I recently purchased and set up a brand new MacBook Pro 14” M3 8 core CPU / 10 core GPU 512GB. The intent was to replace my almost 10-year old 27” 5k iMac that I’ve been using primarily for work. Was quite an upgrade but not having a great time trying to make it work for work stuff. I can’t get used to the small screen after using the big 27” for so long and using without a mouse makes my wrists and forearms hurt after only like 30 mins or so of use - I’ve never had RSI issues before so I’m thinking all things considered I need to consider trying out Marco’s revered desktop-laptop setup that he has described in many an ATP episode. However, I don’t have Marco’s budget, so hoping for some more affordable solutions. Would I need a dock for this? I do have a printer that’s also ancient that I’d need to hook up. I’m leaning toward the LG Ultrafine monitor because I just blew my budget this computer and can’t now also afford a studio display. Doesn’t have to be stellar picture quality because my needs are minimal and I don’t watch any shows or movies but I do want to keep as close as possible to 27”. Any other affordable options I should consider? My printer, mouse and keyboard are also USB A (IIRC). Could probably stand to replace the peripherals if needed for compatibility but if the monitor would allow me to plug in those old USB peripherals that’d be a nice bonus. Thanks in advance!
I was very much in your situation a few years ago. I swapped my old MBP and Intel 27" iMac for a 14" MBP M1 Pro, when they were first released.
I bought an LG 27UP850 4K monitor and a Caldigit T3 doc, and used the MBP both downstairs on my lap and upstairs in the dock for about two years. I thought the dock was necessary because a) it’s only one peripheral to unplug, b) it’s handy to put the external disk drives and c) you can put the monitor to one side to use a second screen, which is a lot more convenient than trying to look over it while you type. But you don’t need to spend as much as the Caldigit T3 as there are plenty of cheaper alternatives.
I could have gone on using the MBP that way happily enough, but just before Christmas last year it had to go in for repair, and I succumbed to the temptation of an M2 Mac Studio while it was away.
So now it’s back to the downstairs laptop and the upstairs desktop setup. Apart from the convenience of not having to dock and undock, I found no problems at all with having the laptop docked though and would happily do it again.
The monitor is fine – it’s relatively cheap but the quality seems more than good enough to me. Obviously, it’s not the Studio Display, but it is £1000 cheaper…
One thing I want to stress if you go with the UltraFine, don’t use the USB-C ports on the monitor as a hub. It can be tempting but they’re highly unreliable. I had nothing but trouble with them and have heard/read similar issues.
You may also want to look at the Samsung 27" 5k display. I often see Macrumors listing it with massive discounts. Picture quality won’t be as good as a studio display, but you will preserve the 5k, expected pixel density that Apple prefers.
Beg, borrow, or steal the money to get an Apple Studio Display.
I was in the same situation, looks/feels/works exactly like an iMac Retina 27" screen.
It has 4 USB-C ports on the back, no need for an external dock if you plan things out.
FWIW, I “downgraded” from a fully loaded Intel MacBrook Pro to a MacBook Air M3 and used the savings to pay for the Studio Display.
Just did this three weeks ago. Wish I had done it months ago.
YMMV, but for me, the screen quality of Apple is more than worth not having a MacBook Pro versus the Macbook Air and the Air is a zillion times faster than my old Intel.
Also, keep in mind the Apple Studio Monitor will last many years. “next time” you only need to upgrade the laptop, so the big “ouch” to the wallet is a one-time hit for many years of computer near-bliss?
I agree about the Studio Display: I didn’t mention it in my previous post, as it was getting long, but I ordered one last week, and I’ve been using it since the weekend. It’s excellent. I’m using it side by side with the LG 27UP850, and while it doesn’t make the latter look bad (at all), there is a clear difference. It also has decent speakers, microphone and camera, which the LG doesn’t have, which was what tipped me over the edge into buying it.
Seconded. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s worth it for peace of mind. Plug it in, it works. The end. It stopped being “really cool” barely a week after I got it, but I realised that’s because it just does its job. Every now and then I put my elbows on the table and lean in just to shift my weight for a moment, and then I once again notice how glorious the quality is.
Technically, you only get to use 3, as the 4th is the “upstream” to the computer.
Yup. It’s the 27" iMac with user-upgradable computer! Based on reports of how long Thunderbolt Displays lasted, I fully expect I will be using M10+ Macs with this thing.
I’ve done this for years (since 2007) with a variety of MacBooks and monitors. If you can at all manage it, get an Apple monitor. Every single non-Apple monitor that I’ve ever used like this has hot infrequently given me some grief when reconnecting. They’ll sometimes come up with the wrong resolutions (and then sometimes the correct ones don’t even show up as options), and sometimes they won’t even come up at all until I would reconnect some frustratingly large number of times.
My Studio Displays have been flawless.
I have a StudioDisplay and a Dell 27" 4K and a LG 27" 4K.
I like the Studio Display for its camera and speakers and display.
I use the have 3 Dell 27" 4K and one LG 27" 4K. I use one as a secondary monitor to my StudioDisplay. The other three are used at other locations (summer place/relative home) that are controlled by my Intel MacPowerBook when I am in residence.
I am commented only because I find the 27" 4K’s very useable and I have no trouble with my eyes moving back and forth between the Studio Display and the 4K’s. The 4K’s are “just fine”.
I have seen the Dell S2722QC Monitor - 27 inch 4K USB-C for $250 on Amazon.
The price fluctuates considerably. Right now it is $280. I am very happy with these. So if you do to have the money for a Studio Display, do not despair.
I’ve had a Dell U2720Q for several years (there’s updated models). 4K at 27" is not ‘retina’ but the display scaling looks good to me at arm’s length viewing distance. The built-in USB-C hub is great for charging, sound output to speakers and peripherals (though I use an MX Anywhere 3S and Keychron K3 Pro wirelessly) by only plugging in one cable to my MacBook Air M3. Highly recommended as a budget option.
I would suggest thinking twice before purchasing a “budget” LG screen. I had a perfectly good 24" 4K screen for about 3 years. Then it started to get a light leak and eventually became tragically bad.
I agree. That’s what I have against iMacs and other all-in-ones. You have to throw out a perfectly good large screen monitor every time you upgrade.
I run a desktop-laptop setup with the M2 Max 16 inch being my only computer that runs everything I want. The setup is on my website if you are looking for some inspiration, the writeup is slightly outdated but still very valid: Workspace
I’ve used Samsung monitors for nearly 20 years now and never had an issue (except for an insect dying behind the screen, but that seems a fairly random problem). They vary considerably in price but you don’t need to go for one of their premium models.
I’ve had to change my desk setup over the last couple of weeks (my desk was breaking, and then my external computer speaker broke). I looked at the Apple Studio Display, but I just couldn’t justify the expense.
I have changed my usb hub so that there only one cable running to my MacBook now. I bought a CalDigit Element. It’s smaller (and cheaper) than the TS3 and TS4, but had all the connections I need. I’m running an ultrawide display through the usb-c connection, along with mouse, keyboard, and webcam in the hub, and eventually a new speaker when I’ve chosen one (in the meantime I’ve just connected a Bluetooth speaker from another room, but I’d rather my speaker was wired). The computer port on the Element will charge your device, so you only need one cable running to the MacBook.
The only issue I’ve identified so far is that the peripherals go dormant with the Element when the MacBook goes to sleep, and I can only wake up the MacBook with touchID. My MaxBook is in clamshell, so that’s annoying. But my previous USB hub left peripherals running all the time, which was its own annoyance because of rgb, but meant I could wake the device up from peripherals. I haven’t worked out what to do about this yet. I kind of think Apple should sell a touchID macro pad because this must be an issue that comes up a lot and not all of us are running setups with Apple’s keyboards!
I just wanted to post an update on my niggle about peripherals going dormant with the CalDigit Element. After I wrote my post this morning I decided to troubleshoot it and see if I could figure out a solution. Unplugging the keyboard and plugging it back in turns the keyboard back on, which means I can then wake up the MacBook without having to open it from clamshell. The cable is usb C and easy to disconnect from the keyboard end so that’s fine. But also, my keyboard does have Bluetooth and that just wakes up and sleeps as it likes so can also wake up the MacBook. So, problem solved!
I never heard about that issue. You got me worried… I have a couple of backup drives connected to my LG Ultrafine. No problem so far…
I am living the dream life with 2 5k 27" monitors attached to my 14" MBP, which is in its own stand to use the screen. How could I afford this? Well, the external screens used to be iMacs! I paid a total of $1000 for both iMacs and the two controller boards. If you have any talent tinkering with computers, here’s where I learned how to do it and where to get everything you need: MacRumors Forum thread (rabbit hole alert!)
Impressive!
20 chars because the gods of the internet must be fed.
It’s presumably too late for this, and I hate to make you regret your purchase, but if you’re just getting the base M3 CPU (not Pro or Max), and you don’t have a very specific need for the HDR display, the Air is the laptop to get. In addition to being substantially more portable, it saves $300 for the same specs (or saves $100 + gets an even larger display in a still-lighter package) vs. the 14" Pro. The savings might make the difference between a Studio Display and an Ultrafine 5K.
That said, I’ve used both Studio Displays and an Ultrafine 5K for several years and while the Studio Displays are a bit better and more reliable, the LG is honestly fine, so if that’s your upper limit, it’s still generally quite a good computing experience and a great modern replacement for a 5K iMac (which I also used previously).
I’ve used an external monitor for years. Recently for a great deal on a Samsung 27 inch curved monitor. Liked it so much I got a second one, open box/return deal at Best Buy.
I have a Cal Digit hub and use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and a few other toys to extend myself a bit. Love it.
This is the monitor for 99% of the people. $439
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-U2723QE-UltraSharp-USB-C-Monitor/dp/B09TQZP9CL