If you like the look of the Apple Studio Display but are put off by the hefty price tag, we’ve tested the best replacements for it in 2024.
Starting at $1,599 and going up to $2,299 with customization (such as a height adjustable stand for $400), the Studio Display its aimed at those that want a more “affordable” version of Apple’s Pro XDR Display which costs a whopping $4,999.
There’s no denying that its a difficult monitor to rival with ultra high-spec features such as 218 pixels per inch, a 12MP face tracking camera and A13 chip to process images that you simply won’t find in any other non-Apple display.
However, when you consider that the Studio Display costs more than a new 24-inch M3 iMac, then you get an idea of just how expensive it really is.
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Pros & Cons Of The Apple Studio Display
There are many things we looked at when comparing these displays to Apple’s monitor.
Some of the outstanding features of it include:
- Stunning build quality: The attention to detail and quality of materials make head and shoulders above any other monitor.
- Unbelievable specifications: 218 PPI, 5K, 27 inches, 14.7 million pixels, 600 nits of brightness and P3 wide color support to name just a few of the impressive specs.
- Speakers & Webcam: Six speaker sound system with spatial audio and an incredible 12 megapixel webcam with support for Center Stage.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider:
- It’s powered by the older A13 chip used in the iPhone 11. Considering the A16 chip is already available, this was a bit of a dated choice.
- It’s got a non removable power cable that can only be detached by “a professional”.
- There’s only one Thunderbolt port, three USB-C ports but no HDMI or DisplayPort.
- It doesn’t support High Dynamic Range (HDR) which is important for those that do video editing.
And of course, not to mention that cost still remains out of reach for many.
The good news there are some very competitive and cheaper alternatives that are comparable in terms of specs and performance.
Some of the main things we looked for in these alternatives were:
- Color Accuracy
- Resolution
- Support for HDR 600
Here then are the best Apple Studio Display replacements for all budgets in order of ranking.
1. LG Monitor 27MD5KL-B Ultrafine
In our extensive research and testing, we found the 5K LG 27MD5KL-B UltraFine 27 inch monitor is easily the best 5K alternative to the Apple Studio Display overall in terms of size, resolution and features.
With a very similar spec but almost $500 cheaper, it’s also ideal for those looking for a cheaper alternative.
In fact, Apple helped LG develop the UltraFine display as it contains a very similar panel to the 27 inch 5K iMac display. Apple even used to sell the LG 5K 27MD5KL-B UltraFine 27 inch monitor on its website until the release of the Studio Display.
The 27 inch UktraFine is a 5K Ultra High Definition (UHD) monitor with 5120 x 2880 resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio which is exactly the same as the Studio Display.
Crucially, the 27 inch LG UltraFine 5K display supports up to 218 pixels per inch (PPI) which is also the same as Apple’s retina quality screen.
This means that when you use it at its maximum 5K resolution the images are retina quality which is just as good.
This avoids many of the resolution scaling issues that many Mac users experience when connecting external monitors to MacBooks.
If you’re looking for the best 5K monitor for your Mac that’s a similar size and spec to the Apple’s Display, the 27 inch 5K LG UltraFine is a superb alternative.
One big downside is availability of this display, especially outside of the USA. Although LG still stock it, they are frequently out of stock and Amazon is one of the few places you can get it.
You can read our full LG 27MD5KL-B 5K UltraFine 27″ monitor review for more.
Pricing: Approx $1,299
Pros:
- Initially developed alongside Apple
- 5K quality resolution
- 218 PPI for retina quality images
- Thunderbolt 3 ports
Cons:
- Internal speaker 7 webcam quality
- No support for HDR
- 100 nits less brightness than Apple’s monitor
- Availability is limited
2. BenQ PD3225U 32 inch 4K Monitor
If you’re happy to use a 4K replacement for the Studio Display with incredibly sharp picture quality and that’s ready to go out of the box, then the BenQ PD3225U is an amazing alternative.
In our review of it, one thing that really stood out is the way BenQ have calibrated it to work instantly with Macs thanks to its “M-Book mode”.
There are no resolution or scaling issues like with some displays when you use them with macOS and refreshingly, it simply “works” out-of-the-box with Macs.
It also allows you to use the brightness controls on your Mac keyboard to adjust the brightness of the monitor itself which most external displays don’t do.
The BenQ PD3225U supports 4K at a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels but is also an In-Plane Switching monitor (IPS) which uses liquid crystals in parallel to produce richer colors than most displays.
It also utilizes BenQ’s ColorTone software to automatically fine tune calibration for Macs with a bit of manual input to help it get the color representation just right.
There’s a lot more we could say about this excellent display and you can check out our full BenQ PD3225U review for more.
Pricing: Approx $1,099
Pros:
- Mac mode designed for connecting seamlessly to Macs
- Amazing color depth and blacks thanks to wide P3 color gamut
- Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy chaining other monitors
- Control brightness from your Mac keyboard
- Excellent ColorTone software
Cons:
- Internal speaker quality is poor
- No integrated webcam
- Only 4K resolution
3. Samsung ViewFinity S9
The Samsung ViewFinity S9 has almost the same specifications as Apple’s monitor and is easily the best Samsung alternative to it. Even in terms of looks, the Samsung ViewFinity S9 has a close resemblance to Apple’s display.
In terms of specs, the Viewfinity S9 has a 5120 x 2880 display with a wide 10-bit color gamut that covers 99% of the DCI-P3 spectrum.
The ViewFinity S9 also supports 218 PPI which is provides the best compatibility with the retina displays of MacBooks.
It also has HDR600 support to improve shadows and highlights, support for 600 nits of brightness, a 4K webcam, one Thunderbolt 4 port, three USB-C ports and a mini Display port.
One other advantage is that the ViewFinity S9 also features its own remote control with a control joystick to navigate the on screen display settings.
You can also adjust the height of the stand on the ViewFinity S9 – if you want that privilege with Apple’s product you have to shell out an extra $400!
However, it’s the most expensive replacement for the Apple Studio Display that we looked at with a price tag that’s almost the same as Apple’s product.
You can check out our look at the Samsung ViewFinity S9 vs Apple Studio Display for more.
Pricing: Approx $1,599
Pros:
- Same specifications as Apple’s display
- 218 PPI
- 5K resolution
- HDR600 support
- Remote control and Smart TV functionality
Cons:
- Big external power supply
- Price
4. Asus ProArt Display PA279CV
If you need the best in sRGB color accuracy and are on a budget, then the 27 inch Asus ProArt Display is a great option for artist and designers.
At around $500, there are very few monitors on the market with this kind of color accuracy at 4K at this price point.
The color accuracy is the outstanding feature of the Asus ProArt Display with a wide color gamut of 709 and Delta E < 2 color accuracy.
The 27-inch Asus ProArt Display PA279CV also supports 4K HDR UHD with a maximum of 3840 x 2160 resolution.
It has a pixel density of 163 ppi, a refresh rate of 60Hz and a reasonably high brightness level of 402 nits although this may not be enough for very well lit working environments.
For artists and designers, Asus also include useful ProArt Presets and ProArt Palettes that allow you to configure and save color settings depending on what you’re working on.
Overall, for creative professionals on a budget, the Asus ProArt Display PA279CV offers a great value for money replacement.
For more check out our full Asus ProArt Display 4K review.
Pricing: Approx $449
Pros:
- Excellent color accuracy for this price range
- Superb for color grading
- LED backlight display
Cons:
- No real Adobe RGB support
- Only supports up to 4K
5. LG 34BK95U-W 5K UltraFine 34”
If you’re looking for something similar to our top pick the 27 inch LG UltraFine but bigger with HDR support, then the 34 inch 5K UltraFine may be for you.
As with the 27 inch LG UltraFine, Apple originally helped LG develop the UltraFine range and it contains a very similar panel to the 27 inch 5K iMac display.
The 34 inch UltraFine gives you full 5K 5120 x 2160 resolution (also known as 5K2K) although it only supports a maximum of 163 pixels per inch (PPI) which isn’t quite retina quality like the 27 inch model.
It can also easily handle 4K video and the wide viewing angles make it an excellent choice for those in desktop publishing or video editing.
In terms of ports, apart from the standard HDMI port there’s a dedicated Thunderbolt 3 port with 85W of power which offers DisplayPort Alt Mode.
There’s no integrated webcam but there are speakers in the LG UltraFine 34 inch 5K although the sound quality is poor and it’s best to connect some external speakers to it.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more screen estate that the Apple’s monitor but with a similar spec, then the LG UltraFine offers a cheaper, attractive alternative.
You can read our full LG 34BK95U-W 34 inch 5K monitor review for more.
Pricing: Approx $1,000
Pros:
- 5K resolution with 5K2K support
- Huge screen estate
- 600 nits brightness
- Supports HDR
Cons:
- 163 ppi isn’t retina quality
- No internal webcam
6. Dell UltraSharp U2720Q 27 Inch 4K UHD
If you’re looking for a budget option then the 4K 27 inch Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is excellent value compared to Apple’s monitor.
At around $500, you won’t find many other monitors that can compare to it.
Although it’s only 4K with a UHD resolution of 3480 x 2160, the display provides crisp, clear images for editing photos, watching films, designing and more.
Surprisingly for a monitor in this price range, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q even supports HDR which is important for high quality contrast and fast action video playback for editors.
On the downside, the brightness is just 350 nits although it does have an LED backlit screen
If you’re looking for a budget 4K alternative in the region of $500, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is definitely worth checking-out.
You can read our full Dell UltraSharp U22720Q review for more.
Pricing: Approx $719
Pros:
- Crisp high quality images
- Excellent value for money
- Supports HDR
Cons:
- Brightness controls are poor
- No internal speakers or webcam
- No Thunderbolt port
Pricing & Specs Comparison Table
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