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Can I use a 27" iMac as a Display for a new 2023 Mac Mini?

My 27" iMac: macOS Monterey, version 12.6.7, "iMac (Retina 5k, 27-inch, Late 2015)"

Processor: 4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 M390 2 GB


My new Mac Mini:


Chip: Apple M2 Pro

Memory: 32 GB

macOS: Ventura 13.5


Can I use the iMac's screen (shared display) with my new Mac Mini?


How would I best connect the two (the Mac Mini is currently using a 27" Samsung display via HDMI)?

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Aug 4, 2023 6:57 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 4, 2023 1:33 PM

VBBob wrote:

Thanks, you've answered my question. I hate to just give up that nice 27" iMac display, but the iMac no longer comes in 27" size so I moved to the Mac Mini. I'll have to bite the bullet and find a more appropriate display, unfortunately the $1599 Apple product, while probably top-notch, is a budget buster. Too bad they don't have any choices that might be more reasonable.


Unfortunately, there are only three 27" 5K displays out there (the Apple one, the LG one, and a new Samsung one), and they are all budget-busters.


Apple's pricing on the 27" 5K Studio Display, and on separately-purchased Magic Keyboards and Magic Mice, makes (Mini / Studio)-based systems that are the rough analog of a (non-existent) 27" 5K Retina Apple Silicon iMac much more expensive than the 27" 5K Retina Intel iMacs used to be.


I guess you could get a 27" 4K monitor and run it in Retina "like 2560x1440" mode. Or get a decent 27" 2.5K monitor (with an IPS panel and near-100% coverage of sRGB) if the budget is really tight.

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 4, 2023 1:33 PM in response to VBBob

VBBob wrote:

Thanks, you've answered my question. I hate to just give up that nice 27" iMac display, but the iMac no longer comes in 27" size so I moved to the Mac Mini. I'll have to bite the bullet and find a more appropriate display, unfortunately the $1599 Apple product, while probably top-notch, is a budget buster. Too bad they don't have any choices that might be more reasonable.


Unfortunately, there are only three 27" 5K displays out there (the Apple one, the LG one, and a new Samsung one), and they are all budget-busters.


Apple's pricing on the 27" 5K Studio Display, and on separately-purchased Magic Keyboards and Magic Mice, makes (Mini / Studio)-based systems that are the rough analog of a (non-existent) 27" 5K Retina Apple Silicon iMac much more expensive than the 27" 5K Retina Intel iMacs used to be.


I guess you could get a 27" 4K monitor and run it in Retina "like 2560x1440" mode. Or get a decent 27" 2.5K monitor (with an IPS panel and near-100% coverage of sRGB) if the budget is really tight.

Aug 4, 2023 7:59 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks, you've answered my question. I hate to just give up that nice 27" iMac display, but the iMac no longer comes in 27" size so I moved to the Mac Mini. I'll have to bite the bullet and find a more appropriate display, unfortunately the $1599 Apple product, while probably top-notch, is a budget buster. Too bad they don't have any choices that might be more reasonable.

Aug 4, 2023 1:21 PM in response to VBBob

5K Retina iMacs never supported Target Display Mode. That feature went away when the first 5K iMac came out.


There are "workaround" products (USB-C version of Luna DIspay; Duet Display) that might let you reuse the 27" 5K iMac as a second screen. You'd still need a real monitor for your main screen – and the workarounds could involve significant compromises. (For instance, even with a Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt data path between the two Macs, Luna Display wouldn't support 5K resolution at a refresh rate of more than 30 – 45 Hz.)


Can I use a 27" iMac as a Display for a new 2023 Mac Mini?

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