M2 Mac mini supports dual USB-C displays

[Fozziebear40]

Edit: am using 2 x LG 27 UP 850W displays. One is still hooked up to the MB Pro M1, the other to the MM2.

Exactly the 2 monitors I am using! Both USB-C to USB-C. Yes with a MacBook Pro M1 Pro it does dual screens scaled at 3008 x 1692 beautifully. It would be great to see if the Mac mini M2 Pro does it. My Mac mini M2 is going back to Apple tomorrow.

 

[michelg1970]

Exactly the 2 monitors I am using! Both USB-C to USB-C. Yes with a MacBook Pro M1 Pro it does dual screens scaled at 3008 x 1692 beautifully. It would be great to see if the Mac mini M2 Pro does it. My Mac mini M2 is going back to Apple tomorrow.

I just tested, my MM Pro M2 is doing the 3008 x 1692 fine on both LG displays (USB C - USB C). The only pity is that I am not using the HDMI port which means having one USB C port, less, that I actually needed.

 

[Fozziebear40]

I just tested, my MM Pro M2 is doing the 3008 x 1692 fine on both LG displays (USB C - USB C). The only pity is that I am not using the HDMI port which means having one USB C port, less, that I actually needed.

Thank you michelg for testing that. I'm currently using my MacBook Pro M1 Pro in clam shell mode powering the two monitors. That will do for now, knowing I can get the Mac mini Pro M2 soon and it will work.

 

[Fozziebear40]

Got my Mac mini M2 Pro today, excellent. It does the dual monitors at the resolution like michelg1970 said. Both wake from sleep. The USB hubs on the LG monitors are flaky on the Mini's though as I have researched. Worked perfectly on the MacBook Pro but I can live with it.

https://mactrovert.com/lg-32un880-b-display-issues-with-m1-mac-mini-when-using-usb-c/

 

[danwestbrook]

Can't even get mine to work with one USB C monitor, works fine via HDMI and my other macOS laptops work straight away with the same Acer screen via USB C.

Is odd if I leave it for over 5-10 minutes sometimes the screen works via USB C but other times it only works via HDMI... Most likely going to return not sure why it's so buggy even on 13.2.1. Unless it's a known issue or maybe just a hardware issue?

 

[EugW]

Can't even get mine to work with one USB C monitor, works fine via HDMI and my other macOS laptops work straight away with the same Acer screen via USB C.

Is odd if I leave it for over 5-10 minutes sometimes the screen works via USB C but other times it only works via HDMI... Most likely going to return not sure why it's so buggy even on 13.2.1. Unless it's a known issue or maybe just a hardware issue?

Which monitor? Did you try a different USB-C cable?

 

[Dochartaigh]

Just wanted to add, as yet another topic on this was posted yesterday (and I see nothing about it in this topic): HDR still does NOT work on a 2023 Mac mini M2 (on the 6x 4K HDR-compatible monitors/TV's, by 4 different brands I've tested so far).

I mean, technically it does, but A.) there's STILL no suitable HDR-player for Mac, and B.) with HDR turned on, EVERYTHING ELSE (i.e. every other program on the entire computer) will turn gray and have muted, washed out colors.

Just a FYI as this topic is about using external monitors with a M2 mini.

 

[EugW]

Just wanted to add, as yet another topic on this was posted yesterday (and I see nothing about it in this topic): HDR still does NOT work on a 2023 Mac mini M2 (on the 6x 4K HDR-compatible monitors/TV's, by 4 different brands I've tested so far).

I mean, technically it does, but A.) there's STILL no suitable HDR-player for Mac, and B.) with HDR turned on, EVERYTHING ELSE (i.e. every other program on the entire computer) will turn gray and have muted, washed out colors.

Just a FYI as this topic is about using external monitors with a M2 mini.

HDR seemed to work fine with my M1 Mac mini, and didn't cause washout of my other programs. This is with two different monitors. The only issue I noticed is that text in my VPN client software accessing a Windows VPN had colour fringing, like it wasn't 4:4:4. I didn't notice this in any native macOS text though, just in text in the Windows VPN, and was with only 1 of the two monitors.

 

[Dochartaigh]

HDR seemed to work fine with my M1 Mac mini, and didn't cause washout of my other programs. This is with two different monitors. The only issue I noticed is that text in my VPN client software accessing a Windows VPN had colour fringing, like it wasn't 4:4:4. I didn't notice this in any native macOS text though, just in text in the Windows VPN, and was with only 1 of the two monitors.

Which monitor models? Hooked up which way? I'm at 6x (technically 7x, but one was long ago so I'm not 100% about that one) I've tested where, with HDR on, every other non-HDR program looks like below, right side. White in non-HDR program with HDR off is ~375 nits, white in non-HDR programs with HDR on is ~175 nits with HDR, making everything appear gray and washed-out whenever HDR is activated:

So I had more 'ammo' with the senior tech's at Apple I collated the similar posts on discussions.apple.com and the "me toos" listed there... and there's 2000+ people with this same (or very similar) issue... Check out the crazy level of my testing (complete with professional coloriometer measuring nits and color values) in my linked posts above if you would like – it's definitely a real thing.

...Actually getting a replacement 2023 Mac mini tomorrow (other issues), so I'll be sure to test that one as well + getting a new 75" TV delivered on Saturday so that'll be one more screen I can test (if 7x wasn't enough lol).

 

[EugW]

Which monitor models? Hooked up which way? I'm at 6x (technically 7x, but one was long ago so I'm not 100% about that one) I've tested where, with HDR on, every other non-HDR program looks like below, right side. White in non-HDR program with HDR off is ~375 nits, white in non-HDR programs with HDR on is ~175 nits with HDR, making everything appear gray and washed-out whenever HDR is activated:

So I had more 'ammo' with the senior tech's at Apple I collated the similar posts on discussions.apple.com and the "me toos" listed there... and there's 2000+ people with this same (or very similar) issue... Check out the crazy level of my testing (complete with professional coloriometer measuring nits and color values) in my linked posts above if you would like – it's definitely a real thing.

...Actually getting a replacement 2023 Mac mini tomorrow (other issues), so I'll be sure to test that one as well + getting a new 75" TV delivered on Saturday so that'll be one more screen I can test (if 7x wasn't enough lol).

What monitor is this? What are you displaying at 375 nits? And why are you running non-HDR at 375 nits desktop programs anyway? That is usually way too bright unless you're in sun drenched room or something. In my usual setup, I find even 175 nits too bright for extended surfing for example.

Sure, if you're trying to compare 175 nits to 375, 175 nits will appear darker, but you're usually supposed to be running below 175 nits anyway for standard desktop usage. Running Safari in white at 375 nits would be crazy IMO. In fact, I calibrate my 500 nits Huawei MateView 28 (hooked up via USB-C) to 120 nits for my non-HDR desktop usage, with a custom P3 color profile. The point is your programs would be running at 80-150 nits or whatever, while HDR videos with high brightness content will be brighter in those spots. For example, ideally for a capable screen, your Safari browser window should be at say 120 nits while your video player may have a video showing specular highlights at 1000 nits (or higher). But to have entire browser windows at that 1000 nits, or even 375 nits, usually makes no sense.

 

[Dochartaigh]

What monitor is this? What are you displaying at 375 nits? And why are you running non-HDR at 375 nits desktop programs anyway? That is usually way too bright unless you're in sun drenched room or something. In my usual setup, I find even 175 nits too bright for extended surfing for example.

Sure, if you're trying to compare 175 nits to 375, 175 nits will appear darker, but you're usually supposed to be running below 175 nits anyway for standard desktop usage. Running Safari in white at 375 nits would be crazy IMO. In fact, I calibrate my 500 nits Huawei MateView 28 (hooked up via USB-C) to 120 nits for my non-HDR desktop usage, with a custom P3 color profile. The point is your programs would be running at 80-150 nits or whatever, while HDR videos with high brightness content will be brighter in those spots. For example, ideally for a capable screen, your Safari browser window should be at say 120 nits while your video player may have a video showing specular highlights at 1000 nits (or higher). But to have entire browser windows at that 1000 nits, or even 375 nits, usually makes no sense.

Please read the linked posts if you want more detailed info – and would love your thoughts in that other topic if you kindly have the time... (would rather not derail this thread any more, just wanted to make a quick mention about this quirk, re: HDR).

(I will however make a quick mention for clarity, that the main screen tested in my pics is my living room 4K/HDR TV, totally different in light output --especially when you're sitting ~10' away-- versus a desk monitor you're talking about).

 

[danwestbrook]

Which monitor? Did you try a different USB-C cable?

Is an Acer 27" 4K, don't remember the model number and yes I did try a different cable and still nothing. Oh well it's a shame as I need it to connect via USB for my webcam and mouse dongle. Will just return it.