Is anyone using a non-Apple 5k monitor with their Mac Studio? Can you recommend a particular brand/model?

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Is anyone using a non-Apple 5k monitor with their Mac Studio? Can you recommend a particular brand/model?

I'm a photographer, upgrading my old 2105 iMac Retina, shocked to find Apple no longer make 27" iMacs.

This led me down the path of the Mac Studio + monitor and I've just ordered a refurb M2 Max that I'm sure will be perfect for my needs, but I really don't want to compromise on the display at all.

The plan was to get an LG 5k with the remainder of my budget, which sadly doesn't stretch to a Studio Display. But they seem to have been discontinued?

Searching around, there's not much at all that inspires any confidence. Can anyone recommend a solution here, or am I going to have to dig deep for the Apple display?

TIA.

Studio Display

Posted on Nov 26, 2024 1:09 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 26, 2024 2:40 PM in response to mick todbury

As far as I know, there are currently only three choices for 27" 5K (5120x2880) displays.

The Apple Studio Display
The LG 27MD5KL-B 27" 5K UHD UltraFine™ IPS Monitor with macOS Compatibility – lists for $1300, but street price seems to be more like $850 to $900.
The Samsung 27" ViewFinity S9 5K IPS Smart Monitor – lists for $1600, but street price seems to be more like $800 to $900.

Apple used to carry a 27" LG 5K display (not sure if it was the current model), but discontinued it some time ago, perhaps because they wanted to promote sales of their own display.

As far as the current LG 5K display, it appears to be available on the LG site, and for slightly less from B&H Photo Video.

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Answer 2

Nov 26, 2024 2:47 PM in response to mick todbury

The other possibility is to get a good 27" 4K – 5K display.

These are not as sharp as a 27" 5K iMac screen or a 27" 5K Apple Studio Display, but there are many choices, and some have features (near-100% coverage of Adobe RGB and/or DCI-P3, support for hardware calibration, etc.) of interest to photographers.

Prices range from about $300 to $350 for very basic ones with IPS panels and near-100% coverage of sRGB to "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it" for high-end Eizo models aimed at professional photographers. My understanding is that NEC discontinued their line of monitors that photographers liked so much, but that you can find budget monitors with features aimed at photographers from the likes of ASUS and BenQ.

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Answer 3

tbirdvet

Level 6

14,771 points

Nov 27, 2024 4:35 PM in response to mick todbury

I use the LG 27" 5k and works great. You can still buy that monitor. Here is the best price:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1499337-REG/lg_27md5klb_b_27_ultrafine_5k_16_9.html

Also on Amazon but more costly.

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Answer 4

mick todbury Author

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Nov 26, 2024 3:48 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Yes, this is what I thought. Crazy there are so few options.

I've had a look at the Samsung in a store and I wasn't impressed at all. That's a very useful link to the LG too, it doesn't get great reviews and there are reported compatibility issues with recent Mac OS iterations, so it looks like I'll need to scrape some extra cash together after all...

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Answer 5

mick todbury Author

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Nov 26, 2024 3:49 PM in response to Servant of Cats

'Basic' is really not on my radar at all and I'm sure I would come to regret paying anything close to $1000 for a display that's not as good as my old iMac, and ultimately within a couple hundred bucks of the Studio Display for something that is.

Really appreciate this and the above responses, you've saved me hours of doubt and deliberation. Have a great day!

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