In the battle of 5K resolution displays, it’s Studio Display against a small-but-growing army of foes (at least for Mac fans). Today’s M1 MacBook Pro user looks to replace a 1440K gaming display with either a Samsung ViewFinity S9 curved 5K monitor or with Apple’s well-liked but somewhat-pricey Studio Display. The advice she got leaned heavily toward Apple.
Studio Display vs. Samsung ViewFinity S9 smackdown
Redditor Tw3ez (“EZ”) showcased the moody and atmospheric setup, enhanced by strategic placement of cheap LED light strips, in a post entitled, “Night time, when I’m the most productive.” EZ’s 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro (which she plans to replace with a 16-inch M2 model with more memory) currently drives a 34-inch Xiaomi ultra-wide 4K display, which she said she “wouldn’t recommend for Mac.” So under her gear list she asked: “Question for you: Studio Display or ViewFinity S9?”
First, a commenter inquired about why EZ doesn’t recommend the Xiaomi for Mac. Answer: “No USB-C and the image is not sharp, I’ve used it with Windows desktop and it looked great, I’ve even used BetterDisplay [app] on Mac but the resolution is still bad. I’m planning on getting Studio Display.”
Compared to Samsung ViewFinity S9, Studio Display ‘just works better with Macs’
Another commenter agreed about the Xiaomi display, in terms of 5K’s superiority. “Yeah, there’s no saving it unless it’s 5K,” they said. “Even then, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity is a must. I opted for a Samsung ViewFinity S9 to use with my PC too and it took me 2 returns to finally get one that didn’t have any glaring issues. It’s still not perfect but I couldn’t risk it a third time. And man, 5K is an absolute beauty. Text looks so damn crisp.”
And another commenter pointed out that the ViewFinity S9 “doesn’t seem to have any stats that make it stand out all that much (like 60Hz etc.). So if you’ve got the money I’d definitely suggest going for the Studio Display!” And other chimed in with similar comments, leading to a consensus that Studio Display “just works better with Macs.”
Finally, a commenter lamenting their own cluttered desk wondered about how clean the setup is when EZ is not taking a picture. She said, with a laughing emoji, “It’s always like this, I can’t start work unless everything is nice and clean.” And if you like the desktop wallpaper showing on the display, EZ said it’s Cosmic Waves by Digisentials.
Shop these items now:
Display and upgrade choices:
- 34-inch Xiaomi curved ultra-wide display
- Arctic Z1 Basic monitor arm
- Studio Display
- Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K monitor
Computer:
Input devices:
Lightning:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
