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4K monitor for Mac Mini Apple M4 Pro - Video & Photo Editing

S

swoody

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 20, 2024
7
1
Hello all!

Just got the Mac Mini Apple M4 Pro and am now having to find a good quality non-Apple monitor for the first time (Apple displays are too expensive sadly). I am spoiled from years of using my 2017 27-inch iMac 5K. Hoping someone has recommendations for an affordable 4K or 5K monitor (27 inch and up).

I will be doing Photoshop and video editing using Da Vinci Resolve. I hope to keep the price to under $500 if possible.

FYI - I bought a BenQ PD2705U Mac-Ready Monitor 27" 4K UHD, but their Display Pilot 2 software does not seem to work well with the M4 Pro. And the software does not work at all since the latest Mac OS update (Sequoia 15.1.1 (24B2091). Which means I cannot control brightness or speaker volume from my keyboard, nor can I calibrate. I can use their "hot Puck" device but let me tell you that is very time-consuming when you adjust volume frequently

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
 
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I have the LG UltraFine 5k, which I've had since before the Apple Studio Display was introduced. It's.... fine. Well integrated with macOS for controls, etc... camera works fine.

If I had to buy today, I'd spring for the Studio Display for better ergonomics, brightness, and Center Stage camera. It "Seems" that the Studio Display speakers work better too, but I haven't tested side-by-side - and my hearing isn't the greatest - so take that with a grain of salt. The cost difference is around $300-$400 and for me, that's not enough savings to settle for the LG.

The alternatives would all be 4k, but I don't hav experience with those.
 
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I just discovered Monitor Control for my new Dell U4025QW, which otherwise would also not be controlled for volume or brightness keyboard keys before. Might also be a solution for your BenQ PD2705U.

github.com

GitHub - MonitorControl/MonitorControl: 🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs.

🖥 Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. Use Apple Keyboard keys or custom shortcuts. Shows the native macOS OSDs. - MonitorControl/Moni...
github.com github.com
 
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You won't find any 5K displays under USD 500.

Next option is to get 4K 27-inch displays and use BetterDisplay app to handle UI scaling.
 
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The new Asus ProArt PA27JCV is a 27" 5K monitor that would be great for you, but is $800. Maybe it will be on offer for Black Friday, but 5K for $500 does seem unlikely.
 
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"I bought a BenQ PD2705U Mac-Ready Monitor 27" 4K UHD, but their Display Pilot 2 software does not seem to work well with the M4 Pro. And the software does not work at all since the latest Mac OS update (Sequoia 15.1.1 (24B2091)"

It's common (when a new version of the OS is introduced) for manufacturers to "fall behind" insofar as compatibility for software and drivers is concerned.

BenQ will probably "catch up", but it might take a few months, at least.

Have you considered trying the "BetterDisplay" app?
Free to download and use "in free mode".
It may come close to "doing what you need".

You can also pay a small registration fee and unlock more features.
But the free version actually works for me (with a Dell Ultrasharp).

Get it here:
github.com

GitHub - waydabber/BetterDisplay: Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!

Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more! - waydabber/BetterDisplay
github.com github.com
 
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FreakinEurekan said:
I have the LG UltraFine 5k, which I've had since before the Apple Studio Display was introduced. It's.... fine. Well integrated with macOS for controls, etc... camera works fine.

If I had to buy today, I'd spring for the Studio Display for better ergonomics, brightness, and Center Stage camera. It "Seems" that the Studio Display speakers work better too, but I haven't tested side-by-side - and my hearing isn't the greatest - so take that with a grain of salt. The cost difference is around $300-$400 and for me, that's not enough savings to settle for the LG.

The alternatives would all be 4k, but I don't hav experience with those.
Click to expand...
Studio Display is obviously what I would go for if I could afford it, but even a refurbished one is too costly. And yes the speakers are great!
 
teohyc said:
You won't find any 5K displays under USD 500.

Next option is to get 4K 27-inch displays and use BetterDisplay app to handle UI scaling.
Click to expand...
Yes I figure I will have to get a 4K. Are there any (non-apple) monitors in particular you think are worth buying?
 
Kenny99 said:
I am not fibular with the M4 using a iMac as a display but i have seen posts about it. Might try looking into that.Not doable. This was my original hope, but it can't be done.
Click to expand...
This was my original hope, but sadly not doable
 
Fishrrman said:
"I bought a BenQ PD2705U Mac-Ready Monitor 27" 4K UHD, but their Display Pilot 2 software does not seem to work well with the M4 Pro. And the software does not work at all since the latest Mac OS update (Sequoia 15.1.1 (24B2091)"

It's common (when a new version of the OS is introduced) for manufacturers to "fall behind" insofar as compatibility for software and drivers is concerned.

BenQ will probably "catch up", but it might take a few months, at least.

Have you considered trying the "BetterDisplay" app?
Free to download and use "in free mode".
It may come close to "doing what you need".

You can also pay a small registration fee and unlock more features.
But the free version actually works for me (with a Dell Ultrasharp).

Get it here:
github.com

GitHub - waydabber/BetterDisplay: Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!

Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more! - waydabber/BetterDisplay
github.com github.com
Click to expand...
Thanks!!
 
I use a few-years-old LQ 4K 27" monitor and it's fine for working with LR and Photoshop.Not perfect mind you, but for the price-point, a more than adequate piece of hardware
 
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swoody said:
@njzebra thanks! What do you NOT like about it?
Click to expand...
Would like the blacks to be a little darker and there's a very minor light leak in lower left corner of the panel. Probably wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it. But overall, it suits my needs well
 
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njzebra said:
Would like the blacks to be a little darker and there's a very minor light leak in lower left corner of the panel. Probably wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it. But overall, it suits my needs well
Click to expand...
thanks!
 
Have you considered just working a few extra hours and springing for the Studio Display? It's probably the best monitor in the world outside of the XDR.
 
I too don't plan to buy Apple's Studio Display, not because I can't afford it, but because Apple wants too much for it, and also because the monitor stand is not as useful as the ones for the BenQ and other monitors. I plan to buy a M4 Mini this or next month once I have figured with one of these monitors works with the M4 Mini without problems. I will only use it mostly for light to medium photo-editing with an M4 Pro with the apps on an external 2TB SSD. That is, after figuring the fan noise issues being discussed in this and other forums. Noise does not bother me much, but CPU temperature does:

a. BenQ MA3200, 32" K4. Designed for Mac with a silver color back
b. BenQ PD 2705U, 27" K4. USB-C
c. ASUS PA32UCG, 32" K4. Thunderbolt-3
d. BenQ PD3220U, 32" 4K. Thunderbolt-3
*e. BenQ 3225U, 32" 4K.

I hear a lot of good comments about the ASUS ProArt screens.

*Edited to add item "e" above.
 
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This is the one I use: https://a.co/d/ecLhCJa

With the $200 coupon on it, it’s at $499. I’ve had no issues with mine. Solid 4K picture, HDR, lots of connectivity options.
 
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AlaskaMoose said:
I too don't plan to buy Apple's Studio Display, not because I can't afford it, but because Apple wants too much for it, and also because the monitor stand is not as useful as the ones for the BenQ and other monitors. I plan too buy a M4 Mini this or next month once I have figured with one of these monitors works with the M4 Mini without problems. I will only use it mostly for light to medium photo-editing with an M4 Pro with the apps on an external 2TB SSD. That is, after figuring the fan noise issues being discussed in this and other forums. Noise does not bother me much, but CPU temperature does:

a. BenQ MA3200, 32" K4. Designed for Mac with a silver color back
b. BenQ PD 2705U, 27" K4. USB-C
c. ASUS PA32UCG, 32" K4. Thunderbolt-3
d. BenQ PD3220U, 32" 4K. Thunderbolt-3

I hear a lot of good comments about the ASUS ProArt screens.
Click to expand...
Did you make a decision on a monitor?
 
gregmac19 said:
Did you make a decision on a monitor?
Click to expand...
The one I find the most interesting is not necessarily cheap, but not as expensive as the Apple screen. This monitor is the BenQ 3225U, a 31.5" 4K screen that costs around $1,000 US. But I still have to decide which M4 Mini I want, although more than likely I will opt for more RAM than SSD space because I will move the Home folder and apps to an external SSD. A 2TB external SSD should cost around $200.00. By the way, I will only use an external SSD enclosure that incorporates a cooling fan. I have seen some reviews about a couple of very fast external enclosures, and the one with a fan ran quite cool during a 15-minute of writing several folders of data. The other one is faster for a few minutes until its temperature increases, at which point it throttles down.
 
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moose bellowed in reply 21 above:
"But I still have to decide which M4 Mini I want, although more than likely I will opt for more RAM than SSD space because I will move the Home folder and apps to an external SSD."

My advice is to rethink this.

Reason why:
Look at how much has changed with the concept of "external booting" from the Intel days until now. I'm thinking that the changes are going to continue, as Apple slowly but surely moves at changing "the Mac OS" into "the Mac iOS" of the future.

I'm wondering if within, say, the next 4 or 5 years Apple may shut down the entire ability to boot a Mac from an external drive. Can one boot an iPad from an external drive (don't know, just asking)?

And this is coming from someone who has been booting Macs "externally" from the days of the Macintosh SE in 1987...

But I see "the writing on the wall"...
 
Fishrrman said:
moose bellowed in reply 21 above:
"But I still have to decide which M4 Mini I want, although more than likely I will opt for more RAM than SSD space because I will move the Home folder and apps to an external SSD."

My advice is to rethink this.

Reason why:
Look at how much has changed with the concept of "external booting" from the Intel days until now. I'm thinking that the changes are going to continue, as Apple slowly but surely moves at changing "the Mac OS" into "the Mac iOS" of the future.

I'm wondering if within, say, the next 4 or 5 years Apple may shut down the entire ability to boot a Mac from an external drive. Can one boot an iPad from an external drive (don't know, just asking)?

And this is coming from someone who has been booting Macs "externally" from the days of the Macintosh SE in 1987...

But I see "the writing on the wall"...
Click to expand...
Yes, what you wrote above could very well happen. And thank you! I plan to take my time deciding what to do. I can see the future Mac where one is tied online to Apple for everything one does: photo & video editing, business, banking, storage, and so on.
 
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teohyc said:
You won't find any 5K displays under USD 500.

Next option is to get 4K 27-inch displays and use BetterDisplay app to handle UI scaling.
Click to expand...
Do you know if using an Asus, 27", 2560x1440 native resolution the Mini M4 could have difficulties rendering text? Will it be pixelated?
 
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