External monitors for MBP 14 M1 base model - help me choose

[SergioSi]

I want to get 2 external monitors for my MBP M1 as I'll finally work more from home.

My usage is:

- 70% multiple chrome windows along with excel sheets and similar - real estate is important to have more stuff opened at the same time
- 25% photo & video editing (personal and semi-professional work, but not paid really - just stuff for promoting partners business)
- 5% Youtube, music production, etc.

Since I cannot really get a lot of stuff where I'm from, I narrowed it down to these:

- Huawei Mateview 28.2 - 2nd most expensive option but I do like the 3:2 ratio as I get more space for timeline in video editing
- LG 32UN880 - might be too big? My desk is 150cm wide so they will barely fit on it. But YT reviews seems good, only concern is low nits
- LG 27UP-850 - cheapes option - YT reviews seem good, but concerin is low nits
- LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL-B - most expensive option
- LG UltraFine 4K 24MD4KL-B - 2nd cheapest option but afraid they might become too small eventually (used to have 2x25" until a year ago - maybe I forgot how big that was haha)

I assume the best option would be the LG 5K UltraFine but it really is expensive - I can get almost 3 LG27's or UltraFine 4K for the price of only one 5K.

I do not need webcams, speakers etc.

So with all that in mind, what to choose? I can buy and test (and return if I don't like it) all of them but I would like to avoid the hassle.
None of them are displayed in any store so no option to go there with my MBP and try it out.

Thanks!

 

[chouseworth]

You might want to also consider the Dell 4K 27" u2720Q. It is reviewed very similarly to the LG 27". Its SDR peak brightness is higher than the LG. As an amateur photographer, I have two of them and am very pleased.

 

[telo123]

Keep in mind that the M1 MBP only supports 1 external monitor by default. If you want to get more than 1 external monitor, you may need to get a DisplayLink dongle thing.

 

[SergioSi]

Keep in mind that the M1 MBP only supports 1 external monitor by default. If you want to get more than 1 external monitor, you may need to get a DisplayLink dongle thing.

The specs says up to 2 extern monitors with the pro m1 2021 model. Or am I wrong?

 

[Basic75]

Keep in mind that the M1 MBP only supports 1 external monitor by default. If you want to get more than 1 external monitor, you may need to get a DisplayLink dongle thing.

OP has a MacBook Pro with M1 Pro which supports more than one external display.

 

[Basic75]

The specs says up to 2 extern monitors with the pro m1 2021 model. Or am I wrong?

You are right, but didn't consistently use the correct "M1 Pro" to name you processor.

 

[profcutter]

You are right, but didn't consistently use the correct "M1 Pro" to name you processor.

It's a 14 inch. It's either Pro or Max.

 

[Basic75]

Remember that unless you are planning on running a 140ppi or 163ppi display at native resolution (where everything will be smaller than usual) or pixel-doubled (where everything will be larger than usual) you'll have some overhead due to the indirect rendering and it won't be pixel perfect. This might or might not disturb you, just something you should be aware of. Personally I prefer pixel-perfect rendering, don't require retina, and am therefore happy with two 27" 2560x1440 IPS displays that both together can be had for less than 500 EUR/USD. Other people are happy running a 27" or 32" UHD display which, even with scaling, are often still perceived as sharper.