A guide to selecting the best monitor for Mac: here’s a selection for office, graphics, video editing, and gaming use. In an ideal world, the Apple Studio Display is undoubtedly the best monitor for Mac Mini, Macbook, Macbook Air, and Macbook Pro. Still, understandably 1800 euros for a display is somewhat shelled out (not to mention the 5600 Pro Display Xdr EUR).
Therefore, for those who want a more affordable but quality collection for their Apple computer, all that remains is understanding which models are more accessible and compatible. Yes, because technically any monitor on the market can be combined with any Mac line, in reality, Apple has a technical peculiarity on display resolutions which complicates the choice, affects the quality of use, and above all, the final performance.
What Is The Resolution Of Monitors For Apple?
All Mac computers are characterized by their support for a somewhat bizarre native resolution on average: for example, the 15-inch MacBook Air offers 2560 x 1664 pixels. This choice is because Apple aims to have a ratio between the screen’s diagonal and the resolution of about 220 pixels per inch. This density of visual information contributes to what Apple calls the “retina effect,” which is the illusion that hides square pixels from view, giving way to images that look natural and printed.
This explains why the ideal is to combine your Mac with a monitor of about 220 ppi or exactly half, therefore about 110 ppi. In the first case, the computer does not make any adjustments, while in the second, it scales the images produced by the computer exactly in half without too many graphic artifacts. The underlying theme is that when you move away from these indices (220 ppi and 110 ppi), the standard graphical interface appears very large or small but switches to a scaled resolution. You are asking the hardware to make an extra processing effort. And therefore, the performance is slightly affected.
Before buying a monitor for Mac, it is good to check the pixels per inch. This guide has selected the best monitors to combine with Apple laptops and the Mac Mini. And in this sense, we have evaluated both the quality, the type of use, and the prices. The advice is to focus on models from 24 inches up. For those looking for 360-degree monitors, we have selected the best models of the moment in all categories, from ergonomic ones to portable models, from 4k solutions for gaming to curved ones for playing and working.
Asus ProArt PA278CV
Fans of the Apple world highly appreciate the Asus ProArt line of monitors for its graphic quality and design. The PA278CV model is based on IPS technology, has a diagonal of 27 inches, a resolution of 2560 x 1440, and, therefore, a ppi of 108.79. It has good brightness, an acceptable level of contrast, and excellent color accuracy, even without calibration.
We are talking about a 100% srgb. It’s certainly not recommended for gaming, and the frequency is 75Hz, but it excels in-office use and defends itself on the multimedia front even if it does not support film hdr. The equipment includes USB-C connections, HDMI, a display port, a USB hub, and a headphone jack. It should be emphasized that the support then allows for height adjustment, 90° rotation, and a maximum 35° inclination.
Gigabyte M27Q
The Gigabyte M27Q monitor is an IPS model that shines for its competitive price and record-breaking gaming quality. Of course, the gaming dimension has never been a priority in the Apple world. Still, enthusiasts love its ecosystem for work, boot camp, or virtualization for other Windows activities. The Gigabyte M27Q offers 27 inches diagonally and a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels with a ppi of 108.79. The striking fact is that it has a frequency of 170, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
Also, with Xbox or Playstation, you can enjoy a good experience even if you can only rely on the HDMI 2.0 ports. The contrast level is average, while the brightness is excellent – even with HDR content, it doesn’t push too much. The chromatic quality, as is the chromatic breadth, is also suitable, with almost incredible accuracy for this product type. The clarity of the texts for office activities is also not alarming. The equipment includes a DisplayPort port, HDMI, an audio output, two USB-a ports, and a USB-c port.
LG UltraWide 34WN750
The LG 34WN750 monitor is one of those 21:9 models that explicitly wink at professionals working with documents. The ultrawide dimension (+33% of pixels compared to 16:9) favors productivity and the management of multiple windows. A must for anyone who does video or music editing or deals with design and planning. The size of 34 inches combined with the resolution of 3440 x 1440 pixels provides a ppi of 109.68.
The user experience is positive even if the color quality is only acceptable and the brightness is not very high. Thanks to AMD FreeSync technology, a 75Hz frequency could also be used for gaming; it is certainly not his ideal terrain, but he defends himself. The wide format of video content is undoubtedly an advantage, as is HDR support. The equipment includes a Display Port, 2 HDMI ports, a USB hub with an uplink port, and two outputs and audio output. There is also a pair of 14W speakers.
LG 27MD5KL
One of the best alternatives to the Apple Studio Display is undoubtedly the LG UltraFine 27MD5KL. It is a 27-inch 5k Ips model with a resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels, with a ppi of 217.57. The look is professional and anonymous, but it has been optimized in collaboration with Apple. The chromatic quality is remarkable: it is difficult to be disappointed in every situation of use. Of course, the refresh rate remains at 60 Hz, and the maximum brightness is 500 lumens, but the yield is still remarkable – gaming excluded. The equipment includes two Thunderbolt ports, three USB-C ports, and a USB-C port for power. There is also a full HD 1080p webcam and built-in speakers.
Apple Studio Displays
The Apple Studio Display is the ideal ips monitor for any Mac thanks to a size of 27 inches and a native resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels, which allows you to reach a ppi of 217.57. Net of the essential technical elements, it must be recognized that the design is significantly impacted.
The contrast is average (no Hdr support), but the brightness and color accuracy are excellent. The clarity of the texts is superb. The refresh rate is only 60Hz, so the most dynamic gaming is not at home. The equipment includes four USB-C ports, one of which is Thunderbolt 3, built-in speakers, and a 12-megapixel video camera. It is an excellent product for office activities, multimedia use, and photo or video editing.
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