Brightness control with non-Apple monitors?

[Sensamic]

I'm looking to buy a Mac Mini and a Samsung/HP 4K monitor and have a doubt: is it possible to adjust the brightness of the monitor from the keyboard just like with an iMac?

I've seen many YouTube videos where the brightness on these monitors is adjusted with the keypad behind the monitor. Don't know how this works with a Mac.

Thanks!

 

[Bigwaff]

Even if Mac specific keyboard function don't work w/ the monitor, the application BetterDisplay most likely will...

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

 

[Sensamic]

But what is everyone's experience on this? Does the brightness keyboard button work normally when using an external display?

 

[AZhappyjack]

But what is everyone's experience on this? Does the brightness keyboard button work normally when using an external display?

It will not work on non-Apple monitors without third party software... there are a number of options... but you need to use one.

 

[tstafford]

Better Display has been very good w/ my Dell.

 

[xraydoc]

Monitor Control is another.

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

 

[MacGizmo]

Better Display is good, but in my eyes, MonitorControl is the better option unless you need the specific features that Better Display offers (virtual displays).

 

[tstafford]

Better Display is good, but in my eyes, MonitorControl is the better option unless you need the specific features that Better Display offers (virtual displays).

When you say "to your eyes" what do you mean? Do you think it handles the software brightness better - in a more accurate way or something?

 

[MacGizmo]

"In my eyes" in the context of this discussion means "in my opinion." In my opinion, MonitorControl offers the same basic features in a cleaner/simpler interface. Both apps are free. The advantage Better Display has is that it offers a lot more "techy" stuff like virtual screens and custom resolution building. But it doesn't sound like you (or even most people) want or need that.

Both apps do the basics the same, which is very well.

 

[tstafford]

"In my eyes" in the context of this discussion means "in my opinion." In my opinion, MonitorControl offers the same basic features in a cleaner/simpler interface. Both apps are free. The advantage Better Display has is that it offers a lot more "techy" stuff like virtual screens and custom resolution building. But it doesn't sound like you (or even most people) want or need that.

Both apps do the basics the same, which is very well.

Got it. Thanks for the clarification.

FWIW - I chose BD because I needed the ability to edit the native resolution on the Dell 6K until Apple (surprisingly) fixed the HDR/resolution issue in Sonoma.