New Mac Mini Display Advice

[bunchesx]

I've just configured a new Mac Mini, due for delivery this week.
I need some advice on what display to go for.

I currently have a late 2009 iMac resolution I believe to be 2560x1440?

Would a FHD (1080) external display produce a good picture for a modern Mac- i.e would Mojave/Catalina look good? Or am I better to look at a QHD display?

So far I'm thinking:
IPS
1080 or 1440
Screen size minimum 24"
Displayport compatible
Anything else?

Thank you for any assistance in advance!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

At 24" and up I'd certainly look at QHD/1440p as a minimum. That is what your iMac has, if it's a 27" iMac. If it's a 21", it's FHD/1080p but for my eyes, that's about as large as I'd want to work on FHD.

If your Late 2009 is in fact a 27", and still functions, you could just use it as your display. But, it requires two expensive adapters - this one and this one - and then you still have a nearly 10-year-old display that could die on you at some point. So not sure I'd recommend it, but it's an option.

In the past with my Minis I tried to find displays with decent speakers built in or that could be added on. Dell had a line of UltraSharp displays with an optional speaker module you could attach that I used for several years. I just did that to eliminate clutter on the desk.

 

[a2jack]

I've just configured a new Mac Mini, due for delivery this week.
I need some advice on what display to go for.

I currently have a late 2009 iMac resolution I believe to be 2560x1440?

We

Would a FHD (1080) external display produce a good picture for a modern Mac- i.e would Mojave/Catalina look good? Or am I better to look at a QHD display?

So far I'm thinking:
IPS
1080 or 1440
Screen size minimum 24"
Displayport compatible
Anything else?

Thank you for any assistance in advance!

It all depends on what you want to do with your new mini.

If you plan to do graphics at any pro level, or photo work, you will want a high level monitor.

If you are just surfing, and everyday home use, a late model TV will do the job nicely, right up to 4k. a2

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Are you relatively young, with yet-still-good vision?
Or are you getting older, or is your vision growing weaker (like mine)?

That could be an important determinant in what size display you choose, and what the "native resolution" (the best resolution the monitor can display) is.

For a "baseline", I suggest you look at a new 5k iMac at the "factory" resolution ("looks like 1440p", even though it's 5k).

Pay attention to text at regular font sizes.
Is the text:
- large enough to be easily readable to you?
or
- does it seem a bit too small?

I prefer a pixel size in the range of .27-.31 or so.
This makes text displayed at normal font sizes easily readable to me.
Younger folks with yet-perfect vision will look at my display and exclaim "that's too grainy!" But for me, it's "just right".

Here's a pixel size calculator that you may find useful:
https://www.sven.de/dpi/

These days, I prefer either a 27" display at native 1080p (pixel size .31)
or
A 32" display at native 1440p (pixel size about .28).

 

[Miat]

These days, I prefer either a 27" display at native 1080p (pixel size .31)
or
A 32" display at native 1440p (pixel size about .28).

Earlier this year I started running my 27" 1440 screen at 1080, and my ageing (late 50s) eyes appreciated it very much. (That screen has since died, and I now have a native 1080 27", coz can't afford retina at the moment, and my 2012 Mini couldn't run it anyway.)

Would prefer 4K 27" running at 1080 (or a 32" 5K running at 1440), but that will have to wait until my bank account catches up enough to afford both a new Mini and a retina screen.

 

[user_xyz]

I've just configured a new Mac Mini, due for delivery this week.
I need some advice on what display to go for.

I currently have a late 2009 iMac resolution I believe to be 2560x1440?

Would a FHD (1080) external display produce a good picture for a modern Mac- i.e would Mojave/Catalina look good? Or am I better to look at a QHD display?

So far I'm thinking:
IPS
1080 or 1440
Screen size minimum 24"
Displayport compatible
Anything else?

Thank you for any assistance in advance!

I have used both a FHD and 1440 27 inch.
1440 is a lot better for me!!
Good Luck!

ETA: if just 24 inch you "May" be able to get away with FHD-but I would still go with 1440 for increased resolution/Clarity.

ETA #2: This is what I use: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-PB277Q-WQHD-2560x1440-Monitor/dp/B01EN3Z7QQ

 

[EightyTwenty]

You can get a Dell P2415Q 4K monitor for a few hundred dollars.

It’s 2019. Go 4K.

 

[bunchesx]

Thanks for all of the advice, found one that looks like a great balance of size/resolution and price.
LG 24UD58 24 inch (4K) £250.
Should be plenty big enough and a decent PPI, taking into account all of your comments.

 

[tagumcity]

I’m using 3 of the Dell P2415Q 4K monitors with the Mac Mini 2018. The Dell requires setting the hdmi to 2.0. For work I use 2 30 inch screens, but for home I prefer the 24 inch monitors.