Apple Studio Display vs LG UltraFine 5K
The short answer
Buy the Apple Studio Display new. The LG UltraFine 5K uses the same class of 218 PPI 5K panel, but it is a 2019 Thunderbolt 3 design with a 1080p camera, a plastic body and a stand without swivel. It only makes sense used for well under $1,200, for example as a matching second screen next to a Studio Display.
By Parish Khan · Research-based comparison, how we work · Updated October 17, 2026
Apple
Apple Studio Display
Apple Studio Display
The simplest 27-inch 5K for a Mac. A 218 PPI P3 panel, one Thunderbolt 5 cable for picture, charging and data, the best camera in any monitor and six speakers that sound like a decent desktop set. You pay an Apple premium, and you get Apple polish in return.
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LG
LG UltraFine 5K
LG UltraFine 5K
A legacy pick. The 27-inch 5K panel Apple and LG designed for the Mac, sold from 2015 and pulled from Apple's store in 2022. The 2019 Thunderbolt 3 refresh was the last. Used for well under $1,200 it is still a sharp, accurate Mac display; at new-stock prices the Studio Display or BenQ MA270S is better in every way.
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The old default and the new one
Apple co-developed the LG UltraFine 5K and sold it on apple.com until the Studio Display replaced it in 2022. Both are 27-inch 5K panels at 218 PPI with P3 colour, so the core image is closely matched. Everything around the panel has moved on.
What has changed since 2019
The Studio Display connects over Thunderbolt 5 with 96W charging and a downstream port for daisy-chain, reaches 600 nits, and has a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, a three-mic array and six speakers. It has an aluminium enclosure and updates its firmware through macOS.
The LG UltraFine 5K was last refreshed in 2019 with Thunderbolt 3 and 94W charging. It has a 1080p camera, basic speakers, a plastic enclosure and a stand with 110 mm of height and tilt but no swivel or pivot. Its contrast is a modest 1,100:1.
Price is the whole story
New UltraFine stock is scarce and often listed at or above the Studio Display’s $1,599, which makes no sense for a 2015 design. Used, at $800 to $1,200, it becomes a reasonable way to get Retina density, and a good pixel-matched second monitor beside a Studio Display.
Which to buy
Buy the Studio Display if you are buying new. Consider an UltraFine 5K only on the used market. If your budget is closer to $1,000 new, the BenQ MA270S is the better modern choice.
Full spec comparison
Every spec side by side. Orange highlights the better value in each row; muted values indicate ties.
| Spec | Apple Studio Display | LG UltraFine 5K |
|---|---|---|
| Display | ||
| Resolution | 5120 × 2880 | 5120 × 2880 |
| Screen size | 27" | 27" |
| Pixel density | 218 PPI | 218 PPI |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Panel | LED-backlit IPS | IPS |
| Surface | Anti-reflective (nano-texture optional) | — |
| Backlight | LED | — |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Response time | — | 14 ms |
| SDR brightness | 600 nits | 500 nits |
| Peak HDR | — | — |
| Contrast ratio | — | 1100:1 |
| Colour depth | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Delta E | — | — |
| HDR certification | — | — |
| Viewing angles | 178°/178° | 178°/178° |
| Colour gamut | ||
| DCI-P3 | — | 99% |
| Display P3 | 100% | — |
| sRGB | 100% | 100% |
| Connectivity | ||
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 5 (upstream) TB5, 120 Gb/s · Thunderbolt 5 (downstream) TB5, 120 Gb/s | Thunderbolt 3 (upstream) TB3, 40 Gb/s |
| USB-C (non-TB) | 2× USB-C USB 3, 10 Gb/s | 3× USB-C USB 3.0 |
| HDMI | — | — |
| DisplayPort | — | — |
| USB-A | — | — |
| Max Power Delivery | 96W | 94W |
| Daisy-chain | Yes | No |
| KVM switch | No | No |
| Ethernet | — | — |
| USB hub | — | — |
| Audio & video | ||
| Speakers | Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers; Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos | Integrated stereo speakers (2-channel) |
| Webcam | 12MP Ultra Wide with Center Stage and Desk View | 1080p built-in camera |
| Microphones | Studio-quality three-mic array with directional beamforming; supports 'Hey Siri' | Built-in microphone |
| Physical & stand | ||
| Weight | 6.3 kg | 8.48 kg |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 62.3 × 47.8 × 16.8 cm (tilt stand) | — |
| Stand | Tilt-adjustable (standard); tilt + height-adjustable optional; VESA mount optional | Tilt + height-adjustable |
| Height adjustment | 105 mm | 110 mm |
| Tilt | −5° to +25° | −5° to +15° |
| Swivel | — | — |
| Pivot | — | — |
| VESA mount | 100 × 100 mm (adapter configurable) | 100 × 100 mm |
| Calibration | ||
| Factory calibration | Apple factory calibration with reference modes | Apple/LG factory calibration for macOS |
| Delta E report | No | No |
| Hardware calibration | No | No |
| Preset modes | Apple Display (P3-600 nits) · HDTV Video (BT.709-BT.1886) · NTSC Video (BT.601 SMPTE-C) · PAL and SECAM Video (BT.601 EBU) · Digital Cinema (P3-DCI) · Digital Cinema (P3-D65) · Design and Print (P3-D50) · Photography (P3-D65) · Internet and Web (sRGB) | — |
| Power & support | ||
| Power (typical) | — | 140 W |
| Power (max) | — | 200 W |
| Certifications | Energy Star, True Tone | — |
| Warranty | 1-year limited; AppleCare+ available for extended coverage | 1-year limited (LG) |
| Release year | 2026 | 2019 |
| Price (USD) | $1,599 | $1,299 |
| Our rating | 4.5 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
Our verdict
The Apple Studio Display is our pick here.
Buy the Apple Studio Display new. The LG UltraFine 5K uses the same class of 218 PPI 5K panel, but it is a 2019 Thunderbolt 3 design with a 1080p camera, a plastic body and a stand without swivel. It only makes sense used for well under $1,200, for example as a matching second screen next to a Studio Display.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the LG UltraFine 5K still worth buying?
Only used and cheap. New stock is scarce and often priced at or above the Studio Display, which beats it on camera, speakers, brightness, build and connectivity.
Does the LG UltraFine 5K work with Apple silicon Macs?
Yes. It connects over Thunderbolt 3, which current MacBook Pro, Mac mini and Mac Studio models still support, and runs at full 5K on any Mac that can drive a 5K display.