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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BenQ PD2730S review: For creatives using Mac, this 5K monitor ticks a checklist
A year ago, BenQ's PD3225U display set a really high bar for creator focused monitors, specifically for those using an Apple Mac Studio, a Mac mini or a MacBook Pro, for instance. A year later, it is the turn of the BenQ PD2730S to provide an alternative choice to gold standard that is the Apple Studio Display. This time around too, the demographic BenQ hopes to line up with their wads of cash, are the creative professionals. In terms of a price comparison, the PD2730S is priced at ₹1,02,500 while the Studio Display is priced ₹1,59,900. There are reasons to prefer each, and this is that sort of workflow, where personal preferences will eventually outweigh core specs. Speaking of which, these would generally revolve around how a user perceives clarity, colour reproduction, colour precision followed by the secondary layer of good-to-haves such as viewing angles, panel illumination levels and a matte coating, if at all. Apple charges extra for that option, BenQ has the nano-matte coating to reduce reflections available as standard with the PD2730S IPS monitor which has a 5K resolution (that's a good 218 pixels per inch on this 27-inch panel). The game to find value is clear, and that's only good news for a consumer who is spending top money for these optimised screens. One could arguably complain that BenQ could have done more to give the PD2730S a more upmarket look. Visually, the thick plastic chin and the plastic back don't really fit well on a premium display. It is a for-purpose design, and while there's nothing wrong with it, a premium touch was perhaps essential. No shortage of connectivity ports though, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort Alternate Mode as well as 90-watt power delivery. There can perhaps be an argument for a dedicated display port option, but for most workflows, this array should suffice. The software suite was the PD322U's strong suit, and that continues with the BenQ PD2730S. It can get a bit confusing for the uninitiated, but once everything is in place, this IPS display can really shine through. There is the Palette Master Ultimate software, essentially a calibrator if you have an external device such as a Datacolour Spyder, or the alternate being Display ColorTalk for similar controls. The BenQ PD2730S has Pantone and Pantone Skin Validation certifications, which lends credence to the sort of accuracy that creative workflows would require. Perhaps not what you and I may need for Zoom calls, but editing requires everything to be as realistic as possible. You can also download the BenQ Display Pilot 2 for finer display controls, such as desktop partitioning, daisy chain more than one monitor and configuring the Wireless Hotkey Puck. Compared to some previous displays, the wireless puck is rather fun to use — and a quick way to change settings, though for most use cases, once may be more than enough. The only real weak-link in the BenQ PD2730S proposition would be the middling 3-watt speakers. That's in stark contrast to Apple's speaker implementation in the Studio Display. These speakers, specifically, struggle to be too loud, have no sense of lower frequencies (due to the lack of any subwoofer) and barely enough to listen to a podcast as you get on with your work. An external speaker will be the need of the hour. The BenQ PD2730S is meant for creative workflows, and image quality, colour accuracy and viewing needed to be top notch. And it is, with the layer to reduce reflections, really adding value. One school of thought could point to a limiting 400 nits of brightness, which may be a tad on the lower side for certain video editing, but that may be a fraction of the collective time you spend with this display. Contrast, colours and viewing angles are a troika of strong points for the PD2730S, though you may feel an OLED panel could have given this monitor greater powers still. It is more cross platform too, than Apple's display, if you have a Windows machine to connect this with.
WIRED
11-03-2025
- WIRED
The Apple Mac Studio Is More Powerful Than Most Will Ever Need
In her review of the 2023 edition of the Apple Mac Studio, Brenda Stolyar called the pint-sized powerhouse 'the Goldilocks Mac' – suggesting its combination of performance and price was just about perfect for power users, at least those that don't need the hemorrhage-level bleeding edge performance of the Mac Pro tower. Today Apple aims to maintain that verdict, upgrading the device to keep up with the times and again releasing the Studio in two versions, one of which should be ideal for any creative. The 2025 Mac Studio can be configured either with the new M4 Max CPU or with the M3 Ultra. It may sound counterintuitive, but the M3 Ultra version is actually the more premium of the two SKUs, and by a significant margin; the Ultra design family has been described as merging two Max CPUs that the computer addresses as a single chip. There's no M4 Ultra CPU yet, so ultra-power users get the equivalent of a pair of M3 Max CPUs instead. This isn't a consolation prize. Most head-to-head benchmarks place the M4 Max as only slightly faster than the 2023-released M2 Ultra, with the M3 Ultra significantly ahead from there. For the moment, Apple bills the new Mac Studio as 'the most powerful Mac ever made.' Christopher Null Like its predecessors, the Mac Studio is a lunchbox-sized device that does not look at all like it should be the most powerful Mac ever made, but rather like something that should be operating a really nice stereo system. But looks are of course deceiving, and inside the sealed box you'll find plenty of oomph, designed with creators firmly in mind. I tested the entry-level M4 Max version, which includes a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, plus 36GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD for $1999. That lattermost spec feels a bit stingy in today's clime, but it can be upgraded (only at purchase) on the M4 Max model all the way up to 8TB of SSD storage. For comparison, the $3999 M3 Ultra version starts with a 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine, plus 96GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD. Maxed out with an 80-core GPU, 512GB of RAM, and a 16TB SSD, your price tag will hit a cool $14,099. The most powerful Mac ever made may well equate to the most expensive Mac ever sold as well. It perhaps goes without saying that the machine is meltingly fast, to the point where it's hard to accurately convey its power in text. The M4 Pro-based Apple MacBook Pro I reviewed last fall probably provides the best comparison I can offer, considering it's only one step down on the CPU ladder from the M4 Max. Christopher Null
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Apple Announces Updated MacBook Air and Mac Studio; Preorder and Learn More Info at B&H
Apple News: In a surprise announcement, Apple unveiled updated versions of the MacBook Air and Mac Studio. NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- B&H is pleased to share Apples refreshing the MacBook Air with an M4 processor and a new sky blue colorway, as well updating the Mac Studio with powerful M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. The Air is getting a price cut with the 13-inch and 15-inch models now starting at $999 and $1,199 respectively. The M4 Max Studio's asking price comes in at $1,999 while the M3 version starts at $3,999. Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4, Sky Blue) Key Features Apple M4 10-Core Chip 16GB Unified RAM | 256GB SSD 13.6" 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina Display 8-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3 2 x Thunderbolt / USB4 FaceTime Full HD 1080p Camera Backlit Magic Keyboard Force Touch Trackpad | Touch ID Sensor macOS Apple 15" MacBook Air (M4, Sky Blue) Key Features Apple M4 10-Core Chip 16GB Unified RAM | 256GB SSD 15.3" 2880 x 1864 Liquid Retina Display 10-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3 Dual Thunderbolt 4 Ports 12MP Center Stage FaceTime Camera Backlit Magic Keyboard Force Touch Trackpad | Touch ID Sensor macOS Apple Mac Studio with M4 Max Key Features Apple M4 Max 14-Core CPU 36GB Unified RAM | 512GB SSD 32-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine UHS-II SDXC Card Reader Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3 4 x Thunderbolt 5 | 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Port macOS Apple Mac Studio with M3 Ultra Key Features Apple M3 Ultra 28-Core CPU 96GB Unified RAM | 1TB SSD 60-Core GPU | 32-Core Neural Engine UHS-II SDXC Card Reader Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3 6 x Thunderbolt 5 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Port Thanks to the M4 chip, the new Air can deliver even better performance for daily activities like multitasking between apps. photo or video editing, and even gaming. The $999 entry-level 13-inch Air comes equipped with a 10-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 16GB of Unified Memory and a 256GB SSD. It's configurable up to a 10-Core GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD but expect that to run up the price quite a bit as is typical of Apple. The 15-inch Airs follow the same structure except the $1199 base already packs in the 10-core GPU. If you're upgrading from older Intel-based Air, Apple says you can expect the M4 models to deliver up to 23x faster performance. Battery life is better too, expect six more hours if you're coming from an older Air, clocking the new Airs around 18 hours or so. The Air can also now support up to up to two 6K displays simultaneously as well. The MacBook Air's aluminum unibody design and feature set remains largely the same, although Apple has added its 12MP Center Stage camera this time around. Center Stage gets its namesake from the camera's ability to keep you centered in the frame, even as you move around—it's great for those who FaceTime from their MacBooks often. Desk View is supported for who needs the ability to show a top-down view of whatever they're working on. As previously mentioned, Apple is also releasing new Mac Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips today. The entry-level Mac Studio with M4 Max comes equipped with a 14-Core CPU, 32-Core GPU, 36GB of Unified Memory and a 512GB SSD. It's configurable with M3 Ultra which for the most kitted out version, can pack a 32-Core CPU, 80-Core GPU, and up to a whopping 512GB of unified memory and 16TB SSD. All versions of the Mac Studio will support Thunderbolt 5 connectivity as well. Externally, the Mac Studio remains unchanged. There is a slight difference between the M4 Max and M3 Ultra models configurations with the former models featuring four Thunderbolt 5 ports on and the latter having six. The front features two Thunderbolt 5 ports and an SD card slot while the rear has a mix of Thunderbolt 5 and USB-C ports depending on the configuration. The GPU in M4 Max also brings Apple advanced graphics architecture to the Studio for the first time, including dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and a second-generation ray-tracing engine designed with seamless content creation or gaming in mind. That said, the new M3 Ultra chip can deliver nearly twice as fast performance than M4 Max when it comes to workloads that take advantage of high CPU and GPU counts. Pre-orders will be going live today for both the Mac Studio and MacBook Air with orders expected to ship starting March 12th, 2025. Learn more about Apple Updates MacBook Air with M4 and a Price Cut at B&H Explorahttps:// Learn about Apple's New Mac Studio Lets You Choose Between M3 and M4https:// Apple MacBook Laptops MacBooks Additionally Popular Pages Digital Camerashttps:// Mirrorless Camerashttps:// Camera Strapshttps:// Point and Shoot Camerashttps:// Film Camerashttps:// Now Trending Brother Laser Printershttps:// 4K Monitorshttps:// Curved Gaming Monitorshttps:// About B&H Photo Video As the world's largest source of photography, video, and audio equipment, as well as computers, drones, and home and portable entertainment, B&H is known worldwide for its attentive, knowledgeable sales force and excellent customer service, including fast, reliable shipping. B&H has been satisfying customers worldwide for over 50 years. Visitors to the website can access a variety of educational videos and enlightening articles. The B&H YouTube Channel has an unmatched wealth of educational content. Our entertaining and informative videos feature product overviews from our in-house specialists. You can view the B&H Event Space presentations from many of the world's foremost experts and interviews with some of technology's most dynamic personalities. Tap into this exciting resource by subscribing to the B&H YouTube Channel here. In addition to videos, the B&H Explora blog presents new product announcements, gear reviews, helpful guides, and tech news written by product experts and industry professionals, as well as our award-winning podcasts. Bild Expo 2025 - A Two-Day Celebration of Photography, Content Creation, and Filmmaking "Bild Expo is more than just an event—it's an energetic gathering of like-minded creatives from all corners of the content world," said Jeff Gerstel, Chief Marketing Officer at B&H Photo. "We're beyond excited to create this special opportunity for content creators, photographers, videographers, podcasters, and filmmakers at all levels to learn, connect, and be inspired by the leaders of our industry and the latest gear." Register Today!Secure your spot now! Visit to register and keep updated on event details. When you're in Manhattan, take a tour of the B&H Photo SuperStore, located at 420 Ninth Avenue. The techno-carousel spins all year round at the counters and kiosks at B&H. With hundreds of products on display, the B&H Photo SuperStore is the place to test-drive and compare all the latest gear. The B&H Payboo Credit Card offers the industry's best instant savings and special financing, subject to credit approval. Visit B&H's Payboo Page to learn more and apply. Contact InformationGeoffrey Ngai B&H Photo Video212-615-8820 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE B&H Photo
