Suggest a Monitor for M1 Air Macbook

[ilovemym1mba]

In an ideal world, my ideal monitor would be
1. 5K to avoid scaling
2. With USB C PD
3. Wouldn't flicker with M series chip
4. Wouldn't have to break a bank to buy it.

I've learned few things and since Apple Studio Display is pretty much out of my budget (around 350USD), I've let that one go. That leaves me with 4K 27" options.

Then comes the USB C PD requirement. I feel like this would be the way to go since my mac has only 2 USB C ports and I have no desire to buy cheap PD passthrough extensions. Especially when I had read that they damage the mac irreverisbily. I also read that Apple has released an update and that is no longer the case but I am hesitatnt to take that risk. Curiuosly, quality PD hub almost equals to the premium that USB C monitors charge over their non-usb versions. (LGUP650 x LGUP850) and so on.

I also have to keep in mind that in the country that I live in (India), returns and replacecments are not so easy. So unless a monitor is specifically "Mac compatible", and the same is listed somehwere in their specifications, I will have very hard time getting a replacement or return shall I face an issue with it with my Mac but not on Windows.

Upcmoing Dell S2725QC caught my eye as it is 4K@120Hz and also has better contrast ratio 1500:1 (don't know how much of a difference it'll make in real life though, hoping for reduced backlight bleed), and is newer. Only thing keeping me from purchaisng it is the widespread issues specific to M series mac and display flicker. Being a new monitor, there isn't much real info about it. I did directly contact Dell and they told me that the monitor was NOT "Mac compatible" and I should go for Ultrasharp series which are Mac compatible. They cost almost twice as much though so out of my budget.

Then there is LG 27UP850 which retails for the same price as upcoming Dell S2725QC and I feel I would be paying more for the older model. Sadly, I coudln't find LG 27UQ850 anywhere on sell in India. And LG UP850 is quickly running out of stocks. LG 27UQ850 would've been a much better deal since it has IPS Black. I also haven't seen much reports about LG monitors flickering, is that the case?

There are other very attractively priced monitors such as Acer CB272K and ViewSonic VA2709U but they severly lack in reviews and I fear they might flicker with M series chip.

I feel stuck. If you are using a monitor with your arm M series mac and are happy about it, would love to know!

 

[Bigwaff]

I’m going to throw an idea out there… don’t know the used market in India… but used Apple Thunderbolt Display. It’s 2K QHD with built-in FaceTime camera, speakers, USB 2.0 hub, Thunderbolt 2, Ethernet, and has the same effective resolution as Studio Display 2560x1640, which is sweet spot for macOS. I use the TBD for camera, mic, Ethernet, USB for keyboard, and speakers are pretty good, too. A well cared for TBD looks really bright and sharp, really good.

You will need Apple TB3>TB2 adapter but my TBD display has worked flawlessly with both M1 MBA, M2 MBA, and M3 MBA. For a little while with M1 MBA, I used a USB-C > MagSafe adapter to take advantage of the display power. That only downside. You use all your USB-C ports on M1 MBA.

I’m actually using a Studio Display and Thunderbolt Display side by side with M3 MBP right now. Ironically, still using TBD for camera, mic, USB keyboard, and Ethernet, but speakers via ASD… sounds amazing. Having same effective resolution between the two is nice as well. No jarring resized windows or fonts when dragged between displays.

Correction: TBD native resolution is 2560x1440.. mistyped above.

 

[ilovemym1mba]

I’m going to throw an idea out there… don’t know the used market in India… but used Apple Thunderbolt Display. It’s 2K QHD with built-in FaceTime camera, speakers, USB 2.0 hub, Thunderbolt 2, Ethernet, and has the same effective resolution as Studio Display 2560x1640, which is sweet spot for macOS. I use the TBD for camera, mic, Ethernet, USB for keyboard, and speakers are pretty good, too. A well cared for TBD looks really bright and sharp, really good.

You will need Apple TB3>TB2 adapter but my TBD display has worked flawlessly with both M1 MBA, M2 MBA, and M3 MBA. For a little while with M1 MBA, I used a USB-C > MagSafe adapter to take advantage of the display power. That only downside. You use all your USB-C ports on M1 MBA.

I’m actually using a Studio Display and Thunderbolt Display side by side with M3 MBP right now. Ironically, still using TBD for camera, mic, USB keyboard, and Ethernet, but speakers via ASD… sounds amazing. Having same effective resolution between the two is nice as well. No jarring resized windows or fonts when dragged between displays.

Thanks, I'll look for one. Although I doubt I could find one with reasonable pricing here. Do you think 200USD would be a fair price for that? Because I gave a quick search and that one came up.

 

[Bigwaff]

Thanks, I'll look for one. Although I doubt I could find one with reasonable pricing here. Do you think 200USD would be a fair price for that? Because I gave a quick search and that one came up.

$200USD is a fair price. I've seen ones is excellent condition w/ original retail packaging go for a little over $300, which I think is worth the expense.

 

[newJeans]

that display is a native 2560x1440 panel though right? so not high dpi / retina / 2x scale etc.

 

[Bigwaff]

that display is a native 2560x1440 panel though right? so not high dpi / retina / 2x scale etc.

Yes, x1440.. I mistyped in my earlier post... TBD has native resolution of 2560x1440 which is exactly the default HiDPI (retina) resolution of the Studio Display, although the ASD supports higher resolutions, of course.

 

[ilovemym1mba]

Thanks a lot for supporting me in this. Recently, I came across this link https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-in/drivers/supportedos/s2725qc-monitor?ref=oscompatibility which clearly says "Apple Mac OS" as a supported operating system, unlike S2722QC.

I think I will take my chances and order the S2725QC, hoping they will keep their word and replace/refund me if I face any issues regarding macOS and flickers or any unwanted unbearable behaviour of monitor.

I don't know what to make of the official Dell support guy though. Maybe he was misinformed since the product is new? Though he was quite adamant that unless the product existed within Dell website's "Mac OS" filter it is not meant for macOS, while the link above directly contradicts it? I don't know. I will take their website's written wordings over sales support agent's verbal one and play my cards.

Fingers crossed. Let's see what happens 4 weeks later.