Tag: studio display

Apple starts selling refurbished Studio Display in Canada

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 17 October 2022

Apple’s website now offers refurbished Apple Studio Displays in its Canadian online store starting at $1,699.

This saves customers looking for Studio Displays $300 off their purchase.

Here’s the pricing:

Standard glass, Tilt-adjustable stand: $1,699, Save $300
Standard glass, Tilt- and height-adjustable stand: $2,119, Save $380
Nano-texture glass, Tilt-adjustable stand: $2,039, Save $360
Nano-texture glass, Tilt- and height-adjustable stand: $2,459, Save $440

The Studio Display features a webcam, a 27-inch display that can hit 600 nits of brightness and a 5K resolution. There’s also an A13 Bionic chipset to power the desktop.

The Studio Display went on sale back on March 18th.

For more on the Studio Display, check out our in-depth look at the monitor.

Via: iPhone in Canada

Tags apple, Deals, studio display

Mobile Syrup

Apple’s rumoured high-end external mini-LED display supposedly delayed until October

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 21 May 2022

Supply chain issues may be striking again and affecting the launch of Apple’s rumoured high-end mini-LED display. Analyst Ross Young claims that Apple’s supposed 27-inch mini-LED monitor may slip until October.

Previously, Apple’s latest entry in its display lineup was pegged for a June release. However, Young now states that due to the recent wave of COVID-19 lockdown at the Quanta production plant, plans have changed.

Apple leak! The 27″ MiniLED monitor has been delayed as it was going to be produced at Quanta in Shanghai which has been locked down. Production is in the process of being moved to a different location and has been delayed. It now looks like an October release.

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 20, 2022

Apple has not officially unveiled any details of this display. While the new Studio Display does provide exceptional specs and performance, it lacks mini-LED backlighting. Including a mini-LED panel would be a welcomed upgrade but would increase its already steep $1,999 price tag. Reports also indicate that the display may utilize 120Hz technology.

However, reports indicate that the new display would not fill in the gap between Reports claim that the new monitor could become a bridge between the latest Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. The 2019 Pro Display XDR is aimed at professionals, making it a niche product. Apple also lists the 32-inch 6K display at $6,299. Finding a middle ground between the two provides customers with more options at various price points.

However, there’s no saying that the new display will bridge the two. Considering the Pro Display XDR is now three years old, Apple may consider refreshing the line with this model. This would also likely come with another premium price tag. It remains to be seen how Apple plans to position the display.

Young appears to be pretty confident in Apple’s new release window. However, we’ll have to wait for official confirmation from Apple to know for sure.

Source: Ross Young Via: 9to5Mac

Tags apple, Pro Display XDR, studio display

Mobile Syrup

New book explains why Jony Ive quit Apple

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 2 May 2022

Since Jony Ive’s departure from Apple, several of the tech giant’s products have changed drastically.

There’s the very capable/chunky, but port-filled MacBook Pro (2021), the death of the Butterfly keyboard and most recently, the impressive Mac Studio and slightly less impressive Studio Display. These new products and revisions to existing devices probably wouldn’t have happened if the tech giant’s long-serving chief designer was still around, given Ive’s design-forward focus and fondness for thin devices.

Since Ive left Apple in 2019, it’s been unclear why he opted to move on after almost three decades of working at the company and shaping its design legacy. Now, a New York Times article focused on an excerpt from Tipp Mickle’s upcoming book, After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul, sheds light on Ive’s decision to leave.

According to the book, Ive left Apple following years of frustration as the company shifted from a focus on design to one that’s more utilitarian. Mickle’s book delves into Ive’s relationship with Apple’s former CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs during the development of the iMac. Following Job’s death, the book describes how Ive’s role at the company shifted and outlines how his relationship with Tim Cook, Apple’s current CEO, wasn’t as close.

As the Apple Watch shifted from focusing on fashion to fitness, Ive spoke to Cook about stepping back from the business side of Apple. The executive was reportedly frustrated with managing hundreds of staff instead of a smaller design team. This resulted in Cook giving Ive the chief design officer position and Ive switching to reviewing product progress on a weekly cadence instead of daily.

Mickle’s book also delves into Ive being late for meetings and how he became slow to approve designs. In an amusing twist, Ive invited his design team to watch the movie ‘Yesterday’ as a “two-hour exploration of the eternal conflict between art and commerce.”

Ive received an exit package valued at more than $100 million, according to Mickle.

After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul releases on May 3rd.

Tags apple, Jony Ive, Mac Studio, studio display, Tim Cook

Mobile Syrup

Apple says the latest macOS beta fixes Studio Display built-in webcam issues

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 26 April 2022

Apple says that latest macOS update solves the Studio Display’s webcam problems.

Though I didn’t find the pricey monitor’s built-in webcam that bad, video quality with FaceTime and other apps is often far noisier than it should be. According to The Verge, the latest firmware update to Apple’s Studio Display should solve that issue.

“An update to the Studio Display firmware is now available with today’s beta release of macOS Monterey 12.4. This beta update has refinements to the Studio Display camera tuning, including improved noise reduction, contrast, and framing,” said Apple in a statement to the publication.

According to a recent iFixit teardown, the Studio Display features a camera array roughly on par with the iPhone 11, including a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 lens and even an A13 chip.

This update is included in the macOS Monterey 12.4 public beta, which should receive a final release in the next few weeks. If you’re already running the public beta, head to ‘System Preferences’ and then the ‘Software update.’ The specific firmware build is listed as ‘Version 15.5 Build 19F5062g.’

For more on Apple’s standalone monitor, check out my in-depth look at the Studio Display and the Mac Studio.

Via: The Verge

Tags Mac Studio, studio display

Mobile Syrup

A real-world comparison between the Apple Studio Display and LG UltraFine 5K

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 23 March 2022

On March 8, 2022, Apple unveiled the Apple Studio Display and its new Mac Studio. Apple fans rejoiced as Apple re-entered the consumer display market with an alternative display option that isn’t the Pro Display XDR.

Ten days later, I received my own Studio Display order. I’ve been using the LG UltraFine 5K display for two years. Since Apple discontinued their Thunderbolt Display, the LG UltraFine 5K has been viewed as the best display for Mac users.

The LG UltraFine 5K was actually designed in partnership with Apple. However, now that Apple has released such a comparable display, how do the two stack up? I’ve been using both displays over the last few days, and I wanted to give MobileSyrup readers a real-world comparison of the two.

Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know when deciding between the LG UltraFine 5K display and the Apple Studio Display:

The Display

LG’s UltraFine 5K display and Apple’s Studio Display feature the same 5K panel. In fact, LG has been manufacturing similar panels for Apple since 2014 with the release of the 27-inch iMac with a retina 5K display. Both 27-inch monitors feature an LCD panel with a 5120-by-2880 resolution (218 pixels per inch), a P3 wide colour gamut, 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 60Hz refresh rate. However, despite these similarities, there are still some differences.

Both displays support Apple’s True Tone feature that attempts to match your display’s colour temperature to the lighting in your workspace. However, LG’s UltraFine 5K can only use True Tone when connected to a supporting Apple computer with its webcam exposed. Meaning if you’re like me, you can use a MacBook in clamshell mode and get the benefits of True Tone. Apple’s Studio Display improves upon this weakness by having the appropriate light sensor built into the display.

Apple Mac Studio and Studio Display

LG’s UltraFine 5K supports up to 500 nits of brightness, while Apple’s Studio Display supports up to 600. This is likely because the backlighting panel has been changed while the display is the same. One other noticeable difference between these two displays is that the LG UltraFine 5K features a plastic display meanwhile the Apple Studio Display features a glass panel.

The LG UltraFine 5K has an anti-glare finish, while Apple’s Studio Display includes an anti-reflective finish. For an additional $400, you can “upgrade” Studio Display’s finish to a nano-texture option. I place upgrade in quotations because, frankly, I think nano-texture looks terrible. I personally purchased the anti-reflective finish, and it looks incredible.

Nano-texture is a matte finish that’s supposed to drastically reduce glare but keep colours vibrant. Unless you work in a very bright space where glare is a serious issue, I cannot recommend the nano-texture finish.

In short, both of these displays look amazing. The glass display and the additional 100 nits of brightness with Apple’s Studio Display certainly make welcomed improvements over the LG UltraFine 5K. However, while both displays look stunning, the Studio Display wins out in this section.

Stand Options

Apple’s Studio Display can be purchased in three configurations; a tilt-adjustable stand, a tilt-and-height-adjustable stand, or a VESA mount. Both the tilt-adjustable stand and VESA mount are included in the base price. In contrast, the tilt-and-height-adjustable stand costs an additional $500.

The tilt-adjustable stand sits about 11.4cm off the table and can be adjusted from a -5-degree to +25-degree tilt. The tilt-and-height-adjustable stand also sits about 11.5cm off the table at its lowest but adds about 10.2cm of height along with the same -5-degree to +25-degree tilt. The VESA mount option is compatible with any 100mm x 100mm VESA stands or mounts and can work in portrait or landscape orientation.

I’m about 5-foot 8-inches in height, and I find the tilt-adjustable display is a fine height, ergonomics-wise. If you’re a little taller, you may prefer the tilt-and-height-adjustable stand. If you’re shorter, you may want to investigate the VESA mount option. You need to decide what stand option you’d like before purchasing as swapping out the stand is not user upgradable. Apple does offer a 15-day return period on all purchases if you want to try a Studio Display and see if it suits you.

LG’s UltraFine 5K Display is quite generous in this category. You receive a VESA mount and a tilt-and-height-adjustable stand in the box. Unlike the Apple Studio Display, the LG UltraFine 5K allows users to easily swap out the stand with the VESA mount.

The LG UltraFine 5K stand ranges from about 9cm high at its lowest and about 17cm at its tallest. The tilt is the same as Apple’s Studio Display at -5-degrees to +25-degrees. The UltraFine’s VESA mount will also support any standard 100mm x 100mm mount or stand. My two biggest criticisms of the LG UltraFine 5K’s stand are its massive foot and horrible wabble.

If you prefer flexibility in your displays, you’ll probably want to opt for the UltraFine 5K. Having a user-changeable stand and VESA mount is quite nice, especially if you think your work environment might change. However, suppose the UltraFine’s shake is a concern for you, and flexibility isn’t a factor. In that case, the Studio Display is a fine choice.

Build Materials & Aesthetics

Build materials are one area where these two displays are very different. The LG UltraFine 5K display is made of plastic minus the metal stand. Compare this to Apple’s Studio Display which features a stunning aluminum body and stand plus a glass display.

The LG UltraFine 5K and Apple Studio Display have similar bezels measuring about one centimetre, except for the UltraFine’s forehead, which measures about 2.5cm.

I like how both displays have a built-in power supply meaning there’s no external power brick to deal with, like with the 24-inch iMac. However, the UltraFine does feature a small LG logo in the bottom centre on the display’s bezel, while the Studio Display only features an Apple logo on the rear of the enclosure. The LG logo on the front never bothered me, but many podcasters have complained about it.

A crucial thing to note is that Apple clearly states that the Studio Display’s power cable is not removable, according to this support article.

Webcam

Apple’s Studio Display features the same 1080p 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera used in the company’s iPads. In addition, the camera offers a 122° view and an f/2.4 aperture. The Studio Display also features Apple’s Centre Stage feature and has Apple’s advanced image signal processing (ISP) thanks to the display’s built-in A13 Bionic chip. The LG UltraFine 5K also features a 1080p camera but lacks Centre Stage and Apple’s ISP.

Quality-wise, both cameras are reasonably similar. The above screenshots were using Zoom with no additional lighting. The Studio Display’s Centre Stage and ISP made the image tighter and added some artificial lighting. Meanwhile, the LG UltraFine caught a wider picture with truer lighting.

Personally, I don’t think either of these webcams are amazing–they’re both just okay. If you’re just doing some video calls with these webcams, get some additional lighting, and they’re both fine. However, I will say that Apple’s advantaged image signal processing and Centre Stage features are points in the Studio Display’s favour. But at least for now, I’ll be sticking with my Logitech BRIO 4K webcam.

Microphone

Both displays feature a built-in microphone. The LG UltraFine 5K has a microphone located next to the webcam in the display’s forehead. The Apple Studio Display has what Apple calls a “studio-quality 3-microphone array”.

I recorded three audio samples comparing the LG UltraFine 5K, the Apple Studio Display, and the Yeti X microphone. I centred myself to the display for each test and measured myself out to be 22-inches away for each sample.

Frankly, every one of the three audio samples was good. While Apple’s Studio Display was better than the UltraFine, the difference wasn’t tremendous.

However, I’ll be sticking with my Yeti X, at least for the near future. The microphones in these two displays are completely fine for video calls. Still, even Apple’s “studio quality” microphone array won’t replace a nice microphone if you’re recording audio professionally.

Speakers

For speakers, the LG UltraFine 5K features a stereo speaker system with two five-watt speakers. On the other hand, the Apple Studio Display features a six-speaker system with Spatial Audio. The speakers are located at the bottom of each display.

While microphones feel pretty comparable between the two displays, there is no competition when it comes to speakers — Apple’s Studio Display sounds beautiful. Recently, I bought Razer speakers to replace the LG UltraFine 5K’s speakers. I immediately returned them once I tested out the Studio Display.

The Studio Display’s speakers are clear, crisp, and powerful. Meanwhile, the UltraFine’s speakers sound washed out and crinkly.

Ports & Cables

Both the LG UltraFine 5K and the Apple Studio Display feature four ports plus power. This includes a single Thunderbolt 3 port used for the upstream connection to a Mac and three USB-C ports. The LG UltraFine 5K’s USB-C ports are USB 3.0, providing 5Gbps data transfer speeds. Meanwhile, the Apple Studio Display offers speeds double that with its USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports delivering 10Gbps speeds.

The LG UltraFine 5K comes with a two-meter rubber Thunderbolt 3 cable compared to the Studio Display’s shorter but much higher quality one-meter braided Thunderbolt 3 cable. Power delivery to a connected MacBook is nearly identical at 94W of power for the UltraFine 96W for the Studio Display.

Both displays provide enough power to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro and USB-C port transfer speeds fast enough for any peripheral device like a webcam or microphone. However, if you frequently use external storage, the Studio Display will be a more attractive offering.

My only big gripe about the ports is that the UltraFine’s USB-C ports aren’t flush with the display’s enclosure. Instead, the display acts more like a shell around them. The USB-C ports in the Studio Display are flush with the display’s enclosure. Functionally, there’s no issue — this is purely an aesthetic complaint.

Warranty

Warranty is one area that’s hard to beat Apple in. The LG UltraFine 5K offers a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty provided by LG when bought from LG or an authorized reseller.

For comparison, Apple’s Studio Display also offers a one-year manufacturer’s warranty provided by Apple when bought from Apple or an authorized reseller. However, Apple does provide technical support over the phone through Apple Support, an Apple Store network of over 500 stores, and thousands of Apple-authorized service providers (AASP).

This means Apple gives you phone, mailing, and in-person support options compared to LG’s over-the-phone and mailing service options.

Additionally, suppose you’re like me and enjoy having AppleCare+ for your Apple devices. In that case, you can get that on the Studio Display too. AppleCare+ for the Apple Studio Display costs $179. Purchasing AppleCare+ grants you 24/7 priority technical support through Apple, an additional two years of manufacture coverage for a total of three years, and two accidental incidents every twelve months that are subject to a $99 or $299 service fee.

While I’ve never had to use LG’s warranty, it’s hard to imagine it would be easier than visiting my local Genius Bar or doing a mail-in replacement through Apple Support. Plus, if you enjoy having a little extra protection for such an expensive purchase, AppleCare+ is a no-brainer and an option the LG UltraFine 5K doesn’t offer.

Price

Neither of these displays are budget options. But, they are designed for consumers and professionals alike. These are premium displays targeted at folks with disposable income or who can justify the purchase as a business expense.

If you can find an LG UltraFine 5K in stock, it’s likely around $1,749. I found inventory on Amazon and Canada Computers at that price. Meanwhile, Apple’s Studio Display retails for $1999 for standard glass and either the tilt-adjustable stand or VESA mount.

Apple Studio Display

Apple is charging $2499 for the standard glass and tilt-and-height-adjustable stand.

Add $400 if you want the nano-texture glass and another $179 for AppleCare+. LG’s UltraFine 5K has the win when it comes to price. It’s the least expensive. But, when spending around $2000 or more on a display, you’re likely not after what’s the least expensive. Instead, you’re after what offers the best value to you.

Final Thoughts

In the end, neither display is a bad choice. These are both high-quality displays targeted at Mac users. Before the Apple Studio Display was released, the LG UltraFine 5K was, by far, the best Apple display that wasn’t the Pro Display XDR.

They’re both fantastic displays, and I feel comfortable recommending either. But it’s clear after some real-world testing comparing both displays that Apple’s Studio Display stands ahead. It’s beautifully designed, the speakers sound great, and the macOS integration has been stellar. However, the LG UltraFine 5K is still a high-quality professional-level display with excellent macOS integration.

Tl;dr: if you’ve already purchased the LG UltraFine 5K and you’re happy with it, you don’t need to upgrade. But, if you’ve been waiting for an Apple-branded display and can afford it, buy a Studio Display — you won’t regret it.

The LG UltraFine 5K is available for $1,749 on Amazon, whereas you can pick up the Mac Studio Display with a tilt-adjustable stand for $1,999 from Apple.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Tags apple, LG, LG UltraFine 5K, studio display

Mobile Syrup

Apple’s Studio Display features 64GB of built-in storage, only uses 2GB

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 21 March 2022

Apple’s new Studio Display features 64Gb of internal storage, but only uses a total of 2GB, according to developer Khaos Tian (via MacRumors).

It’s unclear what the purpose of the additional storage is, but it’s likely tied to future firmware updates, hinting that Apple could have more plans for the Studio Display’s built-in A13 chip.

lol Studio Display has 64GB onboard storage?! pic.twitter.com/XfHGCYUYMG

— Khaos Tian (@KhaosT) March 21, 2022

Apple’s A13 Bionic Chip is also featured in its 2019 iPhone 11 series, 2nd-gen iPhone SE and 9th-gen iPad. All three devices only feature a storage configuration as low as 64GB, so there’s a possibility the Studio Displays 64GB of internal storage could be tied to the chip’s architecture.

Apple’s Studio Display has received a lukewarm reception from most critics. While the display itself features the sleek, brushed metal design the tech giant is known for, early reports indicate issues with its built-in 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. Apple says it plans to fix this issue through an upcoming Studio Display software update.

I found the 5K Studio Display to be a decent monitor, though I’m disappointed it doesn’t support a 120Hz refresh rate at lower resolutions.

For more on Apple’s Studio Display and Mac Studio, check out my in-depth story about both devices.

Source: @KhaosT Via: MacRumors

Tags apple, studio display

Mobile Syrup

Apple says it will fix Studio Display camera issues with software update

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 17 March 2022

Apple’s Studio Display has received a mixed reception from tech YouTubers, bloggers and journalists, with many citing its built-in webcam as lacklustre.

Despite featuring the same 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera as the latest iPad Air, early reviews state that the shooter is grainy and bad at handling adverse lighting conditions. Some go so far as to say that ‘Centre Stage,’ Apple’s technology that tracks the subject in the camera’s frame, doesn’t work at all. In my experience, I found the Studio Display’s built-in camera to be pretty good as long as I wasn’t using FaceTime, which is strange given it’s an Apple video chat platform.

In fact, I found the quality to be close to on par with the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s excellent built-in webcam. Overall, I found the 5K Studio Display to be a decent monitor, though I’m disappointed it doesn’t support a 120Hz refresh rate at lower resolutions.

Following these reports, an Apple spokesperson told several publications that it’s working on a fix and has “identified some issues where the Studio Display is not delivering the image quality they expected, and they will be making improvements in future software updates.”

For more on Apple’s Studio Display and Mac Studio, check out my in-depth story about both devices.

Via: The Wall Street Journal

Tags Mac Studio, studio display

Mobile Syrup

Apple enters a new era with its impressive Mac Studio and Studio Display

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 17 March 2022

For years Apple has forced new technology on its users to — at least from the company’s perspective — push the industry forward.

The tech giant believed it knew what’s best for us, whether we liked it or not. This strategy was intrinsically tied to its direction, and to be fair, sometimes these moves were for the better.

Examples from the last few years include the MacBook’s controversial shift to USB-C, starting with the release of the now-dead 12-inch MacBook (2015). Though undeniably frustrating at the time (and sometimes still today – #donglelife), USB-C likely wouldn’t be as prevalent as it is now if Apple didn’t decide the technology was the future of its laptops’ ports. Next, the company ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone, a questionable move blown slightly out of proportion. Years later, most have moved on to wireless headphones, and even major Android manufacturers like Samsung eventually nixed the port.

Other examples of Apple force-feeding change in the tech industry include the haptic trackpad in the MacBook line, increasingly thinner laptop designs and the beleaguered ‘Butterfly’ keyboard, just to name a few.

But recently, we’ve seen a new direction from the tech giant that has resulted in a more self-aware version of Apple that, in some respects, is listening to its most dedicated users.

“Though most of my devices now feature a USB-C connection and accompanying cables, the peace of mind a pair of USB-A ports on the Mac Studio offers can’t be understated.”

What started with a subtle mea culpa regarding the end of the Butterfly Keyboard and the return to the classic Magic Keyboard in its MacBooks, eventually evolved into the chunky, but powerful M1 Pro and M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro (2021), a laptop that was nearly universally well-received (including by me) but, that I’d guess, would make former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive squirm with discomfort.

And now, we have the Mac Studio and Studio Display, two devices Apple users have wanted for years.

The Mac Studios’ glorious ports

Over the past few days, I’ve spent a significant amount of time marvelling at Apple’s Mac Studio. Its brushed silver design is stunning and a clear step above the already sleek-looking Mac mini. In terms of size, think of the Mac Studio as two Mac minis stacked on top of each other. Its footprint isn’t massive, but it’s still substantial at 9.5cm high, 19.7cm wide and 2.7kg.

Still, you’re not going to be carrying the Mac Studio around, so its size doesn’t matter as much. What’s more important is that it’s able to slide under a monitor or fit neatly on a nearby desk, which it easily can.

I’ll get into the Mac Studio’s specs shortly, but one of its best features — and this is where the “Apple is listening” angle comes in — are its ample ports. On the rear, there are four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10GB Ethernet port, a power port, an HDMI slot (4K60 and HDR at 60Hz), a high-impedance 3.5mm headphone jack and… two USB-A ports. Yes, you read that correctly. Despite releasing the 24-inch iMac just a few months ago with only a mix of Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C depending on configuration, Apple has opted to bring back USB-A in the higher-end Mac Studio.

Mac Studio

Though most of my devices now feature a USB-C connection and accompanying cables, the peace of mind a pair of USB-A ports on the Mac Studio offers can’t be understated. On the front of the Mac Studio, there are two USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 ports depending on the configuration and, surprisingly, an SDXC card slot, similar to the most recent MacBook Pro. As an avid photographer, the return of the SD card slot to at least some of Apple’s higher-end devices has streamlined my workflow considerably, and it’s great it’s included in the new Mac Studio.

And did I mention that the unique circular power brick is built directly into the device?

Mac Studio ports

Thanks at least in part to the thermal system that pulls air through the circumference of the Mac Studio’s perforated base (this is where the blower brick is located), so far, I’ve rarely heard the device’s fans come on unless I’m running intensive benchmarking tools. If that doesn’t scream Apple engineering, I don’t know what does.

To be clear, the Mac Studio isn’t perfect since, like most Apple devices, it’s not modular and its RAM can’t be upgraded. But given the direction Apple has headed for the past 10+ years, I’m not surprised. This proves that despite the clear direction shift for several of the company’s product lines, some things still remain the same.

Versatility abound

While Apple is clearly marketing the Mac Studio as a device designed to be used with the pricey 27-inch Studio Display, this isn’t a requirement. If you already have a 4K HDR monitor, mouse and keyboard, all you need is the Mac Studio and you’re good to go, just like with the less powerful M1 Mac mini.

In short, the Mac Studio is the Mac many creatives have been waiting for. And, depending on configuration, the Mac Studio is a cheaper mid-range MacBook Pro (2021). Suppose you don’t need the versatility and portability the MacBook Pro offers. In that case, there’s now a viable alternative that’s very appealing if you already have the required accessories.

Mac Studio front ports

In my case, the MacBook Pro (2021) I use daily is the 14-inch, 64GB, 1TB M1 Max variant with a 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU that costs $4,149, while the comparable Mac Studio model with identical specs costs $3,499. You could also lower the SSD size and avoid the Apple storage tax given the Mac Studio is designed to be a stationary device, making an external HD a more viable option.

For my purposes, this level of power is a bit of overkill since the most resourced-intensive task I use the MacBook Pro (2021) or Mac Studio for is occasional video/audio editing and a lot of photography work in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC.

The benchmarks

This is likely why many of you clicked on this story given the hype surrounding Apple's M1 Ultra chip. Unfortunately, I can't speak to the power of Apple's highest-end chip that connects two M1 Max processors together through a silicon interposer, because the unit I currently have features a sole M1 Max chip.

That said, as you can tell from our benchmark charts (seen above), the Mac Studio is a beast of a machine that matches the impressive M1 Max MacBook Pro, and because of the additional thermal headroom, it even surpasses the Pro in most respects.

Of course, whether or not the additional power is worth the cost for you will come down to what you intend to do with the Mac Studio. Do you edit a lot of 4K/8K videos and use Final Cut or Adobe Premiere? Maybe you use 3D design software like Vectorworks or 3D/VFX production tools like Houdini FX and Maxon Cinema 4D? If so, the Mac Studio with the M1 Max or M1 Ultra chip could be the device you've been waiting for.

What about the Studio Display?

To start, I want to mention that the 27-inch 5K Studio Display isn't perfect. The base-level version of the display costs $1,999, and it doesn't offer HDR or a 120Hz refresh rate like competing 4K monitors priced well under Apple's offering. Of course, this isn't an entirely fair comparison because ProMotion at 5K would require 53.08Gbps of throughput, a number beyond what Thunderbolt 4 is capable of. Still, Apple could have implemented a feature that allowed ProMotion to work at 120hz for those that don't require the Studio Display's full 5K resolution

To be fair, these features matter to me and how I intend to use the Studio Display, but they may not be an issue for other people.

Studio Display

Plus, features like nano-texture glass and the tilt and height-adjustable stand add even more cost to the already pricey screen. For context, in my case, I'd likely opt for the tilt and height-adjustable stand because the standard stand that comes with the Studio Display is a little low for someone of my height. And in true Apple fashion, you need to select whether you want a tilt-adjustable, tilt and height-adjustable or Vesa mount version of the monitor because these features are built directly into the Studio Display and can't be swapped after purchase.

But back to the Studio Display's actual performance. The 5K monitor's colour reproduction is stellar thanks to its P3 wide colour gamut, and overall sharpness is stunning and arguably the best I've encountered in a monitor. Further, despite not supporting HDR, the Studio Display is plenty bright enough at 600 nits, though it's hard not to be disappointed in this spec given the MacBook Pro (2021)'s screen features 1,600 nits of peak brightness with HDR and 1,000 nits of sustained brightness.

There's an iPhone 11 in this monitor

There isn't actually an iPhone 11 in the Studio Display, of course, but it does house an A13 chip that powers its 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera that supports 'Centre Stage' and a microphone. In my testing, the camera's performance is on par with the MacBook Pro (2021)'s excellent built-in shooter. It features excellent automatic white balance/exposure, and Centre Stage is more useful than it may initially seem, especially if you tend to move around a lot during virtual meetings like myself.

Studio Display front

The Studio Display's sound quality is also impressive. I'd describe its six-speaker/four-woofer set as on par with the MacBook Pro (2021) (there's a theme here). Everything from movies to music sounds full and offers a shockingly wide sound stage for such a small device.

Of course, the Studio Display wouldn't be an Apple product without a few oddities. For example, there's no on/off switch or on-monitor button controls. Settings like brightness and colour are controlled directly through macOS. Further, you can't hook up more than one device through the Studio Display, and there's strangely no HDMI port. That said, the Studio Display can charge devices through Thunderbolt 4 and hooks up to laptops through a single cable.

This may be a new Apple era where performance and design are better balanced, but that still isn't entirely the case for all of the company's products.

Studio Display cord

Speaking of design, the Studio Display is by far the best-looking monitor I've ever used. It may feature comparable specs to LG's UltraFine 5K display (which Apple no longer sells), but it offers a far sleeker, Apple-like brushed metal aesthetic that's comparable to a thicker version of the 24-inch M1 iMac, but with smaller bezels.

Despite its shortcomings, the Studio Display is an overall worthy successor to the well-received Thunderbolt Display Apple discontinued in 2016 and a viable alternative to the pricey $6,299 32-inch Pro Display XDR Mac users have been asking for.

Everything else

My time with the Mac Studio and Studio Display has been relatively short, and there's still a lot I want to test out in the coming weeks.

For example, how well does the Studio Display work with a Windows PC? What happens when I plug an Xbox Series X into it via a Thunderbolt 4-to-HDMI adapter?

I plan to write about this at some point, but I want to mention how cool Apple's new 'Universal Control' feature is. I feel like I'm in Minority Report when I whip my cursor from my MacBook Pro/BenQ 32-inch EW3280U 4K monitor over to the Studio Display and drag/drop files between both devices.

Keep an eye on MobileSyrup for stories focused on these topics in the coming days.

Balancing style and functionality

It's unclear if Apple's new, more attentive direction will continue with future products, but if its last few devices are any indication, this is a different company with a more consumer-friendly, balance between aesthetic and hardware functionality.

While the Mac Studio embodies this ethos nearly completely, there's still elements of Apple's insistence on pushing the industry forward in a somewhat controversial way present in the Studio Display -- and perhaps that's a good thing because in some cases, the tech giant makes the correct moves, even if it ends up being the target of "bravery" jokes.

Tags apple, Mac Studio, studio display

Mobile Syrup

What was your favourite part of Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ event?

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 13 March 2022

Apple showed off several new devices at its March ‘Peek Performance’ event, including green colour variants for the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone SE (2022), the iPad Air (2022), the M1 Ultra chip, the Studio Display and the Mac Studio.

While the pretty new green iPhone 13 models are cool and the iPad Air now offers an M1 chip, the show’s stars were the Mac Studio and the Studio Display.

The Mac Studio is a high-performance desktop device that features up to 128GB of RAM and Apple’s powerful M1 Ultra chip. On the other hand, the Studio Display sports a 5K resolution and a built-in 12-megapixel webcam powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, the same processor featured in the iPhone 11.

What was your favourite part of the ‘Peek Performance’ event? Let us know in the comments below.