Apple Details How its New Studio Display Will Work with Windows PCs

Apple’s new Studio Display was one of the main highlights of the company’s first media event of the year alongside the powerful Mac Studio workstation. With its 27-inch 5K Retina screen, Apple’s Studio Display seems like something that many PC users may also want to use, though some of the Studio Display’s features will actually require a Mac.

The Studio Display comes with a built-in camera and audio system powered by an A13 Bionic chip inside the display. Speaking with MacRumors, Apple has confirmed that the Center Stage feature that automatically pans the camera to keep users in view as they move around is only supported on macOS. It’s the same thing for True Tone, the Apple technology that intelligently adjusts the display’s color temperature as the environment changes.

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Other features on the Studio Display that require firmware updates will also not work on Windows PCs. Moreover, Apple also said that even screen resolution will vary from PC to PC, meaning that not all devices will be able to take full advantage of the Studio Display’s 5K panel.

Apple’s Studio Display starts at $1,599 for the model with standard glass, but there’s also a $1,899 nano-texture glass option that further minimizes glare. If this new Studio Display is obviously not targeted at consumers, it’s good to see Apple offer something different from competitors in that space. It’s also a good reminder that there’s some real untapped potential in the display technology from Microsoft’s Surface Studio line, which the Redmond giant has really neglected in recent years

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Conversation 12 comments

  • Stabitha.Christie

    10 March, 2022 - 1:40 pm

    <p>I feel like there should be a (not) in between "Will" and the "Work" in the title of this article.</p><p><br></p><p>It’s an LG 5k panel, looking at Amazon a new 27 inch LG Ultrafine 5k display is currently 1295. For Mac users the display is actually reasonable price as it is probably worth the extra 204 to get a better camera, better sound and true tone. For a PC users it probably doesn’t make much sense. </p><p><br></p><p>I guess if you primarily use a Mac and need a display for a PC every so often then this would be a reasonable solution. </p>

    • ebraiter

      10 March, 2022 - 2:50 pm

      <p>YUou mean $304 extra. $1295 + $304 = $1599.</p>

      • Stabitha.Christie

        10 March, 2022 - 3:06 pm

        <p>Ugh, yes. Not sure why I did the math from 1499 when the article clearly says 1599. </p>

  • ebraiter

    10 March, 2022 - 2:51 pm

    <p>If you can afford a high end Mac then you can afford a screen like this….</p>

  • scovious

    10 March, 2022 - 3:26 pm

    <p>The port selection on this screen is so typical for Apple devices. Does it connect with what a general consumer electronic device or PC’s GPU will offer? Don’t count on it. Maybe you’d have some luck with a dongle.</p>

    • SvenJ

      10 March, 2022 - 5:39 pm

      <p>Maybe they weren’t expecting you to buy a $1500, 5K monitor in 2022 and hook a PS2 keyboard and mouse, and USB A external hard drive to it.</p>

  • anoldamigauser

    Premium Member
    10 March, 2022 - 5:10 pm

    <p>So, not very well seems to be the answer.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      11 March, 2022 - 2:21 am

      <p>Reading between the lines:</p><ul><li> if your graphic card (and DisplayPort/USB-C port) is capable, it will display 5K resolution, otherwise, you’ll probably top out at 4K.</li><li>the speakers will work.</li><li>the webcam will work, but only as a standard webcam (good quality image, but the Center Stage feature of following the people in the image won’t work).</li><li>the microphone array will work</li><li>USB hub should work</li></ul><p>The webcam, microphone array and USB Hub will work, if you connect over Thunderbolt/USB4, if you use USB 3 or DisplayPort to USB-C dongles, they won’t.</p><p><br></p><p>As Stabitha.Christie says, if you are a Mac user that also uses a PC, it is probably a good option, if you need a small 5K display and use the Mac most of the time. If you use the PC most of the time, or you are not a Mac user, there are better alternatives out there. </p><p><br></p><p>If the colour calibration is good, the price isn’t too bad. I just checked Amazon, an Eizo 27" 1920×1200 calibrated monitor costs around $1,400! The price for good quality monitors is high. Low end monitors are very cheap, but if you are a graphics or video professional, you are still paying professional prices.</p>

      • ianbetteridge

        14 March, 2022 - 9:32 am

        <p>That’s almost exactly the case form me. It would work fine with my M1 Mac mini, but I can also plug in my ThinkPad X1 Carbon and it’ll work, apart from CentreStage which is all done via software. </p><p><br></p><p>Not that I can afford one :)</p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    11 March, 2022 - 9:16 am

    <p>The thunderbolt requirement is a hidden cost adder. Thunderbolt cables that are long enough to allow reasonable routing and placement options are expensive. </p>

  • darkgrayknight

    Premium Member
    11 March, 2022 - 11:32 am

    <p>Microsoft should have a Surface Studio monitor–then they have a direct competitor to this one from Apple, but with better connectivity options and touch/pen/etc. that Windows can do.</p>

  • Jonathan Storey

    14 March, 2022 - 8:40 am

    <p>Still confused… so if I have a "typical PC" with hdmi out will I get any use of the monitor. Will a lightning to HDMI cable adapter work in reverse? The audio out seems like it might work, but I can’t imagine that the camera and microphone would be able to send information back to the PC. So I guess it boils down to one questions… what ports are required on a PC to get some minimal functionality from this monitor?</p>

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