Buying a cheap-ish monitor for macbook air - few questions and general advice

[madeirabhoy]

Looking to buy an external monitor for my m2 MBA, its not for anything serious, just a bigger screen for general internet and spreadsheet and CIV VII use. no video editing or commercial printing.

Will any monitor work? will the cables in the box work or i need to add any adaptor?

guess i should be looking at 4k or is full HD fine?

when the macbook is open, will it work as two independent screens? and can i use it with a thirdparty keyboard with the macbook shut?

Local Worten has an ASUS 27" for €102 or LG, AOC, Samsung, Lenovo for around the same. then theres a couple that claim to be quad hd or QHD (??) for €145 ish, but i cant see 4k for less than €200. Dont want to spend more than i need to as its not a major need.

any advice appreciated

 

[Howard2k]

You need to consider the size of the monitor and your distance from it. 1080p on a 3" monitor means you have a pixel density of 734 PPI, while on a 24" monitor it's 91 PPI.

I use a 1080p 24" but larger than 24" and I'd go with 1440p or 4k.

 

[russell_314]

I use a 1080p 24" but larger than 24" and I'd go with 1440p or 4k.

This is good advice, especially if you’re working with text. I had a 32” 1080P monitor and it was terrible for working spreadsheets. If you’re just watching a movie or videos then it’s fine.

 

[BrianBaughn]

My recommendation is 4K at a minimum.

The cable question depends on the one purchased. Chances are you'll be going from the UBS-C on the MBA to a DisplayPort on the monitor.

"Yes" to two independent screens and yes to the keyboard in clamshell mode. Just search the webs for info on how to set all this up.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Take your MBair to a store that sells monitors, hook it up to demo units, judge with your own eyes. Be sure to look at the apps you are intending to use with it. Opinions are going to be all over the place but only you have your own eyes. Go see for yourself. It's so easy to do with a MBair- it's made to be mobile.

The difference in price for a "cheapish" 1080p and 4K monitor is relatively little... especially if you consider how long you might use this monitor.

Generally, they will come with basic cables to connect them. Since it's MBair with only USB-C-type connectors, you'll probably need to check which might direct connect. Else you may need a little hub in between: MBair to Hub to Monitor. Cables are relatively cheap. I'd focus my decision-making on finding the RIGHT monitor. It's the part of a computer that you'll see the most. All computing interactions lean on it. If the best one for you doesn't ship with a cable you need, I'd buy the cable separately vs. letting about a $20 part influence my choice for something with such a long lifespan and vitally important use.

Once you pin down some specifics you'll now definitely know you want- like the 1080p vs. 4K decision- do a search for that type of monitor. For example, "best 4K monitors under $XXX" where you fill in the most you are willing to spend. Then go read the descriptions and try to find maybe 3 favorites. Then go read/watch any and all reviews of those 3 to hopefully narrow in on 1 best of the 3. Buy that monitor and enjoy it for the next 10-12 or so years.

 

[madeirabhoy]

struggling as I live on a small island, no one got anything in stock.

so looking at two cheapish AOC monitors.

the cheaper is 4k but 60ghz, €180 AOC U27B3M (27'' - LCD - 4K UHD - 4 ms - 60 Hz - Preto

Then they have one thats only QHD, but 180ghz, AOC Q27G4X (27'' - QHD - Led IPS) for €200.

its mainly for web use, sometimes spreadsheets, Civ VII.

 

[salamanderjuice]

struggling as I live on a small island, no one got anything in stock.

so looking at two cheapish AOC monitors.

the cheaper is 4k but 60ghz, €180 AOC U27B3M (27'' - LCD - 4K UHD - 4 ms - 60 Hz - Preto

Then they have one thats only QHD, but 180ghz, AOC Q27G4X (27'' - QHD - Led IPS) for €200.

its mainly for web use, sometimes spreadsheets, Civ VII.

Higher refresh rate (Hz, not ghz) is mainly beneficially for playing action games (e.g, FPSs, Fornite, that kind of thing, not so much Civ VII). You'd probably prefer the sharper text of the 4K display for your use cases.

 

[arcite]

Benq make nice monitors

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'd just kick this can down the road until you can travel, taking your MBair with you and, as part of the travels, hitting some shops where you can connect your Mac and see with your own eyes. The very same pressure pushing you to choose without even seeing a screen in person will be pressure to NOT return it if you don't like what you get.

If me, I'd stall this decision until I can travel to a destination where I can try a variety on my MBair and judge with my own eyes.

ELSE, if you are friendly with fellow islanders, start asking around about who has desktop monitors and see if they'll let you come over and connect your MBair to their monitors. That might be a "friendly neighbors" way to quick sample a variety of monitors before you order.

This is a fairly important decision- the part of the overall computer you'll likely see & use the most. Monitors also tend to last 10+ years so- whichever one you choose- is probably one you'll be using as principle part of computer interaction until 2035 or later. It's worth some time & effort to try to get it as right as possible.

 

[Torty]

Still use an old 27" with FHD with my M3 Air. I am fine with it. I think it depends on where you come from. If you are used to work with a crisp display it might not be for you.
The font size is really fine with 27" and FHD.

 

[madeirabhoy]

Still use an old 27" with FHD with my M3 Air. I am fine with it. I think it depends on where you come from. If you are used to work with a crisp display it might not be for you.
The font size is really fine with 27" and FHD.

thinking ive decided even though ive decided its irrational. going to get worten to order the 4k 27" screen even though im using two screens at work that are just FHD and are crisp. just figure the extra cost will be forgotten about but if I decide at some point I wish id bought better then it'll annoy me.