For all of you looking for external displays, a recommendation.

[midrus]

So I've spent a lot of time looking for an external display for my M1 Macbook Pro. Tried several and returned them because of the text not being sharp enough, low resolution, etc.

I finally settled on the LG 27UP850-W 4k display which is about 499 € here where I live. I can't recommend it enough.... extremely good display. Text looks really crispy, colors looks very good and, and except for being able to control its brightness from the macOS keyboard controls, everything integrates perfectly.

I love it. Totally recommended.

 

[usagora]

I recently bought another LG model (27UL500-W) which is around $300 USD and performs just as well based on your description. I use it with my M1 MacBook Air.

LG UltraFine 27-Inch Computer Monitor 27UL500-W, IPS Display with AMD FreeSync and HDR10 Compatibility, White

Immerse yourself completely with phenomenal image precision and ultra deep granularity with 4K UHD (3840x2160), presenting four times the resolution of Full HD with HDR 10’s industry standard for High Dynamic Range imaging. This IPS computer monitor helps keep colors consistent at a wide viewing ...

www.amazon.com

 

[midrus]

I think the 27UL500-W is actually the same screen (maybe released on different years?), so yes.

But the price difference I think is mostly due the connectivity/ports they have. The 27UP850 has a USB-C hub, so for example I don't need to connect my laptop to the power brick, as it is powered by the screen itself so with a single cable I get both video and power connection and can have more usb gadgets connected to the screen itself. Anyway, not sure if worth paying nearly twice just because of this ?. But quality wise, at least in the specs, does seem to be the same thing.

 

[questionwonder]

I recently bought another LG model (27UL500-W) which is around $300 USD and performs just as well based on your description. I use it with my M1 MacBook Air.

LG UltraFine 27-Inch Computer Monitor 27UL500-W, IPS Display with AMD FreeSync and HDR10 Compatibility, White

Immerse yourself completely with phenomenal image precision and ultra deep granularity with 4K UHD (3840x2160), presenting four times the resolution of Full HD with HDR 10’s industry standard for High Dynamic Range imaging. This IPS computer monitor helps keep colors consistent at a wide viewing ...

www.amazon.com

I have the last Intel Macbook Air (2020 I think), can I daisy chain 2 of these LG monitors together using my MBA?

 

[usagora]

I have the last Intel Macbook Air (2020 I think), can I daisy chain 2 of these LG monitors together using my MBA?

Take a look at this article for how to look up your specific MBA's video specs:

Connect a display to your Mac - Apple Support

Mac computers support one or more external displays, depending on the Mac model. Here's how to connect an external display.

support.apple.com

But I'm not sure how you would daisy-chain the display I linked to, as it only has video IN ports.

 

[Amethyst1]

I have the last Intel Macbook Air (2020 I think), can I daisy chain 2 of these LG monitors together using my MBA?

No, because macOS still doesn’t support daisy-chaining DisplayPort displays - only Thunderbolt ones.

 

[questionwonder]

Hi. Maybe daisy chaining wasn't the correct terminology. I just want to connect 2 monitors to the MBA. I'm waiting for Apple to release their next MB Pro line and hopefully new external monitors. I guess then I'll determine what monitors to get based on what Apple releases. Based on my machine I can connect

• "Up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors"

 

[Amethyst1]

I just want to connect 2 monitors to the MBA.

That's possible of course, but each monitor will need a separate cable to connect to the MBA. (That's not daisy-chaining.)

 

[usagora]

Hi. Maybe daisy chaining wasn't the correct terminology. I just want to connect 2 monitors to the MBA. I'm waiting for Apple to release their next MB Pro line and hopefully new external monitors. I guess then I'll determine what monitors to get based on what Apple releases. Based on my machine I can connect

• "Up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors"

I was surprised that my M1 MBA can't support dual monitors whereas your Intel MBA can.

 

[Amethyst1]

I was surprised that my M1 MBA can't support dual monitors whereas your Intel MBA can.

M1 MacBooks can only run one external display.

 

[usagora]

M1 MacBooks can only run one external display.

I know - that's what I'm saying I'm surprised by.

 

[Amethyst1]

I know - that's what I'm saying I'm surprised by.

First-gen device limitation I guess… Another example - M1 Macs can’t do HiDPI modes wider than 3008 pixels. Intel Macs can.

 

[TonyC28]

I recently bought another LG model (27UL500-W) which is around $300 USD and performs just as well based on your description. I use it with my M1 MacBook Air.

LG UltraFine 27-Inch Computer Monitor 27UL500-W, IPS Display with AMD FreeSync and HDR10 Compatibility, White

Immerse yourself completely with phenomenal image precision and ultra deep granularity with 4K UHD (3840x2160), presenting four times the resolution of Full HD with HDR 10’s industry standard for High Dynamic Range imaging. This IPS computer monitor helps keep colors consistent at a wide viewing ...

www.amazon.com

Are you still liking this LG monitor? I’m thinking of buying this one as an external display for my M1 MacBook Air.

 

[usagora]

Are you still liking this LG monitor? I’m thinking of buying this one as an external display for my M1 MacBook Air.

Yes, I use it every day as my main display with my M1 Mini at work and have zero complaints.

 

[TonyC28]

Yes, I use it every day as my main display with my M1 Mini at work and have zero complaints.

Awesome. Thank you!

 

[MacGizmo]

..and except for being able to control its brightness from the macOS keyboard controls...

Try a little utility (free) called MonitorControl. It will allow you to use Brightness, Sound, etc. keys on the Apple Keyboard with third-party displays that don't normally work with the built in keys. I use it with my LG display and it works great with one or multiple displays.

 

[ascender]

Are you still liking this LG monitor? I’m thinking of buying this one as an external display for my M1 MacBook Air.

We have one for use in the house by whoever needs it - still looks really good with any Mac or iPad to be honest - connect over a single cable and you're good to go.

 

[Basic75]

Yes, I use it every day as my main display with my M1 Mini at work and have zero complaints.

At which resolution?

 

[usagora]

At which resolution?

And I assume "default" means the advertised resolution of the display: 3840 x 2160. I don't see any actual resolution numbers shown in macOS like they used to be. Even if I click "Scaled" it doesn't show specific resolution numbers. In any case, I literally plugged it in the day I bought it and made no adjustments in System Preferences > Displays.

 

[Basic75]

And I assume "default" means the advertised resolution of the display: 3840 x 2160. I don't see any actual resolution numbers shown in macOS like they used to be. Even if I click "Scaled" it doesn't show specific resolution numbers. In any case, I literally plugged it in the day I bought it and made no adjustments in System Preferences > Displays.

You can go to the Apple menu, select "About this Mac", then click on "System Report" and choose "Graphics/Displays". If you select the right graphics card (if you have multiple) it should show you resolution information and more.

 

[usagora]

You can go to the Apple menu, select "About this Mac", then click on "System Report" and choose "Graphics/Displays". If you select the right graphics card (if you have multiple) it should show you resolution information and more.

Here you go:

 

[xraydoc]

Here you go:

View attachment 2082896

1920x1080 at 27" makes for some big text and UI elements. Definitely wouldn't be enough desktop space for me.

 

[usagora]

1920x1080 at 27" makes for some big text and UI elements. Definitely wouldn't be enough desktop space for me.

It literally looks the same as my 27" 5k iMac at home 🤷🏼‍♂️ At least I don't notice any difference. I haven't physically placed the two displays side by side. Anyway, if you're saying this in the context of a buying decision, it appears you can "scale" it to your desired "zoom" level.

 

[xraydoc]

It literally looks the same as my 27" 5k iMac at home 🤷🏼‍♂️ At least I don't notice any difference. I haven't physically placed the two displays side by side. Anyway, if you're saying this in the context of a buying decision, it appears you can "scale" it to your desired "zoom" level.

My point was that I'm surprised you're using it at this zoom level.

 

[usagora]

My point was that I'm surprised you're using it at this zoom level.

It's the default scaling, so I'm guessing it's a pretty commonly used one. I've literally never changed the default scaling in all my years of using Macs, and I'm guessing many others haven't either. Looks completely fine to me.