Have you ever run multiple displays with different resolutions? Today’s featured Mac mini setup sports older Apple Thunderbolt Displays (2.5K resolution, aka 2560 x 1440p) flanking a newer Studio Display (5K, or 5120 x 2880p). Seems like that might cause a touch of seasickness looking back and forth between them all the time — or maybe a sticky mouse cursor — but it doesn’t bother the user at all. For them, it’s all about the excellent color reproduction across the board.
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Two Apple Thunderbolt displays flank Studio Display in M4 Mac mini setup
The 27-inch Apple Studio Display packs an impressive panel coupled with a six-speaker system and studio-quality microphones.
It’s not as beautiful as Apple's Pro Display XDR, but the Studio Display costs thousands less.
- Crystal clear 5K resolution
- Excellent color accuracy
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- Expensive
- Lacks HDR
- Height-adjustable stand costs extra
“My dream setup 2025” comes to us from Redditor Svesolid of Sweden, who drives a phalanx of Apple displays new and old using an M4 Mac mini and a 14-inch M1 MacBook Pro. He runs a Studio Display and a pair of older Thunderbolt displays. Apple discontinued its Thunderbolt Display in mid 2016.
“2025 is the year I finally got my dream setup,” they said. “I have owned a Thunderbolt Display for many years, bought a Studio Display a few years ago and now I bought a second-hand Thunderbolt Display.”
What else is in the setup? This: M1 iPad Air (5th generation), popular Logitech MX Master 3 wireless mouse and Logitech MX Keys wireless keyboard, excellent KEF LSX II speakers on KEF P1 Desk Pads, and Bower & Wilkins PX7 S2e over-ear noise-canceling headphones (which, at around $200 to $300 on sale, pass for affordable from that storied brand).
“All this to be able to do what I like most, electronic music production and photo editing,” they added. “What do you think?”
Commenters seemed impressed and curious.
Quality of Thunderbolt display versus Studio Display
Photo: [email protected]
“How do the two Thunderbolt Displays compare in quality when placed side by side with the Studio Display?” asked a commenter.
Svesolid acknowledged the big difference in resolution, but downplayed it.
“There is a slight difference, of course it is visible that one is 5K and the other 2K, but that is not something I think about,” Svesolid replied. “The color reproduction is just good on all of them. I am very satisfied!”
And then there was this description:
“Thunderbolt Displays had 1440p resolution, or 2.5K. Given that users worry about effects like mouse cursor sticking and jumping, or even getting headaches from differences in screen resolution, from lesser differences — say, 1440p vs 1080p — the gap between 5K (5120 × 2880p) and 2.5K (2560 x 1440p) seems pretty extreme. But how much it bothers you probably comes down to how much you have to focus as you look from screen to screen. Focusing on the Studio Display and occasionally glancing at the Thunderbolt Displays might not be too bad.”
Shop these items now:
This model of Apple's classic display features a glossy, LED-backlit screen with 2560x1440 pixel resolution, a built-in FaceTime HD camera and three USB 2.0 ports.
Computers:
Displays and light bar:
Input devices:
Audio:
- KEF LSX II Speakers on KEF P1 Desk Pads
- KEF subwoofer
- Bower & Wilkins PX7 S2e over-ear noise-canceling headphones
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually work fine). Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
