For the better part of 12 years, Apple dominated the 5K monitor market primarily because it made basically the only options. LG's 5K UltraFine was a solid but bland choice, and many people bought a 27-inch iMac from 2014 for its 5K screen alone. In 2022, Apple finally released the $1,599 Studio Display, 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 began releasing their own 27-inch 5K monitors. While the Studio Display had the best build and design—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 multi-computer connectivity. They also work with Windows. Despite using similar dated 5K panels, they are much cheaper, ranging from $1,100 down to $550.
Apple was primed to strike back with a proper panel upgrade. This year, Apple released a Studio Display with a mini-LED backlight, quantum-dot optical stack, up to 2,000 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and 14 accurate reference modes—called the Studio Display XDR for $3,300. For the regular Studio Display, Apple just added a better webcam and faster ports on the same 12-year-old IPS panel. It remains $1,600.
Unfortunately for Apple, it's not 2022 anymore. I spent 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). Most do at least something better than the Studio Display, if not multiple things, and are hundreds cheaper.
Design and Build Quality
The Studio Display's build quality 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 a VESA mount option (no stand included). A tilt- and height-adjustable stand costs an extra $400. The stand moves smoothly but doesn't rotate or pivot, and all stand decisions must be made at checkout; there's no way to remove the stand or add a VESA mount yourself.
Competitors offer far more flexibility. The BenQ MA270S and PD2730S and Asus ProArt PA27JCV all have stands that pivot, rotate, are both tilt- and height-adjustable, and can be removed for VESA arms. None of the stands are as robust or good-looking as Apple's—they include some plastic—but the extra flexibility makes up for it. The BenQ MA270S even has a rubber pad on the front to hold a phone or earbuds case.
Display Performance
Color accuracy has always been a strength of Apple's monitors. The 2026 Studio Display remains very accurate, especially in sRGB mode. The BenQ PD2730S is visibly as accurate and comes with a calibration report. The BenQ MA270S and Asus monitor aren't quite as close in measurements but are still great for most color work.
Black levels on the Studio Display look more gray than black, especially in dark rooms. The BenQ monitors have far deeper blacks; the Asus ProArt isn't as strong but still better. The standard glass handles reflections well (better than the BenQ MA270S's nano gloss), but Apple's optional nano-texture finish ($300 extra) is superior for brightly lit rooms. BenQ's PD2730S has a matte panel that cuts reflections almost as well as Apple's nano-texture, though it slightly lifts black levels.
Ports and Connectivity
Port selection is improved on the 2026 Studio Display but still optimized for Apple's ecosystem. It now has two Thunderbolt 5 ports (one upstream, one downstream for daisy-chaining) and two USB-C. But you can only connect a single computer at a time. There's still no HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A, audio out, KVM, or any physical controls. Everything is done in macOS settings, and there's no power button.
The BenQs, Asus, and KTC have more connectivity options. The BenQs include Thunderbolt 4 and at least one HDMI port. The Asus and BenQ monitors also have a KVM for using one set of peripherals with multiple computers. None of these competitors have Thunderbolt 5, but they offer greater practical versatility.
Best Alternative: BenQ MA270S
During testing, the BenQ MA270S was the monitor I always returned to. It offers great picture quality, flexible stand, extensive ports, and costs only $1,000—half the price of the Studio Display with the tilt- and height-adjustable stand. It connects to both an M4 MacBook Air and a Windows PC simultaneously, allowing quick switching. It also has a power button and can adjust brightness and color modes from the computer.
The BenQ MA270S does have a glossy screen, which isn't everyone's favorite. For better reflection handling, the matte PD2730S or Asus ProArt are excellent alternatives. Any of these three is great for professional color work.
Other Competitors
The Asus ProArt PA27JCV ($700) offers bright image, accurate colors, matte coating, and good ports, but blacks look washed out at higher brightness. It lacks Thunderbolt and a webcam. The KTC H27P3 ($550) provides crisp image quality but has a wobbly tilt-only stand, limited ports, and color inaccuracies unsuitable for color work. It's fine for daily use but not for professionals.
Apple missed an opportunity with the Studio Display. It could have improved the backlight, offered a more flexible stand, or used a higher refresh rate panel. Instead, it only added Thunderbolt 5 and a better camera to an old panel. At $1,600, there isn't enough justification when competitors offer similar color accuracy, better ergonomics, and more features for less.
All tested competitors use panels similar to Apple's 60Hz edge-lit IPS from 2014. But now that the Studio Display XDR exists, more options are coming. New monitors like the LG 27GM950B and Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG use mini-LED backlighting with high refresh rates and similar specs to the XDR, costing $1,200 or less. We're also nearing 120Hz 27-inch 5K OLED monitors from LG Display and Samsung Display. The 2026 Studio Display is no longer the best or only 5K option, and its price seems out of touch with the market.
Source: The Verge News