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Finding a monitor for the Mini is an exercise in frustration!

C

Cassandle

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 4, 2020
330
309
I took the plunge and bought the M1 Mini last week. I had been thinking about waiting for the first M1 iMac but I needed a machine now and decided that the base model Mini and a monitor would be a similar price to any base model iMac.

But looking for a monitor has been horrible, and it's really made me appreciate the simplicity and quality of Apple's devices.

  • Monitor names are impossible to decipher. It's just a list of letters and numbers that - screen size apart, gives you no information about the device
  • It seems that even the well-rated monitors are compromised in some way. Uniformity, backlight bleed, colour accuracy, response time. It's almost like manufacturers aren't able or willing to make a device that's 'no compromise'
  • For some reason manufacturers don't think that having a screen that's calibrated so that colours look like they are supposed to is worth investing their time in, unless you pay more
  • Grainy matte displays - it's all well and good having QHD or 4k resolution, but if the screen is textured and grainy it'll still look blurred
There's no point to this really other than to rant. I've spent way too much time looking at monitors, reading specs, reading reviews and am still none the wiser about what to get. Or rather, I'm not certain I've found something that would make me happy and leave me without any sense of having compromised on one or more features.

This all makes me appreciate Apple even more. I look at my iPhone XR and iPad Pro displays and they are just incredible. And the entire device costs less than a third party monitor of equivalent spec.

I just wish Apple made a consumer screen. :(
 
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I feel the same way as the OP, but I just picked up two 32” LG displays at Sams Club. I’m still waiting on my Mini to arrive, so I haven’t even opened them yet. They should be good enough for me. When the 27” or larger silicon iMac comes out, I may sell the mini and get that, but these should hold me over until then.
 
1. Decide on WHAT SIZE display you want (24", 27", 32", etc.).

2. Decide what RESOLUTION you want (i.e., 4k that "looks like" 1080p)

3. Consider what INPUTS you want the display to offer (i.e., displayport, HDMI, etc.).

4. Narrow your choice down to a few manufacturers.

5. Read up on user reviews of 3 or 4 possible choices.

A list that might be of some use to you:
IPS Monitor List: Best AHVA, PLS & IPS LCD Displays
 
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Fishrrman said:
1. Decide on WHAT SIZE display you want (24", 27", 32", etc.).

2. Decide what RESOLUTION you want (i.e., 4k that "looks like" 1080p)

3. Consider what INPUTS you want the display to offer (i.e., displayport, HDMI, etc.).

4. Narrow your choice down to a few manufacturers.

5. Read up on user reviews of 3 or 4 possible choices.

A list that might be of some use to you:
IPS Monitor List: Best AHVA, PLS & IPS LCD Displays
Click to expand...
Also, PICK A BUDGET.

The PC hardware guys are FAR better at reviewing monitors than any of the Apple-focused sites.

For my Mac mini 2018 I initially used a 27" LG 27UL850-W 4K UHD monitor which is an excellent productivity monitor. I recently moved to a 32" Dell S3220DGF 1440p QHD monitor because I wanted a device that would also run natively at 1440p for good gaming performance.

After an ill-fated attempt with a BenQ QHD monitor, I ended up with the Dell based on this review:

Dell S3220DGF Gaming Monitor Review: High-Performance Work and Play

A 32-incher fit for office work and speedy gaming.
www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com

from the still reputable venerable Tom's Hardware review site (which I used to read in the late Nineties).

Generally speaking, Dell is a solid monitor brand. My previous 1080p Dell monitor lasted 13 years before it died. Even the cables that Dell ships with their monitors are sturdier and of thicker gauge than most of their competitors.

I kept the LG UHD monitor as a spare and moved it into another room in my home.
 
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Erehy Dobon said:
Also, PICK A BUDGET.

The PC hardware guys are FAR better at reviewing monitors than any of the Apple-focused sites.

For my Mac mini 2018 I initially used a 27" LG 27UL850-W 4K UHD monitor which is an excellent productivity monitor. I recently moved to a 32" Dell S3220DGF 1440p QHD monitor because I wanted a device that would also run natively at 1440p for good gaming performance.

After an ill-fated attempt with a BenQ QHD monitor, I ended up with the Dell based on this review:

Dell S3220DGF Gaming Monitor Review: High-Performance Work and Play

A 32-incher fit for office work and speedy gaming.
www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com

from the still reputable venerable Tom's Hardware review site (which I used to read in the late Nineties).

Generally speaking, Dell is a solid monitor brand. My previous 1080p Dell monitor lasted 13 years before it died. Even the cables that Dell ships with their monitors are sturdier and of thicker gauge than most of their competitors.

I kept the LG UHD monitor as a spare and moved it into another room in my home.
Click to expand...
Good point about the review sites. I've been spending a fair bit of time on https://pcmonitors.info, which does a good job of explaining the technical stuff whilst also being very in-depth.

Dell monitors are at the top of my list. After much research I've narrowed down my shortlist to:

  • Dell U2520D
  • Dell U2719D
  • Asus PA278QV
Leaning towards the Dell 25" because I've already got a 24" 1080p monitor which I'm going to relegate to being second screen. I tend to sit quite close so I think the smaller screen may be better. It also has a USB-C port.

Decided on 1440p mainly for budget reasons. I'd love a proper retina-like pixel density but that will have to wait I think.
 
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Cassandle said:
I'd love a proper retina-like pixel density but that will have to wait I think.
Click to expand...
Depending on how close to "proper" (if by proper you mean, at least somewhat close to the ~220 Apple uses), you may have to wait a while. There's currently very few 3rd party displays that even come close. The 27" LG Ultrafine @ 5K is right on, but other than that the only close options AFAIK are the 24" LG Ultrafine @ 4K and the practically discontinued 24" Dell P2415Q @ 4K (both ~185PPI). The first is available from Apple, but only works via USB-C. The latter is significant cheaper than the LG, and ostensibly available from a few places, but lots of places suddenly have no stock if you try to order it.
 
Erehy Dobon said:
After an ill-fated attempt with a BenQ QHD monitor, I ended up with the Dell
Click to expand...

Curious as to what problems you had with the BenQ. I got a 32" QHD BenQ PD3200Q for my 2018 Mini in June and use it for many hours every day. I couldn't be happier, absolutely no problems at all and it looks great.
 
The primary issue was the BenQ's inability to correctly display HDR unlike my LG 27UL850-W on my Windows PC. I even used the same monitor and power cables (as well as a bunch of different ones) after fruitlessly searching for a BenQ firmware update.

The BenQ seemed to work okay with my Mac mini 2018 but I wanted the monitor for 1440p ultra gaming on my Windows PC in addition to its daily Mac productivity duties.

The Dell works great and I am unsurprised that Tom's Hardware put the Dell on their list of best gaming monitors. (That's actually how I decided to buy it.)
 
Last edited:
Got a new M1ni recently and I agree that it's confusing, especially because you can't see the different options and resolutions with your own eyes.

I'm looking at either 27" or 32".

The LG 27" Ultrafine 5K display seems great, but then I saw that it's more expensive than the M1ni itself... So yeah, that's not really an option for me.

I'm not obsessed by the whole "Retina" thing, but I want a bigger display than the 24" 1080p monitor I have with good colour accuracy and clarity of text. I'm no gamer so don't really care about stuff like 144hz and FreeSync.

I saw some people recommending going with 32" QHD. It's all confusing to me...
 
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Got this wee 35" LG Ultrawide monitor for the Mac mini 2018, using USB-C port and the display is amazing. The link posted below offers a lot of information about their product.

Liked to had the PBP or PIP which this monitor doesn't support, but can live without it.

www.lg.com

35" UltraWide™ QHD HDR VA Curved Monitor - 35WN75C | LG UK

Discover LG 35WN75C. Click for pictures, reviews, and tech specs for the LG 35" UltraWide™ QHD HDR VA Curved Monitor.
www.lg.com www.lg.com

Good luck, hope you find what you are looking for.
 
This actually looks like it may be the perfect monitor for the Mini for the budget conscious consumer, who also would use the device as a television. Usb-C, 4k, and its $320.

www.amazon.com

SAMSUNG 32-inch 4K UHD Smart Monitor with Adaptive Picture, Ultrawide Game View, Built-In Speakers, Remote, HDMI, USB-C, 2021 Model LS32AM702UNXZA, Black

The 32” M7 4K UHD Smart Monitor with Streaming TV is the monitor for every side of life. Get work done without a PC with the installed Microsoft Office 365, or by remote access to your office computer. Then switch to pure entertainment with the on-board one-stop entertainment system.* Binge watch...
www.amazon.com
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
binary wrote:
"I'm not obsessed by the whole "Retina" thing, but I want a bigger display than the 24" 1080p monitor I have with good colour accuracy and clarity of text. I'm no gamer so don't really care about stuff like 144hz and FreeSync.
I saw some people recommending going with 32" QHD. It's all confusing to me..."

The 24" 1080p display has a pixel size of .2767mm.

A 32" QHD 1440p display will have a pixel size of .2767.

Those numbers from this page:

So...
If you're satisfied with "clarity of the text" on the 24" 1080p, moving to a 32" 1440p (native resolution) will give you exactly the same pixel size.
 
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Fishrrman said:
binary wrote:
"I'm not obsessed by the whole "Retina" thing, but I want a bigger display than the 24" 1080p monitor I have with good colour accuracy and clarity of text. I'm no gamer so don't really care about stuff like 144hz and FreeSync.
I saw some people recommending going with 32" QHD. It's all confusing to me..."

The 24" 1080p display has a pixel size of .2767mm.

A 32" QHD 1440p display will have a pixel size of .2767.

Those numbers from this page:

So...
If you're satisfied with "clarity of the text" on the 24" 1080p, moving to a 32" 1440p (native resolution) will give you exactly the same pixel size.
Click to expand...
For >= 27 inch, 4K is definitely a requirement.

I will buy 2 Dell U2720Q when they get back in stock at 700$ CAD.
 
Bl0ckHe1d said:
Got this wee 35" LG Ultrawide monitor for the Mac mini 2018, using USB-C port and the display is amazing. The link posted below offers a lot of information about their product.

Liked to had the PBP or PIP which this monitor doesn't support, but can live without it.

www.lg.com

35" UltraWide™ QHD HDR VA Curved Monitor - 35WN75C | LG UK

Discover LG 35WN75C. Click for pictures, reviews, and tech specs for the LG 35" UltraWide™ QHD HDR VA Curved Monitor.
www.lg.com www.lg.com

Good luck, hope you find what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

Thank you Bl0ckHeld! This is what I'm looking for and the reviews on Amazon are great! I added it to my list.

Fishrrman said:
binary wrote:
"I'm not obsessed by the whole "Retina" thing, but I want a bigger display than the 24" 1080p monitor I have with good colour accuracy and clarity of text. I'm no gamer so don't really care about stuff like 144hz and FreeSync.
I saw some people recommending going with 32" QHD. It's all confusing to me..."

The 24" 1080p display has a pixel size of .2767mm.

A 32" QHD 1440p display will have a pixel size of .2767.

Those numbers from this page:

So...
If you're satisfied with "clarity of the text" on the 24" 1080p, moving to a 32" 1440p (native resolution) will give you exactly the same pixel size.
Click to expand...

Thanks Fishrrman!

I saw a couple of your posts when I did a search on the subject. What kind of display are you using on your end?
 
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I currently have 2x LG 27GL850 displays and would highly recommend them.

Most recent three others were the:
Asus PB278 - buggy firmware, sometimes hard locked up when waking up the display and had to be unplugged from power before it would respond.
Dell U2518D - strange issue with tearing in moving imagery - almost like V-Sync is permanently off.
LG 29UC88 - backlight uniformity issues that got worse over time, curved display just annoyed me, 21:9 aspect was more difficult to manage and sometimes caused applications to render incorrectly.
 
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This, and all the other "what display should I buy" threads make me wonder, what was it like when Apple did have quasi-consumer priced displays? I was a Mac user at the time, but didn't really read forums like this - did most people just end up getting the Apple display, or is it just the advent of 4K, HiDPI, and a great deal of size variations that makes it such a daunting thing for people now? Or was it always like this for a lot of people?
 
Hello OP, if you don't mind, I am recently pick additional monitor for my 7,1. I think isn’t too bad for your Mini.

Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Monitor - U2720Q
​

Main selling points :
  • Type-C interface, DisplayPort 1.4
  • Built-in USB 3 hub
  • Thin bezel, aesthetically still align with Apple design language
  • DCI-P3 color reproduction is good
  • Matte display, but since you can set up resolution in HiDPI mode a.k.a Retina display mode, viewing is still sharp crisp.
  • Under $600


u2720q_cfp_00000ff090_gy.jpg



Picture from Dell site.
 
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