Monitor for M1 Mac Mini – Ahhhrrrr!!

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Level 1

83 points

Monitor for M1 Mac Mini – Ahhhrrrr!!

I'm thinking of selling my 2013 iMac as I need something with more punch to run DaVinci Resolve so I've been looking at an M1 chip mac, but 27-inch M1 iMacs don't exist, which just leaves the Mac Mini.

Thing is, I've always bought iMacs, MacBook Airs so I've never had to bother researching monitors, iMacs just come with the best monitors on the planet built right in.

So, if I guy an M1 Mac Mini I have a massive headache.

I've been researching monitors that are 27-inch from the following companies: Dell, BenQ, Samsung, LG, Asus and Acer and from what I can see they all look like horrible really thick black plastic pieces of crap, compared to the sleek aluminium stylish Apple iMacs that is.

Doesn't any monitor company make a monitor that actually looks stylish or are they all cheap plastic pieces of junk that are 2 inches thick?

Also, I've read about all sorts of issues with naff branded non-Apple monitors not working with M1 Mac Minis with issues such as not waking up and other iffy things.

This buying a Mac Mini M1 seems to be riddled with issues as I have to enter the 'PC Windows' world of having to find a monitor and as for companies like LG, who seem to have about 20,000 different 27-inch monitor models with little to no difference between any of them from what I can see and hideous model numbers that don't give any clue either.

So can anybody recommend a decent 27-inch monitor that will be good for my photo editing and video editing that does not cost more than £600.

Thanks guys, otherwise I'll have to stick with my slow old iMac.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 6, 2021 11:37 AM

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Answer 1

TrafGib

Level 3

541 points

Jun 7, 2021 6:43 AM in response to Nigel-66

Not sure what your criteria is for not looking horrible and cheap, so hard to advise. After weeks of research, I selected the LG 27UN850-W monitor, and have been well pleased. Thin bezels, white, reasonably thin, adjustable stand, HDMI and USB-C. The quality and function have proven to be everything I was seeking.

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Answer 2

TrafGib

Level 3

541 points

Jul 18, 2021 6:41 AM in response to John Scott1

"BUT" what? You know it blows your Intel out of the water!

Getting the monitor to wake up can be a frustrating issue. I have the LG 27UN850-W monitor. When using the out-of-the-box HDMI to HDMI cable, all works well. However, switch to the out-of-the-box USB-C to USB-C cable, and it can be hit or miss on waking the monitor.

In the past, when it would not wake, I would cycle the power on the monitor. However, I recently discovered an easier, and faster, solution. If you just tap and release the power button, on the Mac mini itself, my monitor immediately pops to life.

It is VERY frustrating, and should not be an issue we have to live with, but even with that flaw, I wouldn't turn my back on it. After 4+ decades of dedicated Windows use, the M1 was my gateway to the Mac world. This minor irritation is still better than all the baggage that comes with Windows.

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Answer 3

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,385 points

Jul 18, 2021 7:51 AM in response to Nigel-66

If you can find a used Thunderbolt display and then use a TB3 to TB2 adapter to connect. It works great. That is what I use. It has a great display, camera, speakers and some extra ports. The other choice would be the LG Ultra Display for about $600.00 but I believe it does not have a camera but has speakers and extra ports.

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Answer 4

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Jun 6, 2021 12:59 PM in response to Nigel-66

You’re right, the non-Apple monitor world is a mess when connecting to the mini. They will all disappoint one way or the other and will continue to do so. So the key is to choose one that disappoints the least.

Sadly, until Apple steps in with their own lineup (likely never), this situation is not gonna change.

My advice would be to step up to the Intel 27” iMac or reconsider the 24” M1, since the slightly smaller size can’t be that hard to adjust. Good luck!

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Answer 5

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Jun 7, 2021 3:30 AM in response to Nigel-66

24” is neither tiny nor useless as it saves you space, adds hires webcam + hifi speakers, keyboard-mouse, integrates the LAN port with the power supply and minimizes cabling to the bare minimum. That’s in addition to time saved on posts about display woes. You can get it silver if you don’t like pink. All in all, the math works out better IMO.

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

93,076 points

Jun 6, 2021 3:47 PM in response to Nigel-66

+1 to what hcsitas has shared.

If I was in your boat, I might wait a little longer to see if Apple drags out a larger M1 iMac. While speculating is not allowed here, I can’t believe that everyone is going to settle for just a 24” iMac.

To encourage them, use > https://www.apple.com/feedback/imac/

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Answer 7

Nigel-66 Author

Level 1

83 points

Jun 7, 2021 1:01 AM in response to hcsitas

Can't do either. Intel is dead-in-the-water as far as Apple are concerned and I use Logic and I know Apple will stop developing it for Intel at some point, history proves Apple do this. Also, 24-inch iMac M1 is for families, not pros, screen way to small and specs no good for for video and photo. It's obvious, going by the silly colours of M1 24-inch iMac and the advert that Apple are going after the family market, lady baking cakes while speaking to friend on Facetime on her pink iMac in the kitchen. To me, it's nothing more than an iPad on a stand.

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Answer 8

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Jun 7, 2021 1:07 AM in response to Nigel-66

In that case, buy this one https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/pro-display-xdr/nano-glass

The only grudge I have is that the optional stand doesn’t come with a remote/joystick. Still, good value for only 1 grand extra. Cheers

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Answer 9

Nigel-66 Author

Level 1

83 points

Jun 7, 2021 1:25 AM in response to Nigel-66

Honestly, the lack of a decent size M1 iMac has (believe it or not) got me thinking about chatting to my Windoze expert mate to find out what's going on over on the dark side, who knows, latest Windoze might be worth considering, given the prices of Macs these days and Davinci Resolve runs fine on it. I'd have to change Logic for Ableton though, but who cares if I can buy a decent system for a fraction of the price. Hurry up Apple, you're going to lose customers and this is coming from somebody who rarely posts around here.

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Answer 10

Jun 7, 2021 3:06 AM in response to Nigel-66

Nigel-66 wrote:

..Also, 24-inch iMac M1 is for families, not pros, screen way to small and specs no good for for video and photo....

If you read the specs, the new 24" iMac can come with exactly the same M1

as the MacMini. So, if you think that isn't good enough, neither will be the Mini.

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Answer 11

Nigel-66 Author

Level 1

83 points

Jun 7, 2021 3:13 AM in response to woodmeister50

I know what you mean, Woodmeister, but the thing is, a Mac Mini with 16GB and 1TB comes in at £1,300 and the iMac equivalent (with it's tiny little 24-inch screen) for same spec comes in at £2,050 so Apple are, essentially, charging £750 for a crappy useless little 24-inch screen. Total rip off.

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Answer 12

Nigel-66 Author

Level 1

83 points

Jun 7, 2021 3:40 AM in response to hcsitas

24 is just too small though for photo and video editing. I have 27-inch iMac at the moment and when I looked at the 24-inch in the Apple store in town it just looked a bit too small for me. Not sure if I could live with 3-inches less.

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Answer 13

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Jun 7, 2021 3:46 AM in response to Nigel-66

That’s understandable, I was addressing the value bit. You really ought to reconsider the 27” Intel iMac since current models are fully supported by Apple for both hardware and OS upgrades to at least 8 years after purchase. I haven’t seen a killer reason for the M1 yet, at least not a practical one beyond the ooh-ahhs of speedy program cranking.

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Answer 14

Jun 7, 2021 12:53 PM in response to Nigel-66

I would not call a display that supports the full P3 color gamut,

4k+ resolution, and 500 nits brightness crappy.

A 27" display that is 4K or higher, full P3 color gamut, and 500 nit brightness

will cost $1000 or more.

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Answer 15

Jul 18, 2021 6:09 AM in response to Nigel-66

I sold off my Intel Mac Mini and bought a M1 Mac Mini the other day. Yes, had issues getting things to work with my LG monitor with a dedicated USB C thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable. Apple of course blamed the cable, so I tried a Thunderbolt to DispalyPort out adaptor and tried several DisplayPort cables with same results. Eventually I tried the HDMI out to HDMI port on monitor which seems to work. I figured Apple would have got all the bugs worked out by now, but I guess not. Honestly, I am on the fence about even keeping the M1 Mac Mini. It is fast, BUT.

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Monitor for M1 Mac Mini – Ahhhrrrr!!

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