Apple Studio Display has a catch you need to be aware of

Apple Studio Display has a catch you need to be aware of

Apple's Studio Display comes with a selection of monitor mount options, but there's a major problem here: you can't change that mount later.

Whichever stand choice you make when shopping for a studio display, you're going to have to live with it forever. There is no going back if your work environment changes and you may need a different option in the future.

If you don't want to pay more, the options for the Studio Display stand are an adjustable tilt stand or a VESA wall mount. If you're willing to shell out some hefty extra cash, you can get an upgraded tilt and height adjustable stand for an extra $300 / £400 / AU$600.

However, as Apple clearly states if you click the "information" icon when deciding which mount you want with your 27-inch monitor: "Each mounting bracket or adapter is built in. They are not interchangeable, so it's important to keep that in mind." Consider the needs of your workspace at the time of purchase.” (Note that MacRumors first discovered this, by the way.)

Analysis: evident… or not

This seems pretty shortsighted from Apple. It's not inconceivable that someone could buy a monitor, then move into their home or office and, in the new setup, find that what they now need is a VESA mount, rather than the standard mount, to pick an example. One would think that it would not be so bad to change them, while paying for a new one, of course, but that is simply not possible.

That's very disappointing, and while we're at it, charging a few hundred extra bucks to be able to adjust the height of such an expensive screen also seems like an unfriendly decision for the consumer.

For anyone concerned about flexibility and the possibility of their mount being different in the future, simply getting a VESA mount might be the best solution. This could then be used with a third-party arm or stand, although the latter arguably won't look as fancy as Apple's built-in stand, at least you have options that way. However, it seems to defy logic that you don't have options in this regard anyway.