Buying Advice M1 iMac, Mac mini or MacBook Air

[Cpt.]

Hey

I'm deciding between M1 iMac, Mac mini or MacBook Air.
I have an external 27“ 1440p 144hz monitor that I’m planning to use with the Mac mini/Air if the decision falls to one of those.

In YouTube Videos, people talk about external screen wake up issues, issues with flickering on external displays or that external displays feel wonky sometimes, as well as issues with blue tooth connectivity with the MacBook Air and Mac Mini.

How big are these issues?

The screen issue seems annoying, but I can’t afford to have my keyboard or mouse stuck when I’m in a client/ work meeting, and it’s not possible to reboot at that time.

It seems like these issues are only present for the mini/air, so that made me take the iMac as well into consideration. But switching to the iMac would mean that I have to get rid of my external monitor.

@Fravin you wrote in other(1) threads(2) that you were able to mitigate the flickering issue by purchasing another cable. Thank you for sharing that. I would really appreciate your feedback for my situation.

Pros and Cons for Mac mini
+ I could continue to use my external monitor
+ I could continue to use my external arm
+ I could continue to use my USB-A SD card reader

- I need to buy a keyboard
- I need to buy a mouse
- I need to buy a cable for the monitor
- External monitor is only 1440p

Pros and Cons for MacBook Air
+ I could continue to use my external monitor
+ I could continue to use my external arm

- I need to buy a keyboard
- I need to buy a mouse
- I need to buy a cable for the monitor
- I need to buy an adapter to use my USB-A SD card reader or buy a USB-c SD card reader
- External monitor is only 1440p

Pros and Cons for iMac
+ Monitor included
+ Monitor is 4K
+ Keyboard included
+ Mouse included

- I need to buy an adapter to use my USB-A SD card reader or buy a USB-c SD card reader
- Higher price than Mac mini
- Sell my 1440p monitor

I know that WWDC is around the corner and there probably will be some new hardware, but the question is how available will it be?
The time to get your hand on a 14" or 16" MacBook Pro are 2 to 2,5 months where I live and the products I've listed are directly available.

Of course, I will wait and see what WWDC brings.

Thanks!

 

[pmiles]

All three of these devices are essentially the same, just the form factor is different.

They are all first generation ARM devices... as such, there is a bit of learning being done by Apple based upon user feedback. There has been a fair amount of compatibility issues regarding the use of external monitors which suggest either a port issue or an internal design issue that hasn't been fully fleshed out. Some people have experienced zero issues, others have run through the gambit trying to diagnose the problem.

Generally speaking, if you stick to Apple certified products, you shouldn't have any mouse. keyboard, or display issues... if from the same generation as the device. Using older Mac products with newer Mac products doesn't guarantee compatibility as these devices get depreciated by Apple over time. So while an old Apple LED Cinema Display may still function, said functionality with say a new ARM Mac is purely out of luck, not by design.

What are your true needs? Portability? Large display? Ports? What are you currently using and why is it in need of replacing (at this very moment)? You seem very concerned about cost. A keyboard, mouse, and cable are all chump change by comparison to the device. Just what is your budget like? Are you settling for something just because it happens to be available?

To be quite honest, I would expect availability for some products to be in question due to the supply chain shortages. You can't have a workforce sit idle for several months to a year and not produce product and expect to return to normal capacity overnight. It can take months to years to establish a solid inventory. If the demand is such that you are essentially shipping product the very instant that it is produced, you never have the opportunity to generate inventory. If a component you need is not available, you can't produce the product. This is what a supply chain shortage is. Expect it to remain like this for at least another year or two. If you know what you want, be prepared to wait for it. If you are lucky, the wait will be short. Or don't wait and buy whatever happens to be on the shelf whether it is what you truly need or not.

 

[theluggage]

Pros and Cons for MacBook Air
+ I could continue to use my external monitor
+ I could continue to use my external arm

+ It's portable. If you want/need to use it 'on the road' that's the end of the discussion.
- Only 2 TB/USB ports and, if you use it mostly as a desktop, you're going to need one of those for the charger and the other for the monitor, so you probably need to add some sort of multi-port hub/dock.
- It costs $300 more than a Mini and you're talking about using an external keyboard, mouse and monitor anyway.
(You could consider getting an "elevator" stand so you can use it as a second screen - otherwise you're wasting a screen).

- I need to buy an adapter to use my USB-A SD card reader or buy a USB-c SD card reader

Adapters are now dirt cheap - but they're a nuisance "on the road" so that also comes down to whether you need portability (also, you might want/need a multi-port hub anyway).

Pros and Cons for Mac mini
+ I could continue to use my external monitor
+ I could continue to use my external arm
+ I could continue to use my USB-A SD card reader

- I need to buy a keyboard
- I need to buy a mouse
- I need to buy a cable for the monitor
- External monitor is only 1440p

A 1440p display would probably work fine with a basic HDMI-to-HDMI cable.
+ You could upgrade your monitor to 4k in the future without having to replace the computer.
+ You can replace the computer in the future without needing a new monitor.
+ You can choose a 3rd party mouse & keyboard.

Pros and Cons for iMac
+ Monitor included
+ Monitor is 4K
+ Keyboard included
+ Mouse included

- when you come to upgrade the computer, you'll need to replace that nice 4.5k monitor (which will still be a very nice 4.5k monitor in 3 years time).

? What do you think of the Apple Magic Mouse? It's subjective but, personally, "Mouse Included" is a minus for me (I'd take the opportunity of getting a $50 Magic Trackpad instead). Likewise - you might prefer a third party keyboard.

- I need to buy an adapter to use my USB-A SD card reader or buy a USB-c SD card reader

Non-issue on a desktop machine where it's going to be left plugged in. However, remember that base iMac only has 2 USB/TB ports (ridiculous) and you'll need one available to charge/pair the keyboard and mouse.

- Sell my 1440p monitor

Or keep it and use it as a second screen.

Display problems seem to be "your mileage may vary" - the Mac just hasn't been tested with every third-party display out there. There are a few "display compatibility" threads in the Mini and Accessories forums.

Keyboard/mouse reliability - again YMMV (if something is interfering with bluetooth), not sure if this is really a deal-breaker but, if you're worried, the Magic keyboard and trackpad (but famously not the Tragic Mouse) will work with a USB cable. Of course, that means a USB hub for an Air or 2-port iMac (Sorry, but 2 ports on a computer is for a parallel universe where nothing ever goes wrong).

Personally, I use a pre-Magic Aluminium wired keyboard (Apple Muggle Keyboard?) and a Logitech mouse dongle plugged into the USB hub on the keyboard (a more elegant solution from a more civilised age ).

 

[Fishrrman]

Don't buy anything until the announcements from WWDC, next week.

 

[Cpt.]

Thanks for your replies @pmiles, @theluggage and @Fishrrman

What are your true needs? Portability? Large display? Ports? What are you currently using and why is it in need of replacing (at this very moment)? You seem very concerned about cost. A keyboard, mouse, and cable are all chump change by comparison to the device. Just what is your budget like? Are you settling for something just because it happens to be available?

That's a good question.
Currently I'm using a windows desktop PC. If I'd go for the Air I think 80% of the time it would be docked to the external monitor. It just gives me the possibility to use it outside of my working desk.

 

[James_C]

Personally I would go for the MBA for its portability. I used an M1 MBA with an external display for about a year with no issues at all. I know you say that only 20% will be used ‘undocked’ but I suspect that you will use it as a portable a lot more. If you have an iPad then perhaps a desktop Mac makes more sense, otherwise I would go for the Air as performance will be similar to Mini or iMac, but your portability will be far greater. As others have said I would wait until after Tuesday to see if Apple updates any hardware, although WWDC is more likely to be a software only event.

 

[TechRunner]

If you decide to go M1 Air, I highly recommend the Rain Design mStand to elevate your laptop and use it as a second screen, as @theluggage suggested. I had a setup like that for five years with my 2015 MBA, and it was a great desktop/portable solution combination.

 

[Cpt.]

Thanks for recommending the mStand. I'll get it if I go with the MacBook Air

 

[chrisf60647]

This is a good discussion. I have a (2) 4K monitor that I use in conjunction with a work MacBook Pro (intel version). I want to keep work and personal stuff separate. I use (and love) UC between the two.

Looking to replace an older desktop and I had my thoughts about a Mac Mini M2 but since thats not an option, is the play the mac mini M1, MacBook Air M2, or something else? This is really a desktop replacement so portability is nice to have but not necessary. I alerady have the apple keyboard and magic mouse.

The only requirement is the ability to push 4k 60hz, M chipset, and quiet. All of the above check the box. Thoughts?

 

[Cpt.]

Okay, new M2 MacBook Air. Looks great but is 300€ more than the M1.
If I spec it to 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM it's the same price as the refurbished 14" MBP with 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM

 

[Fishrrman]

"If I spec it to 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM it's the same price as the refurbished 14" MBP with 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM"

I'll take "Refurbished 14" for $200, Alex..."

 

[Cpt.]

Ordered an MBA M1 with an mStand(Thanks @TechRunner ), Logitech MX Master 3 and Apple Magic Keyboard.
I have a BenQ Mobiuz EX2710Q, 27" WQHD monitor. This monitor has no USB-C or TB. Which cable/ hub works with this monitor to use it a 2560x1440 @ 144Hz on the MBA?
I also want to buy a SD card reader and a Samsung T5 or T7 to have more storage. How do you handle connecting these devices and the monitor to the MBA which has only 2 ports?

 

[James_C]

The only way you will be able to use 144Hz with this monitor is via display port, as HDMI will not support this refresh rate. You will need a good quality USB C to display port cable. I would try that first before investing in a dock as BenQ website suggests for best performance you should really have a USB C capable monitor, it may be you will need to use a 120 Hz refresh rate for better stability, as some people have seen flickering issues with 144 Hz.