Is there any external monitor comparable to the new 24inch M1 iMac?

[questionwonder]

Doesn't seem like there is anything I can buy right now that has the same specs.

1. 24 inch
2. 218 ppi
3. similar ports

 

[Amethyst1]

Nope. The 218 ppi aspect is the main showstopper. You can get 24“ 4K if you look hard enough but that’s only 185 ppi.

 

[questionwonder]

That sucks! So Apple builds an M1 iMac with a monitor that is significantly better than any other stand alone monitors?
Also the price is around $1500, which is just slightly more than the monitor LG released with Apple 5 years ago!
Maybe I'll just buy an M1 iMac. The problem is there's no other external monitor to match the iMac's monitor, so if I want a second one to sit next to it there's nothing unless I want to drop $6K on a Pro Display!

 

[Amethyst1]

So Apple builds an M1 iMac with a monitor that is significantly better than any other stand alone monitors?

The reason Apple uses 218 ppi monitors in the first place is that macOS' UI and font rendering is optimised for that pixel density; using the default, pixel-perfect HiDPI mode gives you the equivalent of 109 ppi so that UI elements and text will have the "correct" size but be very sharp. If you use a monitor with a lower PPI, its pixel-perfect mode will make everything look larger than on the iMac. Attaining the same (simulated) PPI as on the iMac thus requires running the monitor in a scaled resolution, sacrificing some picture quality (but not to a make-or-break extent IMO).

If you absolutely must have 218 ppi, your only options are/were [AFAIK]:

• 21.5" LG UltraFine 4K discontinued [4096×2304]
  
• 27" Apple Studio Display [5120×2880]
• 27" Dell UP2715K discontinued [5120×2880]
• 27" HP Z27q discontinued [5120×2880]
• 27" Iiyama XB2779QQS not sure if still sold; questionable panel quality [5120×2880]
• 27" LG UltraFine 5K [5120×2880]
• 27" Philips 275P4VYKEB tiled topology not known to macOS. YMMV! [5120×2880]
• 27" Planar IX2790 not sure if still sold; questionable panel quality [5120×2880]
• 32" Apple Pro Display XDR [6016×3384]

You can also build a DIY 5K monitor.

 

[Fishrrman]

I sense that this "monitor incompatibility issue" (which is a matter of "appearance", rather than "operationability") is going to be an issue with the upcoming large-screen iMac, too.

That is to say, any display connected to it isn't going to "match" visually...

 

[questionwonder]

This sucks! I've been waiting for about 4-5 years to drop 4-5K on a new Mac and 2-3 external monitors. I just hope Apple releases something next month that surprises me.

 

[henrymyf]

The reason Apple uses 218 ppi monitors in the first place is that macOS' UI and font rendering is optimised for that pixel density; using the default, pixel-perfect HiDPI mode gives you the equivalent of 109 ppi so that UI elements and text will have the "correct" size but be very sharp. If you use a monitor with a lower PPI, its pixel-perfect mode will make everything look larger than on the iMac. Attaining the same (simulated) PPI as on the iMac thus requires running the monitor in a scaled resolution, sacrificing some picture quality (but not to a make-or-break extent IMO).

If you absolutely must have 218 ppi, your only options are/were [AFAIK]:

• 21.5" LG UltraFine 4K discontinued [4096×2304]
• 27" Apple Studio Display [5120×2880]
• 27" Dell UP2715K discontinued [5120×2880]
• 27" HP Z27q discontinued [5120×2880]
• 27" Iiyama XB2779QQS not sure if still sold; questionable panel quality [5120×2880]
• 27" LG UltraFine 5K [5120×2880]
• 27" Philips 275P4VYKEB tiled topology not known to macOS. YMMV! [5120×2880]
• 27" Planar IX2790 not sure if still sold; questionable panel quality [5120×2880]
• 32" Apple Pro Display XDR [6016×3384]

You can also build a DIY 5K monitor.

You now could add the newly announced Studio Display to the list.

 

[Amethyst1]

You now could add the newly announced Studio Display to the list.

I’ve just done that.

 

[questionwonder]

I could, IF I had a machine that can run 2 of them! My MB Air 2020 will only drive 2 4K or 1 5K. So now I need a new machine, but I wanted to wait until the M2 arrived as I'm not an early adopter of tech products. I guess I'll look for 2 LG Ultrafine 4k Monitors to hold me over until next year.

 

[Fishrrman]

The display I'd like to have, is one I can't get, because nobody sells one:
32" size, 5k panel.
(which I could then run in "looks like 1440p"...)

 

[venom600]

Let me ask you this... can you really tell the difference visually between a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor when both are being scaled anyway?

 

[questionwonder]

Let me ask you this... can you really tell the difference visually between a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor when both are being scaled anyway?

I know you asked this question to Fishrrman, but I'd like to chim in. I've never had a 4K or 5K display. So I couldn't know that question, I just want the best display available as I sit in front of my screen for 16 hrs/day coding.

 

[Amethyst1]

Let me ask you this... can you really tell the difference visually between a 27" 4k monitor and a 27" 5k monitor when both are being scaled anyway?

I can immediately tell the difference between 27” “4K” using non-integer scaling to look like 2560×1440 and a 27” 5K using integer scaling to look like 2560×1440.

That being said, the only reason I have a 5K monitor is… I was able to get it for the equivalent of $500.