Resolved Solved: Which 24” or 27” monitor to use with soon 14‑inch MacBook Pro - Space Black, Apple M3 Max chip

[mtbdudex]

Edit Dec-27th:
Solved .. there are different solutions based upon the users total needs.

Pure photography and no HDR is a different monitor solution that someone who does both photography and HDR medium stuff.

Me, I’m the latter, caveat a hobbyist I’m not doing this for income, and settled on the $$$ solution.


Edit Nov-12: now looking at both 24” and 27”

Well my late 2015 27" iMac i7 is going to be replaced by the latest M3 14" laptop.
I'm going all out here, as like to get 7-8 years use from it, like I did for the 2015 iMac.

Q: Which 24"-ish monitor to use guys? Budget .... $1k as a start

Back in the day, 2010 - 2020, I also calibrated my iMac / monitors with a Spyder colorimeter, is that still a thing or not?

Welcome to Spyder - Datacolor Spyder

Specs of the one I'm buying:

• Apple M3 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• 64GB unified memory
• 4TB SSD storage
• 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display²
• 96W USB-C Power Adapter
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port

My iMac that it's replacing, it has the 3TB hybrid drive in it.

FWIW have a 4-bay Synology NAS_DS920 , 10TB RAID & 6TB backup to the RAID also connected via Cat5e for TimeMachine backup.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get a 27" 4k display.

 

[robgendreau]

What features do you need in this monitor? gamut? brightness? I would assume 4k. LG and Dell make some; I have Dell 4k and it's been quite nice. Not nearly as nice as the MBP XDR display of course.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well my late 2015 27" iMac i7 is going to be replaced by the latest M3 14" laptop.
I'm going all out here, as like to get 7-8 years use from it, like I did for the 2015 iMac.

Q: Which 24"-ish monitor to use guys? Budget .... $1k as a start

Back in the day, 2010 - 2020, I also calibrated my iMac / monitors with a Spyder colorimeter, is that still a thing or not?

Welcome to Spyder - Datacolor Spyder

Specs of the one I'm buying:

• Apple M3 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• 64GB unified memory
• 4TB SSD storage
• 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display²
• 96W USB-C Power Adapter
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port

View attachment 2309844

My iMac that it's replacing, it has the 3TB hybrid drive in it.
View attachment 2309845

FWIW have a 4-bay Synology NAS_DS920 , 10TB RAID & 6TB backup to the RAID also connected via Cat5e for TimeMachine backup.

If buying for photography I would factor in the following.
Wide colour gamut.
Matt screen.
Uniformity.
3DLUT for calibration (yes calibration is still a thing) All monitors drift over time.
Resolution. 4k on a 24 inch screen is horrible.
Connectivity. Look for a monitor that will charge your MB. Makes life much easier.

I sell BenQ and Eizo monitors where I work. Eizo offer built in self calibration on their CG range. You pay a premium but it’s super convenient.
Otherwise I’d recommend a separate calibrator which gives you the added bonus that you can use it on your laptop. My recommendation would be the Calibrite Display Pro HL. The software is super easy to use and they are very reliable.

 

[mtbdudex]

If buying for photography I would factor in the following.
Wide colour gamut.
Matt screen.
Uniformity.
3DLUT for calibration (yes calibration is still a thing) All monitors drift over time.
Resolution. 4k on a 24 inch screen is horrible.
Connectivity. Look for a monitor that will charge your MB. Makes life much easier.

I sell BenQ and Eizo monitors where I work. Eizo offer built in self calibration on their CG range. You pay a premium but it’s super convenient.
Otherwise I’d recommend a separate calibrator which gives you the added bonus that you can use it on your laptop. My recommendation would be the Calibrite Display Pro HL. The software is super easy to use and they are very reliable.

Looking at B&H this one then?
It’s $1.9k usd .. a little over my $1k budget
Being a Mac group it’s software Mac compatible right?

Any $1k suggestions?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1566865-REG

 

[Apple fanboy]

Looking at B&H this one then?
It’s $1.9k usd .. a little over my $1k budget
Being a Mac group it’s software Mac compatible right?

Any $1k suggestions?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1566865-REG

That’s a 27 inch monitor. The first two numbers depict the size. Look at the CS2400s.

 

[r.harris1]

Looking at B&H this one then?
It’s $1.9k usd .. a little over my $1k budget
Being a Mac group it’s software Mac compatible right?

Any $1k suggestions?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1566865-REG

Yep, Eizo’s software is Mac compatible….

 

[ovbacon]

I have a BenQ monitor and I came from the exact same iMac as you and I love the BenQ.

 

[mtbdudex]

I have a BenQ monitor and I came from the exact same iMac as you and I love the BenQ.

this 27" one perhaps?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1639257-REG/benq_pd2725u_27_4k_uhd_thunderbolt.html

 

[Apple fanboy]

this 27" one perhaps?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1639257-REG/benq_pd2725u_27_4k_uhd_thunderbolt.html

View attachment 2311443

A good choice. Other option would be the SW272U which is newly released. SW are for photo/video. PD are for designers. But in reality there is a lot of cross over.

 

[mtbdudex]

A good choice. Other option would be the SW272U which is newly released. SW are for photo/video. PD are for designers. But in reality there is a lot of cross over.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1770515-REG

$1.6k usd

Thx all for input.
I’ll place my MacBook Pro order now, use it, and see where my needs go from there for 2nd monitor .

 

[mtbdudex]

Well ended up saving $350 and getting a refurbished one, delivery is tomorrow.

I briefly considered this .. but it’s $6k price way above my budget

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well ended up saving $350 and getting a refurbished one, delivery is tomorrow.

I briefly considered this .. but it’s $6k price way above my budget

The XDR is a gross waste of money imo. There are much better monitors for less to be had. Wise decision.

 

[mtbdudex]

The XDR is a gross waste of money imo. There are much better monitors for less to be had. Wise decision.

Agree, the key reason was viewing HRD content on a bigger screen than my 14” MPB. As I do photo editing like to see how they are viewed on both SDR and HDR displays.

 

[mtbdudex]

Well, the screen on the MPB M3 is so much better (crisp detail) than the nearly $2k Apple Studio display. wtf

 

[mtbdudex]

Well merry Christmas.. Apple has return policy I’ll see if the Pro is “worth” it or not, considering I desire this a 8+ year solution for me.

 

[r.harris1]

Fantastic, enjoy!

32 inches is a bit large for my space. I was able to recently pick up an Eizo CG2700x (4k UHD) through work with our discount program and I absolutely love it. 5 year warranty, built-in calibrater (or you can calibrate with external), 3D LUT, etc. Customizability was pretty important to me and it's helping with my editing and print workflow out-of-the-gate.

An early criticism of the XDR was calibration. Apple says it should rarely need it. My understanding is that to use the XDR's Pro Display Calibrator capability, you need a spectroradiometer and the supported ones cost on the order of the XDR itself or more. Don't know if that's still the case though.

I enjoyed the work-from-home part of the pandemic, but my sorrow was that my older work Eizo had to stay at the office, so finally getting a personal one is fantastic.

 

[mtbdudex]

Well ... I'm also considering std finish instead of the nano finish for the Apple Studio display.
Been reading up and what I see as loss of sharpness in the nano screen is what others state

Apple Studio Display Review

The Apple Studio Display is a 27-inch monitor with a 5k resolution. It's targeted at the consumer level as Apple previously released Pro Display XDR for professi...

www.rtings.com

https://www.reddit.com/r/macsetups/comments/171dm1f
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/p0wjtv

 

[mtbdudex]

Well this Nano texture glass just kills the sharpness for me ... yea I ended up ordering the XDR std glass.
Will compare to the studio display I have now, I have till Jan-4 to return that.

 

[mtbdudex]

Not happy with DHL at all.
Returned the nano 27”, ordered the lovely XDR std glass. Had delivery dates of 12/18, saw it in process.
Then it kinda got lost in Ohio.. they bumped date to 12/20, then 12/22..
Today I was on the phone with Apple 20 minutes, now 12/26 delivery date.
Oh, I paid “expedited shipping fee” also , ha what a joke. They refunded it.

 

[mtbdudex]

Well after not having a monitor for nearly a week, just wow.... completely blown away by the 32" 6k screen.
Sharp sharp, crisp, initial viewing HDR just blown away, I need to test material that will show off it's 1600 nit ability.
(I'm a home theater enthusiast, with a JVC NX7 projector & 144" AT screen in my basement dedicated room)

Desktop real estate is always nice, working truly in 2 windows side-by-side at size is enhancement.
The screen, while not as anit-reflective as the Nano one I had and returned, actually has some treatment and is more than what I expected.
Zero issue with my can lights in the ceiling showing on the screen, I was thinking to put these shower trim on to diffuse / distribute the light so it's not a point source, now not needed.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well after not having a monitor for nearly a week, just wow.... completely blown away by the 32" 6k screen.
Sharp sharp, crisp, initial viewing HDR just blown away, I need to test material that will show off it's 1600 nit ability.
(I'm a home theater enthusiast, with a JVC NX7 projector & 144" AT screen in my basement dedicated room)

Desktop real estate is always nice, working truly in 2 windows side-by-side at size is enhancement.
The screen, while not as anit-reflective as the Nano one I had and returned, actually has some treatment and is more than what I expected.
Zero issue with my can lights in the ceiling showing on the screen, I was thinking to put these shower trim on to diffuse / distribute the light so it's not a point source, now not needed.
View attachment 2329531

View attachment 2329530

Good monitors always come with a monitor hood. Like good lenses always have one.

 

[mtbdudex]

Good monitors always come with a monitor hood. Like good lenses always have one.

So the Apple Pro Display XDR is not a good monitor?
"Always" is binary, yes/no, zero middle ground

 

[Apple fanboy]

So the Apple Pro Display XDR is not a good monitor?
"Always" is binary, yes/no, zero middle ground

Not for my money. Depends what you want it for. For Photography I’d buy an Eizo monitor which has better colour accuracy etc.

 

[mtbdudex]

Not for my money. Depends what you want it for. For Photography I’d buy an Eizo monitor which has better colour accuracy etc.

How many nits is your Eizo display capable of?