M1 Mac Mini With LG 4k Monitor

[sauria]

I connect my LG 4K display to my M1 MBA by HDMI via Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adaptor (which also gives me one USB-C for power and one USB-C for my wireless mouse dongle). This gives me 4K at 60Hz. I run the display at the middle scaling option (looks like 2560 x 1440), but all other scaling options are available to me. I can run the display at the native resolution, but it's too small for me. The 2560 x 1440 also gives true pixel doubling for a retina-like quality as at that setting, the MBA uses an internal resolution of 5K, then scales it down to 2560, which is exactly 2:1.

Most HDMI adaptors, and even USB-C to HDMI cables, will only support 4K at 30Hz, which is why I went with Apple's pricy adaptor (but then again, on a MBA, I needed the extra ports anyway). The MBA only has USB-C ports. Your Mac mini has HDMI, so use the cable that came with the monitor, or splash out on a nice expensive cable that can carry 60Hz.

Thanks for the information!

 

[umbilical]

I'm thinking buy the LG 27UP850-W 27 for the mac mini m1, after read all that I don't know if its the best choice, mmm

note: the UP is the latest 2021 model

UP = 2021 Delivers up to 96W on USB-C while all previous only ~60W
This one has DCI-P3 color space. Older ones only had sRGB. DCI-P3 color space is better for content creation, of images that will be seen on other monitors and devices. Working on an sRGB monitor will produce images that look over-saturated on other screens. Working in an Adobe RGB monitor will produce images that look under-saturated on other screens. But working on a DCI-P3 monitor will produce images that look balanced and correct on all other monitors and devices. So your work as a content creator is not wasted. as example: sRGB monitor makes skin tones look like a lobster on other screens. Adobe RGB display makes them look dead on other screens. DCI-P3 monitor produces the best color possible on other screens. This applies to all colors and scenes. The price seems very low. I hope it's not bad quality. Monitors are not created equal. I guess the only way to know is to try it. The 27UN850 is absolutely beautiful. But it is limited by sRGB. As a digital painter, I wish companies would create more native DCI-P3 monitors, of very high quality. They're rare to find. All the ones I've tested have serious problems - like polluted colors - not pure colors, wrong grayscale, wrong exaggerated gamma.. I have yet to find a professional quality, balanced, 4k DCI-P3 monitor. This would fit a great market. But few monitors exist.. most are poor quality.

 

[justanothergeordie]

I'm thinking buy the LG 27UP850-W 27 for the mac mini m1, after read all that I don't know if its the best choice, mmm

note: the UP is the latest 2021 model

UP = 2021 Delivers up to 96W on USB-C while all previous only ~60W
This one has DCI-P3 color space. Older ones only had sRGB. DCI-P3 color space is better for content creation, of images that will be seen on other monitors and devices. Working on an sRGB monitor will produce images that look over-saturated on other screens. Working in an Adobe RGB monitor will produce images that look under-saturated on other screens. But working on a DCI-P3 monitor will produce images that look balanced and correct on all other monitors and devices. So your work as a content creator is not wasted. as example: sRGB monitor makes skin tones look like a lobster on other screens. Adobe RGB display makes them look dead on other screens. DCI-P3 monitor produces the best color possible on other screens. This applies to all colors and scenes. The price seems very low. I hope it's not bad quality. Monitors are not created equal. I guess the only way to know is to try it. The 27UN850 is absolutely beautiful. But it is limited by sRGB. As a digital painter, I wish companies would create more native DCI-P3 monitors, of very high quality. They're rare to find. All the ones I've tested have serious problems - like polluted colors - not pure colors, wrong grayscale, wrong exaggerated gamma.. I have yet to find a professional quality, balanced, 4k DCI-P3 monitor. This would fit a great market. But few monitors exist.. most are poor quality.

I can confirm it's a great monitor. I have an M1 Mac Mini and the LG 27UP850-W monitor and it works with both USB C and HDMI at 4K resolution @ 60hz. It's a brilliant screen for the price.

 

[zdlo]

I'm using an LG 27UL550-W on my M1 Mac mini, and I have never had any issues on any resolution or with either type of connection.

I've tried both HDMI to HDMI (2.0) and Thunderbolt to DisplayPort (1.4), and seen no difference. Always 60Hz, no flickering, no colour change on wake up. It takes a few seconds to wake up, which I assume is normal.

Since I haven't seen any difference between using the HDMI to HDMI and Thunderbolt to DisplayPort, I've decided to use HDMI to HDMI, leaving both Thunderbolt ports free for other uses.

For those who experience washed out colours, I would recommend calibrating. I've calibrated the monitor using the advanced calibration under System Preferences>Displays>Colour Profiles by option clicking Customise. Following Apple's on-screen guideline, I set the brightness to 0, and contrast to 100, before continuing with the calibration.

I haven't touched any other settings on the monitor, as I have no idea or found any clear explanation to what they actually do, and I've left the HDR option under System Preferences>Displays off, as it seems to change the original interface colours. I have yet to find out whether the monitor shows HDR content even without that option checked. Any information/recommendation on the optimal monitor settings will be appreciated.