be less Mac only since I live in both windows and OS X worlds. Ideally it would also have a display port or HDMI in that can be switched to so I can plug in a PC (I’d be ok with that port being limited to 60Hz IF there is a real bandwidth limitation for 120Hz and/or HDR). With the space they have in the monitor, the webcam should really be suuuper awesome, they should just use one of the camera’s that goes in the iPhone rear facing slot. Also, detachable power cord and a thunderbolt cable longer than a meter. 1 meter for a monitor cable is damn near useless if you put the computer anywhere but right next to it…
I am not a high graphics user. I’m fairly “general” in my usage. However, I’ll admit - I’m a form over function type user and I love the look of apple products. I really LOVE the looks of the Studio display. But… I could never justify the cost with my current usage of my computer. I wish I could… but … No. However, I still use my 27” Thunderbolt Display with my M1 Mac Mini and I love it. It looks very similiar to the studio display. It “Looks” good for me. Apple just priced this too high.
Yesterday I went to view the display at an Apple store and confirmed the reviews, the webcam picture is grainy this is not acceptable for such an expensive monitor. I am surprised Apple released the monitor with that issue. I canceled my Apple Studio Display order until all the kinks are resolved or they come out with a better configuration.
Yes, it’s expensive, but what are we comparing it against? 4K Against 5K monitors of the same brand (LG) hardly cost more than half the price, however in 5K there’s hardly any competition to Apple and LG. As for pro motion, apart from the pro display by Apple there simply is no other large panel with 5 or 6k for less than the price of a pro Display. And anybody who has worked on a 5K monitor with photography will be able to tell the difference between 4K and 5K. 5K is simply sharper and better. So neither the Dell nor the Mate-view are a real competition. They are just lower spec’ed monitors.
Exactly. Everyone is saying it's too expensive but when they recommend other, cheaper monitors, they are never 5K. Some aren't even 4K. So, yes, you can spend less for a lesser monitor. Not sure that proves much.
I won't be buying a studio display because of the price and as your great review highlighted there are other monitors out there that are just as good and I would be just as happy with either them and I agree with you would think for this price apple would at least at promotion to this monitor.
If you want a full 5K display, it's basically the LG or Apple. I'm not sure if anyone else makes a 5K display. All the ones advertised as such are really 5K2K ultrawides with much poorer pixel density and about half the pixels of the Apple/LG displays. Dell makes an 8K display, but that's a completely different ballpark. There are no real alternatives. If you drop to a 4K 27" display, you'll lose retina quality. It'll be cheaper, but it won't look as good. But I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder, but the pixel density will be a lot lower.
I think the webcam is perfectly usable if you’re not using it constantly. I would like to encourage you to compare Studio displays webcam against your 27” iMac webcam. Otherwise, good video again. 👍
Wonderful review and quite informative. A question if I may: If one opts for a 3rd party webcam, is the center stage technology still available? Cheers!
Thanks Mark! Fair and objective as always... Does the Dell monitor have an integrated we cam for zoom/video calls? If not any reccos as that's to be bought separately
This seems like a missed opportunity to me. Chop 500 off the price. Give it better internals (higher refresh rates, better cam, etc.) and throw in that fancy lift/tilt stand, and you have a much more impressive product. I'm not including the nano glass because, well the people who want that don't care how much it costs, and everyone else is, meh.
Fair review as always, Mark. Ya, I took a pass on the Studio Display. Crazy expensive for what you get. I picked up the Dell UltraSharp U43[!!!]20Q for literally less than half the price. Arrives in a couple of days. Can't wait! Hopefully it doesn't disappoint. And yes, if you're me, bigger is better!
I went with the Dell 2723QE. If I want a standalone monitor I want more inputs and the versatility of plugging in other inputs via HDMI like a console. It's still a 60hz screen. I'm sure it's a fair bit better screen than my dell but it's nowhere near as versatile. Backlight bleed is a bit disappointing on the dell but I don't notice it unless it's very dark in my room.
I don't understand the love of Dell UltraSharp displays. I despise mine. All of the inputs - power cord, ports - are loose and iffy. It's a known issue. I have had to tape cables in. That's insane. If you bump the thing, the power cord comes loose. Every port is third-rate. Some ports don't work at all. And this was the replacement for one that had the same issue. (And they were not great to deal with when I had the original issue. A lot of run-around to approve a replacement.) It was past the time that I could just return the thing, could only get it replaced with the same monitor. A monitor that was highly rated but is also not that bright - it took a lot of re-calibrating to make it look half as good as my old iMac. I can't wait to replace this Dell with something else entirely. My 8 year old iMac looks better and has no bad ports or dimming issues or any other problems (outside of its out-of-date CPU [which still works as intended, btw, which is also why people like Apple products], so, yeah, I need a new system!). If the Studio Display even has solid ports, sorry, I'm on board.
The one thing that many people are not talking about is the energy useage of monitors. In today’s energy crisis this gets more crucial. The studio display is rated E which is 21w max power whereas most if not all of the other 4K monitors are 32w G rated or more! I bought a studio display on launch day but haven’t had chance to use it. Am waiting for my MacBook Pro 16 M1 to come in so I can test that setup against my iMac 27 2014 5k.
They are not 5K monitors, so not the same nor similar monitors. Ana. 5K monitors for a fair comparison. Apple doesn’t have a 4K monitor, the closes is the mac book pro laptop 💻🙏
One word … 218 ppi. No other but the Apple Pro Display XDR have come close to 218 ppi. Yes you have the LG Ultrafine but it’s made of plastic and it cost nearly as much as the Studio Display.
Mark, thank you for your honest review! I am definately NOT buying this display. Too expensive, poor quality camera, not good specs. Please could you make another video of alternative displays. Thanks!
I would have upgraded my 2017 27 inch iMac right now, but the screen is still great and it's working just fine still after having just upgraded from High Sierra to Monterey. I will not buy a non-Apple monitor, particularly from Dell, so I will wait till the new Studio display is upgraded, including the webcam, which I'd like to be better than what is currently shipped as well as that of my iMac's. Hopefully next year.
Great review. Small flat, no desk (no money) so not for me. But doesn’t it look nice? Typical Apple - great looks, but just a bit overpriced for what it is. But it will look great with the Apple desk layout. I very much understand the appeal.
Thank you for this review. I think it is the first time someone states the obvious: the image coming from Apple's webcam is unappealing, plasticky, cheap-looking and that is a pity as it would be so nice to have a quality image to do RUclips videos, conferences and so forth with everything integrated and ready to go. Integrated mics are usually really good, in comparison.
I'm not interested as I use 3 monitors on my m1 max 14. However, I'm thinking of pairing one with my wife's m1 mba. She used to have a 27" imac. I sold it since I didn't want anymore intel systems. She hates the m1 mba + 27" setup. However, I'm unsure if she would appreciate the studio display anymore. She's gotten used to have a 2nd screen on the m1 mba. For sure, if I didn't have the current 27" for her, I'd get the studio display. I think the integration and look are worth it. However, what Facetime camera would be the default? Could one choose? I definitely would want the studio display to be the Facetime camera.
This product fascinates me. Are you going to buy one, or give it a miss? And why?
Great review! I have the Studio Display on order with my Mac Studio but was really impressed with the specs and price point of the Huawei you mentioned. Then found out I can't get it in the US. :(
Not gunna buy one. I like my 4K 28” Samsung monitors… and a dual monitor stand. I spent a little more than Apple’s $1600….but I have twice the adjustment and monitors… And I like my Logitech Cam and my Bose speakers… I might still try a couple of the little iPod speakers, but I’m not gunna be trying this monitor.
Great video. Thanks as always @markellisreviews. I really don't want to get the display as it effectively doubles the price of the computer purchase. The Huawei you recommend cant be purchased here in the US. Like the Dell recommendation. I'd love some ideas about a 32" 4k you like instead of the Studio Display. Thanks.
Not going to get Studio display. I think price point is wrong. Way too high for me. Studio Mac is also too high, both versions. They look lovely. Using intel 16” MacBook Pro with 2009 iMac 27inch in target mode as a display.
@@pauljazzman408 I have the 2011 iMac and still love it’s display. Like your setup, would like your view on how easy it is to use your iMac as secondary display and are there latency issues? Take it you can’t make the iMac a primary display for the studio max, but saving money on my screen I may rather get the 16” MacBook Pro like you did. Would appreciate your feedback.
I almost cancelled my order after seeing the mixed reviews but given the 14 days return window, I thought I had nothing to loose and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. Coming from a 700 euros BenQ 32 4K IPS Display, the difference is just night and day. I'm blown away by the Studio Display image quality and the user experience/convenience as a Mac owner. The speakers are incredible and actually produce much better sound than my LG C1 integrated speakers. The lack of HDR, Pro Motion or mini led is not a big deal to me (saying that as a software engineer). People have unrealistic expectations: they demand a 32" 5K mini led promotion display without thinking that perhaps, these demands are not economically, industrially and technically feasible at a reasonable price point. I know I'm going against the grain here but I'll say it: the studio display is a keeper. No regrets!
Agree
fully agree with you. I already regret having bought a "pro" BenQ monitor for my 16" M1 MacBook pro two months ago. I should have waited for Apple.
Ah, interesting. I was thinking of getting the BenQ PD3220U, it’s had so many good reviews. I know it’s not as bright, and 1k less pixels, so I think I’m prepared for that. Was yours the BenQ 3200?
I keep monitors for years so, no hdr 3-5 years down the line when apple is pushing it hard on all their other devices (iPhones, MacBooks, iPads) it’s a dealbreaker for me. Especially for the price
@@brucekennedy5274 my BenQ is a « higher spec one », it’s the sw 271c. The image quality is good, it has hdr (which I don’t use), but: 1) it is ugly 2) it takes forever to wake-up from sleep.
I pre-ordered my studio display almost immediately after it was announced and have been using it for the last day or so. I use it with my 14" MacBook pro and while it is expensive the build quality, 5K display, integrated webcam, excellent microphone and speakers as well as the integrated thunderbolt connectivity make it an almost ideal companion for the laptop. One cable fast charges the laptop and gives me wired internet when I dock it. It's such a convenient solution for turning the laptop into a desktop. I am not so sure that it is really ideal for the Mac Studio. Something like the LG ultrafine OLED might be a better option if you are using the Mac Studio for real creative work. The studio display just seems like a really, really nice consumer grade monitor.
Yeah but £1500 and the webcam looks nothing like Apples advert, they should be done under the trade description act and that panel although admittedly good is very old technology now. I think you will get buyers remorse in a few months time when apple brings out a monitor far superior. Sorry to dump on your parade, if the webcam was absolutely outstanding maybe but no. I cancelled my order after watching a number of reviews.
except that its camera quality, as now evident in plethora of reviews is abysmal. Very expensive too. I ordered base Mac Studio and searching for options.
Could you please explain what you mean by "One cable fast charges the laptop and gives me wired internet when I dock it"? How do you get wired internet with Studio Display + macbook pro 14"?
@@dimitrispanouris I use a USB-C to Ethernet dongle so that the cable is connected to one of the ports on the back of the display. The computer still sees the adapter as a separate device so I set it to automatically switch from wifi to Ethernet when I connect the thunderbolt cable to the computer.
It’s this vision that keeps me intrigued. I don’t want to want it, but the 5k resolution and built-in usb-c hub keep pulling me back in.
I guess one of the questions not posed, is in the 5K world, what options are better? I would rather pay $1,600 USD for this than &1,300 for LG 5K relative to the build quality, aesthetics and seamless Apple solution that just works.
Yeah I don’t understand why 4K displays are considered viable alternatives to this. The text sharpness differences for 4K vs 5K at this size are huge and I consider all 4K displays to be a tier below even with faster refresh rates.
I will get maybe a good Benq 32" 4k monitor and a 55" 8K TV which I can get for the same price !
The reality is there is no "5K world" outside of Apple's 27" offerings because of macOS scaling issues (ie. integer multiple of 1440p for 27" to make the UI look right).
You're right. I have the LG 5k model, but I got it for free from work. The webcam is awful on it, and so is the plastic build-quality, but the screen itself is quite nice. If I had to pay out my own ducats, I would spring for the Apple solution
After using a 5k imac for 6 years it died recently. I bought a mac studio which was expensive, so to save money I bought a second hand thunderbolt display, it was like putting on a pair of blurry glasses. After a week using it I talked my employer into buying a studio display, the difference is amazing. Whatever about the speakers and camera, it is the display bit that matters most.
The lack of HDR makes it not "studio" at all if for a video production studio.
Thank you for this candid review. I canceled my order, which thankfully had not finished processing, the moment I finished the video. The camera quality, or lack thereof, was one of the main reasons. Also, thank you for providing the alternatives...more homework now. Appreciate the hard work you put into your channel!
You are so welcome!
Be very careful, I'm not sure you will be happy with the proposed alternatives, far from it!
I have a 27" imac and given that the studio display costs more than that entire computer I couldn't justify getting one. I have a LG 32" 4K ultrafine display now hooked up to my new mac studio and it's perfect.
Ooh, good to know. I’m looking at similar. Ready to go up to 32” from an iMac 27 too. Even if the ppi is lower, I think my eyes and my brain will prefer more screen real-estate.
Funny that it has a fancy A-whatever chip inside the monitor which could easily run MacOS. You can think of the Studio Display as a crippled 27" iMac. This monitor seems like a dog.
@@bradnelson3595 It does feel like they could do a whole lot more with that chip. It could easily run Apple TV for a start, that would be a pretty nice value-add. Especially since this is "the best sounding monitor we've ever made" which I'm sure it is. Maybe people will be jail-breaking their monitors next, which sounds mad when I say it.
Thank you so much for recommending that alternative Huawei MateView! I have been search for a 4k+ 3:2 ratio monitor because it's so good for productivity when used as a primary or secondary monitor. I used to have a 16:9 secondary monitor in portrait mode, but my neck eventually started to hurt because it's just too Hugh, so ergonomically it is not good. A 3:2 ratio monitor in landscape mode is the best balance!
A colleague of mine bought the Huawei display, I was quite appalled by the (lack of) screen uniformity. And working with a 4k and 5k display side by side, I really don't think these resolutions are comparable for things like font or photo rendering. Compared to 4k, 5k actually has 1/3 rather than just 1/4 more pixels per dimension. If you want a budget solution, 4k is the way to go, but that doesn't mean it's not a significant downgrade.
Unfortunately the market for displays beyond 4k has seen almost no development in recent years. Perhaps 8k will kick off at some point, but it still has many kinks to iron out.
As soon as it was announced I was hooked, despite negative reviews about the webcam performance that will hopefully be overcome by the proposed software fix. I will purchase one soon and it will satisfy my needs for a MacBook when traveling and a great desktop computer.
The problem for me is the weird lack of 5k monitors in the market. That’s my main feature, I need space. This doesn’t leave many alternatives…
That is a problem - I completely agree.
I’ve got one of those Huawei MateView monitors, and am replacing it with a Apple Studio Display.
Previously used a 27” 5k iMac and can’t find a monitor that looks as good, for a reasonable price, you can tell 4k from 5k and try plugging a M1 MacBook Air into the Huawei and your hoping it powers up, it’s cheap and it works, but it’s not great.
I have the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE. It features a built in hub with ethernet, USB C up/down stream, and several USB 3.2 ports. It is also fully adjustable (height/tilt/rotation), has a very thin bezel all around with no logo on the chin (they etched it into the stand), and comes calibrated from the factory. You can currently get it $155 off from Dell at $625. Especially like Dell's 3-year panel exchange. But, TBH, if 5K vs 4K is a deal breaker, your options are extremely limited and the Studio Display makes sense.
Yeah…if u want an apple monitor..then this monitor will be good for you…but there are a lot of good, cheaper monitors out there. I have an LG monitor I got for around same price as yours…it’s an amazing monitor I use with my MacBook Pro.
Another feature I would want is in a multimonitor setup have the cameras, microphones and speaker form a array across all the monitors. Centerstage would work across several monitors. It would also be nice if the audio could connect any home pods stereo pairs to form a 5.1 sound stage in the entire rom so you could hear things coming from behind you if the game pods were linked in. Thee is also the question of how this will tie into AR/VR capabilities. There has to be a reason that apple told us we needed this rather than asking us what we wanted.
You know, at first I thought the pricing on this was absurd, but now I’m not so sure. When you look at the monitors that are out there, most monitors peak at 350 nits. In fact I went out and looked at a lot of mid- high end monitors and and most topped out at 450 nits brightness. The studio display says it has 600 nits brightness, and only a handful of monitors actually get that bright (the Alienware AW2721D is an example of one that gets as bright at the studio display - it msrps for 1100 but it can be bought for cheaper).
So taken in context, I can see why it’s as pricey as it is. I would love them to add an option of the monitor for the m1 24 inch iMac without the speakers/camera/m1 chip in order to hit maybe a 800& price point(or at least 1,000).
Interesting points - thanks for sharing.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I scoured B&H a few months ago for a high-quality Thunderbolt Display but the options were very minimal and to be honest not that great. This absolutely shatters EVERY single display I looked at (Samsung, LG, Dell, and BenQ) and comes in at a very reasonable price point. The only displays I found that can compete with this cost $3000+ and we’re OLED/MiniLED displays. Would it be nice if it was cheaper? Yes! Does that mean I don’t appreciate the option of being able to buy this in the first place? Absolutely not! I’ll be getting one for sure!
Thank you very much for pure English)
I am not sure if anybody else experienced this but I found my first Studio Display quite a bit on the warm side (much more yellow than I like). I changed it for a new one and this new one is fine. Both are set for the default 600 nits in display settings. I also find that contrast is a bit high for my liking in both units.
Interesting - mine seems to be spot on. Thanks for noting this, though - glad you got it sorted.
Thanks for this review. Could You please review Huawei Mateview? I was thinking about buying it to replace the old Dell for photoediting but there is a distinct lack of reviews for that monitor out there.
I do find the speakers a bit harsh but I use an external audio system. The poor webcam is another negative.
I heard from Rene Richie that it’s not possible over thunderbolt to to 120hz at 27” only up to 24”.
I hesitated for a few minutes on #AppleEvent night before clicking buy, so mine isn't arriving until next week (hopefully), but... not cancelling. For me, I sit at it all day every day looking at text (I'm a programmer cursed with good eyesight) and pixel density is *everything*. I already have an Intel 5K iMac (two years old and already relegated to server duties since getting the MacBook Pro, wasting that lovely but bolted-on screen) and an older Dell 27 inch 4K monitor, and the 4K monitor is *blurry* next to it, to my eyes. I can at best use it as a second-screen, a glance-across screen, from which I pull stuff onto the main screen to actually focus on it.
(I also have a 24" 4K display from Dell - a combination that seems not to exist any more - and that has a much better pixel density, though not *quite* "retina" by Apple's standards. It's close enough that this is what I've been using with my MacBook Pro since getting that, in preference to the 27" one.)
If you can't *see* the difference between 4K and 5K at 27", you need to go to an optician. 😉 More likely of course, you *can* see it, but your requirements are different (not working with text all day) and it just doesn't matter to you. In which case, yes, you're very well served by the abundance of 4K monitors out there. (I'd also go for the Dell - again. I'd absolutely go for if they made a thunderbolt 5K version...)
So yeah, I'm the ideal customer. I work mostly with text, and need it pin-sharp. I'm not working much with photography etc., so don't need the HDR, not using it for watching content (I have a HDR TV for that and a reasonable sound system); I don't care about ProMotion (though I might change my mind once I have the MacBook Pro open next to it!) I'm an inveterate zoomdodger so the webcam is of no interest (though that sounds like it'll be fixed in a software update - I'll probably just stick a bit of black tape over it anyway like I did on the iMac). I just always wanted that panel not welded to an iMac, and finally I can get it.
It's exactly all I wanted, but it *is* overpriced for what it is. But there's no alternative if you must have the pixel density. But... it should be a thunderbolt 4 hub that's built in, with downstream-facing thunderbolt 4 ports, not tb3->usb. The fixed power cable is cheap of them. If thickness is an issue, it could have been an iMac 24 style MagSafe to an adapter with an ethernet port... Honestly I'd have preferred a screen to match those in the iMac 24 - and I might have bought two - but I guess that's not happening or it surely would have been announced at the same time
Thank you Mark for another great video. Any recommendations on a 32” display? Studio Display is just too small.
The only valid comparison IMHO is with another 5K display. Comparing the Studio Display to a 4K display is like comparing apples to oranges; they’re not remotely close. The text clarity of an Apple Retina display, along with the gorgeous graphics are reason enough for me to buy this display. Build quality and aesthetics seal the deal. I’m never going to play games on it (and the Diablo-esque RPGs I like don’t require a fast refresh rate anyway), so the 60 Hz refresh rate is a non-issue for me. The only currently available competitor, the LG Ultrafine 5K, has awful build quality and a plethora of functionality issue, making the Studio Display worth the extra $300 US. I got my Studio Display the day they came out and I positively adore it.
I get what you're saying Mark, but I think you're missing the point. We've been waiting for the Apple Studio Display 5K for so long because it has a resolution of 2880 px which is exactly double that of 1440 px, which on a 27'' screen gives a pixel perfect image at double the resolution. Maximum sharpness for text. Mac users with a 27'' 4K display have to choose a scaled in between resolution that isn't perfect. Especially if you're a type designer. That's why the 27'' iMac display is 5K and so popular. Cheers from Portugal.
@Mark, this looks like spam, is it?
ruclips.net/video/fRTgjjoYEV4/видео.html
I cancelled my order for the studio display before watching your review. It’s really not worth the money. Going to wait a couple of months, if apple don’t bring out anything better think I’m gonna go for a 5k ultra wide monitor external speakers and keep my trusty old Logitech 930 webcam and external phantom powered mic. Dearly wanted a 27” iMac all in one but still keeping my m1 Mac mini. Did think about 24” iMac and a second 24” display but now so fed up with it all think the 5k ultra wide the best idea. At least this way I only have to upgrade the Mac mini in future. Apple can bore off, they really should’ve done a 27 or 32 inch version of the 24 “ iMac. Especially post Covid many more people work from home and would like an all in one silicon iMac with a larger screen that 23.5 inches which is what the 24 inch iMac really is again miss leading customers !
Great review. I’ll be honest, the webcam isn’t something I’m too fussed about, so for me the quality of the image is the most important thing. I am also used to ProMotion, so I’m rather disappointed it’s only 60hz, and for the money I would expect better. For that reason i probably wouldn’t get one at that price. I am considering a better monitor though - my AOC 4k display isn’t expensive and has never really got on well with my Mac mini, and for that reason I was very much considering this (it is a very good looking thing).
Perhaps a video review of some decent alternative monitors would be a good move? I’d be very interested in that, given your video editing / graphics experience.
And on huawei's website you can get 6 months of Xbox Game pass with that monitor at least the last time I looked. I know because I helped a friend pick out a monitor and that offer is what clinched it for him!!
What we really want are two 5k 27" displays in portrait mode fused together as one giant display
Love that.
dude, this video sound awesome! what mic you're using?
Thanks! Rode NTG1 - I've made a video about how I achieve the sound if you have a hunt through the archives ;)
The panel isnt 5k 120hz because Thunderbolt 5 is not out yet. Thunderbolt 4 cannot output 5k 120hz. But I do agree with you that they will release a pro motion display, id imagine 24" 4k.
The thing with 5k and 120Hz is: There is currently no single connection that can support the bandwidth needed for that. I think.
Thanks Mark! This is super helpful - admittedly you’re bang on with what I’m hearing elsewhere. But it was *your* review here that made me decide to cancel my order. For this $, Apple needed to hit the bullseye and they clearly haven’t.
This is the rather the most honest review of this monitor. For the price, its very underwhelming.
If you have that much money, wait for the upgrade to the XDR. though it'd cost more.
The LG counterpart is 1,300. This isn’t too too expensive given Apple’s build quality and aesthetics. It has built-in camera (which doesn’t look too bad-a computer webcam is not supposed to work like a DSLR or even a phone camera). It has great speakers. And it’s 5K and looks fantastic.
Thankyou for this video. I was on the fence. I will not be getting it.
Currently not possible to promotion an external display. Only built in displays. Promotion at 5k can’t travel over any current cable tech.
Indeed it isn't. Let's hope we get there soon.
I think something that is overlooked is the PPI of the studio display. Sure those other 2 monitors are good alternatives but they simply won’t be quite as sharp. The Studio display is 218ppi. The Dell is 163ppi and the Mateviews ppi was not listed.
The MateView is also 163ppi. Of course the Studio Display is sharper - I think the question is whether or not it's £1100 sharper so as to justify the price to most people, most of the time.
Thank you Mark. This is impressive review. I followed some of these reviews but yours is excellent. I love the way you think about tech.
Any widescreens?
I didn’t bother much about the bezels on the one I saw today
They're not a big deal, Phil, I agree.
It’s a little hit and miss. As mentioned a software fix is on the way for the webcam. Wins on build quality alone. So will probably go for it but waiting to see if the Mac Mini or MacBook Air get a refresh.
From an aesthetic point of view, this is just a great looking piece of tech and art to decorate your room with. I'd buy it if I had the money and the need.
Apple will bring not only one, but two additional displays: Studio Display SE, which will be smaller and with an A12 or so, and Studio Display Pro with A15, ProMotion and all the bells and whistles. Smart marketing move because compared to the much much more expensive and the cheaper one, this Studio Display will be the best choice for most people - or al least they will think so. Best way to sell more is to offer an alternative almost nobody wants.
Cool speculation bro
Initially, I would have never purchased the Apple XDR, as it didn't have (at least on the surface) any meaningful functionality to me other than size. I was perfectly content with two Apple LG UltraFine 5K monitors. But when I decided to ditch my old MacBook Pro for the 2021 16" MBP Pro, I also decided to drop some hard-earned cash on the XDR. In addition to the size, the XDR provides ready-made reference modes for various tasks. I can change display modes based on what I'm doing. I do Xcode in standard Apple P3, but then switch to P3-D50 mode for color matching photos for the Epson P-5000. The XDR was an instant improvement in my color printing workflow. Though I don't do video, I suspect video creators benefit from any one of the XDR's video reference modes.
While Apple's new Studio Display may not rise to the XDR, I suspect that the cumulative benefits of what's under the hood (e.g. reference modes) may easily benefit most workflows enough to justify the price. And comparing it to a low-cost, 4K HDMI monitor is a non-starter for anyone whose income is tied to daily eyeball hours gazing at a monitor.
Hi Mark, FYI: There is no connector currently capable of carrying 5K pixels & 120hz over a cable.
Great review. Didn’t Apple wait to move away from Retina panels before using ProMotion? I think the panel must have mini led or oled. As far as all the criticism that piled up around the display, that’s typical. Contrary to what’s said in most comment sections, RUclips tech reviewing is not Apple’s “bitch”. Apple gets flamed and dragged often for the most trivial issues. No other manufacturer producing with half of Apple’s quality comes close to the criticism. Not sure if LG has a bad camera or one at all on their display, BECAUSE REVIEWERS DON’T CARE OR TALK ABOUT IT ENDLESSLY! I think the reason for that is despite claiming the role of “underdog” and “David” both Android and PC’s users are the market majority between 75-90%. Apple only has the majority of users in one small demographic and that’s only in the US-teenagers. Reviewers recognize the vast majority of people consuming their content are either PC or Android users and for some reason they LOVE to hear negative Apple stories.
I just got an lg ultrafine 5k and think I will be returning it for a studio display, the reason is that the lg has usb at 5 while the studio display is at 10, so I would spend the difference on a hub… as for the mount, I have an ergotron mxv arm that puts apple and lg to shame, spending on an apple designed stand or complaining about lg stand makes no sense….
Mark I have a lot of respect for this review. It seems you are keeping this (I think?) but are honest enough to agree it’s really not good enough for the money. It’s way too much imo and I was mostly fretting about missing out on a beautifully integrated webcam, but you have totally put that worry to rest here. I’m looking at a BenQ PD3220U - £1000 and been around for a while now, but has had stellar reviews. I’m considering the Mateview you mentioned now, and save even more money. But the lure of that 32” it’s strong 😀
I just unboxed that benq and the pixelated text drove me mad, coming from using the MacBook Pro for years so used to retina dpi. Am returning the 32 for either these or maybe try the benq 27, but probably these.
Thanks, Bruce. I am indeed keeping the Studio Display.
@@MarkEllisReviews If I was more flush with cash, I'd stop overthinking and just get the Studio Display, but I think you and a few other RUclipsrs may have sold me on the Mateview. Looks like a decent, fair-priced, accurate panel for designers - which is all I care about (I have nice monitor speakers already, and webcam is no biggie to me). What would you say? Is there a link to a review by your friend you mentioned? LOL while I wait for my Mac Studio to arrive, I still have a few more weeks of head-scratching!
@@brucekennedy5274 Check out the latest episode of Eight or Sixteen :) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fat-mac-mini-with-too-much-power/id1567934849?i=1000554547870
@@MarkEllisReviews Prefect - listening now. Great podcast! Thanks 🙂
Good review. I have ordered base Mac Studio. Can you please do a video of monitor options (preferably with built-in webcams & speakers) 27"-32" between $250-$500? Thank you.
Both monitors you suggested as alternatives are certainly cheaper but are they better. They are both only 4k which is ok for a 21” but not very impressive at 27”. I have a Dell Monitor at work (40”) and I had a 24” 4k at home. Both were OK, but nothing special. I now have the 5k iMac and that screen is much better.
Unfortunately, there will hardly be any alternatives. The aluminum casing, the great speakers and the good webcam are rarely found. However, it would have been great if this monitor was available in 32 inches, and AirPlay was possible due to the built-in chip.
Airplay’s not possible?
Great work Mark! :)
Thanks!
Great review. Too expensive for what it is
I ordered the Mac studio ultra and currently have an iMac 27".
Since the iMac was a 27" monitor with computer, I never had the need to look for another monitor.
Now with the new Mac Studio Ultra there is a search for a good and price-conscious monitor
Also wasn't sure of the Apple Studio Display. because I do photography and work with Adobe PS and LR and also occasionally make a video that I then edit with FCPX.
I personally came across these 2 monitors - Benq PD2725U and PD3220U.
And for now I prefer the latter.
A lot of people don’t seem to realise that 5k isn’t 25% more than 4k, like it seems. It’s more like 80%. It’s a bad naming convention
Add as many ‘competitors’ as you like but 4K ain’t 5K. And if you want it and need it it’s this, the Ultrafine or an XDR.
Boom that told me Guy thanks.
@@MarkEllisReviews might have come across as a bit in your face there Mark. Apols if so.
I do wonder if the lack of 120hz is due to some sort of hardware limitation
Athough regardless of why it doesn’t have 120hz, I won’t be getting one, 1, the price is way above what I would want to pay for a display, 2, i don’t have the space for one, as it won’t be able to replace my existing display due to lack of HDMI
Great video mate, thank you. Finally someone addresses things the right way, cause most of the reviewers, either they are getting payed by Apple or they have no idea about tech.
No problem 👍
Mark, where did you get that desk lamp
IKEA :)
I just dumped my 32 inch Samsung curved display. There is no comparison. Less than a day and my eyes are loving it.
Glad you're enjoying it :)
I also got the studio display and have it next to an LG 4k 32UL950 in dual monitor setup. Your review is spot on. One thing I read that 5k 120 is impossible with tb4 - if that’s true I would not trade the 5k for pro motion.
I agree though that the webcams terrible, sound is just good, and for this price they should have made it hdr with at least the local dimming from the xdr display at least to make it somewhat better than the 5k iMac panel (or priced it at 12-1300). I’m probably keeping mine bc there’s no alternative to what it brings.
I am almost certainly going to cancel my order. I have looked at the Huawei Mateview, and for the price of the raise/lower device, I can get a whole monitor. I have looked at reviews for Huawei and I am impressed. yes it's not going to be an Apple display, but hey I have saved a shedload of money, and with the Studio Mac coming out maybe other manufacturers will bring out an alternative 5K display. Just a shame you have not done a review of the Huawei as I trust all your reviews.
Cheers! Have a listen to the episode of Eight or Sixteen I mention (it's linked in the video description). My podcast co-host, Rob, goes into detail about his experiences with the HUAWEI.
My current set up is a 2014 Mac Mini with the Apple Thunderbolt display, so I was considering upgrading both. Now I think I'll upgrade the Mac Mini, and get a different display. Or maybe just wait and see what's next! Thank you for the review!
32 inch sammy M5 will be my next monitor with airplay2 built in - wont be faffing around with cables at all.... currently running 2 hp 27f's off my mba air (via a dell d6000 dock) nice enough for me and plenty of screen real estate
I’ve been using a 4k lg monitor, but drives me mad with the text not being sharp. Scaled to 1440p unless the windows are too small.
When connection to the 16inch pro is it perfect quality esp text and photo editing ?
Great review Mark! Can you please connect it to the mac mini and tell us how it performs? And what happend with your red apple watch? Do you change to the 7th gen? Thanks my friend!
Cheers! I may connect that Mac mini at some stage, but I'm sure it'll be fine :) As for the Apple Watch, I still have it, but I'm testing out the OPPO Watch Free at the moment.
Worth every penny for sure to me.
It's the price that really stops me from even considering this display. And saw one in person at Best Buy yesterday. After two years of using a 34" ultra wide I find this 16:9 27" way too small for me.
Good review. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Nailed it with the talking points. Was thinking about picking this up for my MacBook Pro 14 expecting it to have a similar specs to the built in XDR one, but finding out it's only 60Hz SDR pushed me away from it completely. Picked up an LG 27GP950 instead, has everything I'd want out of a Mac monitor apart from P3 colour and native thunderbolt support for half the price.
I think if they had knocked up the monitor to 6k then it might have been more appealing. Yes I understand that the XDR is also a 6k model but the studio display is also a smaller monitor..And this 5k model goes up directly against the LG ultrafine 5k.
I ordered it but then cancelled. The non swappable stand is annoying and the display itself just usn't as good as the MacBook Pro I'd be pairing it with. I'd rather pay a bit more for something I really like than spend this much on a display which is ultimately a compromise. I just want the 27" version of the amazing display that's in the new MacBook Pro. If it was a bit cheaper then maybe I would of excepted it not having HDR and pro motion etc.
Smart decision, David.
Why not just buy M1 iMac entry level model as an alternative to Apple Studio Display. The extra bucks is not that worth it. Instead you get magic keyboard and mouse for your mac studio. Also, the m1 chip in the iMac can be used for minor workloads.
It seem by all reviewers say it would be an excellent monitor if it was not price very high or at least at it current price it should include the mechanical high adjuster.
Ultimately, I agree. It’s just not worth it considering what it offers and the price. It’s not a bad monitor by any means, but for what it offers it should be roughly half the price. OR for the price it is at, it should include 120Hz/HDR at a minimum, but I’d also like to see it be less Mac only since I live in both windows and OS X worlds. Ideally it would also have a display port or HDMI in that can be switched to so I can plug in a PC (I’d be ok with that port being limited to 60Hz IF there is a real bandwidth limitation for 120Hz and/or HDR). With the space they have in the monitor, the webcam should really be suuuper awesome, they should just use one of the camera’s that goes in the iPhone rear facing slot. Also, detachable power cord and a thunderbolt cable longer than a meter. 1 meter for a monitor cable is damn near useless if you put the computer anywhere but right next to it…
I’d say don’t get the Huawei Mate View display if you need colour accuracy. I’ve seen one in person, it had a green tint to it.
I am not a high graphics user. I’m fairly “general” in my usage. However, I’ll admit - I’m a form over function type user and I love the look of apple products. I really LOVE the looks of the Studio display. But… I could never justify the cost with my current usage of my computer. I wish I could… but … No. However, I still use my 27” Thunderbolt Display with my M1 Mac Mini and I love it. It looks very similiar to the studio display. It “Looks” good for me. Apple just priced this too high.
It is an incredibly nice looking monitor.
I think they would have sold 10x more had they priced it at $1000
Yesterday I went to view the display at an Apple store and confirmed the reviews, the webcam picture is grainy this is not acceptable for such an expensive monitor. I am surprised Apple released the monitor with that issue. I canceled my Apple Studio Display order until all the kinks are resolved or they come out with a better configuration.
Yes, it’s expensive, but what are we comparing it against? 4K Against 5K monitors of the same brand (LG) hardly cost more than half the price, however in 5K there’s hardly any competition to Apple and LG. As for pro motion, apart from the pro display by Apple there simply is no other large panel with 5 or 6k for less than the price of a pro Display. And anybody who has worked on a 5K monitor with photography will be able to tell the difference between 4K and 5K. 5K is simply sharper and better. So neither the Dell nor the Mate-view are a real competition. They are just lower spec’ed monitors.
I agree with you that there are no other displays like this one. So apple can price at its will!
Exactly. Everyone is saying it's too expensive but when they recommend other, cheaper monitors, they are never 5K. Some aren't even 4K. So, yes, you can spend less for a lesser monitor. Not sure that proves much.
I won't be buying a studio display because of the price and as your great review highlighted there are other monitors out there that are just as good and I would be just as happy with either them and I agree with you would think for this price apple would at least at promotion to this monitor.
If you want a full 5K display, it's basically the LG or Apple. I'm not sure if anyone else makes a 5K display. All the ones advertised as such are really 5K2K ultrawides with much poorer pixel density and about half the pixels of the Apple/LG displays. Dell makes an 8K display, but that's a completely different ballpark. There are no real alternatives. If you drop to a 4K 27" display, you'll lose retina quality. It'll be cheaper, but it won't look as good. But I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder, but the pixel density will be a lot lower.
I think the webcam is perfectly usable if you’re not using it constantly. I would like to encourage you to compare Studio displays webcam against your 27” iMac webcam. Otherwise, good video again. 👍
Wonderful review and quite informative. A question if I may: If one opts for a 3rd party webcam, is the center stage technology still available?
Cheers!
Thanks, Edward! And I'm afraid Centre Stage is only available with the built-in webcam.
Thanks Mark! Fair and objective as always... Does the Dell monitor have an integrated we cam for zoom/video calls? If not any reccos as that's to be bought separately
Cheers! And no, it doesn't. Logitech are always a good shout for webcams.
Pity the HUAWEI isn't available here in Australia, looks like a nice monitor for 1/3rd the price of the Studio.
Since the new Studio Display is so thick and has speakers and cameras, is it possible that it will be the next iMac eventually?
Nope!
Too expensive for what you get, I’ll be looking for other options. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching!
This seems like a missed opportunity to me. Chop 500 off the price. Give it better internals (higher refresh rates, better cam, etc.) and throw in that fancy lift/tilt stand, and you have a much more impressive product.
I'm not including the nano glass because, well the people who want that don't care how much it costs, and everyone else is, meh.
Fair review as always, Mark. Ya, I took a pass on the Studio Display. Crazy expensive for what you get. I picked up the Dell UltraSharp U43[!!!]20Q for literally less than half the price. Arrives in a couple of days. Can't wait! Hopefully it doesn't disappoint. And yes, if you're me, bigger is better!
Cheers, Jim. Enjoy your new monitor!
Great review. I’m holding off to see if the software update fixes the webcam as i use it a lot. What’s the wallpaper you’ve got?
I went with the Dell 2723QE. If I want a standalone monitor I want more inputs and the versatility of plugging in other inputs via HDMI like a console. It's still a 60hz screen. I'm sure it's a fair bit better screen than my dell but it's nowhere near as versatile. Backlight bleed is a bit disappointing on the dell but I don't notice it unless it's very dark in my room.
I don't understand the love of Dell UltraSharp displays. I despise mine. All of the inputs - power cord, ports - are loose and iffy. It's a known issue. I have had to tape cables in. That's insane. If you bump the thing, the power cord comes loose. Every port is third-rate. Some ports don't work at all. And this was the replacement for one that had the same issue. (And they were not great to deal with when I had the original issue. A lot of run-around to approve a replacement.) It was past the time that I could just return the thing, could only get it replaced with the same monitor. A monitor that was highly rated but is also not that bright - it took a lot of re-calibrating to make it look half as good as my old iMac. I can't wait to replace this Dell with something else entirely. My 8 year old iMac looks better and has no bad ports or dimming issues or any other problems (outside of its out-of-date CPU [which still works as intended, btw, which is also why people like Apple products], so, yeah, I need a new system!). If the Studio Display even has solid ports, sorry, I'm on board.
The one thing that many people are not talking about is the energy useage of monitors. In today’s energy crisis this gets more crucial. The studio display is rated E which is 21w max power whereas most if not all of the other 4K monitors are 32w G rated or more! I bought a studio display on launch day but haven’t had chance to use it. Am waiting for my MacBook Pro 16 M1 to come in so I can test that setup against my iMac 27 2014 5k.
They are not 5K monitors, so not the same nor similar monitors. Ana. 5K monitors for a fair comparison. Apple doesn’t have a 4K monitor, the closes is the mac book pro laptop 💻🙏
Can you connect the display to a console?
One word … 218 ppi. No other but the Apple Pro Display XDR have come close to 218 ppi. Yes you have the LG Ultrafine but it’s made of plastic and it cost nearly as much as the Studio Display.
Will this work on a windows laptop? I've been thinking to pair it with my 2017 Dell XPS 15 9560 with Windows 10 Pro as main OS.
Mark, thank you for your honest review! I am definately NOT buying this display. Too expensive, poor quality camera, not good specs. Please could you make another video of alternative displays. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I would have upgraded my 2017 27 inch iMac right now, but the screen is still great and it's working just fine still after having just upgraded from High Sierra to Monterey. I will not buy a non-Apple monitor, particularly from Dell, so I will wait till the new Studio display is upgraded, including the webcam, which I'd like to be better than what is currently shipped as well as that of my iMac's. Hopefully next year.
Great review. Small flat, no desk (no money) so not for me. But doesn’t it look nice? Typical Apple - great looks, but just a bit overpriced for what it is. But it will look great with the Apple desk layout. I very much understand the appeal.
Thank you for this review. I think it is the first time someone states the obvious: the image coming from Apple's webcam is unappealing, plasticky, cheap-looking and that is a pity as it would be so nice to have a quality image to do RUclips videos, conferences and so forth with everything integrated and ready to go. Integrated mics are usually really good, in comparison.
I'm not interested as I use 3 monitors on my m1 max 14. However, I'm thinking of pairing one with my wife's m1 mba. She used to have a 27" imac. I sold it since I didn't want anymore intel systems. She hates the m1 mba + 27" setup. However, I'm unsure if she would appreciate the studio display anymore. She's gotten used to have a 2nd screen on the m1 mba. For sure, if I didn't have the current 27" for her, I'd get the studio display. I think the integration and look are worth it. However, what Facetime camera would be the default? Could one choose? I definitely would want the studio display to be the Facetime camera.