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Finding a monitor for the Mini is an exercise in frustration!
- Thread starter Cassandle
- Start date
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It's finally happening!
ViewSonic has announced the VP3286-8K. And it only uses a single cable!
• 32-inch monitor with native 8K (7680x4320) resolution
• Adobe RGB 99%* for a wide color gamut coverage
• Color-blind mode with advanced color adjustments for improved color recognition
• Connectivity options include: Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort and a USB hub
• Available: Summer 2021 with an estimated street price of $4,999.99
ViewSonic has announced the VP3286-8K. And it only uses a single cable!
• 32-inch monitor with native 8K (7680x4320) resolution
• Adobe RGB 99%* for a wide color gamut coverage
• Color-blind mode with advanced color adjustments for improved color recognition
• Connectivity options include: Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort and a USB hub
• Available: Summer 2021 with an estimated street price of $4,999.99
How are you finding it so far? How was the colour accuracy etc. when you received it?
Are you connected to a Mini? I’m struggling to understand the value in paying more for USB-C - it seems like it‘s a great solution for laptops but less so far desktops.
There’s not much info about this model on the internet, so it’s hard to tell whether there’s anything else that distinguishes it from the S2721QS other than the ports.
I’m really enjoying it so far, I’m a Computer Science student so text clarity was key for me and it doesn’t disappoint. Colour Accuracy appears good to me (however I’m not overly sensitive to it) It’s certified for 99% sRGB so not as good as a MacBook but still quite good. I’m using a 2020 4 thunderbolt MacBook Pro 13 so I connect via usb c which I find to be excellent (especially with charging at 65W which won’t be needed with a mini). I personally think brightness is quite good compared to what I’ve read online, however like most monitors it’s a matte panel which dulls it down a bit and reduces sharpness in my opinion. My only issues with it is the lack of built in speakers meaning that I rely on either the in built MacBook speakers (which are good but less so with the lid closed in clamshell mode) or using Airplay to my HomePod mini. It doesn’t have an audio jack which makes it hard to connect seperate speakers. It also only has 1 USB C port (which I use for displayport) which I find limiting, the USB A 3.0 ports are on the underside of the monitor meaning when used any device sticks out (I’m being picky but it annoys me 😂). I use it in the “Looks Like 1440p” resolution as the default “Looks like 1080p” is too big for me. 1440p is the best choice between size and quality for me as 1080p although very sharp is massive. If you have any more questions or want some pictures of it or the various scaling option I can help.
Thanks so much. Text clarity is the thing I’m most interested in, as I work on my Mini all day with emails, documents, spreadsheets etc. I’ve been ruined by the screen on my iPad Pro - I know I’ll not get anywhere near that but I want something much better than the 24” HD monitor I have now.
Speakers are not really an issue for me. I don’t use the Mini for video calling and I Airplay to the HomePod for music.
I’m still really confused by the connection options, and whether USB-C is necessary for a desktop. If not, I can probably settle for the S2721QS (or the LG 27UL650, as the Dell seems to be impossible to get at the moment).
I think as long as you know you’ll not be using a laptop for the duration of the time you’ll have the monitor then I’d go for the S2721QS (I think it’s a very similar if not the same panel). Not used an LG monitor but I imagine they’re just as good as apple uses their panels for iMacs I believe. If there’s any chance you‘ll be using a laptop then I’d recommend the P2721Q (Or any USB-C monitor) as the convenience and cable management is brilliant.
Getting a USB-C monitor is a safer bet IMO. Since monitor are picky, you avoid using an adapter (if you ever want to have a second monitor). One USB-C, one HDMI, no adapter.
I'm not sure I understand, sorry. What adapter would I need for a Mini if I didn't connect the monitor via USB-C?
As Pldelisle said, without an adapter you can have either an HDMI monitor or a USB-C monitor, a DisplayPort monitor will always require an adapter. Choosing today a USB-C monitor means that in the future you could add either an HDMI or USB-C monitor, if you feel that could happen.
That‘s a very cheap monitor...
I read a couple of times that M1 has some difficulty with low PPI displays. The best is using a 4K display.
This LG could work fine, but there is a concensus that higher resolution works better. Maybe 11.2 will come to fix this.
As I don't have neither space nor money for a 4K display I chose a FHD instead. Which problems should I be aware of?
I'm currently using an Asus laptop with 1366x768p display so any change I think would be for the better.
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Guys, In the last 2 week I had a chance to try out the following monitors with my Mac Mini M1, and here are my thoughts on this:
(complete IMHO)
First, I decided to go with the native 2560X1440 resolution
1. BenQ EX2780Q (QHD) - ugly design, poor picture quality, not stable 144 Hz in Mac OS, nice sound
2. Dell U2520D (QHD) - perfect size, awesome design and picture quality BUT not enough sharpness of the text
3. Dell U2721DE (QHD) - same situation
So I ordered a few more models with 3810X2160 resolution (the texts on these monitors have MUCH BETTER sharpness)
4. LG 27UL850-W and a newer one 27UN83A (UHD) - nice design, not practical stand, good picture
5. BenQ PD2720U (UHD) - so expensive (over 1000$), outdated PC-Windows design, had to use HDMI to get 60 Hz, haven't noticed a significant difference with LG
6. Dell P2415Q (UHD) - found it for 200$, connected via USB-C - Display Port cable it shows 60 Hz, nice sharpness and picture quality. (Btw, the guy that was selling this had 5-7 displays more. I suppose, that he didn't know that the year of production of these models is NOV 2018! Because here in Spain the price for the same model in retail is over 500$!)
As a result, I'm considering between LG 27UN83A and Dell P2415Q. Both are great but Dell is 3X times cheaper and 24" is more convenient for me.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
---
In the past I used: MacBook Pro 2011, 2012, 2014; MacBook Air 2016, 2018; iMac 2011, 2013, 2019.
(complete IMHO)
First, I decided to go with the native 2560X1440 resolution
1. BenQ EX2780Q (QHD) - ugly design, poor picture quality, not stable 144 Hz in Mac OS, nice sound
2. Dell U2520D (QHD) - perfect size, awesome design and picture quality BUT not enough sharpness of the text
3. Dell U2721DE (QHD) - same situation
So I ordered a few more models with 3810X2160 resolution (the texts on these monitors have MUCH BETTER sharpness)
4. LG 27UL850-W and a newer one 27UN83A (UHD) - nice design, not practical stand, good picture
5. BenQ PD2720U (UHD) - so expensive (over 1000$), outdated PC-Windows design, had to use HDMI to get 60 Hz, haven't noticed a significant difference with LG
6. Dell P2415Q (UHD) - found it for 200$, connected via USB-C - Display Port cable it shows 60 Hz, nice sharpness and picture quality. (Btw, the guy that was selling this had 5-7 displays more. I suppose, that he didn't know that the year of production of these models is NOV 2018! Because here in Spain the price for the same model in retail is over 500$!)
As a result, I'm considering between LG 27UN83A and Dell P2415Q. Both are great but Dell is 3X times cheaper and 24" is more convenient for me.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
---
In the past I used: MacBook Pro 2011, 2012, 2014; MacBook Air 2016, 2018; iMac 2011, 2013, 2019.
Thanks for the advice. I connected P2415Q to my Mac Mini M1 via USB-C - DisplayPort cable and it works flawlessly! Btw, this is the only type of connection that supports 60 Hz.
Could you share your display settings, please?
- do you have 'Uniformity Compensation' (in the 'Display' tab) - Calibrated or Off?
- which 'Preset Mode' you prefer?
- 'Input Color Format' is YPbPr, right?
- What Brightness/Contrast settings do you have?
- Did you try to calibrate it? ... any other setups to get the most from this display?
Guys, In the last 2 week I had a chance to try out the following monitors with my Mac Mini M1, and here are my thoughts on this:
(complete IMHO)
First, I decided to go with the native 2560X1440 resolution
1. BenQ EX2780Q (QHD) - ugly design, poor picture quality, not stable 144 Hz in Mac OS, nice sound
2. Dell U2520D (QHD) - perfect size, awesome design and picture quality BUT not enough sharpness of the text
3. Dell U2721DE (QHD) - same situation
So I ordered a few more models with 3810X2160 resolution (the texts on these monitors have MUCH BETTER sharpness)
4. LG 27UL850-W and a newer one 27UN83A (UHD) - nice design, not practical stand, good picture
5. BenQ PD2720U (UHD) - so expensive (over 1000$), outdated PC-Windows design, had to use HDMI to get 60 Hz, haven't noticed a significant difference with LG
6. Dell P2415Q (UHD) - found it for 200$, connected via USB-C - Display Port cable it shows 60 Hz, nice sharpness and picture quality. (Btw, the guy that was selling this had 5-7 displays more. I suppose, that he didn't know that the year of production of these models is NOV 2018! Because here in Spain the price for the same model in retail is over 500$!)
As a result, I'm considering between LG 27UN83A and Dell P2415Q. Both are great but Dell is 3X times cheaper and 24" is more convenient for me.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
---
In the past I used: MacBook Pro 2011, 2012, 2014; MacBook Air 2016, 2018; iMac 2011, 2013, 2019.
Hi,
Did you check if the LG 27UL850-W connects in RGB or YPbPr mode?
How did you like the overall image and text clarity on it compared to the iMac 5K?
Thanks for this.Guys, In the last 2 week I had a chance to try out the following monitors with my Mac Mini M1, and here are my thoughts on this:
(complete IMHO)
First, I decided to go with the native 2560X1440 resolution
1. BenQ EX2780Q (QHD) - ugly design, poor picture quality, not stable 144 Hz in Mac OS, nice sound
2. Dell U2520D (QHD) - perfect size, awesome design and picture quality BUT not enough sharpness of the text
3. Dell U2721DE (QHD) - same situation
So I ordered a few more models with 3810X2160 resolution (the texts on these monitors have MUCH BETTER sharpness)
4. LG 27UL850-W and a newer one 27UN83A (UHD) - nice design, not practical stand, good picture
5. BenQ PD2720U (UHD) - so expensive (over 1000$), outdated PC-Windows design, had to use HDMI to get 60 Hz, haven't noticed a significant difference with LG
6. Dell P2415Q (UHD) - found it for 200$, connected via USB-C - Display Port cable it shows 60 Hz, nice sharpness and picture quality. (Btw, the guy that was selling this had 5-7 displays more. I suppose, that he didn't know that the year of production of these models is NOV 2018! Because here in Spain the price for the same model in retail is over 500$!)
As a result, I'm considering between LG 27UN83A and Dell P2415Q. Both are great but Dell is 3X times cheaper and 24" is more convenient for me.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
---
In the past I used: MacBook Pro 2011, 2012, 2014; MacBook Air 2016, 2018; iMac 2011, 2013, 2019.
I keep seeing people mention the Dell P2415Q. It would actually be ideal for me as I've already got a 24" monitor, so a 27" inch next to it will be overkill. But this monitor is pretty old and hard to get hold of (and where it is available it's about the same price as a P2721Q). Unfortunately that's about it in terms of 24" 4K options (other than the very very expensive LG Ultrafine). I'm not sure I'd be happy with a QHD resolution otherwise the Dell U2520 would be perfect.
Unless a P2415Q pops up at a great bargain like you found, it'll be the P2721Q or the LG 27UL850 for me.
What was the issue with the stand on the LG monitor?
So, it should do 60Hz over HDMI, but it needs the newer Firmware. If those were manufactured in 2018 they definitely should be updated already. However I don't really use the HDMI ports (I have a cable plugged in if I need to reboot/update, because the DP is connected via eGPU, but I've only used it once, for about a minute).
I have not calibrated them - I don't do anything even remotely close to colour sensitive. Mine came with a certificate from Dell saying they'd been calibrated at the factory. I plugged them in, they worked, reds look red, blues look blue, etc.
I don't know what that first setting is, so I'm not sure sorry.
I just checked, the preset mode on one was "standard" and the other "custom color" but I couldn't see a difference.
Input Color Format is actually set to RGB on mine.
The brightness varies (I use https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/releases to control it from the regular brightness keys). Contrast is at 75% on both.
That is ridiculously cheap. I wonder what shipping would be from Spain to Thailand...
Probably because you have an Intel with eGPU.
Thanks for the tool for brightness. Didn’t know it !
I can't find this RGB/YPbPr option in the LG menu (just re-checked this again to be sure). In all remaining displays, it was set to YPbPr by default.
With the default settings (as a new display), I want to adjust some settings to get a 'better' image, - this is my feeling. For sure, on iMac you're getting a perfect picture right out of the box. However, I saw in a couple of reviews that you can tweak the LG monitor to get closer to the ideal picture too.
Possibly. I have no idea. As I explained in.. I dunno, a thread somewhere. The most important colour for my work is a bit of syntax highlighting, so perfect colour accuracy isn't really a thing for "make this text kind of red and that text kind of green"