27" display recommendation for 2018 Mac mini?

[Doc69]

I would appreciate if someone could recommend a great 27" display for a 2018 Mac mini. I want sharp text, good colors, and max $500 or so. Preferably cheaper. However, if there is a significant increase in quality by going over $500, then that may be OK too. And I'm not a gamer. I'm currently using a 23" Apple Cinema Display (aluminum) which I'm pretty happy with, but it won't connect properly via HDMI, it has issues with font smoothing on Catalina, and is too small. I usually prefer matte displays, but may try a glossy one if it won't result in reflection issues. I have bright light coming in from the left side slightly behind me.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

The LG 27UL850 monitor (4K@60Hz, "UI looks like 1920x1080") works well with my Mac mini 2018. For a while I was also using a MacBook Air 2019 with the LG monitor and the power delivery via Thunderbolt 3 was very convenient. There's a cheaper 27UL650 model that does not have USB-C input which you might consider if you have no need for power delivery for other devices.

I have recently switched to a Dell 32" 1440p@165Hz gaming monitor yet kept the LG. I moved the LG monitor to another room as a spare.

 

[jbsiii]

A used/refurbished Apple Thunderbolt Display might be an option -- plenty of them on eBay at ~$400. You will need a TB-2 to TB-3 adapter, but it's an affordable option w/ a built-in webcam if you need it.

 

[Doc69]

The LG 27UL850 monitor (4K@60Hz, "UI looks like 1920x1080") works well with my Mac mini 2018.

Great to know. I'm also looking at the LG 27BL85U-W, which is $117 cheaper, but to me looks like it has the same specs. Do you know the difference? Also, do you know if it works well via HDMI? I want to keep my TB3 ports for other peripherals but have had issues myself, as well as heard form other people, when a monitor is connected via HDMI to the 2018 Mac mini.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I don't anything about the 27BL85U-W. I glanced at the product page on the LG corporate site and it appears to be a nearly identical commercial ("business") version of my consumer monitor.

The 27UL850's HDMI input works fine with HDMI from my Mac mini 2018 as well as a couple of Windows PCs, an eGPU currently housing a Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 580 card, an old Apple TV and a standalone Sony Blu-ray player. Did I forget anything else? Probably. The LG monitor's HDMI works fine.

 

[IngerMan]

If I was looking for a 27” display. Then look no further, iMac 27”.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

How well does the iMac 27" work as a display for an Acer Swift 3 ultrabook? Or a Raspberry Pi 4 running Kodi/LibreELEC? Or a moldy iPod touch 6th generation?

Can I get adaptive sync with a custom built gaming Windows PC running an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER? Hardware ray tracing and DLSS while playing Control from Remedy? Minecraft? Fortnite?

All of my monitors and TV displays host multiple input devices.

 

[IngerMan]

Are you doing that with a Mac Mini? I don’t know how many users would want to do half what you stated. Probably 1%. 27” iMac. I stand by it. I had one for 5 years. If they go 32” min. I’ll go back.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I've owned a Mac mini for 10+ years. I plugged my Mac mini 2010 into a Dell 24" monitor which was also the display for many other devices. After all, that's one reason why monitors have multiple inputs.

Over the years, I've acquired new devices, got rid of old ones and saw the Dell 24" monitor die after 12 years of service. In the past couple of years I've used the LG 27" monitor and a Dell 32" monitor but the fact remains that I have multiple devices driving each monitor.

In the same way, I have multiple components driving my TV monitor.

Admittedly I live in a small condo. I guess if one lives in a huge house with lots of rooms, lots of real estate, lots of outlets, one can think one device = one monitor. I simply don't have the room for that.

Switching inputs on a monitor is something I got used to decades ago.

I will point out that getting adaptive sync on a monitor from a Windows gaming PC is hardly what I would consider a niche usage case. After all, the world has 10x more Windows PCs than Macs.

Look, OP is looking for a 27" monitor for an existing Mac mini 2018 that he already has in his possession. The suggestion of a 27" iMac that starts at $1800 seems a little out of whack.

 

[deksawyer]

To the OP, look no further than the Dell S2719DC. Connects right up with the Mini via USB C, no issues with standby, looks great with its matt screen and to me at least, text looks sharp and colours are great. Plus it looks pretty good on the outside too...

The only negative is it's not 32"!

Here it is next to my old 27 iMac.

 

[Fishrrman]

A list that might be worth checking out:
IPS Monitor List: Best AHVA, PLS & IPS LCD Displays

You want to decide if you want 4k or just 1080p.
Some users find 1080p on a 27" display "too grainy" for their tastes. My eyes are older and I have no problems with it.

Another consideration:
A 32" 1440p (2560x1440 native resolution) display (also called a "QHD" display).
Lots of usable screen real estate with these.

 

[uller6]

To the OP, look no further than the Dell S2719DC. Connects right up with the Mini via USB C, no issues with standby, looks great with its matt screen and to me at least, text looks sharp and colours are great. Plus it looks pretty good on the outside too...

The only negative is it's not 32"!

I got the Dell S2719DC this past week to compliment my iMac Pro. The monitor itself is fantastic. Bright enough to view during daylight in my incredibly-bright office, and has no issues with sleep/wake/restarting unlike almost every other external monitor I've tried in the past 5 years. I wish the stand had vertical adjustment so I could get the height to match the iMac, but the quality really is fantastic, especially for a "non-retina" monitor.

 

[F23]

Dell U2717D