If you're looking for a monitor to go along with your new Mac Mini, or you're looking to upgrade your current setup, there are some great monitors you can choose from. There are some things you have to consider, mainly with the connections available on your Mac Mini. Most monitors work without issue with a Mac Mini through an HDMI connection, but the Mac Mini has USB-C ports that allow for data transfer and video signals with a single cable. If you're planning on attaching devices or peripherals to your computer via your monitor, it's important to consider the monitor's USB and Thunderbolt speed. The latest Mac Minis support Thunderbolt 5 and up to 40Gbps with USB4, but very few monitors support these latest protocols and speeds. If you plan to connect your monitor to devices that require these high speeds, it's important to look for monitors that support them. We test these things and much more in each review.
While macOS is optimized for use with monitors that have a pixel density of 110 or 220 PPI, you can use your Mac Mini with any resolution and size you feel comfortable with. We test monitors' macOS compatibility with the 2021 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) and the 2023 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro). The results are valid for the Mac Mini, including any of the newer M-series chips.
We've bought and tested over 340 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors for Mac Mini. Check out our recommendations for the best monitors for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, the best 4k monitors, and the best monitors for photo editing.
The best monitor for Mac Mini that we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. It has good HDR picture quality, displaying a wide range of colors. Additionally, it has fantastic text clarity and a sharp, detailed image. Unlike most monitors, it has a decent local dimming feature and displays deep blacks next to bright highlights, so it works extremely well in dark rooms. It also has outstanding brightness, allowing it to easily overcome glare in even the brightest rooms, and highlights pop in HDR.
It also has several extra great features. In addition to having a USB hub, it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, so you can charge most laptops and display an image with a single cable if you have a laptop connected. It's also easy to adjust to your preferred position with its fantastic ergonomics.
If you find the 27-inch screen on the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx too small and need more space to work with, consider an ultrawide monitor like the Dell U4025QW. With a 21:9 aspect ratio and 40-inch screen size, it's easy to multitask with different windows open, which is useful if you're a video editor, as you can see more of your timeline at once. It also has the same fantastic text clarity as the Acer. Additionally, it supports Thunderbolt 4 on its primary USB-C port, which allows for higher bandwidth than Thunderbolt 3, which is ideal if you have a newer Mac Mini that supports Thunderbolt 4.
Regarding picture quality, it displays a wide range of colors in SDR and has fantastic accuracy before calibration. Like the Acer, it supports HDR, but it has limited HDR picture quality because of its low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming feature, so it isn't a good choice if you want to use it in a dark room. It gets bright enough to fight glare if you want to use it in a bright room, but its reflection handling is just okay, so intense glare can be distracting.
Although the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx often goes on sale, if you find it and the Dell U4025QW too much out of your price range or you don't need all of their features, then a mid-range option like the Dell U2723QE is a good alternative. It's a 4k, 27-inch monitor like the Acer, but it's different in a few ways. It doesn't have Mini LED backlighting, and the picture quality is worse, so HDR doesn't look as good, but that's the trade-off for getting something cheaper.
However, what it lacks in picture quality it makes up for in connectivity. It has five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports, one of which supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, so you can connect your Mac Mini over USB-C. Another USB-C port is for the KVM switch, which makes it easy to switch between different sources, like your Mac Mini and another PC, for example, and use the same keyboard and mouse on both.
If you're looking for something in the budget category, there are a few good options for the Mac Mini, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. The main trade-offs for getting something cheaper are that it has a lower 1440p resolution than the Dell U2723QE, which means its text clarity is worse, and it also has worse viewing angles. However, the AOC delivers much better picture quality than the Dell, particularly in dark rooms, which is useful if you're a content creator.
It uses Mini LED backlighting, which is a nice feature for a budget monitor. This helps it display deep blacks with bright highlights, and there isn't much blooming around objects either. One downside is that it doesn't have a USB hub, so you can only connect your Mac Mini over HDMI. If you can't find it available in your region, the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is a good alternative. It also has Mini LED backlighting, but fast-moving objects are blurrier on it.
If you are looking for a cheap monitor to use with your Mac Mini, then look into the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B. It has excellent accuracy before calibration and overcomes glare in most rooms. It also has good ergonomics for individual use; however, it doesn't swivel, so it's not ideal if you want to share your screen with someone else. It also has the same 1440p resolution and text clarity as the AOC Q27G3XMN.
Unfortunately, its picture quality isn't nearly as good as the AOC's. Highlights don't pop in HDR, and deep blacks appear gray in a dark room. Additionally, colors aren't nearly as vivid as the AOC, and it has a less immersive HDR experience. However, this is what you have to expect with a cheaper display. This monitor has two variants. The 27GP850-B variant has some features that the 27GP83B-B doesn't, such as USB ports, backlight strobing, and a 180Hz maximum refresh rate.
The Apple Studio Display is a higher-resolution monitor with sharper text than the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and is best if you want an ecosystem with only Apple equipment. However, the Acer is the better choice for most people, as the Apple display doesn't support HDR, has much worse motion handling, and costs far more.
See our reviewThe LG 40WP95C-W is a high-end but less expensive alternative to the Dell U4025QW. It also has an ultrawide 40-inch screen and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. However, the Dell has more features, like a larger USB hub.
See our reviewThe ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV is a mid-range monitor with a similar cost to the Dell U2723QE and is a good alternative if you want to use your monitor for photo editing, as it has a range of different picture modes. However, it does have some compatibility issues with macOS.
See our reviewThe Dell U3223QE is a larger alternative to the Dell U2723QE and has many of the same features. However, it costs more, so it's only worth getting if you really want the bigger 32-inch screen.
See our reviewThe Dell P2425H is a cheap monitor that costs less than the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B. If you want a smaller 24-inch screen, it's a decent choice, and it has features that aren't common in this price range, such as a USB hub. However, it doesn't have HDR support or get nearly as bright, so the LG is a better option for most people.
See our reviewFeb 19, 2025: We introduced a new format to the article and updated the text to reflect these changes. Replaced the Apple Studio Display with the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, as it costs less, has HDR, and has better dark room performance. Replaced the Dell G2724D with the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B, as the Dell is hard to find now. Added the Apple Studio Display as a Notable Mention.
Nov 19, 2024: Replaced the Dell P2425H with the Dell G2724D as 'Best Cheap,' as it's brighter, has HDR support, and has better text clarity. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell S2722QC and added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV and Dell P2425H.
Aug 29, 2024: We replaced the Dell S2722QC with the Dell U2723QE and renamed it the 'Best Mid-Range' monitor for consistency with other recommendations. We also renamed the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range' to be more representative of the current market. Lastly, we replaced the Dell G2724D with the Dell P2425H as it's consistently cheaper and has dedicated office features. We replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV with the S2722QC in the Notable Mentions.
Jun 06, 2024: Replaced the LG 40WP95C-W with the Dell U4025QW as 'Best Ultrawide,' as it has better performance and more features. Replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV with the AOC Q27G3XMN as 'Best Budget,' as it has better performance. Added the Dell G2724D as 'Best Cheap,' consistent with our other recommendations. Replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV with the LG 40WP95C-W as a Notable Mention.
Apr 16, 2024: Verified the accuracy and availability of current selections.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors currently available to use with a Mac Mini. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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We’ve just released a new video that mentions the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and AOC Q27G3XMN here.
Update: Replaced the Dell P2425H with the Dell G2724D as ‘Best Cheap,’ as it’s brighter, has HDR support, and has better text clarity. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell S2722QC and added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV and Dell P2425H.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know