I got my Mac Studio and Studio Display last week and both are working fine and are fully updated. I previously owned a 2017 iMac with a 5K Retina display, no external monitor, so tinkering with an external monitor on a Mac is a little new to me. When I set up the studio display, by default it is set to the “Default for Display” setting, which is not maximum resolution. My old iMac was set to the “More space” setting which I liked because I could fit more things on the screen. I read quite a bit online about settings for the new Studio Display and from what I could tell it is best to leave it set to “Default for Display.” I am curious as to what resolution setting fellow Mac Power Users are using and why.
Does the System Settings Display panel give you actual resolution by the numbers in the left panel when you point to a choice in the right panel? I almost always prefer the pixel-doubled setting (2560 x 1440 for this monitor, I think) although that setting might give you less “room” than you would like.
I don’t have a Mac Studio, but I do have an M1 Max MBP that I use with a 28" 4K external display (waiting for delivery a Studio Display 
), so very similar hardware to yours. I use a scaled resolution of 2560x1440 (which is not pixel-doubled on a 4K display, but produces output that’s very close to the Apple default) and it works very well.
So the “recommended” is just what you are using (2560x1440). But this is a 5k display, so I am wondering why the “recommended” setting is what a 4k monitor uses.
Me, too. This represents a change in practice for Apple. The resolution marked as Default for my M1 MacBook Air is 1440x900 which is not the pixel-doubled value. I have selected the pixel-doubled resolution for my screen of 1280x800 in order to get the best viewing (in my opinion). My guess is Apple has noticed that lots of people select “more space” and seem happy with the quality of the scaled display and have adjusted their default values accordingly. 
Isn’t 2560x1440 the pixel-doubled resolution on the new Studio Display?
Yup, it is. 4K and (Apple’s) 5K displays have the same aspect ratio, but 2560x1440 is exactly pixel doubled on a 5K display, whereas it’s a scaled resolution on a 4K display.
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Mine hopefully arrives next week. 
The approach I usually use is to set it to the highest resolution I think is reasonable, because I want to fit lots on the screen at once, but then later accept that it’s not quite comfortable viewing and decrease the resolution by one step. Repeat as necessary.
Reviving this old topic…
I am thinking about buying Apple Studio Display.
ATM, I use a LG 34WK95U, a 4.5K monitor at 3008 x 1269.
If I set the ASD’s resolution to a higher value than the default 2560 x 1440, will everything look tiny or will it be good? What do you all have the resolution set to?
I have been using the 2880x1620 settings for a while now. For fun I am going to try it at the 3200x1800 today and see how I like it.
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I think everything will be tiny?
I also use this resolution, 2880x1620. Getting too old for the higher res option 
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How far do you all place the Apple Studio Display monitor display from your keyboard?
Mine is directly above the back-end of my keyboard, on a VESA arm.
Must say, I LOVE the flexibility of having the monitor mounted on an arm. Takes up less space on the desk too (not to mention, the VESA arm was less expensive than the Apple Studio Display’s adjustable stand which was still too low for me.)
I’ve tried increasing the resolution but that then means I need to wear reading glasses all the time when using it. My old eyes cannot cope with anything over 2560x1440.
I run them at 2560x, in a V shape at eye level on mounts. They’re about 20" away at the closest point. I use smaller font sizes in some applications to compensate. 2880x and 3200x also would work for me. I don’t think you’ll find there’s only one resolution setting that works for you if you currently run 3008x on yours.
I have my keyboard on my desk with about 3 inches between it and the edge of the desk. My Studio Display sits on the desk (I got the adjustable stand) and is about 2-3 inches beyond my fingertips.
I run it at 2560x1440, which for me is a good compromise for the Mac interface and Adobe’s apps (the interface is so tiny!).
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About 455 mm it seems. Which is basically having the keyboard where it’s comfortable and the monitor as far back on the desk as is practical (especially considering I have a sit/stand desk).
Although I got my first glasses a few years ago, I wear them for distance issues. My sight within ~2 m is still excellent. I am considering playing with the resolution after reading this thread. When I first got it, I simply went with the ‘natural’ 2x and haven’t considered it since.
Also, since I got the SD, I have a (32"!) monitor at work which is exactly the 1x (i.e. point dimensions) of the SD 2x. When I remote into work from home, the screen is therefore exactly the same size.
Life was so much easier when phone books were a thing ;-). But… I have modernised in a different way. My current monitor riser is an old Airport Extreme. The flat white one which is almost the perfect shape for the job. It’s certainly more elegant than a block of wood or a book.
Excuse the dust! And the fact it seems to have gotten off centre a bit at some point.
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Old textbooks and unplayed board games live on!
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