Is it worth the extra $500. Anyone who has used the pro display and can chine in or are getting the iMac with Nano display.
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Worth getting the nano Display on the New 2020 iMac?
- Thread starter Effusion01
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If you work/computer environment suffers from light sources you can’t control, so you get reflections then worth considering. The main downside, apart from price, seems to be keeping it clean as can only use Apple’s cleaning cloth. As Freida says there are a few YouTube videos on this, though this is a pretty simple demonstration
The difference in sharpness is massive, please do not make the mistake I did and make sure you go see a display in the store before you purchase. I didn't do that because of the coronavirus situation, I judged only on people's opinions online and as many videos / photos as I could find, but the difference in sharpness is very big – I am likely going to return my iMac and reorder the same spec but without the nano-texture.... And my work environment has a lot of glare...
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It definitively tells me not to chose the nano. Thanks for the image.
Exactly my experience with XDR. Glad you had this picture to show and more people would benefit from it.
Oh wow, thats insane. I was so ready to get the nano.
Thank you
I'll probably still order it (ill get both of them and then return one of them) just so i can see it in person otherwise it could bother me.
But this is great, thank you
Thank you
I'll probably still order it (ill get both of them and then return one of them) just so i can see it in person otherwise it could bother me.
But this is great, thank you
Dat credit card limit 😝Oh wow, thats insane. I was so ready to get the nano.
Thank you
I'll probably still order it (ill get both of them and then return one of them) just so i can see it in person otherwise it could bother me.
But this is great, thank you
interesting. I went standard glass on mine, thankful I did. I have worked in offices that faced a window and literally had to take a break for half an hour everyday while the sun was in the west because of it, so I understand the purpose. But that trade off is wayyy to much considering the cost. the sharpness of the retina screen is the whole point of an iMac 5K price in the first place.
Thanks for posting this! It reaffirms my decision — when I was evaluating getting an XDR display pre-COVID and spent some time with one with nano coating, this was my same takeaway (albeit without this kind of proof), which is why it’s the only upgrade I didn’t get this time.
I have taken one for the team... I'm processing my return tomorrow, dropping it to an Apple store so the refund can happen right away without a hitch, and then going home to re-order one and wait another two to three weeks... Oy vey!
But, I had to see the nano-texture for myself. Based on the things I read and the youtube reviews I watched, everyone seemed to really like it and only mentioned the softness as a "very minor tradeoff".... They're blind!
It also has a quality to it that looks almost like it's wet..
And look, I'm a borderline fanboy, definitely not one of those people who ***** on Apple for things they do, I'm usually on board with it all and I have loved every Apple product I've ever owned, blah blah blah – but this thing, the display is amazing at glare-reduction while maintaining great color, contrast, and brightness, but the sharpness is something I think they should mention as a clear trade-off...
Certainly a great technology, certainly "worth it" for many use-cases, but for me, even though I'm someone who works professionally in a glare-heavy room making graphics (both digital and printed) – it's not worth it. 👋
But, I had to see the nano-texture for myself. Based on the things I read and the youtube reviews I watched, everyone seemed to really like it and only mentioned the softness as a "very minor tradeoff".... They're blind!
It also has a quality to it that looks almost like it's wet..
And look, I'm a borderline fanboy, definitely not one of those people who ***** on Apple for things they do, I'm usually on board with it all and I have loved every Apple product I've ever owned, blah blah blah – but this thing, the display is amazing at glare-reduction while maintaining great color, contrast, and brightness, but the sharpness is something I think they should mention as a clear trade-off...
Certainly a great technology, certainly "worth it" for many use-cases, but for me, even though I'm someone who works professionally in a glare-heavy room making graphics (both digital and printed) – it's not worth it. 👋
I come from a 2011 iMac. The glare was massive there, but it was manageable as I could just close curtains to fix. The difference between 2011 iMac and 2020 iMac standard glass is huge, so I'm glad I saved the money.
Oh no....I have one coming with the Nano screen. I have a ton of glare in my office during the day and I was really excited when this was announced for the iMacs. Oh well, I'll give it a shot and if its not for me I'll return it and get a non-glare version. I figured it was worth trying instead of just buying what I already know is going to give off a ton of glare.
I was lucky enough to be able to see these in the SF flagship store.
At normal viewing distances, the hazing / loss of sharpness is not quite as bad as these pictures look ... remember, retina resolutions are already beyond the limits of visual acuity for most people. But it is definitely present and noticeable.
I would say the bigger issues are the loss of color saturation and contrast that is present with any matte screen, plus the ”color sparkles” on white backgrounds.
As someone who works with imaging, the difference between the displays was immediate and noticeable. Even my wife, who does not have a trained eye, was pretty quick to proclaim the “glossy” display looked better.
Thanks for the information. I ordered the Nano because I also use a Matte Screen protector on my iPad and iPhone and prefer that finish on those devices. With that being said, I can see where some people may not like that on a larger screen device. Worst case scenario is that I will know I don't like this type of screen on an iMac and will just return it for the glossy screen. I hope I like it but who knows.
Your situation and experience sounds like a very good test case for the Nano display. Please post your impressions here after you get it and use it for awhile. Thanks !
Like many here, I have been going back and forth on whether to pop $450 for the nano-glass (I get the 10% Military Veteran's discount). I actually made an appointment at my local Apple store after I called and they said they had a Nano-Glass display in store. I waited in line for 30 minutes, had my temperture taken, and went into the store only to find out that whoever told me they had the Nano display was mistaken. (Especialy troubling since I had to drive 50 miles one-way to get to the store).
Anyway, I made my decision NOT to buy the nano-glass. In the end, the main reason is, I really don't have a bad lighting situation in my home office and have never had any glare issues with my current 2011 iMac.
Anyway, I made my decision NOT to buy the nano-glass. In the end, the main reason is, I really don't have a bad lighting situation in my home office and have never had any glare issues with my current 2011 iMac.
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I have an Apple Thunderbolt display i will be using a second monitor, and I felt having the iMac with nano texture would make it look odd next to the Thunderbolt display. And I don't really have too bad of a glare problem despite having two windows behind me. These screens without nano texture are outstanding. I decided to splurge on 4TB SSD instead of the nano texture.
Another thing to keep in mind when deciding between the two:
It's easy to fall into thinking that you "have a glare issue" but it's worth considering whether it ever -actually- bothered you before, or if you're now only thinking of the glare because it's been put into your mind by the decision between the regular screen or the nano-texture.
Here are links to additional comparison photos I did, I will take more in a little while with some apps open on both so that there are more visual elements to look at: (I shot these in a way that, to my eye, looks as "natural" coming out of the camera as possible (1/20s | f/8 | ISO 100))
Like rkuo said in post #15, you can see some of what they called the "color sparkle" effect on the nano screen compared to the regular... to me I would describe it as looking like the display is 'wet'... almost looks like digital noise.
It's easy to fall into thinking that you "have a glare issue" but it's worth considering whether it ever -actually- bothered you before, or if you're now only thinking of the glare because it's been put into your mind by the decision between the regular screen or the nano-texture.
Here are links to additional comparison photos I did, I will take more in a little while with some apps open on both so that there are more visual elements to look at: (I shot these in a way that, to my eye, looks as "natural" coming out of the camera as possible (1/20s | f/8 | ISO 100))
Like rkuo said in post #15, you can see some of what they called the "color sparkle" effect on the nano screen compared to the regular... to me I would describe it as looking like the display is 'wet'... almost looks like digital noise.
I had a MacBook Pro of similar age and the glare was unbearable. I used my much older iMac instead whenever I could. I later got a 2013 MBP, and it was a massive improvement that is similar to the 2015 iMac I use now. The iMac has a 27” matte display as a second screen. The iMac is better on a sunny day. The matte display just speads the glare around rather than stopping it.
The Nano display is a different technology that is better than standard matte, but not all issues are sorted. I was considering Nano when I upgrade (I can wait long enough to see what the first Apple Silicon machines are like, then decide on waiting for the large screen AS iMac), but now won’t be paying for the surface treatment unless there are further iterations on Nano. There have been some great replies in this thread. Thank you.
I got it. Probably shouldn't have, for the reasons mentioned here, but am keeping it. I have it next to my 2014 5K iMac, and at my usual typing difference, not noticing a lot of issues--sure, if you get close and examine it, you'll see some differences. But, for my use it's just as sharp as my older one, and I am getting less glare (didn't have much, but difference is noticeable).
Any chance you could post a side by side picture of the two? One with both screens off and another with both screens on?
Here is a consideration - the problem is actually little more complex and I still don't know the answer.
Its been said before (and someone please correct me if any of you are opticians etc.) that when looking at the glossy display the reflection (even if minimal) is still something your brain/eyes have to block out which cause you to work harder on your eyes etc. Unlike the matte screen which doesn't have this issue.
Here is an example (not the same but good for illustration):
In the office we have typical industrial (white) lights which are designed for eyes efficiency (as they are cold). Unlike your table lamp which might have a bulb that is warmer as that is for eye comfort. Hence why offices always have super bright/white colour without any warmness whilst at home you have warmer lights. (its to do with sun etc. but no reason to go in details). So in the office I would often get tired especially when doing overtime and I would wear my computer glasses most of the time.
Now:
So, when I started WFH because of COVID I have noticed few things immediately. First, I didn't need to wear my glasses throughout the day (sometimes only in the evening) as my eyes were not that tired etc. and overall I felt less tired.
When I thought about what has changed I realised that my computer is by window with a natural light and because there is no artificial light my eyes just simply were happier.
So, could this apply to nano vs glossy?
Could the nano make our eyes work less and therefore be less tiring etc.? I would be ok with that trade off for slight blurriness which might actually be not that bad from the viewing distance.
What I'm more curios is what is healthier for the eyes. That is more important to me as I spend 10-14 hours a day starring at a screen.
Anyone knows about this, please? Any opticians here?
Its been said before (and someone please correct me if any of you are opticians etc.) that when looking at the glossy display the reflection (even if minimal) is still something your brain/eyes have to block out which cause you to work harder on your eyes etc. Unlike the matte screen which doesn't have this issue.
Here is an example (not the same but good for illustration):
In the office we have typical industrial (white) lights which are designed for eyes efficiency (as they are cold). Unlike your table lamp which might have a bulb that is warmer as that is for eye comfort. Hence why offices always have super bright/white colour without any warmness whilst at home you have warmer lights. (its to do with sun etc. but no reason to go in details). So in the office I would often get tired especially when doing overtime and I would wear my computer glasses most of the time.
Now:
So, when I started WFH because of COVID I have noticed few things immediately. First, I didn't need to wear my glasses throughout the day (sometimes only in the evening) as my eyes were not that tired etc. and overall I felt less tired.
When I thought about what has changed I realised that my computer is by window with a natural light and because there is no artificial light my eyes just simply were happier.
So, could this apply to nano vs glossy?
Could the nano make our eyes work less and therefore be less tiring etc.? I would be ok with that trade off for slight blurriness which might actually be not that bad from the viewing distance.
What I'm more curios is what is healthier for the eyes. That is more important to me as I spend 10-14 hours a day starring at a screen.
Anyone knows about this, please? Any opticians here?