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."

"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."

Apple dominated the 5K monitor market for about 12 years by limiting available options, with LG’s UltraFine as a bland alternative and many buyers choosing older 27-inch iMacs for their 5K screens. In 2022, Apple released the Studio Display, effectively offering the iMac’s screen as a standalone monitor, and removed LG from its store. Competitors began launching 27-inch 5K monitors in late 2024, offering more adjustable stands, better port options, and multi-computer connectivity at lower prices, while using similar 5K panels. Apple responded in 2025 with the Studio Display XDR, featuring a mini-LED backlight, quantum-dot optical stack, up to 2,000 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh, reference color modes, and CMF-based consistency modes.

Read at The Verge