Contents
A strong display quality is crucial for the creative professional, and Mac mini have long been a mainstay in the creative sectors. Because of the Mac’s straightforward, elegant appearance, designers and videographers flocked to it, but these creative professionals also need excellent monitors(opens in new tab) to make their projects a reality. Macs were the first to introduce high-resolution retina screens with a broad color gamut to the portable market.
Users who otherwise couldn’t afford a MacBook or a Mac Pro may now enjoy the Apple experience thanks to the Mac Mini (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab). The most recent Mac Mini also includes Apple’s M1 silicon(opens in new tab), which adds ultrafast unified memory to increase overall speed as well as support for Thunderbolt and HDMI display connectors. It stands to reason that if you’re looking for a display for the Mac Mini, it would likewise be of as high caliber as the Mac that it’s attached to.
What to Look for in a Mac Mini Monitor
Aside from price and connection, you should look for a monitor that supports USB-C, Thunderbolt, or HDMI, but you should also consider other variables such as resolution and color accuracy if you are a creative professional, as well as display size. If you frequently use your Mac Mini for entertainment or gaming, you’ll want larger-than-average display sizes.
Our size recommendations: Unless you have restricted room, there are no restrictions on what you can choose. Monitors with 27-inch or larger screens are ideal for both work and enjoyment. 4K resolution is typically not available on monitors with screens smaller than 24 inches.
As a result, if you want high resolution and pixel density, a 24-inch monitor is the bare minimum for desk-based monitors these days. If you plan to use your Mac Mini for office work, you may want to go the additional mile (or inches in this case) and get a 32-inch display. For leisure and games, an ultra-wide display may be the best Mac Mini option.
What resolution do you require: These days, a 4K monitor (opens in new tab) is the sweet spot. You can save money by choosing a 2K, also known as QuadHD, display, but you won’t get the sharp text that your Mac Mini is capable of. Because DPI is everything in Mac OS, HiDPI mode is crucial. Fortunately, the Mac Mini is compatible with the majority of monitors. It’s only that Mac OS sometimes be picky about enabling HiDPI mode on monitor resolutions other than the Apple settings. If you have trouble enabling HiDPI, we recommend BetterDummy, a free and open source tool (opens in new tab) that enables HiDPI modes on all monitors on all M1-based Macs.
How we choose the finest Mac Mini monitors
The Mac Mini is capable of driving one 6K monitor and a secondary 4K monitor, which means that any monitor less than 4K (UHD – Ultra High Definition) is a poor investment because your monitor will age quickly and you won’t be able to fully utilize the maximum resolution that your Mac Mini can deliver. We offered a 2K Quad-HD option for those with thin wallets and modest budgets, but anything less than 2K is already semi-obsolete.
A 27-inch screen is an excellent entry-level monitor size for all uses nowadays. A 32″ (officially 31.5 in certain versions) screen gives some more screen real estate for enhanced clarity and efficiency, especially for those working with spreadsheets or sophisticated applications. However, 34 inches is the current sweet spot for ultrawide monitors, allowing you to work in a spacious 5:9 area while watching a 16:9 video.
While larger displays are available, we believe they demand a significant viewing distance and take up too much room, making them less than optimal. We added a 31.5-inch monitor for productivity, a 34-inch ultrawide for those who like a screen with more space and a “5K2K” resolution (5120 x 2160), and a Mac Mini for multimedia and pleasure.
Based on the specifications listed above, we researched the market and chose the best monitors in a variety of price ranges, ranging from Apple’s own Pro Display XDR at the top with its 6K beauty and the same price as a motorcycle down to a decent yet functional QHD 2K workhorse that costs 20 times less but delivers great results. Except for one, they all accept USB-C and the most support HDMI 2.0, allowing you to use them as your primary or secondary display on the Mac Mini.
The greatest Mac mini monitors available right now
LG 32UN880-B UltraFine Ergo – the best Mac mini monitor for creatives
What makes the LG 32UN8800-B UltraFine Ergo so ideal for use with a Mac mini is a combination of elements. This is due to the fact that this is one of those jack-of-all-trades panels that can do everything quite effectively. Whether it’s the USB-C connectivity that makes it compatible with Ultrabooks and MacBooks, the 350 nits of brightness and HDR10 support for a vibrant image, or the 4K resolution and 95 percent DCI-P3 color gamut that can handle all but the most professional of editing projects, this display’s feature set will meet the needs of the majority of users.
There is, of course, one especially well-executed element. Its ergonomic C-Clamp stand provides ergonomic adjustments that rival monitors just cannot match. You can flip the panel 90 degrees, tilt and swivel it as much as any other display, modify the height, and even extend and retract it, making it highly intuitive and quick to adjust on the fly without disrupting your productivity.
There are plenty more economical solutions available. However, the price of this LG display is still affordable to anyone but the most desperate shopper. Given that the Mac mini is Apple’s most affordable computer, adding the LG 32UN8800-B not only makes financial sense, but also provides a setup capable of handling almost any creative activity you can throw at it.
ASUS ProArt PA278CV – The finest Mac mini monitor for blending affordability and professional features
Most monitors with professional features are expensive. The ASUS ProArt PA278CV, on the other hand, is not your standard display. Aside from a 4K resolution, you get a monitor with everything a creative might desire for just under $400/£400. Its 75Hz refresh rate contributes to clearer, ghost-free images. Meanwhile, the Calman Verified Delta E 2 color accuracy and superb color gamuts of 100 percent sRGB and 100 percent REC 709 make it a great display for multimedia creators.
If you desire 4K resolution, you might have to make do with 1440p. Its brightness level is likewise nothing to brag about. However, if you don’t mind not having the finest resolution or brightest screen, this one is an excellent value. This is especially true given the price. Another reason to consider this monitor is its on-screen scaling overlay, the option to daisy-chain two screens together via its DisplayPort, and the reasonable amount of connections. It also has an ergonomic design that allows you to tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust the height for maximum office comfort.
BenQ DesignVue PD3220U – The finest Mac mini monitor for productivity, coding, and creative projects
The BenQ DesignVue PD3220U comes with a slew of excellent features, including high color accuracy out of the box and color gamuts of 100 percent Rec.709, 100 percent sRGB, and 95 percent P3. Even better, our testing results showed that it covers 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color space. Graphic designers and content developers are well-served by these, as well as a number of color modes such as Animation, Rec.709, Adobe RGB, and CAD/CAM.
Other Mac mini users who aren’t in the creative sphere, such as coders and other professionals, should find our BenQ PD322OU review useful as well. There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy-chaining numerous monitors among them. One even provides 85W power delivery for charging MacBooks and other computers. Meanwhile, productivity-enhancing features such as Picture-in-Picture, Picture-by-Picture, and a 90-degree rotation flexibility for portrait mode are ideal. Overall, we found that the large 32-inch 4K display provided plenty of information and excellent image quality, making it the finest value professional screen we’ve tested.
LG 38WN95C – The finest Mac mini ultrawide monitor
With a magnificent 3840 x 1600 display, the LG 38WN95C gives you the space you need to spread out and keep all of your tools close at hand, allowing you to immerse yourself in your creative process while also saving time. Aside from its ultrawide goodness, there are many additional aspects to appreciate here.
Content creators will like the 99 percent sRGB and 98 percent DCI-P3 color gamuts, as well as the VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, while gamers will appreciate the 144Hz frame rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync support. Meanwhile, professionals who enjoy multitasking will appreciate the LG’s ambient light sensor and articulating stand. The LG 38WN95C is an excellent all-arounder that should suit the majority of Mac mini users.
BenQ SW321C PhotoVue – The finest 32-inch Mac mini monitor for photographers
The BenQ SW321C PhotoVue is one of the greatest displays for photographers, and it’s one of the manufacturer’s photography monitors. Its 32-inch 4K screen allows you to zoom in and see every pixel if necessary, or it simply provides a large and detailed canvas to view overall. Of course, you’ve got all the important color spaces covered, with 99 percent Adobe RGB, 95 percent P3, and 100 percent sRGB color gamuts, as well as a 16-but 3D LUT to help maintain realistic color gradation.
During testing, we discovered that it provides somewhat more coverage than stated, with a colorimeter result of 100 percent Adobe RGB. Our BenQ SW321C PhotoVue review should also reveal that color accuracy is excellent in testing, with an average Delta E of 0.9 right out of the box.
A innovative PaperSync function that allows you to select different types of paper, and the display will attempt to replicate how your image would appear on that medium. Perhaps gimmicky, but even without it, this is a fantastic screen for photographers. We can deal with the modest brightness in exchange for total accuracy. It also has some more connections, however they are a little recessed for our comfort.
Dell UP2720Q – The greatest 4K monitor for Mac mini with unrivaled precision
The Dell UP2720Q is a professional-level display for Mac mini users that require precise color accuracy and connection. The gamut compatibility is 100 percent Adobe RGB, 80 percent BT. 2020, and 98 percent DCI-P3, but the crown jewel is the built-in colorimeter that is CalMAN ready. It checks its own screen on a frequent basis to ensure that accuracy hasn’t shifted, so you don’t have to worry about it.
This display also includes Thunderbolt 3 hub connectivity, allowing you to daisy chain or connect multiple high-bandwidth accessories. This is in addition to all of the benefits of the screen at number one, such as a razor-sharp 4K display and excellent ergonomics. You still only have 250 nits of brightness, but that’s OK if accuracy is your primary concern. The only other disadvantage is that it is more expensive.
BenQ EX3501R – On a tight budget, the finest ultrawide monitor for Mac mini
We’ve before showcased ultrawide monitors, but they were very expensive. If you need more workspace but don’t want high-end capabilities, the BenQ EX3501R may be the answer. It offers some wonderful qualities on its own, such as 100 percent sRGB coverage and a refresh rate of up to 100Hz if you want to use it as a gaming display, but the 21:9 aspect ratio is the big pull here.
This is a Quad HD display that has been extended. At 35 inches, it delivers a great deal of more workspace, albeit it’s not as sharp as the 4K options offered. This is a wonderful alternative for folks that require a lot of windows open but only want to use one screen and has a bit of extra connectivity on board if needed.
ViewSonic VP3268a-4K – Excellent Mac mini video editing monitor
Post-production editors and colorists that create broadcast and web video content will appreciate the ViewSonic VP3268a-4full K’s Rec. 709 and sRGB color coverage. While not technically new, the ViewSonic VP3268-4K has been updated with USB-C connectivity, including, you guessed it, the Mac mini. It also provides better color fidelity than the original model and Pantone certification.
All of this makes this 4K panel a terrific choice for creators seeking for a video editing monitor, as well as an ideal complement for Mac computers. You’ll also love its excellent port variety, 350 nits of brightness, and adequate factory calibration. Unfortunately, no HDR compatibility is available, and the contrast ratio is only 1,300:1, but the colors are vivid and accurate enough for multimedia creators.
Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV – The finest portable monitors for digital nomads that are creative
The slimline and small design of the Mac mini makes it a great traveling companion, especially if you’re going away for a long amount of time for work or traveling full-time. Nomadic makers are unlikely to have access to a display designed expressly for video or photo editing, so something like the Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV may suffice.
There aren’t many portable monitors intended expressly for content creation on the market, let alone ones that function as well as this one. And, naturally, it has a 100 percent sRGB and 100 percent Rec. 709 color gamut, as well as Delta E 2 color accuracy, making it ideal for editing on the move – short of a laptop, that is. It also has an extremely sensitive touchscreen and the ASUS Dial, which simplifies Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro workflows.
Finally, once you’ve returned to your home studio or office, this portable display may double as a control panel, allowing you to focus on the creative aspect of the process. Overall, this is one of the best Mac mini displays for content makers that work on the road.
Asus ProArt PA32UC-K – The finest Mac mini monitor for video editing
The problem with most displays for individuals who wish to work with HDR footage is the lack of brightness – you can’t see what things would look like on a mid-range or better TV. This is not the case. With a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, this monitor ranks alongside excellent televisions. In fact, because Mini-LED is used, its localised dimming is more exact than many TVs can achieve for excellent contrast, with hundreds of separate zones.
Its 4K resolution is also great, so you may view things in high definition here. Naturally, this means excellent DCI-P3 color compatibility (95 percent in this case), but it also has 99.5 percent Adobe RGB and 100 percent sRGB coverage, making it suitable for a wide range of other applications. There is Thunderbolt 3 connectivity on board, which is perfect if you plan on storing raw high-resolution footage on RAIDs. This display finds a compromise by providing good functionality for video professionals while without charging the exorbitant prices of a Hollywood video monitor, making it an excellent pick as the best monitor for Mac mini for video editing.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect any monitor to my Mac mini?
Unless you intend to utilize a monitor from the previous century, you can use almost any display with the Mac mini. However, because Mac minis lack a screen like the MacBook Pro or iMac, having diverse connectivity is considerably more important. Both the Mac mini M1 and its Intel-powered predecessor have an HDMI 2.0 port as well as many USB-C ports. And it’s difficult to find a monitor that doesn’t include at least HDMI connectivity. You’ll need an adaptor if your monitor has DisplayPort.
What is the maximum number of displays that the Mac mini M1 can support?
The Mac mini M1 is small, but it packs a punch, especially for its size. Because of the M1 system on a chip Apple launched in late 2020, this small computer can run two high-resolution monitors. It can connect and run a 6K display at 60Hz through one of its Thunderbolt ports and one 4K display at 60Hz through the HDMI 2.0 port. It may not be as powerful as the latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, but it’s still amazing. The sole limitation is that the Thunderbolt 3 connection cannot be daisy chained.
How do I select the finest Mac mini monitor?
The Mac mini is extremely adaptable, and any contemporary monitor with a USB-C or HDMI port would suffice, so the best monitor for Mac mini will actually depend on your needs. Anyone involved in visual design will require a high-quality monitor with adequate color coverage as well as uniform brightness.
If you intend to connect additional gadgets, such as a MacBook, you’ll need a variety of ports. It’s also worth examining where those ports are located, especially if you’ll be taking your Mac mini on the road and will need to plug it in and out frequently.
How do you hook up a monitor to your Mac mini?
A monitor can be easily connected to a Mac mini. Locate the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 or HDMI 2.0 ports (the former have a lightning symbol above them), connect in a compatible cable, and turn both devices on.
Are Mac minis worth the money?
The Mac mini is the most reasonably priced computer in Apple’s portfolio. And, with the M1 chip, it’s quite powerful as well. Of course, you must consider the cost of peripherals such as a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. This compact little beast, though, can handle just about anything you can throw at it, from high-resolution editing and design projects to blazing through the latest Mac games.
>> Read more:
- The 5 Best Methods for Transferring Files Between an iPhone and a Mac
- Best gaming laptop to buy for 2021 at all sizes and prices
- How to remove windows from my Mac computer easily and quickly
- Hulu Free Trial: How to Get 30 Days of Hulu for Free
- How to add a footnote in Word in the best easy and quickly way
- How to put a video in Google slides easily and quickly
- How to turn a PDF into a Word Document easily and quickly
- How to take a screenshot on a Hewlett Packard easily and quickly
- 2022’s Top Online Photo Printing Services
- Why I can’t skip ads on Youtube and solution