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M4 mac mini - looking for a 1440p monitor

iosvargas

iosvargas

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 11, 2016
16
5
I am about to order an m4 mac mini (basic setup, 799$) and a monitor.

I have read good things about the Dell U2723QE (4K usb-c etc..),
but i think it may be too much for what i really need.
I might get better results from a 1440p one, instead of a 4K one.
Right now i have an iMac 27 late 2014.

I do want to go to a good "viewing" monitor, because i spend a lot of time on it.
i dont care too much about "many ports on it". An HDMI port is just fine.
I use it for internet browsing, email, ms office word, music and video playing.
no gaming at all and no video processing.

Reading arround the net, people suggest a 1440p monitor , insread of a 4K one,
for the usage i tend to do.

I am open for suggestions.

how about something like these ...
Dell S2725DS Monitor - 27 Inch, QHD (2560x1440)
Dell S2721D 27 Inch 1440p QHD
Dell UltraSharp 27 Monitor (U2722D) 27-inch QHD with 2560x1440
 
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Get a 27" 5k (several good options there now) or a 32" 4k 120hz+ OLED

Monitors get kept longer than computers

I'd buy a bit more monitor tech

27" 1440p is just really dated and not great anymore
 
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The big thing is that anything lower than 4K, you're going to want to stick to only the "looks like" the actual resolution of the display. Go look at a 27" 1440p display at a store, and make sure the text looks good and readable to you. If you think you'll want to adjust the display resolution, don't get a 1440p. Once you change the resolution, it will start to become a blurry mess.

Running a 4K in "looks like 1440p" though, still looks crisp and sharp. (Because once you're at 4K or higher, it always keeps the *DISPLAY* in its full resolution, and uses the OS' built-in rescaling to change how big things look, which keeps text super-sharp, regardless of "looks like". At 1440p or below, it changes the actual monitors resolution, and you're at the mercy of the display's scaling.)
 
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Have been using a 32" BenQ DesignView 1440p monitor with my 2018 Intel Mini since 2020 and still very happy with it. But the integrated graphics on the 2018 Mini struggle with scaled resolutions, so I wanted a screen I could use at its native resolution. Personally, I would find text and the user interface a bit small with a 27" 1440p screen but I know some people are happy with it.

If I were buying an m4 Mini today, I'd probably go with a 4k screen, then scale it to whatever looks good since the Apple Silicon Macs don't suffer from the scaling issues the Intel 2018 Mini has. (I actually have an m4 Mini, but it's just a media server with an old 1080p screen)
 
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Boyd01 said:
Have been using a 32" BenQ DesignView 1440p monitor with my 2018 Intel Mini since 2020 and still very happy with it. But the integrated graphics on the 2018 Mini struggle with scaled resolutions, so I wanted a screen I could use at its native resolution. Personally, I would find text and the user interface a bit small with a 27" 1440p screen but I know some people are happy with it.

If I were buying an m4 Mini today, I'd probably go with a 4k screen, then scale it to whatever looks good since the Apple Silicon Macs don't suffer from the scaling issues the Intel 2018 Mini has. (I actually have an m4 Mini, but it's just a media server with an old 1080p screen)
Click to expand...

You have a 2018 Intel Mini and an M4 Mini ... and the M4 isn't you're primary machine!?

😦
 
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m4 is the base 16/256 model from a Black Friday sale. I felt it was the best value to replace my dying 2014 Mini media server and it's been great.

2018 Mini is top spec model with 64gb/2tb, used heavily with GIS software in a Parallels 32gb Windows VM. There are trade-offs, but I'm happy with performance and the MacOS/Windows integration is a huge benefit. Basically, it gets the job done and fits my limited budget, will stick with it for a couple more years.

Sorry for the off-topic diversion OP. I simply wanted to share experiences with a 1440p screen since that was the question. But, as I posted, that's probably not the right choice for an m4 Mini. If you find people suggesting a 1440p screen, I wonder if that is based on older, Intel Mini's? If not, I'd ask those same people why they recommend 1440p
 
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I got a m4 mini base for 499 and paired it with a studio display. it smokes my 2017 iMac. love it. If I was gonna cheap out on a monitor I'd get the Samsung s9 5k one for $800. I have it at work and it works fine
 
You may be able to get a used Apple Thunderbolt Display (1440p) on your local Craigslist for ~$100. I am currently using one with my base Mac mini M4. It looks and works great. It just needs a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter. I have used an M1 iMac (4.5k display) for the past 3.5 years as my main computer and I have no issues with the lower resolution. I like having the 27" display much better, and it has a useful hub on the back.
 
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Re the Dell U2723QE:
My wife has this monitor. Resolution is sharp, as expected, and is easy on the eyes. What distinguishes this monitor for her is the built in USB-C hub. Her label printer and Fujitsu scanner connect directly via this hub. The hub requires only a USB-C connection to the TB3 port on her M1 Pro "base" model. Her desktop is really clear and has no need for a separate docking station.
 
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riptilian said:
Re the Dell U2723QE:
My wife has this monitor. Resolution is sharp, as expected, and is easy on the eyes. What distinguishes this monitor for her is the built in USB-C hub. Her label printer and Fujitsu scanner connect directly via this hub. The hub requires only a USB-C connection to the TB3 port on her M1 Pro "base" model. Her desktop is really clear and has no need for a separate docking station.
Click to expand...
I have the Dell U2723QE as well and I use it with the single cable and KVM with my PC (which has two connections to the display).

27" 4k "looks like 1080p" scaling but reduced text size and a few other UI elements manually made smaller and I'm really liking this setup.

I also have the older 1440p 27" Dell U2713HM and text doesn't look good on macOS anymore since they got rid of sub-pixel aliasing a couple of years ago. It's now used with a Windows work laptop and works great for that because Windows text still looks good on low-PPI displays.
 
Depends on your viewing distance. I use a 42” 4K tv on a large desk with my Mac mini. Works well for me. These TV’s are so affordable like $100-150, thanks to massive supply. I’m sure dedicated computer monitors are better but I mean, how much better?
 
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Have you looked on Youtube on how to connect your "iMac 27 late 2014" to a M4? I don't know as I haven't had a iMac but I have seen some videos on Youtube.
 
1440p will not be good at 27", but I guess it depends on what you will be using it for. I would recommend 27" 4K.

JPack said:
4K 32-inch IPS

Those are the minimum specs you should be aiming for. 27" is too small these days.
Click to expand...
I find the text quality of 4K 32" sub-par, but YMMV. I bought a 32" Asus ProArt 4K monitor and was not happy with it. The pixel density was just too low for my tastes. I returned it and got a 28.2" Huawei 4K+ monitor (same pixel density as 27" 4K with same screen width, but taller, as it's a 3:2 monitor), and was MUCH happier than with 32" 4K. Text quality was way, way better on the Huawei.

My next purchase will likely be 32" 6K.
 
I upgraded to 27 inch 5k last year, but I used two Dell 27 inch 1440p displays for years. The text is definitely not sharp, but quite tolerable (I work with text a lot).
 
It all depends on you, your eyes, and what you do.
I mostly do text processing, and my eyes are aging, and I need new glasses, so everything is just a teensy, tiny bit fuzzy anyway.

I got a M4 Mac Mini to replace my aging late 2015 27" iMac, with its 5k monitor. I had it set to 2560x1440. Which is an even fraction of 5120x2880, so everything was sharp.
An equivalent, stand-alone monitor was out of my price range.
I was lucky enough to try a 4k monitor, set to 2560x1440, but because it isn't an even fraction, it was a bit fuzzy.
So, based on the advice of others, I want for a native QHD 2560x1440 monitor, a Samsung 27" ViewFinity S61B.
And for me, and for my purposes, it is perfect.
YMMV.
 
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DaveFromCampbelltown said:
It all depends on you, your eyes, and what you do.
I mostly do text processing, and my eyes are aging, and I need new glasses, so everything is just a teensy, tiny bit fuzzy anyway.

I got a M4 Mac Mini to replace my aging late 2015 27" iMac, with its 5k monitor. I had it set to 2560x1440. Which is an even fraction of 5120x2880, so everything was sharp.
An equivalent, stand-alone monitor was out of my price range.
I was lucky enough to try a 4k monitor, set to 2560x1440, but because it isn't an even fraction, it was a bit fuzzy.
So, based on the advice of others, I want for a native QHD 2560x1440 monitor, a Samsung 27" ViewFinity S61B.
And for me, and for my purposes, it is perfect.
YMMV.
Click to expand...
Hmmm… I work in text all day long and I much prefer a 4K 27” class monitor over 1440p 27”, at least with recent versions of macOS. 1440p 27”was more reasonable with the subpixel antialiasing of previous versions of OS X, but no more.
 
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EugW said:
I find the text quality of 4K 32" sub-par, but YMMV. I bought a 32" Asus ProArt 4K monitor and was not happy with it. The pixel density was just too low for my tastes. I returned it and got a 28.2" Huawei 4K+ monitor (same pixel density as 27" 4K with same screen width, but taller, as it's a 3:2 monitor), and was MUCH happier than with 32" 4K. Text quality was way, way better on the Huawei.

My next purchase will likely be 32" 6K.
Click to expand...

For content consumption, I feel a single 32-inch 4K is more immersive and lets you sit back for videos. 28-inch 4K may work better for text productivity and definitely the choice for dual monitors. I agree 32/6K is probably the sweet spot for price and sharpness for a single monitor. I run my Mac mini with a T32p-20.

If Dell ever updates their 32/8K model from 2017, I'd seriously be tempted to go that route to experience the awesomeness.
 
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iosvargas said:
I am about to order an m4 mac mini (basic setup, 799$) and a monitor.

I have read good things about the Dell U2723QE (4K usb-c etc..),
but i think it may be too much for what i really need.
I might get better results from a 1440p one, instead of a 4K one.
Right now i have an iMac 27 late 2014.

I do want to go to a good "viewing" monitor, because i spend a lot of time on it.
i dont care too much about "many ports on it". An HDMI port is just fine.
I use it for internet browsing, email, ms office word, music and video playing.
no gaming at all and no video processing.

Reading arround the net, people suggest a 1440p monitor , insread of a 4K one,
for the usage i tend to do.

I am open for suggestions.

how about something like these ...
Dell S2725DS Monitor - 27 Inch, QHD (2560x1440)
Dell S2721D 27 Inch 1440p QHD
Dell UltraSharp 27 Monitor (U2722D) 27-inch QHD with 2560x1440
Click to expand...
I tried a 27", 1440p monitor with my mac mini. It was pretty bad, to my eyes.

To achieve retina-like resolution, I would go for one of the following:
- 24" 4K
- 27" 5k
 
JPack said:
If Dell ever updates their 32/8K model from 2017, I'd seriously be tempted to go that route to experience the awesomeness.
Click to expand...
Both Asus and LG are releasing 6K 32” monitors this year.
 
The Studio Display only hurts once.

I'm using the ass end M4 mini with one. The monitor is more important than the machine these days. I expect the monitor to last a good few years.
 
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