The Legitimacy of Apple's $1,000 Monitor Stand: An Unconventional Perspective
With a whopping $5,000 price tag, Apple's new Pro Display XDR certainly isn't cheap. But hey, you're getting a 32-inch, 6K resolution screen with full HDR support (boasting a mind-boggling 1600 nits of brightness), and some claim its color reproduction beats OLED. So, where's all that money going, huh?
But hold on a minute! You're not done shelling out the big bucks just yet. Apple announced that the stand for this pricey display will set you back an extra grand. Yep, that's a cool $1,000 just for the monitor stand. And guess what? You better love it, because aside from Apple's $200 VESA mount adapter, the Pro Stand is the only non-DIY option for keeping your expensive monitor from toppling over.
Needless to say, people had a lot to say about this pricey stand. After Apple's keynote, the audience let out an audible gasp at the announcement, and Apple's expensive stand was the talk of WWDC 2019. With a crowd of tech-savvy individuals in the room, Apple's sticker shock still hadn't set in.
Now, don't get me wrong. The Pro Display XDR's stand isn't just a static arm. It does allow the display to rotate into portrait mode and features a clever hinge for adjusting the display's height and angle. Plus, it has a magnetic connector, making it easy to detach the stand for transportation. But is $1,000 for a monitor stand really worth it?
Comparing Apple's expensive stand to the Surface Studio 2's screen mount, the price seems even more outrageous. The Surface Studio 2, which starts at $3,500, includes a 4500 x 3000 28-inch touchscreen, among other things. Now, if you've got $5,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you could buy a new iPhone XS, two 4K TVs, or over three Nintendo Switches - or who knows, maybe invest in a Chef's best 112 cheese graters!
But hey, Apple's products aren't for the average Joe. They're meant for high-end design firms and animation studios with massive equipment budgets. Maybe if Apple had just priced the Pro Display XDR at $6,000 and included the stand as a freebie, things would have been different. After all, at $5,000, who even considers the Pro Display XDR an option to begin with?
So, is Apple's $1,000 Pro Stand ridiculous? Well, sure. But it's ridiculously overpriced for a reason - because it's a premium product designed to meet the needs of high-end clients. Is it a rip-off? Not necessarily. Compared to other high-end products, it's not that outlandish. Plus, who needs a mouse with a port at the bottom or a gold-plated Apple Watch, anyway? And let's face it, the Pro Display XDR and its stand weren't meant for us regular folks anyway.
Despite the expensive $5,000 price tag, the Pro Display XDR's future in the tech industry appears promising due to its impressive 6K resolution and HDR support. However, the addition of an expensive $1,000 stand to the package might push potential buyers towards exploring alternative options with more affordable stands. With a creditline, one could consider purchasing expensive tech displays like the Pro Display XDR, but scrutinizing the value for money becomes crucial. If you're eyeing the Surface Studio 2, the $3,500 device offers a 28-inch touchscreen and other components, making it a more budget-friendly alternative for certain individuals.
