Best monitors for M1 MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini in 2022

Apple’s M1 series has been a huge hit. The devices are incredibly powerful and make good entertainment and functionality. However, Mac mini doesn’t come with a monitor, and the smaller screens of the MacBook Pro M1 and MacBook Air aren’t suitable for gaming, video editing, or other resource-intensive tasks. Therefore, a new monitor can be a good investment.

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the best external monitors for the M1 MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini to suit different budgets and needs. Let’s take a look!

1. Apple 32-inch Pro Display XDR – Editors’ Choice

If you’re looking for a monitor that meets your office and entertainment needs and you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, there’s no better monitor than the 32″Apple Pro Display XDR.

Think about every facet that makes a great monitor. Apple has taken all of these aspects and pushed them to the limit. In addition to the sleek look of the monitor, it features a Retina 6K display that delivers one of the sharpest images you’ll ever see.

Also, instead of the usual High Dynamic Range (HDR) you get in most monitors, the Apple monitor gives you Extreme Dynamic Range (XDR). This ensures accurate color reproduction.

The brightness of the monitor is up to 1600 nits with a constant brightness of 1000 nits. Despite this level of brightness, you won’t notice any inaccuracies or issues with contrast and saturation.

If you add the Pro Stand, you can change the height, swivel and tilt of the monitor. This not only saves space, but also helps to adjust viewing angles.

However, the Pro Stand is overpriced. While the monitor itself is good enough, you’ll have to shell out for a stand if you want to use this monitor in a variety of environments.

pros

• Retina display 6K
• Best Color Reproduction
• 1600 nits brightness does not affect image quality
• Build quality is decent

Minuses

• Pro Stand sold separately

2. Samsung M5 is the best FHD monitor overall

While 4K may be all the rage right now, FHD monitors still do the trick. What’s more, they don’t cost a fortune. The SAMSUNG M5 might be one of the best FHD monitors you can buy right now.

As well as a sleek look that will suit any Apple-centric setup, it also has AirPlay 2 built in. This means you can stream your MacBook screen directly to your TV wirelessly. The monitor can also work as an external display.

For your entertainment needs, Samsung Smart Hub also offers streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video and HBO. The 21:9 aspect ratio is a boon for gamers who need a wider field of view in their shooting games. The built-in speakers also do a good job of handling most entertainment tasks.

I would like the manufacturers to work more on build quality. Obviously they cut corners here to make the monitor affordable.

pros

• Sleek appearance goes well with Apple tweaks
• AirPlay 2 provided
• Streaming services provided through Smart Hub
• Aspect Ratio 21:9

Minuses

• Build quality is not satisfactory

3. LG 27UN850-W is the best 4K monitor overall

This LG monitor is the best UHD monitor you can buy for your M1 MacBook Pro, MacBook mini or MacBook Air. That’s why:

Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160) provides accurate colors and excellent viewing angles. The build quality of the monitor is also satisfactory. In addition, the stand that comes with the monitor can be used to adjust the height and tilt of the monitor to your liking.

For gamers, there are advanced settings like Radeon FreeSync, Dynamic Action Sync, and the right game mode. Gamers will not find any complaints, especially when playing the most demanding racing games or action games.

There are multiple monitor ports, including an HDMI port and a USB-C port for connecting your Mac.

However, the built-in speakers leave much to be desired. While we can’t expect the best performance from monitor speakers, LG could do better here. It is better to connect external speakers.

pros

• Accurate color reproduction
• Good viewing angles
• Great for games
• Multiple ports provided

Minuses

• Low quality speakers

4. Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is the best choice for power users

As a 4K monitor, this offering from Dell is a great alternative to other, more expensive 4K monitors. It may not have been released for Thunderbolt, but it still has plenty of features.

The USB-C port that comes with the monitor can also provide up to 90W of power. This means that as soon as you connect your Mac, it will not only act as an external monitor, but also as a charger.

The monitor also features three USB-A ports and an HDMI port for docking and entertainment. The supported 60Hz refresh rate might not be the best for business, but for most purposes it’s more than enough.

The stand included with the monitor is satisfactory and can change the orientation of the monitor both horizontally and vertically. However, the monitor bezel and overall build quality are not up to par, especially at this price point.

pros

• The USB-C port provides 90W of power.
• 3 USB-A ports and HDMI port
• Monitor stand provided is satisfactory

Minuses

• Build quality doesn’t match the price
• Doesn’t have a Thunderbolt port

5. BenQ PD3220U is the best for editing and gaming

The BenQ PD3220U is one of the most underrated 4K monitors on the market. If you are into video editing or gaming, give this one a try.

The monitor not only supports Thunderbolt 3, but also uses AQCOLOR technology to produce some of the sharpest and most accurate color images. The screen size is 32 inches and the bezels are made thin to increase the screen area.

As many spend hours gaming, the monitor also features blue backlighting and ZeroFlicker technology to eliminate screen tearing and eye strain. You can use this monitor for a long time without any problems.

However, many users have encountered firmware issues with this monitor. So you should be careful with this before buying.

pros

• Thunderbolt 3 support
• Lots of programs to fix screen tearing and flickering.
• Slim bezels for more screen accessibility

Minuses

• Users faced several firmware issues
• Expensive

6. Dell S3222HN FHD Curved Monitor

4K monitors are becoming the norm, but good FHD monitors can still deliver. This Dell monitor is an elegant proposition for those who don’t want to splurge on a monitor.

The screen size is 31.5 inches and the bezel is elegantly curved to avoid distractions. A contrast ratio of 3000:1 delivers true blacks and accurate colors. Moreover, the screen refresh rate of 75Hz is provided by AMD FreeSync technology.

Don’t worry about eye fatigue either, with ComfortView technology that eliminates blue light emissions.

The 1920 x 1080 resolution gets a bit grainy at 75Hz refresh rate. That’s why I would recommend that you stick with video editing or official work with this monitor. You may not get a satisfactory gaming experience on this screen.

pros

• Elegant Design
• Better color reproduction than competitors
• refresh rate 75 Hz
• Ideal for office work

Minuses

• Resolution quality drops at highest refresh rate

7. BenQ MOBIUZ EX2710S Full HD Gaming Monitor

4K gaming monitors can be outrageously expensive. Luckily, a good HD gaming monitor won’t cost you an arm and a leg. BenQ MOBIUZ EX2710S is an option you can check out.

Not only does this monitor come with AMD FreeSync technology, it also has a monstrous 165Hz resolution for crisp, fast display, especially when you’re playing the latest games.

The combination of other technological aspects such as BenQ HDRi, Black eQualizer and Light Tuner provides an excellent gaming experience. The stand allows you to adjust the height and angle of the monitor.

However, I did not like the connected speakers. The output power of 2.5W is not enough for gaming. You will have to use external speakers with this monitor to get the best gaming experience.

pros

• High refresh rate 165Hz
• Very accurate color reproduction
• The included monitor stand is sturdy and highly adjustable

Minuses

• Poor quality speakers

8. SAMSUNG J791 – the most beautiful monitor

Curved monitors have become popular over the past few years. The SAMSUNG J791 is a curved monitor that has been making a lot of noise lately.

The screen is large at 34 inches, and the curved display helps increase immersion in your work. It also supports Thunderbolt 3, which means transferring data from your Mac to your monitor will be up to 4x faster than using standard USB.

With this monitor, you can open as many tabs as you want without fear of running out of screen space. In addition, the QLED screen provides excellent color reproduction.

However, the build quality could be better – the monitor frame feels a bit cheap and flimsy.

pros

• Beautiful design
• curved screen
• Thunderbolt 3 supported
• QLED screen

Minuses

• Build quality should be better for the price

9. LG Ultragear 27GN95B-B is the best 4K gaming monitor

This monitor from LG is a true 4K gaming beast. If you have money to spare, this is definitely worth checking out.

The UHD display delivers crisp colors at the highest resolution, especially in the latest games on the market. In addition, the 144Hz refresh rate, combined with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync technologies, eliminates all forms of screen tearing.

The bezels of the monitor are so thin that they are almost non-existent. Thus, you get the maximum possible screen area.

However, this can be a little tricky to set up, especially since you’ll have to enable the 144Hz refresh rate via the Nvidia G-Sync options.

pros

• refresh rate 144 Hz
• Clear display and accurate colors
• Thin bezels

Minuses

• Difficult to set up

10. Lenovo L27M-28 is the best budget monitor

This Lenovo monitor deserves some serious consideration if you’re on a budget. For the price, it has a powerful set of features.

The screen is a 27-inch IPS panel with good color reproduction and excellent viewing angles. The screen is also not marred by huge bezels – three sides of the screen have extremely thin bezels for more viewing pleasure.

The monitor has VGA, USB-C and HDMI ports. The USB-C port can also be used to charge your devices.

Finally, if you’re planning on playing games with this monitor, you shouldn’t have too many problems as it features AMD FreeSync technology and a 75Hz refresh rate for an optimal gaming experience.

However, the size of the monitor is quite large. If you plan to use another monitor for dual setup in the future, this monitor may not be the right fit for you.

pros

• Excellent viewing angles
• Thin bezels
• Multiple ports provided
• USB-C port can charge devices
• refresh rate 75 Hz

Minuses

• Bulky frame
• Not ideal for a dual monitor setup

Summarizing

We love the idea of ​​large screens for both entertainment and work. Whether you’re a gamer or multi-tabbed, I’ve tried to cover all the basics in this list of the best monitors for the M1 MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and MacBook Air.

Do you use FHD, 4K or 6K monitors for work or play? What is your experience with external monitors for your Mac? Let me know in the comments section below.