10 perfectly good monitors that cost less than the Apple Pro Stand
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The Stand
The Stand
Apple unveiled the long-awaited successor to the trashcan Mac Pro at the 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which was largely well-received, as the new Mac Pro provides ample amounts of computing power and custom hardware for video editing, as well as proper expandability, though at a starting price of $5999. Likewise, the 6K Pro Display XDR is well-received among professionals for providing impressive color reproduction and undercutting the five-figure price tag of professional-grade displays.
The announcement that the Pro Stand was sold separately—for the eye-watering price of $999—was met with audible groans in the room, as well as ridicule and derision on social media, as the stand is essentially a well-machined chunk of aluminum.
That being the case, here’s a roundup of 10 monitors on offer for less than the price of Apple’s Pro Stand. Granted, these will not beat the Pro Display XDR in a head-to-head comparison, but they stand on their own as quality products.
ASUS ROG PG279Q
ASUS ROG PG279Q
The ASUS ROG PG279Q is a 27″ 1440p monitor supporting NVIDIA G-SYNC, allowing for a refresh rate of 165 Hz. Compared to many other high refresh-rate monitors, the PG279Q uses an IPS panel for improved color reproduction.
Like the Apple Pro Stand, the PG279Q supports 90-degree rotation. It is available on Amazon for $639.
LG 27UK650-W
LG 27UK650-W
The LG 27UK650-W is a 27″ 4K IPS monitor, and is HDR10 compatible. It includes support for AMD FreeSync. It is available from Newegg for $469.
Samsung C27F398
Samsung C27F398
The Samsung C27F398 is a 27″ 1080p HD monitor with an 1800R curve. Supporting only 72% of the NTSC color space, not the most impressive monitor out there, though for $189 on Amazon, it isn’t a bad deal.
LG 34UC80-B
LG 34UC80-B
LG’s ultrawide 21:9 34UC80-B is a gigantic 3440×1440 display, supporting AMD FreeSync, with refresh rates up to 75 Hz. It includes two USB 3.0 ports on the back as well. LG touts it as having “over 99% coverage of the sRGB spectrum,” making it “a great solution for professional photographers, graphic designers or anyone looking for highly accurate color.”
It is available on Amazon for $549.
AOC 24V2H
AOC 24V2H
The AOC 24V2H is a fairly standard 24″ display, which AOC touts as including a “Hidden Edge IPS panel with 3-sided frameless design,” which is essentially verbose marketing-speak for “this has tiny bezels.” Clearly, useful information if you plan on a multi-monitor setup. It supports AMD FreeSync when connected via HDMI, though it also includes a VGA port for legacy hardware compatibility.
The AOC 24V2H is $129 at Newegg.
Philips BDM4350UC
Philips BDM4350UC
The Philips BDM4350UC is a 43″ 4K 10-bit IPS display, with a variety of connectors—two HDMI, two DisplayPort, one VGA, and four USB 3.0 ports. It supports a max brightness of 300 cd/m2, features an anti-glare finish, and dual 7W speakers. It includes a four year warranty, including a four year advance replacement policy.
The Philips BDM4350UC is $582 at Newegg.
Samsung Space Monitor S32R750U
Samsung Space Monitor S32R750U
Samsung’s Space Monitor series was introduced at CES 2019 as part of their strategy to focus on ergonomics, with advances in display panels industry-wide having slowed in recent years. The Space Monitor is equipped with a “zero-level Height Adjustable Stand,” which supports viewing from a height of 8.4 inches (213 mm) above the desktop to the surface of the desk, with the hinge touted as being capable of withstanding over 5,000 adjustments. This is achieved using a mount that clamps onto the underside of a desk.
The 32″ 4K version is available at Newegg for $449.
LG 32UD60-B
LG 32UD60-B
The LG 32UD60-B 4K is a no-nonsense 32″ 4K IPS monitor. LG touts it as “[covering] 95% of the DCI-P3 color space, the current standard utilized by the film industry, assuring an exceptionally wide range of available colors.” It supports AMD FreeSync, but only supports a 60 Hz refresh rate.
It is available on Amazon for $397.
ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC
ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC
For something slightly unconventional, the ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is a 15.6″ portable display, connecting via USB-C. It is a relatively standard 1080p IPS display, though uses only bus power, no AC adapter is needed. It weighs in at 1.7 pounds (780g) and is 8mm thick.
The Smart Case, which folds closed when not in use to protect the display, is included. It can be found for $239 at Amazon.
Dasung Paperlike E-Ink
Dasung Paperlike E-Ink
For something more unconventional, the next generation of Dasung Paperlike E-Ink displays are on Indiegogo. Larger than a typical e-reader, the 13.3″ Dasung Paperlike purports to reduce eye strain, an important attribute for office workers spending hours per day in front of a monitor. It is available in 1600×1200 and 2200×1650 variants, both of which have touch and non-touch variants.
All four options are $999 or below for the duration of the campaign, though these prices will increase when the Paperlike reaches general availability.
