Apple's Mac Studio and Studio Display first came out in early 2022, and the combination is supposed to be a good choice for people who want a powerful desktop but don't want to spend $7,000 on a Mac Pro.
But although the Mac Studio is a very capable machine that pairs nicely with a solid 27-inch display on the desk, it may not be the right pick for people who were hoping Apple would offer a 27-inch iMac with Apple silicon.
How the Mac Studio Replaced the 27-Inch iMac
When Apple released the Mac Studio and Studio Display, it stopped selling the 27-inch iMac, leaving the 24-inch M1 iMac the only option for consumers who want an all-in-one Apple desktop.
Some might consider the Mac Studio and Studio Display as a replacement for the 27-inch iMac since the latter shares basically the same screen as the outgoing 5K iMac. But if you look at the whole package, it isn't a perfect fit.
The Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip also works with the Studio Display. However, consumers who purchase iMacs benefit from the all-in-one package, and since the Mac mini is similar to the Mac Studio, it isn't an ideal alternative either.
Furthermore, those alternatives aren't as upgradeable as the 27-inch iMac used to be. You can only get 16GB of RAM in the M1 iMac, whereas the 27-inch iMac maxed out at 128GB, which was also user-upgradeable.
There is a gap in the iMac lineup by not having a powerful 27-inch desktop Mac, and here are all the reasons we think the Mac Studio and Studio Display aren't good replacements.
1. The Price
To break down the prices, the Studio Display starts at $1,599 if you want the standard glass and a non-height-adjustable stand. You will have to pay extra for the nano-texture option or a different stand. The Mac Studio starts at $1,999 and comes with an M2 Max chip, 32GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage. The total for a base Studio Display and a base model Mac Studio is nearly $3,600 before taxes.
That is substantially higher than the $1,799 the 27-inch iMac used to start at in the lineup. This can price out specific consumers who want a larger Mac but can't afford to spend nearly $4,000. Even if you pair the Studio Display with an M2 Mac mini, you are still looking at almost $2,200 before taxes. This is a notable price increase when compared to the 27-inch iMac.
2. You're Paying for Unnecessary Power
Apple's 27-inch iMac was a good balance between price and power. While the Mac Studio is significantly more powerful than the 27-inch iMac, not everyone is looking for a desktop with the most capable specifications.
In addition to that, the 27-inch iMac was also user-upgradeable, as we briefly touched on before. If you needed to add more RAM down the road, the 27-inch iMac included a small compartment at the back of the computer where you could add additional memory sticks. Apple silicon Macs are not user-upgradeable in any way.
3. The Modular Design
One big reason why people loved the 27-inch iMac was that it was an all-in-one computer. It came with a built-in display, computer, keyboard, and mouse for $1,799. Since the Mac Studio is a modular system, you need to purchase the display, keyboard, and mouse separately.
These purchases start to add up and can be expensive, certainly more than the base price of the 27-inch iMac. Also, many monitors don't have built-in speakers or cameras that integrate well with macOS.
You don't have to worry about this when you buy the iMac, but with the Mac Studio, you'll need to research a lot more accessories if you don't want to spend the money on the Studio Display, Magic Mouse, and Magic Keyboard.
4. You Need Multiple AppleCare Plans
AppleCare for an iMac costs $169 for three years. However, if you want to acquire AppleCare for a Mac Studio and Studio Display, they are two separate purchases with a total cost of nearly $320 for three years of coverage. AppleCare could be worth it if you depend on your computer for work and won't be able to afford a replacement.
But at those costs, it really starts to tip the balance because you end up paying more for protection at the end of the day.
The Mac Studio Is for a Different Market
Apple's Mac Studio and Studio Display are good products, but they're not the perfect replacement for the 27-inch iMac. Apple's Mac desktop lineup is missing the larger all-in-one machine, creating a divisive situation for users who want a desktop with a larger screen.
Of course, the Mac Studio and Studio Display are great if you need a powerful machine for creative work. But if you want an all-in-one and are willing to compromise on the display size a little bit, there are reasons to pick up the 24-inch iMac since it is arguably Apple's best value-for-money desktop.