The best monitor for Mac Mini provide color-accurate screens, extensive color space coverage, and high resolutions for content creators and office professionals. Our experienced reviewers evaluated displays from Apple, BenQ, Dell, and others to determine which monitor works best with Apple’s tiny Mac computer.
We love the Mac mini, which is now our top selection for the finest tiny PC. It’s a lovely device that’s beautifully built, ultra-portable, and reasonably priced, with plenty of power for picture and editing editing, as well as day-to-day office activities. However, to get the most out of the computer, you’ll need the appropriate screen.
After reviewing everything from the finest business monitors to the best monitors for photo editing, our experts tested the top displays to determine the best Mac mini monitors. As part of our evaluation process, we analyzed everything from resolutions to aspect ratios, build quality to connection, and color space coverage to help you pick the one that best suits your workplace and workflow.
BenQ PD2725U
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen Size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m2
- Ports: HDMI 2.0 (x1), DisplayPort 1.4 (x1), Thunderbolt 3 (x2), USB Type B, USB 3.1
Reasons to Buy :
- Great ports.
- Built-in KVM.
- Highly adjustable stand.
- Great cover.
Reasons to Avoid :
- HDR could be improved
The BenQ PD2725U is an excellent option for individuals looking for the best monitor for their Mac mini. This monitor’s 4K UHD resolution and 100% sRGB color accuracy produce breathtakingly clear and colorful graphics. One of the PD2725U’s most notable features is its dual-view capability, which allows users to divide the screen into two halves and display separate information on each.
This is especially handy for professionals using design or video editing software since it allows them to preview their work in several color spaces or screen sizes. In terms of connectivity, the PD2725U includes a variety of connections, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C, allowing for easy connection to a variety of devices. It also includes a built-in KVM switch, which allows users to seamlessly move between their Mac mini and other computers with a single keyboard and mouse.
The PD2725U also has a flexible stand that can be changed for height, tilt, and pivot to provide users with the most comfortable viewing angle. Its narrow bezel design adds a beautiful touch to any desk layout.
Overall, the BenQ PD2725U is a versatile and high-performance monitor that should be considered by anyone looking for a high-quality display for their Mac mini.
Dell S2722QC 27-inch 4K
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 )
- Brightness: 350 nits
- Ports: USB-C with 65W PD, 2x HDMI
Reasons to Buy :
- Affordable for the feature set.
- Quality 4K IPS Panel
- USB-C, 65W PD
- Multi-port USB hub.
Reasons to Avoid :
- Not a genuine HDR display.
- mediocre color fidelity
The two most important features for a Mac mini are pixel density and connection. The Dell S2722QC offers both at a very reasonable price. It’s a 4K 27-inch panel with approximately 160 DPI. That’s not as impressive as Apple’s 5K studio display or the Pro Display XDR. But those monitors are far more expensive.
Furthermore, MacOS still produces incredibly good, sharp fonts on a 27-inch 4K panel. The S2722QC’s IPS display produces decent image quality as well. OK, there is only very limited HDR support, with no local dimming and a peak brightness of 350 nits. Likewise, color gamut coverage is somewhat narrow. So this is not a professional-grade display for content development.
However, in terms of usefulness and overall productivity, it still boasts lovely colors and the usual excellent IPS viewing angles. The highlight of connectivity is USB-C, which delivers 65W of power. More costly displays can provide over 95W of charging via their USB connections. But with a Mac mini display, that’s far less important because the Mini will power itself.
What matters is that the S2722QC includes a USB hub, which allows you to choose whether to connect peripherals like as a keyboard, mouse, and external storage to the computer itself or to the display.
Of course, the USB-C connectivity makes this an excellent choice if you’re using the monitor with both a Mac mini and a MacBook. And for MacBooks, rather than the most power-hungry PC notebooks, 65W of power delivery is sufficient.
The S2722QC also lacks a dedicated DisplayPort interface. However, this is only a concern for PC usage. USB-C is the only way to go for the Mac mini and other Apple laptops. Overall, this is a great tiny 4K panel for ordinary Mac mini work.
Apple Pro Display XDR
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 32-inch
- Resolution: Liquid Retina 6K (6016 x 3384)
- Brightness: 500 cd/m2 (1600 cd/m2 peak)
- Ports: Thunderbolt 3.0 (x1), USB 3.0 Type C (x3)
Reasons to Buy :
- Best image quality on the M1 Mac mini
- Portrait mode functionality
- Plug & play with no Mac OS fussing.
Reasons to Avoid :
- It costs as much as a new motorcycle.
- Stand offered separately for $1000.
The Apple Pro Display XDR is the type of display that you may not need, but will undoubtedly want. It’s obviously well designed; after all, this is Apple. A low-carbon aluminum that is exceptionally sleek and smooth, with a futuristic appearance.
It’s a large monitor for the little Mac mini, suitable for a studio or home office, measuring 28.3 x 16.2 x 1.1 inches without the stand. However, it is 32 inches of what Apple refers to as 6K (6,016 x 3,384px), a large canvas for a variety of projects, programs, windows, and multiple active tabs. Expect 1,600-nit peak brightness and great color coverage; with default settings, expect 106.7% sRGB and 75.6% for larger DCI-P3 color gamuts.
Apple also keeps connectivity simple, perhaps too simple, with a power connector, Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB Type-C connectors, and a stand connector on the rear. One of the most significant concerns with the Pro Display XDR is that the stand is offered separately (and at a premium).
Dell Ultrasharp U3224KB
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 32-inches
- Resolution: 6144 x 3456
- Brightness: HDR off – 450 nits (SDR) HDR on – 750 nits
- Ports: 1x Security lock slot, 1x Power connector, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x mini DisplayPort 2.1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 downstream, 1x USB-C upstream, 1x Thunderbolt 4 (140W PD), 1x USB-A, 1x RJ45, 1x USB-C (15W PD, super speed 10Gbps), 1x USB-A (BC 1.2 with power charging, super speed 10Gbps), and 1x Stand lock.
Reasons to Buy :
- Features include a beautiful 6K display, an integrated 4K HDR webcam, and a Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
- Excellent array of connectivity ports.
Reasons to Avoid :
- With low cable passthrough, the microphone sound is slightly tinny.
Dell hit it out of the park with their fully equipped 6K monitor. Dell has managed to position this stunning display perfectly between Apple’s Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. The end result is a more inexpensive, beautiful 6K display with color accuracy to compete with the Pro Display XDR and the Studio Display’s features, all with additional port options for the general public. We gave this display a perfect score, which is unusual. The U3224KB UltraSharp 6K display includes a 4K HDR webcam, Thunderbolt connectivity up and downstream, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, USB-A, RJ45, and USB-C connectors.
Essentially, this monitor serves as both a second display for your Mac mini and a Thunderbolt Dock. Granted, a few of those ports are already present on the Mac mini, but having more connections for power users is always helpful, especially when they don’t clutter your desk.
Dell has created an automatic KVM switch, which allows the ports to effortlessly transition between linked computers. In actuality, you can connect your Mac mini and MacBook to this display (along with a few other devices), and with a simple input switch, your mouse and keyboard, external storage, and even an internet connection will accompany you between computers.
Apple Studio Display
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 5K (5,120 x 2,880 pixels)
- Brightness: 600 nits
- Ports: Thunderbolt 3, USB-C (x3)
Reasons to Buy :
- Punchy SDR performance
- Very high pixel density.
- Mac-optimized connectivity
- Fantastic speakers.
Reasons to Avoid :
- There is no HDR support and it is rather pricey.
Being an Apple product, it’s no surprise that the Apple Studio Display is well-suited for use with Mac Mini. The most noticeable advantage is the 5K panel itself. With 5,120 by 2,880 pixels on a 27-inch panel, you get a full 218 pixels per inch. That’s enough for MacOS to display fonts in its stunning, high-DPI mode. Text looks great on this monitor.
As a pure SDR display, the Studio Display is quite impressive. It has a brightness rating of up to 600 nits, which is plenty, and the colors are correct, with excellent viewing angles.
However, there is no HDR support, no local dimming, or any of the other tricks used by some displays, including Apple’s own Pro display XDR, to boost dynamic range.
Still, connectivity is ideal for use with Mac laptops, especially the mini. With three USB-C ports, it may serve as a powerful hub for connecting peripherals, and features such as the webcam are seamlessly integrated with MacOS, allowing it to utilize Center Stage tracking technology. Nice. In classic Apple fashion, the speakers outperform any equivalent screen.
The primary drawback is the price. This is a steep price for a 27-inch monitor with no HDR capability.
Furthermore, if you want a stand with adjustable height, you must pay an additional fee. As is, it only provides tilt. Ouch. The anti-reflective nano-texture screen cover is another expensive alternative. Longer cables are highly expensive. All of this makes the value case for the Studio Display difficult to make. However, if you can afford it and do not want HDR support, this is a pretty great solution for the Mac mini.
Asus ProArt PA279CV
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen size: 27-inch
- Resolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m
- Ports: USB 3.1 Type-C (upstream, 65W power, DP Alt Mode), USB 3.0 Type-A (Downstream) (x4), DisplayPort 1.2 (x1), HDMI 2.0 (x2), Anti-theft Kensington Lock
Reasons to Buy :
- Wide viewing angles.
- Excellent color gamut.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
- Large screen size and good resolution.
- Built-in ruler to help in measurement
Reasons to Avoid :
- Internal power supply.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV provides Mac mini customers with a dependable workhorse. Video and photo editing will be effortless, and the graphics will be spectacular. This 4K display is an improvement from the PA278CV, which is a QHD monitor. Content creators benefit from its perfect coverage of the sRGB color space, which results in clear images and realistic colors. Compared to the PA278CV, it has twelve preset modes, making it a good choice for photo editors utilizing a Mac mini.
In addition to thin bezels and a basic appearance, it sports a metallic-finish plastic stand and a back-mounted cable management clip.
Its power and OSD buttons are located on the device’s bottom bezel, which also includes a built-in ruler to aid content creators and photo editors. Its matte anti-reflective coating produces brilliant colors with 100% sRGB color accuracy, which is ideal for most work applications, and it tops it off with exceptional 178-degree viewing angles. In addition to DisplayPort over USB-C, it features two HDMI v2 connections, one DP, and four USB 3.1 type-A downstream connectors. Its USB-C with electricity Delivery feature is useful if you share your Mac mini monitor with a MacBook Pro, as the monitor can offer 65W of electricity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I attach a monitor to a Mac Mini?
It is fairly simple to attach a monitor to a Mac mini. Simply identify the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 or HDMI 2.0 ports (the former having a lightning symbol above them), connect with a compatible cable, and power on both devices.
Can I use any display with my Mac Mini?
Unless you intend to use an out-of-date monitor, the Mac mini can work with almost any display. However, because Mac minis do not include a screen like the MacBook Pro or iMac, having diverse connectivity is critical. The Mac mini M1, M2, and its Intel-powered predecessors all have an HDMI 2.0 port and numerous USB-C ports.
You’d be hard pushed to locate a display without at least HDMI connectivity. If your display supports DisplayPort, you’ll need an adaptor.
What number of monitors can the Mac mini M1 and M2 support?
The Mac mini may be little, but it is powerful. Since the M1 chip was introduced in late 2020, this small computer has been capable of driving two high-resolution monitors. It can connect and run a 6K display at 60Hz via one of its Thunderbolt connections, as well as a 4K display at 60Hz via the HDMI 2.0 port. It may not be as powerful as the most recent MacBook Pro models, but it is still amazing. The main limitation is that you cannot daisy chain on the Thunderbolt 3 connection.
