Want 5K? You don't have to buy Apple's Studio Display
The alternatives are less expensive and often just as good.
Apple’s barrage of new Macs sent a familiar topic surging to the top of my social media feeds: Apple’s Studio Display. And, specifically, whether it’s worth $1,600 (or a gob-smacking $5,000 for the 6K Pro Display XDR).
Whether Apple displays are worth the money depends on your work. They’re needlessly expensive if you spend most of your day meeting with colleagues on Zoom and editing documents through a web browser.
That’s not to say Apple’s displays are bad. But remote workers buying a new Mac should know there’s plenty of 5K, 6K, and 8K monitors available outside Apple’s ecosystem, and they’re a lot less expensive.
Worth a buy: Asus ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV
The Asus ProArt display line-up is, in general, a top pick for home office workers and independent creators. ProArt monitors are affordable but feature-packed and deliver an attractive, accurate image. The Asus ProArt Display 5K, which has an MSRP of only $800, is no exception.
There’s a lot to like about the monitor’s image quality. It has 5,120 x 2,880 resolution (the same as the Apple Studio Display) and supports a wide color gamut (up to 99% of DCI-P3). It also has multiple presets for various color gamuts, is factory calibrated for great color accuracy, and offers a wide range of image quality adjustments.
I’m currently testing this monitor for PC World, and while I’ve yet to write my full review, I can already tell it will score well.
Yet the most important specification, really, is that price. $800 is half as much as the Apple Studio Display.
Yes, Apple’s display has some perks (like a built-in webcam and a nice built-in speaker system). That’s handy, to be sure, but it sure as hell isn’t worth an extra $800.
Worth a look: Dell UltraSharp U3224KB
The Dell UltraSharp U3224KB was released as an alternative to Apple’s Pro Display XDR. It’s not as good as the $5,000 Pro Display, but it’s half the price.
Resolution is the key specification. The Dell has a native resolution of 6,144 x 3,456, which is actually a bit more than the Apple Pro Display XDR’s resolution of 6,016 x 3,384. The Dell looks super-crispy.
The Dell packs quite a lot of connectivity including: Thunderbolt 4, Mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C, and even 2.5Gb Ethernet. The Pro Display XDR, on the other hand, sticks to Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C.
But there’s a catch. Image quality.
Make no mistake. The Dell UltraSharp U3224KB looks very, very good. But it lacks the dynamic backlight of the Apple Pro Display XDR.
That doesn’t matter much most home office work. But if you want to watch HDR movies, or edit HDR photos and video, it’s a big deal.
Still, if you just view SDR, or you’re just focused on getting 6K resolution, the Dell UltraSharp U3224KB is a more affordable alternative to the Pro Display XDR.
And if you want to know more, you can read my full review on PC World.
A 4K wildcard: The LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B
I won’t deny that 5K and 6K monitors look wonderfully crisp. But I will argue there’s a lot more to image quality than resolution—and if you’re willing to stick to 4K you can buy a monitor with truly exceptional image quality.
The LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B is a flagship 4K gaming monitor that sells for $1,400. Its gaming features, which include 4K resolution at up to 240Hz, will certainly appeal to home office workers who don’t have a second computer for entertainment.
If that’s your situation, you can stop right here: the LG is a much better monitor for you than any 5K or 6K display.
That aside, it’s still a great monitor for work. The LG has a fantastic OLED display panel with class-leading contrast, a wide color gamut, and high color accuracy. The 240Hz refresh rate will also make MacOS feel ultra-smooth (though, be aware, you’ll need a relatively new Mac to enjoy 240Hz).
Compared to the $1,600 Apple Studio Display in typical day-to-day productivity apps, photos, and 4K video, it’s no contest. The LG looks way better.
The LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B also has a respectable “Pixel Sound” audio system that can rival Apple’s displays.
Connectivity is the main pain point. The monitor has three video inputs, but no USB-C, and only a couple downstream USB-A ports. It’s not going to work if you wanted to use your monitor as a dock. My full review on Reviewed has the full details.
Why would anyone ever buy Apple’s displays?
Let me be clear: I don’t generally recommend Apple’s displays for most people, and certainly not for most home office workers buying their own gear. They’re incredibly expensive for the image quality and features they offer.
But many people still buy them and like them. Why?
Apple products are just impossible to beat when it comes to simplicity and ease of use.
While virtually every modern monitor will work with a Mac, Apple’s displays add extra features like webcams and speakers. And these features work seamlessly with MacOS apps like FaceTime.
Also, Apple has a software ecosystem some people prefer and, with the Apple Pro Display XDR, is especially focused on HDR. That, however, is a bit outside the scope of what I cover: I recommend checking this blog post from Greg Benz Photography if you want to go super deep on HDR performance.
I don’t think many people regret buying an Apple display. But if you’re open to having a monitor without Apple’s logo on your desk, you can buy a monitor that’s 95% as good for half the price.
What do you think?
That’s my two cents on Apple’s displays and the competition. But what do you think? Do you own an Apple display and love it, or do you swear by low-cost alternatives like the Asus ProArt line?