Best monitor for Mac mini in 2024 – top picks for Apple desktops
Great monitors to pair with your Apple Mac Mini
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If you are looking for the best monitor for Mac mini, then we have you covered right here.
If you’re a Mac mini user in search of a monitor that can elevate your work and entertainment experience to new heights, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be diving into the world of the best monitors for Mac mini, handpicking the cream of the crop of both best and value-based displays.
Doesn’t matter if you’re a professional in need of color accuracy or a content creator looking for stunning visuals, we’ve got the perfect monitor to suit your needs. So, let’s get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and find the perfect monitor to enhance your Mac mini experience. Also, be sure to check out the best monitor for MacBook Pro!
Best monitor for Mac mini – in-depth review
Picking out the best monitor for Mac mini depends on a bunch of factors. You need to consider your Mac mini model, compatibility, and exactly what you want from the display – what will you be using it for? Regardless, let’s talk more about our picks.
Best monitor for Mac mini: Apple Studio Display
Apple Studio Display
Size
27″
Refresh Rate
60Hz
Response Time
N/A
Panel
Retina Display
Maximum Resolution
5120 x 2880 (5K)
- High 5K screen resolution with Retina display
- Excellent brightness and minimal screen glare
- Built-in webcam and speakers
- Accurate colors and wide viewing angle
- Pricey option
Of course, the obvious choice for Mac mini and Mac mini 2 would be the 27-inch Apple Studio Display. It has a stunning 5K resolution and is an ideal fit for any Mac user, even for the modest Mac mini (unless you have a much older model that could see stuttering). The high resolution is perfect for work, boosting productivity and delivering a crisp image. The USB hub features 3 USB-C ports and a Thunderbolt 3 connection to offer a good amount of compatibility for external devices.
One of the biggest selling points for the Studio Display, aside from the 5120 x 2800 resolution, is the great peak 600 nits of brightness and the ability to minimize screen glare, especially with the Nano-Texture glass variant. The display has a wide color gamut and is capable of displaying up to 1 billion colors, with Apple’s True Tone technology to measure ambient light color and brightness for optimal display settings.
In addition to the great specs of the display itself, the monitor also comes with a built-in 12MP ultra-wide camera – fit with Apple’s Center Stage technology to always keep you in the center frame during calls. Additionally, the Studio Display has a six-speaker system with great stereo sound and support for Spatial Audio to make it a fantastic media-viewing monitor.
Best monitor for Mac mini 2: LG Ultrafine 27UN850-W
LG Ultrafine 27UN850-W
Refresh rate
60Hz
Response time
5ms GTG
Screen size
27″
Resolution
3840 x 2160
- Suitable 4K resolution and wide color support
- IPS panel with wide viewing angle
- Support for AMD FreeSync
- More affordable option for Mac mini users
- Resolution is a little lower than Apple displays
LG Ultrafine 27UN850-W is a true workhorse for Mac mini 2 (as well as Mac mini) users in need of a display that will endure. With its 4K resolution, images and text are brought to life with stunning clarity, making it the perfect companion for both work and entertainment. The IPS display panel ensures wide viewing angles and consistent color reproduction, making it an ideal choice for professionals in need of color accuracy for their photography, video editing, or graphic design projects.
One of the biggest strengths of the 27UN850-W lies in its color gamut, reaching up to 99% of the sRGB color space, which results in an explosion of accurate and vibrant colors. It’s like having a window to a world of true-to-life hues, making your work and entertainment experience more immersive than ever before. And with FreeSync support, say goodbye to screen tearing and stuttering for a visual experience of unparalleled smoothness.
The LG Ultrafine 27UN850-W is a monitor that delightfully complements your Mac mini experience with its exceptional visual quality and capabilities. It’s a display that will bring your work and entertainment to a whole new level, making it the best affordable choice for any Mac mini user looking to upgrade their setup. This LG Ultrafine model has both USB-C connectivity and HDMI ports for the Mac mini.
Best budget monitor for Mac mini:
Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901
- 27-inch 4K display
- Wide color gamut
- USB-C docking
- Only 60Hz refresh rate
If you are looking for a monitor for your Mac mini within a reasonable budget, then you should check out the Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901 monitor. You can use this monitor with your Mac mini or even your MacBook.
As the name suggests, the monitor is mainly aimed at creators, but it can also be used with the Mac mini to unlock the full potential of Apple’s display specs. The model that we have selected comes with a 27-inch display, which is a common size for compact setups.
The Philips monitor is backed by an IPS black panel, which promises to deliver a superior contrast ratio. Further, the monitor comes with a 4K resolution, so you can expect great picture quality.
To add to this, the monitor claims to deliver ‘Hollywood-grade’ colors with wide color coverage. To be more precise, you get 110.5% NTSC, 108.6% Adobe RGB, 100% sRBG, and 100% REC 709 color gamut coverage – so you can expect good color reproduction.
As far as connectivity is concerned, the monitor comes with a USB-C docking, so all you need is a single USB-C cable for high-speed data, high-resolution video signal, and even charging.
Apple Pro Display XDR
Refresh rate
60Hz
Response time
5ms
Screen size
32″
Resolution
6016 x 3384
- Super high 6K screen resolution
- Extreme Dynamic Range (XDR), 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
- Super-wide viewing angle and 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR)
- P3 wide color gamut with 10-bit depth for over 1 billion colors
- Massively expensive
For a luxury option, we can introduce the Apple Pro Display XDR. This super-high-end monitor is designed specifically for Macs, though we advise you to have a relatively recent Mac mini model if you want the GPU to keep up, at least within the Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) line-up. It boasts a stunning 6016 x 3384 resolution and a P3 wide color gamut. Its 1000 nits of peak brightness (1600 with HDR support) and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio provide stunning visual clarity and make for comfortable viewing, even in bright or varied lighting conditions. This is perhaps the best monitor out there for video & photo editing – or any other creative professionals – due to its fantastic image quality.
Apple Pro Display XDR also offers a unique feature called True Tone, which automatically adjusts the color temperature of the display to match the ambient light in your room. This greatly reduces eye strain and makes for a more comfortable viewing experience. Additionally, its nano-texture glass option offers a matte finish that reduces glare and improves image clarity. The only obstacle could be the price, but as usual with Apple, you get what you pay for. And if you want the absolute best, this is it.
How to get the best monitor for Mac mini
Here’s what to consider before you a buy a monitor for Mac mini –
Compatibility
The first thing you should be looking at while selecting a monitor for your Mac setup is compatibility. Mac Mini offers several ports, so most monitors should be compatible with it. However, just to be sure, check the ports on the monitor and then see if they will work with Mac mini.
Screen size
There are a lot of monitors available in the market that will work with Mac mini – so you can be as picky as you like. You will find monitor sizes ranging from 24 inches all the way up to 49 inches and more.
To give you an idea, if you have less desk space to spare, you sit close to the monitor, and you plan on playing fast-paced games, then monitors between 24 inches and 28 inches will be suitable for you. However, if you want to multitask, have desk space, and need a more immersive experience, then you can consider bigger monitors.
Resolution
Now, Apple devices are known for their amazing display capabilities, so you’d need a monitor that does justice to it. This is why you should consider getting at least an FHD monitor to get good visuals. If you have a look at available options, you will find 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and even 5K monitors. The right monitor for you will depend on your preferences, use case, and budget.
Refresh rate
If you are planning to play games or watch fast-paced movies, then you should get a monitor that offers at least a 120Hz refresh rate. However, if you are more into creative work or general, everyday work, then a 60Hz refresh rate would suffice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all monitors compatible with the Mac mini?
All monitors are compatible with the Mac Mini – as long as you have the correct cable to connect the two devices together. The Mac Mini is incredibly flexible when it comes to compatibility and support – offering up two display outputs for a dual monitor setup if you so please.
There are no limitations to the monitor you choose for the Mac Mini. However, we would recommend steering clear of high-end ultrawide monitors with high refresh rates – as you won’t be able to reap the rewards of that particular type of panel.
Final word
If you want the best monitor for your Mac Mini or Mac Mini 2 setup, then we would recommend getting the Apple Studio Display. Of course, as this is an Apple product, it will be a smoother integration into the existing Mac mini ecosystem. The monitor has a 5K display, which is further enhanced by a wide color gamut and the capacity to display up to 1 billion colors. Further, the monitor also has a six-speaker system, which, along with support for Spatial Audio, makes this monitor suitable for media consumption.
Alternatively, you can also consider getting the LG Ultrafine 27UN850-W monitor, which is compatible with Apple setups.
