Apple Studio Display - Standard Glass - Tilt-Adjustable Stand

The Apple Studio Display checked off a lot of boxes for me, so I bought it. Apparently, the main complaint most people have with this monitor is that it is too expensive. Well, it’s not cheap, but there’s really not much else out there right now in the fully Mac-compatible world to compete with it, so yes, it is a premium price for an elite machine. Here are the monitor requirements that were important to me:-I wanted a high quality 5K monitor with a beautiful screen. Done, no complaints here. It’s produces beautiful, sharp and bright images and text.-I wanted a fully Mac-compatible monitor. Done. The Studio Display reacts quickly and exactly like the screen on an iMac would; integrated as though it was built into the computer. Screen brightness and volume control are handled by the computer’s keyboard. The Studio Display has no buttons whatsoever. No problem with text font scaling.-I did NOT want a monitor that was on back-order; it needed to be available immediately. Amazon delivered the Studio Display within a couple of days as promised (and for $100 less than Apple’s pricing).-I wanted built-in speakers. The Studio Display’s speakers are excellent.-I wanted a built-in microphone. Check. The mic is very good.-I wanted a built-in camera. Check, even though the images are fairly soft.-The monitor had to look good on my desk. The Studio Display is designed and crafted beautifully with high-end materials.My computer is an M2 Pro, Mac Mini.

The Apple display is absolutely breathtaking! The color accuracy, brightness, and clarity are on another level. As someone who works with photo and video editing, I can confidently say this display has transformed my workflow. The sharpness and true-to-life colors make every detail pop, and I love how seamlessly it integrates with my MacBook.The build quality is exceptional sleek, minimal, and sturdy, just as you’d expect from Apple. The adjustable stand is smooth and effortless, making it easy to find the perfect angle. Whether I'm working, streaming, or just browsing, everything looks crisp and vibrant.It’s not the cheapest option out there, but if you care about quality and precision, this display is well worth the investment.

It was a stretch for me to pay the hefty price for this monitor. But it is a great monitor and I really like it. The color is great. The resolution is great. And the sound is great. The webcam works great too. So it does check of all the boxes. I just think it shouldn't have to cost as much as it does.

First off, the Apple Studio Display is fantastic. Colors are beautiful and all the text is bright and crisp. I snagged one with the additional height adjustment on the stand and really like the extra flexibility. If you want to know more about this monitor, there are other reviews that cover it, but I am super pleased.AppleCare+So the purpose of this review is to explain the process for getting AppleCare+ post-purchase in case you had a change of heart. Looking back, I should have purchased through Amazon but initially didn't and so needed to wait for it to arrive to get a serial number so I could contact Apple.The issue is that if you try to put the serial number in to purchase AppleCare+ on the Apple website you are told by an automated pop-up that the item is not eligible. This is actually NOT true. The issue is that the purchase date is not reported to Apple from Amazon and I believe Amazon buys these in bulk from Apple so the purchase date is likely set to the original date Amazon bought them from Apple which exceeds the 90 day limit for eligibility.So what needs to happen is that you need to call into Apple support to get the Purchase Date reset for the Studio Display. The first Apple customer service rep even said "huh...I guess this cannot be covered" on the phone because she just tried to enter the serial number like I did and got the message it was not eligible. I had to tell her that it's a simple case of getting the purchase date reset, as Amazon is an authorized reseller of Apple products (I confirmed this with Apple prior to purchase from Amazon)...as long as it shows both Shipped and Sold by Amazon and NOT a third party (and not used).So then she connected me with the department that handles AppleCare licensing and I had to provide the receipt from Amazon showing the purchase date via uploading the PDF receipt and then they reset the purchase date for the serial number of my unit to my personal Amazon purchase date. Then you wait a few days for the servers to update and then you can buy AppleCare+ through the normal links on Apple. Problem solved.So think about if you want AppleCare+ and just buy it through Amazon, but if you don't and change your mind, within 90 days after your purchase date from Amazon, you can buy AppleCare+ directly through Apple if you follow the procedure above. I just wanted to share this as there is conflicting info I have read from others here saying you cannot purchase it after the fact, which is incorrect information.

First, this is ridiculously expensive, maybe outrageous is a better word. Secondly, if you are expecting a seriously technical analysis of the plusses and minuses, I will leave that to others who are more qualified. I am essentially a user totally within the Apple ecosystem and use a MAC PRO. I have had various non Apple monitors over the years and all have in one way or the other had issues working with the MAC. The camera does not properly work or the adjustments mysteriously switch (that includes DELL Samsung Monitors"). In any case, I needed to replace my monitor, and finally after reading all the reviews caved in and bought this. Just in case I was not clear, the pricing on this monitor is just outrageous and to charge extra to get a hight adjustment, well, there are no words. I justified it in that I am essentially remote and it is a key work tool. In any case, out of the box it just works seamlessly with MAC and is a gorgeous monitor. The sound and camera are very good, and in the end, it really works well. It's another thing if you cannot afford it or just cannot stomach some of Apples crazy pricing schemes.