After Apple debuted the Pro Display XDR back in 2019, there were hopes that the company would eventually release a more affordable display for non-professionals. It only took a little more than two years, but that’s exactly what Apple announced during its March 2022 Peek Performance event with the Apple Studio Display.
During the March 2022 Peek Performance event, Apple debuted its all-new Studio Display monitor. This was introduced alongside the new Mac Studio, offering a new desktop solution for those who have been hoping for a revamped and refreshed iMac Pro.
The Apple Studio Display features a 27-inch 5K Retina display, complete with up to 600 nits of brightness, and support for the P3 Wide Color gamut and Apple’s True Tone technology. But there is a lot more going on with this monitor than what meets the eye.
Built into the bezels of the Studio Display is a 12MP ultra wide camera, which brings support for Apple’s Center Stage feature. With Center Stage, you are always at the center of the video call, and the camera automatically adjusts to keep you in the frame even if you are moving around.
Going even further, Apple integrated its impressive six-speaker system, making use of four force-canceling woofers, and two high-performance tweeters. With this combination, Apple is able to bring its ultra-popular Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos technology to the desktop.
Finally, when it comes to connectivity, it’s a one-size-fits-all approach. There are three downstream USB-C ports on the back, perfect for connecting your various peripherals. Apple also integrates a single Thunderbolt 3 port, so you can connect your MacBook or other Mac with just a single cable. Plus, this Thunderbolt 3 port offers up to 96W charging speeds to keep your laptop juiced up and even supports fast charging on the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple Studio Display Specs
Display:
5K Retina Display
27-inch
5120 x 2880 resolution (218ppi)
600 nits brightness
Wide Color (P3)
True Tone
Available Reference Modes:
Apple Display (P3-600 nits)
HDTV Video (BT.709-BT.1886)
NTSC Video (BT.601 SMPTE-C)
PAL and SECAM Video (BT.601 EBU)
Digital Cinema (P3-DCI)
Digital Cinema (P3-D65)
Design and Print (P3-D50)
Photography (P3-D65)
Internet and Web (sRGB)
Camera:
12MP Ultra Wide Lens
122° field of view
f/2.4 aperture
Center Stage
Audio:
High-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers
Wide stereo sound
Support for Spatial Audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos
Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming
Support for “Hey Siri”
Connections:
One upstream Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port (with 96W charging speeds)
Three downstream USB-C ports (up to 10Gb/s)
Stand:
Tilt:
−5° to +25°
Tilt and Height Adjustable:
−5° to +25°
105mm height adjustment
VESA Adapter:
100 x 100mm in landscape or portrait
Size and Weight:
H: 18.8 x D: 6.6 x W: 24.5-inches
13.9 pounds (with Tilt stand)
16.9 pounds (with Tilt and Height-adjustable stand)
12.1 pounds (with VESA Mount Adapter
Compatibility:
Mac Studio (2022)
16-inch MacBook Pro (2019 or later)
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
13-inch MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
15-inch MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
MacBook Air (2018 or later)
Mac mini (2018 or later)
Mac Pro (2019 or later)
24-inch iMac (2021)
27-inch iMac (2017 or later)
21.5-inch iMac (2017 or later)
iMac Pro (2017)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later)
iPad Pro 11-inch
iPad Air (5th generation)
Are There Different Configurations?
Surprisingly, Apple is offering several different configurations from its website. This gives you some added flexibility if you are trying to pick the right setup for your needs.
When going through the checkout process, you have the following configuration options:
Standard glass or Nano-texture glass
Tilt-adjustable stand / Tilt- and height-adjustable stand / VESA mount adapter
There are no limitations when it comes to the different configurations that you can make. This means you can get the Studio Display with Nano-texture glass and just the VESA mount adapter, or you can go for the whole kit and kaboodle with the Nano-texture glass and the tilt- and height-adjustable stand.
How Much Does It Cost?
By comparison, the Apple Studio Display looks like a bargain, with pricing starting at just $1599 for the “standard” glass. Those who want to combat any potential issues with glare will want to opt for the Nano-texture glass option priced at $1899.
Here is what each configuration is priced at, before tax:
Standard Glass:
Tilt-adjustable stand: $1599
Tilt- and height-adjustable stand: $1999
VESA mount adapter: $1599
Nano-texture Glass:
Tilt-adjustable stand: $1899
Tilt- and height-adjustable stand: $2299
VESA mount adapter: $1899
So you can opt for the “cheapest option” at $1,599 with the Standard glass and tilt-stand, or you can go all the way for $2,299.
Pre-orders are available starting March 8, and the Apple Studio Display will officially go on sale starting March 18.
Should You Buy Apple Studio Display?
This is a very subjective question to ask, as it really depends on whether you need a display with a 5K resolution. While Apple’s engineering is incredible, and this is much more than just a screen with a stand, there are other considerations to be made.
One large omission to be considered is that the Studio Display lacks support for Apple’s ProMotion technology. This was introduced with the iPad Pro a few years ago and was implemented into the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in late 2021. With ProMotion, you’ll enjoy an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Unfortunately, the Studio Display is “stuck” at 60Hz, which is not exactly something you would expect to see from a monitor with this kind of price tag.
If you want to keep within the Apple ecosystem and don’t care about the refresh rate, then you really can’t go wrong with the Studio Display. Let us know whether you’ll be picking one up for yourself, or if you’ll be looking elsewhere for your next monitor.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
Write a Comment