The Apple Studio Display is hard to justify

The Apple Studio Display is a nice object for the desk. But Jonathan easily found ultra fine flaws that could easily make the display so much better. Though, there is a pretty good alternative out there too.

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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Intro
0:58 How we got to now
2:14 It checks all the boxes
4:46 What happened to the design details?
6:28 The stand situation
9:27 Thanks Squarespace!
9:57 A really great alternative
11:39 Conclusion

[stuartlunsford]

I still can't rave enough about Johnathan being a real life actual sceptical fan. Normally that's the expectation for any reviewer, but the Apple space lacks this SEVERELY. Keep up the good work man. And that single USB C idea, that is gold!!

[doomy_doomy]

He is doing such a fantastic job with this channel. Linus really did hire the right man for the job with this channel. Give this man a raise … again if he hasn’t already.

[NyxHunter]

This has cemented Horst as the best Apple reviewer in my mind.
Perfectly able to appreciate what makes Apple products good while sprinkling enough salt and shade into the review by explaining exactly how it could be better.
He doesn't praise them like a cult member or vilify them like Linus sometimes can (for good reason but still).

[PopStrikers]

Really love that Jonathan is an Apple fan that's willing to hold the company to account. Very few in this space will.

I was ready to pull the trigger on this monitor when it was revealed, but when I realized it didn't have ProMotion or miniLED, I immediately held off. Once I realized Thunderbolt 4 didn't have the bandwidth to support 120Hz 5K, I realized I probably wasn't gonna upgrade my monitor for a loooong time. Thunderbolt 5, and a replacement for my Mac Studio to actually handle the eventual ProMotion 5-6K display in god knows how long.

[SuperFireman]

Despite not being an Apple guy at all (though the m1/m2 macbooks I've had my eye on for a while), I enjoy your content quite a bit! I like the general presentation and flow of the videos you put out.

Also, no offense, but you look like the EXACT stereotype of someone who'd own everything Apple to me and I can't think of anything more fitting.

[dcoidua]

I appreciate you giving us an honest review and not just praising everything Apple does like some other creators.

[Braindead]

The cinematic office neighbor stare when putting on the vesa stand had me cracking up. Great video!

[kamizak]

I picked up the LG UltraFine 5k about 16 months ago. I really love the display, not the design so much though. However, the issue is now I have realized how much I like high DPI with a glossy display. I was excited when Apple announced this monitor, but the price for essentially the same display quickly turned me off. However, I was testing it out at a Microcenter and the Apple store the other day, those speakers are some kinda witchcraft. Apple did a great job with that for sure! Probably won't be picking one of these up though until the price (hopefully) comes down.

[JoFu_]

WOW. Although I'm a regular LTT viewer, I'm also a PC user, so this may be my first Mac Address video... it feels so different! The editing, the writing, and the cinematography has such a different tone and pacing from the other LMG channels. The whole video is very sleek and polished -- it feels analogous to the industrial design of Apple products themselves. Great job!

[nburton]

I’am writing this on a Studio display and would agree with most of what you said, but I have to say that after using a 27” iMac with a 5k monitor the Studio display is considerably better. It has better blacks, colour and brightness. Compared to the cost of a 4k monitor it seems very expensive, but it is 5k. Add excellent speakers and superb build quality a reasonable quality mike and webcam and it starts to look better value. So don’t be put off by some of the reviews on this monitor, I nearly was, but I’m very pleased I wasn’t.

[bmos]

Apple's desktop lineup (including accessories) seems as though it has been assigned to a team that has spent years working in the mobile space.
They're spending lots of time solving tough engineering challenges to improve space efficiencies when space efficiencies are not the areas in most need of improvement.

[jippalippa]

I have been pretty much extorted into using one as the software I use for work doesn't work with 4K scaling, so I'm basically forced to use a 1440p or 5K display and between the still expensive but cheaply made LG Ultrafine and the studio display, I have gotten the latter.
I wish there were more 5K panels available to choose from, but I can only see the studio display and the LG Ultrafine.

I accepted the expense for my work and I'm moving on.
I have gotten the vesa option though, as it's the one that makes the most sense anyway. even if it obscures the apple logo.
As much as I love apple designs, I'm more interested in the functionality of products.

[Adam_holloway]

Really enjoy that this channel feels different to LTT but is still as high quality and informative as LTT

[KoenKooi]

I’ve been using the studio display for a weeks now and I love it. It replaced my 5k iMac quite well. Having said that, I think it’s overpriced. It’s worth the $300 over the LG, but the LG isn’t worth the $1300.

[bavideomaker]

Great video with very good production value. That said, i don’t understand how you review this monitor and not mention the “importance” of 5K at 27” for macOS scaling and Retina resolution. The people interested in this monitor want (require) Retina. That’s the whole point. I agree that the ASD is maybe a bit overpriced. But it’s only $300 more than the LG and you get Apple build quality, webcam and awesome speakers. Your alternative monitor is 168 PPI. Not comparable IMHO.

[spzi_]

I've been using the Huawei Mateview on my Mac Studio and I love it! Just wish it didn't have that extra tiny chin space - so close!
[love it except how apple defaults to subsampling the pixels making the picture quality a complete mess and you have to edit system files to force RGB mode which took me months to figure out]
but other than that, I would definitely buy two more of these to have an awesome triple monitor setup

[if anyone wants help making it work correctly reply to this comment and I'll help, I feel morally obligated after the pain I experienced]

[Werdna]

Can we get a fake book with Linus’ pose like steve Jobs on the shelf in the background set?

[dmug]

As another skeptical fan who has a love / hate relationship with Apple, I’m happy to see LMG keep Mac Address going and with its own unique vibe apart from LTT.

[denverag]

3:2 aspect ratio?
Shut up and take my money
under the table, because apparently its not available here.

[nermaldigital]

I'm an Apple Mac user day in day out and I do have the Huawei Mateview as my sole monitor in my set up. I've always said it's a great and affordable alternative to the studio display for all the reasons you said too. You're the first channel I've seen that's given it this praise it deserves. New subscriber.