I've been using it all day. The screen image is great, I had a 2015 5k 27 iMac and this has a few generational improvements including True Tone and a bit brighter. No HDR or local dimming or 120 hz but there is nothing in the 5K space at remotely a similar price that has that either. The sound is OUT OF THIS WORLD great, it is so, so good for built in speakers and I absolutely hear the ATMOS effect when playing music or video that has it, it can be downright spooky good in some cases. The webcam is just horrible however, horrible, horrible, horrible. Much worse than my 2015 iMac for sure, and probably even the old white iMacs I had too. I'm hoping it can least improve with a software update but I have my doubts any miracles will be happening.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Studio Display - Owners Thread
- Thread starter KPOM
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Can you provide some music examples that blew you away? To me and my ears, the audio is good to great for built-in monitor speakers, but not extraordinary as you make it out to be.
well again, me saying it is fantastic, I specifically called it out *for built in speakers*... I'm sure stand alone speakers are better, but I've never had interest in either having them clutter my desk, nor do I want to wear headphones while sitting at the computer for the most part.
here are two great examples:
via YouTube watch this:
and if you have Apple Music make sure under Preferences you select "Download Dolby Atmos" and then search Apple Music for "Spatial Audio" and you'll find tons of curated playlists of all genres that have been mastered with Dolby Atmos.
I just picked up my Mac Studio and Studio Display from the retail store this morning. Simply put, I am blown away. Maybe my expectations were very low going in, based on the reviews here, but the display is just gorgeous, the sound is mind blowing, and the camera is very good indeed. Not sure if I am just that easy to please, or maybe my bar is very low, or the update to the Studio Display helped. Can't say. But I love this thing.
I almost bought the Dell U2723QE but then I started adding up the costs to get my setup perfect, and the Studio Display just made better sense, especially with the edu discount. Good luck to everyone!
I almost bought the Dell U2723QE but then I started adding up the costs to get my setup perfect, and the Studio Display just made better sense, especially with the edu discount. Good luck to everyone!
Are the brightness keys on a macbook pro supposed to adjust the studio display brightness? Id expect so but mine only adjusts my macbook display brightness, not the studio display.
Can anyone confirm? Thanks
Can anyone confirm? Thanks
Last edited:
I sold my 5K iMac in 2020. Since then, I've been using my LG 34 inch 5K2K that is basically a 4K resolution. It looks amazing but I do miss the sharpness of the 5K, especially for reading text. Can someone who has both the SD and a 4K monitor confirm there is a substantial difference in resolution/sharpness?
Coming from my LG 4K 27"--it really does make a difference. I work a lot in excel spreadsheets and there is a crispness that I sorely missed on my old display.
I’ve been using 27 inch 4K over the past 4 years and at 2560x1440, the new studio display looks better to my eyes.
However, the 4K was a matte finish (dell 2718q) and the SD is glass. That may also be contributing.
Overall, I’m glad I upgraded.
I just don't understand why the default option for 3rd party monitors is the matte finish! Compared to the SD, the matte finish definitely results in less contrast and a duller picture.
Ctrl + brightness keys should adjust external monitor brightness (at least for Apple's external displays).
I bought the nanotexture studio display.
I thought a lot before making my choice, because I know I'm going to experience some loss of quality in contrast and definition: in my workstation I have a window exactly behind my back:
and two sources of artificial light (one above and one on the left side).
The display surprised me positively: I don't have a standard next to it to compare it but it shows very, very well: no patina or "dark" effect, nice crisp text, zero reflections. I paid 250 euro more for this configuration and it seems reasonable to me.
The unboxing was quite satisfactory: the monitor is protected by two layers, a classic one, like in the Imacs, an additional one, glued to the edges.
There is the "special" cleaning cloth specific for this glass.
The brightness is excellent.
As for the color rendering ... finally the true tone! I consider Apple products excellent in terms of calibration and, for this reason, I have always tried to get the same calibration on the external monitors as my iphone 12 pro max ... without ever succeeding.
The studio display is finally identical (and remember that the phone is an OLED).
Camera: not as bad as I read, not amazing but usable. It's comfortable.
CRAZY audio, the best part of this monitor: you have to hear it live to realize it.
Ultimately I am satisfied with the purchase and I am satisfied with the performance of the nanotextures (I was very scared about that!)
I thought a lot before making my choice, because I know I'm going to experience some loss of quality in contrast and definition: in my workstation I have a window exactly behind my back:
and two sources of artificial light (one above and one on the left side).
The display surprised me positively: I don't have a standard next to it to compare it but it shows very, very well: no patina or "dark" effect, nice crisp text, zero reflections. I paid 250 euro more for this configuration and it seems reasonable to me.
The unboxing was quite satisfactory: the monitor is protected by two layers, a classic one, like in the Imacs, an additional one, glued to the edges.
There is the "special" cleaning cloth specific for this glass.
The brightness is excellent.
As for the color rendering ... finally the true tone! I consider Apple products excellent in terms of calibration and, for this reason, I have always tried to get the same calibration on the external monitors as my iphone 12 pro max ... without ever succeeding.
The studio display is finally identical (and remember that the phone is an OLED).
Camera: not as bad as I read, not amazing but usable. It's comfortable.
CRAZY audio, the best part of this monitor: you have to hear it live to realize it.
Ultimately I am satisfied with the purchase and I am satisfied with the performance of the nanotextures (I was very scared about that!)
I switched from a LG 27" 4k to the ASD. The text is so much crisper, just like on the MacBook Pro 14! And boy does it get bright 
I am however not missing the miniLED/Promotion on the ASD, if it would be the same as on the MacBook Pros. The response times on the Macbook screen is very very slow, so text gets very blurry while scrolling. Almost defeats the purpose of having 120Hz!
MiniLED is great for HDR content, but since I am a developer I do not have much use for it. So why pay for a feature I don't need.
Overall I am very happy with this display, so much that I don't want to use my 27" LG as a second monitor. Thinking about getting a second ASD.
I am however not missing the miniLED/Promotion on the ASD, if it would be the same as on the MacBook Pros. The response times on the Macbook screen is very very slow, so text gets very blurry while scrolling. Almost defeats the purpose of having 120Hz!
MiniLED is great for HDR content, but since I am a developer I do not have much use for it. So why pay for a feature I don't need.
Overall I am very happy with this display, so much that I don't want to use my 27" LG as a second monitor. Thinking about getting a second ASD.
Is anyone here who acquired two Studio Displays and is attempting to power them over one Thunderbolt 4 dock? Would love to see if thats possible (DSC required ofc, not sure if the Studio Display supports that
Nano-texture is incredible. I got one as well. When I have a very sunny day I will post a photo showing the difference. I have 7 big windows behind my display.
Exactly my thinking. Can‘t wait for my 5k ASD to arrive.I switched from a LG 27" 4k to the ASD. The text is so much crisper, just like on the MacBook Pro 14! And boy does it get bright
I am however not missing the miniLED/Promotion on the ASD, if it would be the same as on the MacBook Pros. The response times on the Macbook screen is very very slow, so text gets very blurry while scrolling. Almost defeats the purpose of having 120Hz!
MiniLED is great for HDR content, but since I am a developer I do not have much use for it. So why pay for a feature I don't need.
Overall I am very happy with this display, so much that I don't want to use my 27" LG as a second monitor. Thinking about getting a second ASD.
is there a way to have the "official" ASD screen saver and wallpaper? I am referring to the ones you see in stores.
I seem to have a problem when using the SD with a second monitor and 2 computers.
My main display is the SD, I have a second monitor that also plugs into my Mac Studio (thunderbolt to DP cable).
When I switch the 2nd monitor's input to choose the 2nd computer, the Mac Studio still thinks the 2nd monitor is connected...it shouldn't. what ever app was on the 2nd monitor should have moved to the SD.
hmmmm.... this could be a Mac Studio problem...
My main display is the SD, I have a second monitor that also plugs into my Mac Studio (thunderbolt to DP cable).
When I switch the 2nd monitor's input to choose the 2nd computer, the Mac Studio still thinks the 2nd monitor is connected...it shouldn't. what ever app was on the 2nd monitor should have moved to the SD.
hmmmm.... this could be a Mac Studio problem...
Funny, I had the opposite thought. My Mac studio is right under the monitor and wish the cable was 1/2 as long. I guess apple had to compromise somewhere.
That said.... if I got another SD to replace my 2nd monitor, I'd might need a longer cable...
No. Essentially it starts there and goes up another 10.5 cm.