Earlier this year, Apple decided to completely discontinue Pro Display XDR. The Pro Display XDR was great hardware, but it hadn’t been updated in years and was still over $6,000. The company’s new lineup consists of the Studio Display and the new Studio Display XDR, which are impressive in themselves, but both currently only offer 27-inch 5K displays. XDR pricing starts at a hefty $3,299 and specs go up to $3,600 before tax. So it opens up the possibility of someone offering a larger Retina-class monitor for Mac users, and that’s exactly what the new Meirro Pro does. Meirro Pro is a 32-inch 6K monitor made with full aluminum construction. It’s a one-cable solution with an adjustable stand for just $1,199. I use this as my main display, and while some compromises have allowed the Meirro to reach its price point, it might be the most convincing Studio Display alternative I’ve tested. Here’s what you need to know:
Check out the Meirro Pro hands-on video to see for yourself.
design and specs
The first thing you’ll notice is how similar it is to the current Apple Studio Display. This monitor fits naturally and beautifully into any Apple setup. It’s made from full CNC machined aluminum and comes with a matching stand, giving it a very premium feel. The construction of the display gives you confidence in any setup. Most non-Apple monitors use plastic casings with stands that are often unnecessarily flimsy, but the Meirro Pro doesn’t use plastic anywhere in its construction.
Unpacking and setting up this monitor is also very easy. Attach the base to the stand, secure the stand to the back of the display, plug it in, and it powers on. The monitor is minimal with no buttons at all, and the best part is that the power supply is built into the display. This eliminates ugly power supplies dangling from power cables and allows for a very clean setup. The monitor ships with an adjustable stand and VESA mount at no additional cost. Again, this has a very Apple-inspired look and aesthetic, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Meirro Pro display specifications
Now, what about the actual display? As I mentioned at the beginning, this is a true 6K panel. It’s a 32-inch Nano IPS black panel with a resolution of 6144 x 3456, equivalent to 224 ppi, for retina-class clarity. The main specifications to consider are:
- 32 inch Nano IPS black panel
- Resolution 6144×3456
- 224PPI
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 2,000:1 contrast ratio
- 10-bit color with over 1.07 billion colors
- 98% DCI-P3 coverage
- Adobe RGB coverage rate 99.5%
- 450 nits standard brightness and 750 peak HDR brightness
The panel also has a glossy anti-reflective finish as the only viewing option. I wish there was an optional matte coating finish, but the glossy finish looks great even in rooms with lots of windows.
Port selection and accessories
Like Apple’s display products, the Meirro Pro kept it simple by offering five USB-C ports as the only I/O on the back. One port acts as the primary upstream connection and supports DisplayPort 2.1, up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth, and up to 96 W of power passthrough to ensure your MacBook stays charged. This means that a single cable can carry 6k video signals. The other four USB-C ports are downstream ports that are quite limited in terms of data speeds, as they are USB 2.0 ports. However, it’s more than capable of handling things like webcams, speakers, and other peripherals.
Since the Meirro Pro has no buttons (not even a power button), it ships with a remote that looks a lot like the previous generation Apple TV remote. This remote control has a power button that allows you to enter display system settings if needed.
My experience and setup
I’ve been using the Meirro Pro as the main and only monitor in my desk setup, and it’s been a great experience. The 32-inch display size and 6K resolution combine to give you both the physical space and pixel density you need in a high-end Mac display.
This setup is easy. I’m someone who uses a lot of external SSDs, and I like to use a Satechi Thunderbolt hub, so I wired my monitor through that hub. I have a Thunderbolt cable connected from my monitor to my hub, and another Thunderbolt cable from my hub to my MacBook Pro. Everything works as expected.
I tested this monitor with all of my normal workflows and it handled everything with ease. I’ve tested Final Cut Pro, timeline, and organizing all my media files, and having the extra screen real estate is very helpful. A large part of my working time is also research, which requires me to have a lot of tabs and windows open at the same time. The extra pixel density made it feel like you had a larger display than 32 inches. The most important thing about this monitor is that it has 224 PPI. This allows not only macOS but also iPadOS to scale as Apple intended.
The last thing I’d like to mention is that the build quality helps a lot in terms of wobble. Most of these monitors wobble when you’re typing at your desk, especially if you use a sit-stand desk like I do. Therefore, a combination of building materials and a sturdy stand can be very helpful in reducing that wobbling. So, on paper and in practice, the Meirro Pro makes a strong case for being a studio display replacement. However, at this price point, there were some compromises that need to be mentioned.
compromise
Then again, a CNC aluminum 32-inch 6K monitor for less than $1,200 seems too good to be true. Meiro had to make some decisions to get down to this price. Most potential buyers will compare this to the Studio Display, so it’s important to note that omission. Meirro Pro does not or does not support:
- built-in webcam
- no speaker
- no microphone
- Does not support daisy chain connection
Now, for me personally, these omissions were worth the cost savings. Because I already have an external webcam and speakers. I don’t mind the lack of a microphone, as I use AirPods and Shure microphones when needed. But I just wanted to let these things know to educate anyone looking into this monitor.
The final compromise I noticed was the speed of the USB-C port on the back of the display. Apple’s Studio Display has a total of four USB-C ports, two with Thunderbolt ports and the other two with USB 3.0 speeds. The Meirro Pro offers more USB-C ports, but only one Thunderbolt port, and the other four have very slow USB 2.0 speeds. Again, it’s not a big deal for me as I have a Satechi Thunderbolt dock, but I can see others needing a faster port.
But even after seeing these compromises, I still think it’s safe to recommend it over Apple’s Studio display given the sheer value you get from the Meirro Pro.
Price and availability
The Meirro Pro typically starts at $1,299, but is currently available for pre-order for $1,199. Orders are expected to begin shipping on August 1st. Technically, if you already have a monitor arm, you can opt out of the stand and save $50, bringing your total price down to $1,149. The $1,199 price includes:
- Meirro Pro Monitor
- aluminum stand
- VESA mount
- USB-C cable
- power cable
- remote
final thoughts
Meirro Pro is the best true Studio Display replacement I’ve tested. For $1,199, you get a 32-inch, 6K display with retina-class clarity, a glossy Nano IPS black panel, full aluminum construction, one-cable Mac connectivity, an adjustable stand, and a VESA mount. If you want Apple’s most complete all-in-one desktop experience, you still have the advantage of the Studio Display, but if you already have some external accessories and really prioritize screen size, resolution, build quality, and value, the Meirro Pro is an easy recommendation.
What do you think? Is this a monitor to consider? Already have a Studio Display? Missing the Pro Display XDR? We’d love to know your thoughts. Again, check out the video to see it in action.
