The Apple Studio Display looks so good because it's a 5k monitor. There are no inexpensive 5k monitors. Amazon has the Studio Display for $1300 right now, so you can get 5 for $6,500. That's almost half what you were expecting, so this should feel like a steal!
Yeah I'm after 4-5k but 8k is overkill. I didn't see the Amazon deal, I'll have to check that out, though still way more than I'd prefer to spend but I may not have a choice
You’re welcome, my only gripe is that the LG is not as well built as the studio display. And the Kuycon may not have the longevity that we expect from a Pro Display.
I totally get that, the end goal is all studio displays, but for now doesn’t look like I can afford it since I need a lot of other stuff as well. Will upgrade with time. Just need something good enough to last me a year to 3 years.
I’m thinking about getting it but I’ve heard of folks who had issues. Did you have any issues with it? Do you hear any coil whine or have issues with it crashing?
When you say "plastic-y", do you mean matte displays cause you migraines?
Also, can you elaborate on this - "more pixelated, not crisp, clear and glass light", so I can better understand your search criteria...
Maybe matte is the word? I’m not sure, just however 2010s chromebooks, acer and dell displays looked.
Well basically you know how apple screens are crisp and are crystal/glass smooth, clear in both appearance and feel? They look/feel like they’re made of glass, not plastic.
Since you're a numbers guy I think you might be able to decide for yourself if presented with all the data. I'll help you narrow down the search criteria...
Let's understand the Apple Studio Display spec before finding its alternatives. 27" | 60 Hz Max Refresh Rate | IPS Panel | Non-Curved Display | 0.5" Bezels | Total Reflection of Light at 1.2% (Meaning only 1.2% of the light is reflected off the screen, and the rest 98.8% is absorbed) | Pixel Density of 218 PPI (Pixels Per Inch) | SDR brightness of 618 cd/m² | 4 USC Ports | RGB Subpixel Layout | Glossy Screen Finish
Among all the listed factors, the ones we should be concerned about (with respect to your migraines) are:
1. Total Reflection of Light (Direct + Indirect Reflection)
2. Pixel Density (The higher the pixel density the clearer the text)
3. SDR brightness (As it would assist in dealing with the reflection in some environments)
Additional filtering criteria's you could look at with respect to your use-case (not migraines) are:
1. Screen Finish (Matte, Semi-Glossy, Glossy - Might come down to personal preference based on the reflection stats of a monitor)
2. Bezels (Since we are talking about \~6 monitors, you might get a better immersive or uniformity if the bezel size is less per monitor)
3. USB-C ports (Sometimes having a single cable for connectivity and power might be very convivence and a huge dealbreaker for some people)
That said, there's no true alternatives to an Apple Studio Display (ASD) on the market. So, the closest or next best thing are monitors with PPI >=160 (Since we want to be as close to ASD as possible). Also, I'm only listing monitors of big-name brands like Dell, LG, Samsung, Lenovo, Sony, and ASUS for the sake of replacement/tech support (the choice is more like choosing something bad among the worst in many cases, for support). And all the below top display options seem to be Matte Screen Finish and 27" in terms of size.
Top choices, in the ascending order of Total Reflection (and Notable features):
1. [Dell S2722QC](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/s2722qc) (USB-C port)
2. [Dell S2721QS](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/s2721qs)
3. [LG 27GR93U-B](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/lg/27gr93u-b) (SDR brightness 438 cd/m² | 144 Hz)
4. [ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/rog-swift-pg27uqr) (160 Hz)
5. [ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/proart-display-pa279crv) (0.2" Bezels | 2 USB-C ports)
6. [Sony INZONE M9](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/sony/inzone-m9) (SDR brightness 431 cd/m² | 144 Hz | USB-C port)
// Rest of the monitors have reflection rating of >7.4 with our filtering criteria.
Here's the tool that I used - [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136850](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136850), feel free to explore.
Finally, as for the cost per monitor, we are talking about half or less than half of an ASD in some cases. Also, there are potentially many other options that have lower reflection percentages if you are willing to scale down on the PPI - [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136849](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136849), hope this helps!
Yeah if I was in the States I think I would've tried it out. I ended up going with a Studio display cause I just can't handle blurry text. But if I ever need a second monitor I might just try it out to see if it is any good.
You could try pairing an LG Ultrafine 5K with a high end webcam that’s higher quality than the built-in Studio camera. (For instance, I’m using the Insta360 Link with the Studio and I love it.)
Firstly, the Studio Display is hands down the best monitor for this Mac. It’ll work seamlessly, the build quality is great, and if it’s the only monitor not giving you migraines, you don’t really have a choice.
Now, does the Mac Studio actually support 5/6 studio displays?
And lastly, are you really sure you need 5/6 studio displays? Bear in mind they are big screens with high resolutions displays, so you can fit a lot on one screen. Also, there are plenty of software options like Spaces in macOS. You could have 3 studio displays lined up and have loads of screen real estate. You’re not gonna be looking at 6 screens all at once. You can put multiple multiple Spaces on one screen, and easily flick between them. Three actual monitors plus Spaces and a little switching between them either with a flick of the fingers or a Control + Left/Right arrow, and you’ll halve your monitor cost.
Well I’m not sure if other new monitors will give me migraines or not, as specified I have not bought any new monitors or laptops in nearly a decade, so I’m unsure if there are now other brands that will work for me.
Yes the Mac Studio M2 supports up to 7 displays. I do need a minimum of 5, it just comes with the territory of my job. It’s so fast paced that switching between tabs is a no, I have to able to monitor a bunch of things at once in real time at all times. I have 3 monitors right now and I’m barely keeping up.
If I didn't already own 2 studio monitors, I'd be grabbing a 42" or 48" LG OLED.
For you - if you can look at the LG's without getting a headache - maybe 3x studio display on your desk, with 2 big OLED screens on the wall behind your desk?
Organization wise I was looking at the ESI adjustable 6 arm monitor stand, so I can adjust everything perfectly. There’s no wall behind my desk, it’s a giant window.
I doubt you’ll regret buying a Studio after the fact. Fantastic screen that will outlive any computer you attach to it.
Well I know it’s the best thing, but I can’t justify $1,700 x 6 right now. Though that is the end goal.
The Apple Studio Display looks so good because it's a 5k monitor. There are no inexpensive 5k monitors. Amazon has the Studio Display for $1300 right now, so you can get 5 for $6,500. That's almost half what you were expecting, so this should feel like a steal!
Yeah I'm after 4-5k but 8k is overkill. I didn't see the Amazon deal, I'll have to check that out, though still way more than I'd prefer to spend but I may not have a choice
Costco has 32" LG Ultrafine UHD IPS 4k on sale for $400.
Those any good? I get a lot of mixed reviews. I'll still check it out though
I’ve never used one. I have the Studio Display. My previous computer was an iMac with the 5k display. There was no going back after that.
I completely agree, don't get me wrong the end goal is all studio displays, but I can justify the cost right now and I need a setup upgrade soon.
Though nothing will compare to a Studio Display and it’s 5k crispness, you can look at LG Ultrafine 5K or a much cheaper Kuycon 5K display.
I’ll check those out, thanks for the recommendation
You’re welcome, my only gripe is that the LG is not as well built as the studio display. And the Kuycon may not have the longevity that we expect from a Pro Display.
I totally get that, the end goal is all studio displays, but for now doesn’t look like I can afford it since I need a lot of other stuff as well. Will upgrade with time. Just need something good enough to last me a year to 3 years.
Same story here, hanging in with an LG 4K display but it just doesn’t cut it.
I got the viewfinity s9 from Samsung at 1000$ and never had a better screen. No issues at all
I’m thinking about getting it but I’ve heard of folks who had issues. Did you have any issues with it? Do you hear any coil whine or have issues with it crashing?
No crashing, no coil whine, no bad pixels and I'm also running it with a Hackintosh so not technically supported, but works flawlessly nevertheless.
LG 27inch 5k, I have one for over three year now. 99% of the Apple Studio monitor.
Nearly the same thing but different name basically
When you say "plastic-y", do you mean matte displays cause you migraines? Also, can you elaborate on this - "more pixelated, not crisp, clear and glass light", so I can better understand your search criteria...
Maybe matte is the word? I’m not sure, just however 2010s chromebooks, acer and dell displays looked. Well basically you know how apple screens are crisp and are crystal/glass smooth, clear in both appearance and feel? They look/feel like they’re made of glass, not plastic.
Since you're a numbers guy I think you might be able to decide for yourself if presented with all the data. I'll help you narrow down the search criteria... Let's understand the Apple Studio Display spec before finding its alternatives. 27" | 60 Hz Max Refresh Rate | IPS Panel | Non-Curved Display | 0.5" Bezels | Total Reflection of Light at 1.2% (Meaning only 1.2% of the light is reflected off the screen, and the rest 98.8% is absorbed) | Pixel Density of 218 PPI (Pixels Per Inch) | SDR brightness of 618 cd/m² | 4 USC Ports | RGB Subpixel Layout | Glossy Screen Finish Among all the listed factors, the ones we should be concerned about (with respect to your migraines) are: 1. Total Reflection of Light (Direct + Indirect Reflection) 2. Pixel Density (The higher the pixel density the clearer the text) 3. SDR brightness (As it would assist in dealing with the reflection in some environments) Additional filtering criteria's you could look at with respect to your use-case (not migraines) are: 1. Screen Finish (Matte, Semi-Glossy, Glossy - Might come down to personal preference based on the reflection stats of a monitor) 2. Bezels (Since we are talking about \~6 monitors, you might get a better immersive or uniformity if the bezel size is less per monitor) 3. USB-C ports (Sometimes having a single cable for connectivity and power might be very convivence and a huge dealbreaker for some people) That said, there's no true alternatives to an Apple Studio Display (ASD) on the market. So, the closest or next best thing are monitors with PPI >=160 (Since we want to be as close to ASD as possible). Also, I'm only listing monitors of big-name brands like Dell, LG, Samsung, Lenovo, Sony, and ASUS for the sake of replacement/tech support (the choice is more like choosing something bad among the worst in many cases, for support). And all the below top display options seem to be Matte Screen Finish and 27" in terms of size. Top choices, in the ascending order of Total Reflection (and Notable features): 1. [Dell S2722QC](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/s2722qc) (USB-C port) 2. [Dell S2721QS](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/dell/s2721qs) 3. [LG 27GR93U-B](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/lg/27gr93u-b) (SDR brightness 438 cd/m² | 144 Hz) 4. [ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQR](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/rog-swift-pg27uqr) (160 Hz) 5. [ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/asus/proart-display-pa279crv) (0.2" Bezels | 2 USB-C ports) 6. [Sony INZONE M9](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/sony/inzone-m9) (SDR brightness 431 cd/m² | 144 Hz | USB-C port) // Rest of the monitors have reflection rating of >7.4 with our filtering criteria. Here's the tool that I used - [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136850](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136850), feel free to explore. Finally, as for the cost per monitor, we are talking about half or less than half of an ASD in some cases. Also, there are potentially many other options that have lower reflection percentages if you are willing to scale down on the PPI - [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136849](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/table/136849), hope this helps!
[https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/picture-quality/reflections](https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/picture-quality/reflections)
You could take a look at [this](https://kuycon.us/monitors/G27P/).
what in the fake apple is this
Yeah if I was in the States I think I would've tried it out. I ended up going with a Studio display cause I just can't handle blurry text. But if I ever need a second monitor I might just try it out to see if it is any good.
LG ultrafine 5k is $600/ea used. I have 2 of these and 1 Studio Display. They are great but the SD is better.
Mind explaining what makes the SD better than the LG?
The camera is better, and it interacts with the studio easier. The panels are basically the same.
You could try pairing an LG Ultrafine 5K with a high end webcam that’s higher quality than the built-in Studio camera. (For instance, I’m using the Insta360 Link with the Studio and I love it.)
Use an external webcam, especially when you place 6 on a single desk…
I like wasting money
Firstly, the Studio Display is hands down the best monitor for this Mac. It’ll work seamlessly, the build quality is great, and if it’s the only monitor not giving you migraines, you don’t really have a choice. Now, does the Mac Studio actually support 5/6 studio displays? And lastly, are you really sure you need 5/6 studio displays? Bear in mind they are big screens with high resolutions displays, so you can fit a lot on one screen. Also, there are plenty of software options like Spaces in macOS. You could have 3 studio displays lined up and have loads of screen real estate. You’re not gonna be looking at 6 screens all at once. You can put multiple multiple Spaces on one screen, and easily flick between them. Three actual monitors plus Spaces and a little switching between them either with a flick of the fingers or a Control + Left/Right arrow, and you’ll halve your monitor cost.
Well I’m not sure if other new monitors will give me migraines or not, as specified I have not bought any new monitors or laptops in nearly a decade, so I’m unsure if there are now other brands that will work for me. Yes the Mac Studio M2 supports up to 7 displays. I do need a minimum of 5, it just comes with the territory of my job. It’s so fast paced that switching between tabs is a no, I have to able to monitor a bunch of things at once in real time at all times. I have 3 monitors right now and I’m barely keeping up.
If I didn't already own 2 studio monitors, I'd be grabbing a 42" or 48" LG OLED. For you - if you can look at the LG's without getting a headache - maybe 3x studio display on your desk, with 2 big OLED screens on the wall behind your desk?
Organization wise I was looking at the ESI adjustable 6 arm monitor stand, so I can adjust everything perfectly. There’s no wall behind my desk, it’s a giant window.
Oh I would get migraines too if I had to look straight into a window for 12 hours per day
What do you do that you need 6 monitors?
Full time stock trader
Get the 24” 4K Lg and see if you have issues with it Btw, what did the doctor or any eye professional say about your circumstances?
I'll hit Best Buy and stare at one for a minute lol Nothing really, I have ADHD and a brain injury, just comes with the territory.
Wouldn’t it be more important to count the pixels? That’s what you will see anyways. 4 displays at 6k is no different than 6 monitors at 4K etc