Two tech giants, Samsung and Apple, have entered the ring with their own takes on the high-end, feature-packed smart monitor. In one corner, we have the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor with its sleek design, smart TV functionality, and attractive $700 price point. And in the other corner, the Apple Studio Display brandishes its ultra-sharp 5K screen, spatial audio speakers, and seamless connectivity with Mac ecosystems, albeit at a much heftier $1600 price tag.
So which premium display reigns supreme? As always, the answer depends on your specific needs and priorities. But don‘t sweat it – we‘ve got you covered with an in-depth comparison to help you decide which cutting-edge monitor deserves a spot on your desk. Let‘s dive in and pit the Samsung M8 vs Apple Studio Display head-to-head!
Design & Aesthetics
At first glance, the Samsung M8 and Apple Studio Display share a very similar aesthetic – sleek, minimalist, and very Apple-esque. The M8 in particular seems to take heavy inspiration from the Studio Display and the 24" iMac with its slim screen, basic stand, and colorful aluminum finishes in white, blue, green, and pink.
The Studio Display‘s classic silver and black look is a bit more understated and professional. It‘s also more compact at 27" diagonal vs the M8‘s larger 32" size. Both are quite thin, with the Studio Display measuring 18.8" tall and 6.6" deep vs the M8‘s 22.6" height and 8" depth on their default stands.
One notable difference is that the M8‘s stand offers height and tilt adjustment out of the box, while the Studio Display‘s basic stand is tilt-only. You‘d need to shell out extra for Apple‘s fancier tilt- and height-adjustable stand or go with a 3rd party VESA mount for more flexibility.
Looks are subjective, but if you want bold color options and/or a larger screen, the Samsung M8 has the edge. If you prioritize a tidy, compact design and quality stand upgrades, the Studio Display may suit you better. I‘d give a slight overall aesthetic advantage to the classier Apple display, but both are very stylish monitors that‘ll make a stunning centerpiece for your desk setup.
Ports & Connectivity
Connectivity is an area where these displays diverge. The Studio Display keeps things simple with a single Thunderbolt 3 port to connect to your Mac (which can also charge it at up to 96W) and a trio of USB-C ports for peripherals. There‘s also a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port on the higher end model. Nothing extraordinary but it covers the essentials.
The Samsung M8 has a wider variety of ports:
- 1 micro HDMI for video input
- 1 USB-C upstream port (powers monitor and enables video/data)
- 1 USB-C downstream port
- WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 wireless
This opens up more flexibility to connect to non-USB-C devices and use the monitor wirelessly with features like Samsung DeX and AirPlay. The downside is no Thunderbolt 3 so you lose out on the higher power delivery and data speeds if you‘re a Mac user.
So it really comes down to your needs – if you just want a streamlined USB-C solution for a Mac, the Studio Display‘s port selection is perfect. If you need HDMI, wireless functionality, or are trying to connect to a wider range of devices, the M8‘s ports and connectivity are more versatile.
Display & Speakers
Of course, the heart of any monitor is the display itself. And while both deliver gorgeous picture quality, this is where the Studio Display really flexes its muscles.
Apple‘s monitor boasts a phenomenal 27" 5K retina screen with a razor-sharp 218ppi pixel density, 600 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and True Tone. In practice, this means incredibly crisp text rendering, brilliant and accurate colors, smooth gradients, and vivid HDR highlights. It‘s simply one of the best screens on the market for creators and professionals.
The Samsung M8‘s display is certainly no slouch though, with a larger 32" size, 4K resolution, 400 nits of brightness, HDR10+ support, and 99% sRGB coverage. While not as insanely sharp as the Studio Display, you still get an excellent picture for watching videos, light creative work, and general use. The added screen real estate is also very nice for multitasking.
Both screens have an anti-glare coating and max 60Hz refresh rate. But the Studio Display‘s glass is a bit higher quality and combines with the glare reduction to provide stellar clarity with less color distortion.
As for sound, the Studio Display obliterates the M8 with its stellar 6-speaker array and spatial audio support. The Samsung monitor‘s dual 5W speakers are decent and fine for occasional video watching. But you get a much more immersive, room-filling, and balanced sound from the Studio Display that‘s great for music and movies.
So while the Samsung M8‘s display is great for the price, the Apple Studio Display is simply on another level in both visuals and audio. Creators and audiophiles will especially appreciate its superior performance.
Webcam, Mic & Extras
Since many folks are using their monitors for video calls these days, no comparison would be complete without looking at the webcam and microphone situation. And to my surprise, Samsung has a real advantage here!
The M8 comes with a fantastic detachable magnetic webcam that does 1080p 30fps video, has a physical privacy shutter, and can tilt and rotate to your optimal angle. The video quality is excellent, with sharp detail, good low light performance, and face tracking to keep you centered.
Meanwhile, the Studio Display‘s built-in 12MP ultrawide camera was panned at launch for its noisy, washed out, and soft image quality. Apple has released some updates to improve it via the Display Firmware, but it still falls short of the M8 and many other standalone webcams. You do get nifty features like Center Stage to keep you in frame, Portrait mode, and fancy mics. But the actual video is lackluster for a $1600 monitor.
Both have solid mic quality, with the M8 using far-field mics while the Studio Display has a "studio-quality" 3-mic array. They‘ll do the job for calls and audio recording, but the Studio Display‘s beamforming mics have a lead in isolating voices.
In terms of other extras, the Samsung M8 handily beats the Studio Display in features and flexibility:
M8:
- USB-C 65W charging
- Included magnetically-attaching webcam with tilt adjustment
- Smart TV interface w/ streaming apps
- Samsung DeX & Microsoft 365 built-in
- SmartThings IoT hub
- Remote control
- Can use without a PC
Studio Display:
- Up to 96W host charging over TB3
- "Hey Siri" support for Mac
The M8 is essentially a productivity and entertainment hub that can serve as a complete computer or smart TV. The Studio Display is an excellent Mac monitor but doesn‘t try to do as much. However, features like 96W charging and "Hey Siri" can still boost your Mac workflow.
Value & Verdict
After extensively comparing the Samsung M8 vs Apple Studio Display, it‘s clear both are phenomenal monitors that cater to different users and budgets. To summarize:
You should buy the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor if you:
- Want a fantastic value at $700 with a huge feature set
- Prefer a larger 32" 4K screen
- Need a great built-in webcam and smart TV functionality
- Want the flexibility to use the monitor with any device
- Don‘t need the absolute highest display performance
You should buy the Apple Studio Display if you:
- Use a Mac and want the most optimized, premium monitor
- Are a creator/professional who needs exceptional 5K sharpness and color accuracy
- Want the best built-in speaker system on any monitor
- Value a cleaner, simpler, and more compact design
- Have the budget for a higher-end $1600 monitor
For most people, I‘d give the overall nod to the Samsung M8. It‘s just such a versatile, full-featured, and affordable monitor that excels for productivity and entertainment. The webcam, smart capabilities, and bonuses like DeX and AirPlay make it a uniquely compelling package for the price.
However, the Apple Studio Display is worth the premium if you want the ultimate Mac monitor for creative work and media consumption. The display and sound quality are unrivaled, and the tight integration with macOS is very cool. Developers, designers, video/photo editors, and other pros will especially appreciate the Studio Display.
Ultimately, you can‘t go wrong with either of these smart monitors. By carefully weighing the strengths of the M8 and Studio Display against your needs and budget, you‘re sure to end up with a stunning display that‘ll supercharge your setup. Let us know which one you go with!