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Is the Apple Studio Display worth it?

Apple’s new monitor has impressive specs, but costs a hefty £1,499. We found out if it’s worth the cash
Barna Szalai

We’ve tested the Studio Display, the latest highly anticipated monitor from Apple, which isn’t short of incredible specs such as 5K display, spatial audio and a 12MP built-in camera.

At £1,499, the Apple Studio Display is an expensive monitor, but it is the cheapest option in the Apple line-up: the Pro Display XDR, for example, starts at £4,600. But it’s still much more costly than monitors from Dell, Huawei or Lenovo, which cost £200-400. 

Whether it's worth paying that £1,000 extra depends, of course, on your budget, but also on your needs. What you get with such a high-end device includes:

  • Stunning picture quality, with 5K resolution
  • Beautifully designed monitor
  • Spatial audio
  • 12MP camera for video calls.

You can easily get away with a cheaper display that's still high quality, unless, of course, you're an Apple enthusiast, or you work in a creative industry such as film production.

  • If you want to find cheaper alternatives that score well in our independent tests, head to our computer monitor reviews and get the most out of your budget.
  • Got £1,499 to spend? Take a look at our expert Apple Studio Display review to find out how it performed in our tough lab tests.

Is the Apple Studio Display just a monitor?

The Apple Studio Display won't work on its own; you’ll need to connect it to an Apple Mac or a MacBook for the best results. 

If you're pairing it with a non-Apple PC or laptop, it might not perform as well as you hoped. Centre Stage, where the camera keeps you in the centre of the picture no matter where you move, requires MacOS. You’ll also get a dumbed-down audio system for the same reason. 

In other words, if you have a Windows PC, you won’t be able to use this monitor to its full potential, which would be a shame considering how much money you’re spending.

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Apple Studio Display pros

Let’s be honest, even though it's not cheap, you do get a lot for your money. For example:

  • Build quality is stellar – you're paying a premium to get a high-end feel, and that's what it delivers.
  • The big, bright, punchy 5K retina display is definitely worth paying for.
  • The spatial audio is pretty special, but don’t forget that it won’t work with non-Apple devices.

Apple Studio Display cons

In some respects, it does a worse job than many alternatives that are more than £1,000 cheaper.

  • There’s a lack of adjustability options. If you need to adjust the height, you'll need to pay £400 more for a special stand.
  • In our lab tests, we found the monitor is hard to read on sunny days, as the reflection on the screen is quite substantial. No surprise Apple gives you the option to spend another £250 on 'nano-texture glass’.
  • You can’t use it to its full potential without connecting an Apple device, and the cheapest Mac you can buy is the Mac Mini for around £650.

So if you want a monitor with a height adjustment, a screen that you can read on a sunny day and a display that you can use all the features on, you’ll end up paying £2,800.

Saving money on Apple products

Apple products are expensive, no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to get what you want cheaper. We have four top tips for you:

  • Buy refurbished This will definitely save you money,  but make sure you’re buying from a reputable retailer such as Amazon Renewed, Back Market or eBay Refurbished. You can also buy refurbished products from Apple.
  • Don’t buy a new device directly from Apple Apple rarely offers discounts. Third-party retailers such as Amazon, Argos, AO, or Currys often provide discounts.
  • Rethink your desktop setup If you pick your setup carefully, you can still get a great experience and save a lot. If you already have a monitor, you might be better off buying a Mac Mini instead of a MacBook Pro. You’ve instantly saved £500 and you still get the Apple experience.
  • Don’t buy the latest model Buying an older model can save you of pounds. For example, the 2021 MacBook Pro is around £500 cheaper than the 2023 version – find out more by reading our story on 2023 MacBook Pros: Plus can you get a deal buying an older model.

If you plan to buy a MacBook, read our Top 5 ways to save money on a MacBook.

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