The Apple Studio Display could have been so much more

For the better part of 12 years, Apple owned the 5K monitor world — primarily because it made basically the only options. LG’s 5K UltraFine was a solid, if bland choice, but many people bought a 27-inch iMac from 2014 for its 5K screen alone. Then in 2022, Apple finally gave the people what they wanted by releasing the $1,599 Studio Display (which was essentially the iMac’s screen as a separate monitor with a webcam and speakers) and removed the LG from its store.

It wasn’t until late 2024 that companies like BenQ and Asus finally began releasing their own 27-inch 5K monitors. And while the Studio Display was the best built and best looking — its aluminum chassis and stand are solid and sleek — the competitors offered things the Studio Display didn’t, like more adjustable stands, better port variety, and the ability to connect to multiple computers at once. They work with Windows, too. And even though they use the same dated 5K panel as the Studio Display (or a very similar one), they are much cheaper, ranging from $1,100 down to just $550.

That meant Apple was primed to strike back. This year, Apple finally released a Studio Display with a proper panel upgrade. It has a mini-LED backlight instead of edge lighting, with a quantum-dot-based optical stack for up to 2,000 nits of brightness. It supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, has 14 very accurate reference modes, and includes two modes that use Apple’s newly developed CMF (color matching function) for color consistency across display technologies. I’m referring, of course, to the $3,300 Studio Display XDR.

For the regular Studio Display, Apple just slapped a better webcam and faster ports on the same 12-year-old IPS panel and called it a day. And it’s still $1,600.

Unfortunately for Apple, it’s not 2022 anymore, and the Studio Display now has more competition. I spent a few weeks testing the new Studio Display alongside the BenQ PD2730S ($1,100) and MA270S ($1,000), the Asus ProArt PA27JCV ($700), and the KTC H27P3 ($550), swapping them out regularly. Most of them do at least something better than the Studio Display, if not multiple things, and they are hundreds of dollars cheaper.

To be fair, the new non-XDR Studio Display is better than the 2022 model. It has a much better camera, thankfully, and instead of one Thunderbolt 3 and three USB-C ports it now has two Thunderbolt 5 ports (one upstream and one downstream with support for daisy-chaining) and two USB-C. The speakers are better, and it has an A19 chip instead of the A13 Bionic (which really doesn’t matter for a monitor). But it’s still built around the same ancient edge-lit 60Hz panel with 600 nits of brightness.

Color accuracy has always been one of the strengths of Apple’s monitors. Much like the 2022 Studio Display, the 2026 version is very color accurate — particularly in sRGB mode, which is excellent. The BenQ PD2730S is visibly as accurate as the Studio Display (and comes with a calibration report). The BenQ MA270S and Asus monitor aren’t quite as close in measurements, but they’re both great for all but the most critical color grading.

The Studio Display has issues with its black level looking more gray than black, particularly in a dark room. The BenQ monitors have far deeper blacks than the Studio Display; the Asus ProArt isn’t quite as strong there, but still better than the Studio Display. The standard glass of the Studio Display handles reflections well (better than the “nano gloss” of the BenQ MA270S), but the $300-extra nano-texture finish option is superior for brightly lit rooms. BenQ’s PD2730S has a matte panel that cuts reflections almost as well as Apple’s nano-texture glass upgrade, but also unfortunately lifts black level slightly when compared to the other BenQ.

The build quality on the Studio Display is excellent, with an all-aluminum frame, but the $1,600 base model’s placement options are frustrating. It comes with either a tilt-only stand or VESA mount option that includes no stand (but not both; they’re separate models). If you want a stand that’s both tilt- and height-adjustable, it’s another $400. The stand moves smoothly and stays in position, but it doesn’t rotate or pivot. All stand decisions need to be made at checkout, too, as there’s no way to remove the stand or add a VESA mount yourself.

Apple’s competitors allow for far more flexibility in placement, with removable stands that allow for VESA mounting. The BenQ MA270S and PD2730S and Asus ProArt PA27JCV all have stands that pivot, rotate, are tilt- and height-adjustable, and can even be removed entirely, if you prefer to use a VESA arm or stand. Now, none of the stands are quite as robust or good-looking as Apple’s, as they all include some plastic, but the extra flexibility makes up for it. And the BenQ MA270S has a nice rubber pad on the front to place your phone or earbuds case without worrying about it slipping off.

Port selection is improved on this year’s Studio Display, but it’s still optimized for people living in the exact world that Apple wants you to live in. The upgraded Thunderbolt connectivity is nice if you intend to daisy-chain displays, but you can still only connect a single computer at a time. There’s still no HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A, audio out, KVM, or any controls whatsoever. Everything is done in the settings menu on the connected Mac, and there’s no power button to turn it off. The BenQs, Asus, and even the KTC H27P3 have more connectivity options. While none have Thunderbolt 5, the BenQs both include Thunderbolt 4, and they all have at least one HDMI port. The Asus and BenQ monitors also have a KVM for using a single set of peripherals with multiple computers.

During my time with all the monitors, the BenQ MA270S was the one I always went back to. It’s the one I’m typing this on now. The picture looks great. It fits on my desk better; the Studio Display, even with the height-adjustable stand, doesn’t get low enough for me. I can connect the BenQ to both my M4 Macbook Air and Windows PC at the same time and swap between them quickly, or even use one on each side of the monitor. I can hit the power button to turn it off, and I can still adjust its brightness and color modes from my computers. Plus, it’s only $1,000, which is half the price of the Studio Display with the tilt- and height-adjustable stand.

The BenQ MA270S does have a glossy screen, which isn’t everyone’s favorite. The matte screens on the PS2730S or Asus ProArt are better for people who need more reflection handling. (Of the two, I prefer the BenQ matte, but both perform well). Any of the three is great for professional color work.

Just having a 5K panel isn’t enough to compete with the Studio Display. While the $550 KTC H27P3 has a sharp image like the Studio Display (and the other three monitors), its stand is tilt-only and wobbly, and the port selection is more limited than the BenQ and Asus monitors. As the cheapest of the 5K monitors here, it’s fine for daily use, but color inaccuracies make it unsuitable for color work.

Apple missed an opportunity with the Studio Display. It could have made improvements to the backlight, offered a more flexible stand option, or changed the panel for one with a higher refresh rate. But instead all we really got were Thunderbolt 5 ports and a better camera with an old, dated panel. There isn’t enough to justify the $1,600 price when all of its competitors are hundreds of dollars less and most have similar color accuracy and much better ergonomics and features.

All of the competitors I’ve tested so far use panels similar to the 60Hz edge-lit IPS one Apple’s been using since 2014. But now that the Studio Display XDR exists, the competitors have more options too. New monitors — like the LG 27GM950B and Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG — use mini-LED backlighting with high refresh rate panels that have similar specs to the one in the XDR. Plus, they cost $1,200 or less, making the regular Studio Display feel even more out of touch with 2026. We’re also getting close to seeing a 120Hz 27-inch 5K OLED monitor, as both LG Display and Samsung Display have shown off the technology.

While the 2022 Studio Display had its limitations, it was the best option if you wanted a 27-inch 5K monitor. But times have changed. The 2026 Studio Display isn’t the only 5K monitor anymore, and it’s not the best 5K option, either. I couldn’t tell you why Apple is still charging the same price for the same ancient panel as it did four years ago. What I can tell you is that, unless you prioritize Apple’s design above all, you’re better off saving your money with something else.

Photography by John Higgins / The Verge