Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleStudio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) | AppleStudio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | December 1999 | January 1999 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15.1″ | 16″ |
| Resolution | 1024 × 768 | – |
| Sharpness | 85 pixels per inch | – |
| Panel | LCD (TFT active-matrix LCD; Apple does not identify the panel subtype) | CRT (Nominal 17-inch Mitsubishi Diamondtron aperture-grille CRT, 16-inch viewable image; 0.25 mm aperture grille pitch. Vertically flat screen, without a fixed native pixel matrix.) |
| Supported signal modes | – | Supported signal modes include 1600 × 1200 at up to 60 Hz, 1280 × 1024 at up to 75 Hz and 1024 × 768 at up to 85 Hz. Horizontal scan 30–85 kHz; vertical scan 48–160 Hz. These are selectable CRT modes, not a fixed native matrix or one native refresh rate. |
| Screen coating | – | Antireflective and antistatic screen coating |
| Refresh rate | 75 Hz | – |
| Brightness (typical) | 200 nits | – |
| Contrast ratio | 200:1 | – |
| Shape | Flat | – |
| Colour depth | 24-bit colour, 8 bits per colour channel; up to 16.7 million colours | – |
| Viewing angles | Typical 120° horizontal and 90° vertical | – |
| Connections | ||
| Video inputs | DVI | VGA |
| USB-C charging | None | None |
| USB ports | 2 × USB-A | – |
| Other connections | 24-pin digital DVI connector using TMDS; two downstream USB 1.1 ports and an upstream USB lead. Display cable branches to DVI, USB and external power adaptor. No analogue computer, composite, S-video or audio input. | Captive 15-pin mini D-Sub VGA cable; included VGA-to-Macintosh adaptor for older Mac video connectors |
| Design | ||
| Stand adjusts | Height, tilt, swivel (better) | Tilt, swivel |
| Weight with stand | 5.5 kg | 20.8 kg |
| Size with stand | Desktop stand, 39.9 × 38.1–49.0 × 24.9 cm (width × height × depth). Picture-frame stand, 15.7 × 11.6 × 6.9 inches, weighing 3.5 kg. Apple datasheet's metric picture-frame height is inconsistent with its inch figure, so the published imperial dimensions are retained. | January 1999 maker datasheet gives 41.1 × 42.7 × 44.7 cm (width × height × depth); archived support sheet instead lists 18.9 × 16.5 × 16.9 inches (height × width × depth), an unresolved maker conflict |
| Weight detail | – | January 1999 M6221LL/A datasheet specifies 20.8 kg (45.9 lb); archived Apple support sheet instead lists 48 lb. The model-specific datasheet metric figure is used. |
| Controls | Power/system startup and sleep, plus two brightness buttons on underside of display; software colour calibration through USB | Power, brightness, contrast, on-screen geometry, convergence, degauss, moiré and colour-temperature controls |
| Colours | Translucent Graphite and white; distinct digital DVI hardware rather than a colour-only revision | Translucent Blueberry and white enclosure; the later August 1999 Graphite revision has the same performance and internal circuitry according to Apple's service manual |
| Power and support | ||
| Power use | Below 35 W operating, from December 1999 Apple datasheet. Archived support page labels 35 W as Energy Saver consumption and leaves maximum unknown; datasheet's operating specification retained. | January 1999 datasheet specifies maximum 150 W operating, less than 15 W standby and less than 5 W with the computer in energy-saving mode. Archived support sheet instead gives maximum 120 W; this maker conflict is retained. |
| Power supply | External power adaptor, 100–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz; mains frequency is not a published display refresh rate | January 1999 datasheet specifies 90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz; these are mains ratings, not display refresh rates |
| Software | Apple service manual and revision-specific support note place this DVI model in December 1999; the August date repeated by some secondary histories is not used. Apple Canada's 6 December announcement says it could be ordered and was expected to ship before year-end; first retail month is retained without inventing a day. Native resolution is 1024 × 768; Apple's Japanese support sheet explicitly specifies 70 or 75 Hz at native resolution; the English archived support sheet and December datasheet omit the refresh rates. Maker compatibility is Power Mac G4 with ATI RAGE 128 Pro graphics and built-in USB, running Mac OS 9.0 or later. Maker support lists 15.1-inch viewable size while the datasheet rounds to 15 inches. | Maker announced the new Studio Display family on 5 January 1999; January retail precision is used because a distinct first-sale day is unconfirmed. January datasheet lists Power Macintosh G3 with Mac OS 8.0 or later. Brightness and contrast ratio are unpublished and omitted; no pixel density is assigned to this CRT. |
| In the box | Display, desktop stand, picture-frame stand, power cord and adaptor, Apple Displays software and user manual | Display, Apple Displays software, power cord, VGA-to-Macintosh adaptor and user manual |
More comparisons
- Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (2026)
- Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display XDR
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (2026)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display XDR
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (2022)
- Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (2022)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (17-inch LCD, 2001)
- Apple Studio Display (17-inch LCD, 2001) vs Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999)
- Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT ADC, 2000)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch ADC, 2000) vs Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch ADC, 2000) vs Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT ADC, 2000)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch LCD, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch LCD, 1998) vs Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999)
- Apple Studio Display (15-inch DVI, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (21-inch CRT, 1999)
- Apple Studio Display (17-inch CRT, 1999) vs Apple Studio Display (21-inch CRT, 1999)

