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.
The Studio Display’s Legacy
From 2014 to 2022, the 27-inch iMac’s 5K display was the gold standard for creative professionals who needed high resolution and accurate color in an all-in-one package. When Apple discontinued the iMac and introduced the Studio Display, it seemed like the natural evolution: a standalone monitor that paired seamlessly with the Mac Studio or MacBook Pro. At $1,599, it was expensive, but it was also the only 27-inch 5K monitor available, leaving professionals with no alternatives.
That monopoly lasted until late 2024, when companies like BenQ and Asus finally began releasing their own 27-inch 5K monitors. 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.
What’s New in 2026?
Apple was primed to strike back. This year, Apple released a Studio Display with a proper panel upgrade: the $3,300 Studio Display XDR, featuring a mini-LED backlight, quantum-dot optical stack, 2,000 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and 14 accurate reference modes. But 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. It’s still $1,600.
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.
The Competition Heats Up
I spent weeks testing the Studio Display against the BenQ PD2730S ($1,100), BenQ MA270S ($1,000), Asus ProArt PA27JCV ($700), and KTC H27P3 ($550). Most of them do at least something better than the Studio Display, if not multiple things, and they are hundreds of dollars cheaper. The BenQ MA270S, for example, became my daily driver. Its glossy panel delivers deep blacks, its stand is fully adjustable (tilt, height, pivot, rotate), it includes Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI ports, and it even has a built-in KVM switch for toggling between a Mac and a Windows PC. All for $1,000 — half the price of the Studio Display with the height-adjustable stand.
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.
Ports and Connectivity
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.
Ergonomics and Build
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.
Price and Value
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.
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. Unless you prioritize Apple’s design above all, you’re better off saving your money with something else. New monitors using mini-LED backlighting with high refresh rate panels — such as the LG 27GM950B and Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG — 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.
Source: The Verge News