There are hundreds of monitors on the market and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. We’ve completed the best monitors to match your M1-based Mac.
The best integral monitor
Dell – Ultrasharp U2720QM
The 27-inch Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q monitor offers several screen input options and great specs at a reasonable price. The monitor does not support Thunderbolt, but the included USB-C port supports high DisplayPort mode to connect to the M1-based Mac.
This USB-C monitor will connect to your laptop via a single cable to provide display, 90 W of power and three additional USB-A ports. The biggest difference between this monitor and LG’s more expensive ones is the lack of Thunderbolt specifications.
The data transmitted by the USB-C connection will be 10 GB / s, suitable for peripherals and external drives. For faster data transfer speeds, you’ll want to connect your devices directly to your Mac.
The Dell Ultrasharp also has a DisplayPort and HDMI connection for multiple inputs. The M1-based Mac can only be connected to an external monitor, so the USB-C connection is ideal.
This monitor has a 4K resolution at 3840×2160, HDR 400, a 95% P3 color range and a refresh rate of 60Hz. The included support allows vertical or horizontal rotation.
You can get the 27-inch Dell U2720Q Ultrasharp monitor for $ 529.00 at B&H (currently on reservation). Or you can pick it up now for $ 544.50 on Amazon.
Best budget monitor
Lenovo – Q24i-10
Choosing a budget-friendly monitor shouldn’t mean buying something you don’t like. The Lenovo Q24i-10 24-inch HD monitor has a unique design and a thin format.
It is 1920×1080 Full HD with an update frequency of up to 75Hz. Users can connect via HDMI or VGA depending on the use case.
It has built-in 3W speakers and a headphone jack to use headphones or speakers.
This simple monitor will combine with your desktop setup and the aluminum stand is the perfect place for a closed Mac mini or MacBook Air.
Best Thunderbolt monitor
LG UltraFine 27MD5KLB-B
LG UltraFine Thunderbolt monitors remain the best third-party monitor options for Mac users. The 27-inch 5K model is designed with macOS in mind with Thunderbolt 3, built-in volume and brightness control and a built-in camera.
Thunderbolt 3 means users can connect a Thunderbolt 3-compatible USB Type-C connector to their Mac and have access to the monitor, a 94 W power pass, and the USB-C hub on the back. The data is transmitted at 40 GB / s and the data from the three USB 3.1 type C ports is transmitted at 10 GB / s each.
When using an M1-based Mac, you can take advantage of Thunderbolt 3, but you won’t be able to chain monitors or connect external GPUs. Thunderbolt hubs and storage devices will work, though.
With a 520 x 2880 5K resolution, a 99% P3 color gamut, and a 500-night brightness, you’ll have the most Apple-like experience possible on a third-party display.
Best performance monitor
LG 27GN95B-B
Game monitors often include bright LED backlights, an aggressive design, and expensive prices. The 27-inch LG UltraGear game monitor is a powerful performance with all the specs you want to connect to a Mac.
The monitor is comparable to the LG UltraFine 5K mentioned above, but this screen is about $ 450 cheaper. You won’t find Thunderbolt 3, but it has an HDR10 and 98% P3 color gamut.
The 3840×2160 4K display has a refresh rate of 144Hz and a response time of 1 ms. When using compatible computers, it has AMD FeeSync and Nvidia G-Sync features.
While you may not be able to take advantage of the features of the games, the bright screen with great color accuracy is as close as you can get to UltraFine without spending cash.
The back of the monitor has an RGB LED ring that will glow depending on the settings made with proprietary software or through the monitor settings. It can be turned off completely or display static colors as desired.
You can connect via HDMI or DisplayPort and it has a USB 3.1 Gen 1 type B input to access two type A ports.
The LG UltraGear 27GN95B-B can be ordered from B&H for $ 844.99.
Best UltraWide monitor
Acer El342CKR Pbmiippx
Ultrawide monitors have become popular as an alternative to various display configurations. This will be especially important for M1-based Mac users, as you can only connect an external display. The 34-inch Acer El342CKR Pbmiippx monitor is a powerful 21: 9 QHD display.
QHD is the “2K” or 1440p resolution that fits between HD and 4K. The ultra-wide monitor has a resolution of 3440×1440 and a 93% P3 color gamut with HDR 400 and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz.
It has a curved screen for easy viewing when looking forward. It has AMD FreeSync for specifications compatible computers.
There are two DisplayPort 1.4 ports and two HDMI 2.0 ports. The 144Hz refresh rate is limited to the DisplayPort connection and HDMI supports up to 100Hz.
You can buy the ultra-wide 32-inch Acer monitor for $ 429.99 at B&H.
The Apple monitor
Apple Pro Display XDR
Of course, the best screen you can buy is the one sold by Apple itself. The Pro Display XDR is a monster of a monitor with benchmark specifications and a giant price tag.
We can’t seriously recommend the Pro Display XDR, as people who need it will have already bought it. If you have a few thousand dollars to spend, this will complement any M1-based Mac with its 32-inch screen and beautiful design.
Apple compares its Pro Display XDR to professional reference monitors that cost at least $ 40,000. The 6016×3384 6K screen has a contrast of one million to one and a 10-bit color depth.
M1-based Macs can run the screen seamlessly, but it was originally designed for use with Apple’s Mac Pro.
The standard XDR Pro Display has a $ 4,799 discount with coupon code APINSIDER and Adorama. Support is not included and can be purchased for $ 959 (a $ 40 discount for its $ 999 retail price).
EGPU options
Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Pucks
Apple M1-based Macs do not support external GPU (eGPU) technology. But if you have an Intel-based Mac, you might consider using an eGPU to increase performance, provide power to your portable Mac, and in some cases provide legacy ports and networks.
DIY housings generally can’t speed up a monitor that connects via USB-C or Thunderbolt 3, so look for HDMI or DisplayPort monitors if you go this route.
But Sonnet’s latest Breakaway Pucks eGPUs are capable of boosting the performance of USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 displays.
The Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Pucks come in two variations depending on the integrated eGPU you want. The Radeon RX 5500 XT model is available for special orders at B&H for $ 599.99. The Radeon RX 5700 is also available at B&H for $ 899.99.