Studio Display: strange decisions do not stand in the way of success

At the Peek Performance event, two weeks ago, Apple didn’t just show the new Mac Studio. The impressive Mac also got a new screen: the Studio Display.

The Studio Display has also managed to make quite an impression on me over the past week. The external display has an impressive image quality, carries impressive speakers and offers the target group what it needs. Although there are certain things that I do have my doubts about.

Studio Display is more than welcome

Let’s start with the fact that the Studio Display is more than welcome. There is a certain fanatic group of Mac users who have been asking for such a product for ages. People want a 27-inch 5K iMac, but without the iMac and an LG UltraFine 5K without LG. Not to mention the desire not to have to pay €5499 for the Pro Display XDR. This new product is intended to serve a certain target group and Apple is actually doing that very well.

The Studio Display is a 27-inch monitor that measures 47.8 cm high, 62.3 cm wide and 16.8 cm deep. Without a stand, it has a weight of 6.2 kilograms, but if you opt for an adjustable stand, that weight goes to 7.7 kilograms. If you choose the VESA model, with which you attach the screen to the wall, it weighs only 5.5 kilograms.

It is possible to order the display with a nano texture, but you will have to pay extra for that. There are four connections on the back of the Studio Display. One is a Thunderbolt 3 port and the other three are USB-C ports. The latter three deliver a maximum speed of 10Gbps.

Impressive image quality

The most important part of the display is of course the image quality. Although it is difficult to explain lyrically how high that quality is, I will try to give you an idea. The Studio Display carries the following specifications:

• 27-inch 5K Retina display
• Resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels
• Pixel density of 218 ppi (pixels per inch)
• 600 nits brightness
• P3 color rendering
• True Tone Support
• Support for 1 billion colors

In practice, this comes down to a rich 5K display that does its job excellently. The image is incredibly clear, razor-sharp and the color reproduction is very accurate. Not only can the editing of videos and photos be carried out accurately this way, but viewing content can be called a party to say the least.

Two disappointing points

However, there are two striking things about the image quality. If you use the Studio Display in a dark environment, you will notice that the colors look washed out at times, especially during dark scenes in a movie. In addition, quite a bit of light can be seen in the corners of the screen.

The lack of HDR is the second, and in my opinion the biggest, downside of the 5K display. The Pro Display XDR offers Dolby Vision and HDR 10, among other things, so I secretly expected that the Studio would offer at least some form of HDR. This is not an issue and that surprises me in a negative way. Especially considering the group of users the product is aimed at and the price tag that comes with it.

Studio Display offers wonderful sound quality

A big advantage of the Studio Display is the sound quality in my opinion. The 5K Retina display is equipped with six different Hi-Fi speakers with force-cancelling woofers. This produces a wide stereo sound that is very impressive thanks to the support for Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio.

If there’s anything more difficult than describing picture quality, explaining sound quality textually is without a doubt one. It is something that you as a consumer really have to experience. Be sure to do that before purchasing the screen. Personally, I was very impressed with what the Studio delivered in this area.

Debatable price and the much-discussed webcam

The much-discussed webcam cannot be ignored in a review of the Studio Display. While I can certainly see that the webcam’s hardware can deliver more, something is clearly going wrong in terms of software. There is an incredible amount of noise in the image, which Apple, as the company has promised, will soon resolve. The problem does not make the webcam unusable, but it is smart to be patient until the solution is available.

What you don’t have to wait for is the price tag. The Studio Display can be bought for € 1779, but can quickly become more expensive due to small decisions. The most striking is the fact that the tilting stand is replaced for a small €460 by a model that is also adjustable in height. This brings the costs to €2239. You can also opt for a screen with nano texture for another €250.

Compared to the Pro Display XDR, the Studio Display is really a lot more accessible. Although you have to take into account that the screen delivers considerably less quality. In fact: when you compare it with the LG UltraFine 5K, a screen with almost identical specifications, it can actually be called an expensive joke. You can currently purchase that model at Amac for €1399.

Strange decisions, but a success

Yes, the Studio Display has to deal with a number of striking things. The display has a webcam that does not work well, does not have HDR and is quite pricey. It is certainly not your best option in that regard. Although we have to look at the matter realistically and, to put it bluntly, conclude that it is not intended for you at all.

There is in fact a specific group of users who have been asking for such a display for years. Where the lack of certain functionalities may not be ideal, this target group will be really happy with such a product. The Studio Display offers wonderful image quality, impressive sound quality and simply looks good.

Despite some strange decisions, the Studio Display will simply be a success.