The Best External Monitor For Your Mac Mini

The Importance Of A Monitor, And A Good One At That

The Mac Mini is Apple’s tiny desktop computer. It is the cheapest Mac desktop product that you can buy, and as the name implies, the smallest. It isn’t a laptop, but you can nevertheless transport it in a portable fashion by disconnecting it from any attached peripherals, as it’s just a small square.

Speaking of peripherals, the Mac Mini does not come with ANY at all. Sparing the necessary power cable that is required to turn the thing on, the Mac Mini does not come with a keyboard, mouse, or even monitor.

If you bought just a Mac Mini by itself, you won’t be able to use it at all. So, you will need to buy all the necessary peripherals, unless you have your own keyboard, mouse, and monitor from a previous purchase. You can, fortunately, use third-party peripherals for your Mac Mini to save additional expenses.

Speaking of third-party peripherals, special consideration should be put into the choosing of a monitor. The newest Mac Mini comes equipped with desktop-grade 8th generation Intel Coffee Lake processors, available in both quad and hexa-core models.

This gives the 2018 Mac Mini model five times more processing power than the 2014 model. The 2018 Mac Mini is designed for use in creative applications when resource-intensive software is often used to edit numerous large files.

To this end, you will want to buy a monitor (preferably more than one) that best allows you to take full advantage of its multitasking capabilities. There are many different variables that come into play in the design of each and every monitor’s construction. There are, however, a few key features you want to look for in a monitor:

High Resolution

You’ll want your secondary display to have as high a resolution as possible. The higher the resolution, the better.

The 2018 Mac Mini can support resolutions of up to 1920 X 1200 via HDMI port, and up to 2560 X 1600 via Mini DisplayPort with a compatible monitor, so don’t hesitate to use a 4K or Ultra HD display as a monitor. It is supported.

Large Aspect Ratio

Along with the subject of screen resolution should also come the subject of aspect ratio. You will want your display to be at a 16:9 ratio. Most displays are like this, and it has been used by Apple for a number of years.

If you have an LCD display, then know that it works and looks best at its native resolution, its highest setting. A display with a 16:9 resolution will have a very wide display that fills the entirety of the monitor. This is ideal for fitting a lot on one screen and being able to get more work done as a result.

Screen Size

Just as important for multitasking as screen resolution and aspect ratio, your screen size will affect both of the aforementioned characteristics.

A larger screen will provide allow for, but won’t necessarily provide, a larger screen resolution as will permit more pixels-per-inch (ppi). However, ppi is something that is determined by the monitor’s manufacturers, they decide how many pixels-per-inch is built into their monitors.

Screen size is measured diagonally. A 24" monitor will measure 24" from corner to corner. With that in mind, you will want to choose a monitor that is the right size for your workstation.

If you have a very large desk, a 30" monitor is a better choice than a tiny 19" one. Likewise, a small to medium-sized monitor is a better fit for smaller workspaces.

If you’re using a dual-monitor setup, you’ll also want to limit the number of monitors to that which is appropriate for your workspace. You should only choose a dual-monitor setup if your desk space can afford it.

If the circumstances permit it, mounting a monitor to a wall is an excellent way to add one without taking up desk space. If desk space isn’t a problem, though, you should add up to three monitors for extra multitasking ability - two for medium-sized desks, and three for particularly large desks with plenty of space.

Again, those were only a small sampling of the features and specs that you can find in today’s computer monitors. With that being said, we’ve gone ahead and taken a look at a couple of high-quality monitors in order to pick out what we consider the best Mac Mini monitor. Take a look below.

LG 27UK850 27" 4K Monitor

This 27-inch IPS (In-Plane Switching) monitor has a number of powerful features built into it, all of which compliment the 2018 Mac Mini.

For starters, it is an IPS display, as mentioned above. An IPS display is the same kind of display that is used in iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Unlike an LCD display, an IPS display allows for much wider viewing angles without allowing a distortion of color and image providing consistent viewing and colors from all angles.

The LG 27UK850 monitor’s display also has 4K resolution and possesses superb color resolution and a slim bezel design. This monitor is particularly well suited for gamers, photographers, graphic designers, and for tasks and professions that require highly accurate color representation.

One of the reasons why this monitor produces such strong color representation and produces such ultra-high quality images is because of its HDR effect.

This is a unique picture quality algorithm that is employed by the monitor to transform non-HDR content into high-quality photos and videos that look like HDR.

Because of this, you can get a high level of detail and photographic and visual precision, even in low-quality photos and videos. This will make it far easier to work with, view, and edit photos, and pick out minor discrepancies that are hard to notice using other monitors.

Another feature of the LG 27UK850 that makes its picture quality so superb is it 8 million plus pixel density, with a pixel per inch density of 163. It offers 10-bit color depth support using 8-bit and FRC technology and has more than 99% coverage of the sRGB color gamut.

Its display offers a Dynamic Action Sync feature that provides smooth, fluid gaming and animation. It also comes equipped with a suite of monitor optimization settings, stabilizer tools, and four different HDR modes.

Finally, the LG 27UK850 offers lightning-fast data transfer and interactivity with different devices. It possesses USB type-C ports for viewing 4K video, transferring data, and charging laptops and mobile devices.

We consider this monitor to be the single best choice for 2018 Mac Mini, if you're on a budget. It offers a plethora of extremely powerful features in an affordable package. If you're looking for a high-end monitor, in both performance and appearance, combined with a relatively cheap package, then this monitor makes for an excellent pick.

LG UltraFine 5K Display

If you're looking for a super high-end monitor to compliment your 2018 Mac Mini, and you're not hampered by any kind of budget, then you should definitely consider investing in a LG UltraFine 5K Display.

This monitor offers 5K resolution, an even higher resolution than the previous monitor that we looked at. If that insane resolution isn't enough to immediately have you convinced that you need to go out right now and buy this monitor for your 2018 Mac Mini, then you haven't seen anything yet.

This monitor comes in 27 inch, 29 inch, and 34-inch sizes, and offers a 5120 X 2880 resolution IPS display with a 12000:1 static contrast ratio. It also offers its viewers 500 c/m2Brightness, 178o/178o viewing angles, 14 ms (GtG) response time, and possesses a total of 1.07 billion available colors.

The LG UltraFine 5K display possesses over 14.7 million pixels, 77% more than a typical 4K UHD Display. That's so many pixels that the human eye cannot discern them. Like the previous monitor we reviewed, this one is perfect for work that requires intense color fidelity and precise graphics

The built-in camera mounted on the top of the monitor provides FaceTime support, allowing you to contact friends, co-workers, and colleagues alike. It's different sizing options for you to buy a different-sized monitor to suit any working environment.

In addition to the built-in camera mounted in the top, it also has a built-in microphone, and of course, stereo speakers. The LG UltraFine 5K Display has three USB-C ports and comes shipped with a Thunderbolt 3 cable, which provides the display with its video, data, and, power supply.

Overall, this monitor is an excellent choice for you if you aren’t restricted by a budget and want the absolute best in picture quality, definition, resolution, and display size that a monitor can have.

When you're selecting a new monitor ( or pair of monitors), to choose, you will want one that really takes advantage of the specs and features available in the 2018 Mac Mini to get the most out of your money.

You want to carefully inspect the features and specifications of each and every monitor you take a look at. Take a look at things such as its resolution, screen size, picture quality, connective ports, and other key features it might possess.

You will also want to consider your budget. How much are you willing to spend on a new monitor? If you don’t want to re-use an old monitor for your new computer, then buy one that balances out performance, with a price that you can afford.

Lastly, remember the purpose and intended use of your Mac Mini. What kind of work will you be using it for? You will want a monitor that not only suits the specs and performance of your Mac Mini but suits the nature of the work that you intend to use it for.

That will help you better pick out the best Mac Mini monitor - a monitor that suits your tastes, desires, and usage preferences.