The best Mac Studio Display alternatives you can buy

Apple’s new Studio Display makes monitors exciting again. it's a glitzy and futuristic alternative to dull workspace-grade options available elsewhere. Unfortunately, at an Australian RRP of $2499, it’s also very expensive.

Still, if you’re in the market for a desktop monitor that excites you in the way that the Apple Studio Display does and don't want to pay the premium, there are a few other cheaper options out there that you might want to investigate and consider.

If the 5K resolution found on Apple’s Studio Display is more of a novelty than a necessity, there’s a decent chance that Samsung’s M8 Smart Monitor might work as a half-decent substitute.

Available in a single 32-inch size, the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor has the brains of a smart TV but the looks of a sleek desktop display. It also comes with a web-cam accessory that incorporates similar face tracking and active-framing technology as Apple’s new monitor does. 

If the part of the Studio Display that appealed to you was that Apple made a monitor that offered more than just higher resolutions, Samsung’s Smart Monitor M8 might strike the same chord at a cheaper price. 

Price: In Australia, the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 can be found for around $1199. Check out the table below for a round-up of pricing from local resellers and retailers.

This 27-inch LG Ultrafine monitor is one of the only other option for MacOS users who want the practical-but-premium perk that come with a 5K resolution display.

The aesthetics here aren’t as slick as offerings from Apple or Samsung, but if the 5K resolution is the key selling point for you, then the this is a cheaper way to go about getting that even if it's not quite cheap. On top of that, you’re getting DCI-P3 99% color gamut coverage, 500 nits of brightness and a set of Thunderbolt 3 ports that support up to 94W charging.

Akin to the Studio Display, LG’s UltraFine 5K IPS monitor also incorporates an adjustable stand, an internal webcam, built-in speakers and a microphone - allowing it to act as an all-in-one package in a way that is similar to the approach taken by Apple with their latest luxury monitor. 

The LG Ultrafine 5K IPS monitor is just as fit for purpose as Apple's Studio Display, even if lacks a few bells and whistles.

Price: In Australia, the LG UltraFine 5K IPS monitor can be found for around $1995. Check out the table below for a round-up of pricing from local resellers and retailers.

If you’re drawn in by the promise of Apple’s Studio Display, but not necessarily willing to make the jump to MacOS needed to make the most of it, Alienware’s first QD-OLED might sate your desire for high-end desktop picture quality in a different.

A gorgeous QN-OLED panel turns specs that would otherwise be routine into something revelatory. It isn’t that much cheaper than the Studio Display, but early hype suggests that it’s currently one of the best looking monitors out there for gamers and non-gamers alike. 

Price: In Australia, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED can be found for around $2299. Check out the table below for a round-up of pricing from local resellers and retailers.

MSI isn't usually the first brand that comes to mind when you’re looking for a high-end desktop monitors. However, the Prestige PS341WU has a lot to offer content creators in search of a high resolution display. It’s a little larger than Apple Studio Display, but still delivers the good when it comes to support for 5K2K Ultra-Wide resolutions, plus 98% of DCI-P3 color and VESA Certified DisplayHDR 600.

The MSI Prestige PS341WU is neither the cheapest nor the closest alternative to Apple’s Studio Display, but it’s definitely one worth considering if you’re looking for something that falls along the same lines.

Price: In Australia, the MSI Prestige PS431WU can be found for around $1599. Check out the table below for a round-up of pricing from local resellers and retailers.