There are hundreds of monitors on the market and choosing the right one can be a difficult task. We’ve put together the best monitors to pair with your M1-based Mac.
The best general monitor
Dell – U2720QM Ultrasharp
The Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q 27-inch monitor offers more display input options and excellent specifications at a reasonable price. The monitor is not compatible with Thunderbolt, but the included USB-C port supports other DisplayPort mode for connecting to your M1-based Mac.
This USB-C monitor will connect to your laptop with a single cable to provide display, 90W power and three additional USB-A ports. The biggest difference between this monitor and the most expensive ones from LG is the lack of Thunderbolt specifications.
The data carried through the USB-C connection will be 10 GB / s, which is suitable for peripherals and external drives. For the fastest data transfer speeds, you’ll want to connect your devices directly to your Mac.
Dell Ultrasharp also has a DisplayPort and HDMI connection for multiple inputs. The M1-based Mac will only be able to connect to a single external monitor, so USB-C connection is ideal.
This monitor has 4K resolution at 3840×2160, HDR 400, 95% P3 color gamut and a refresh rate of 60Hz. The included stand allows vertical or horizontal rotation.
You can get the 27-inch Dell U2720Q Ultrasharp monitor for $ 529.00 at B&H (currently on order). Or you can pick it up now for $ 544.50 on Amazon.
The best budget monitor
Lenovo – Q24i-10
Choosing a budget-conscious monitor shouldn’t mean buying something you don’t like. The Lenovo Q24i-10 24-inch HD monitor has a unique design and a slim form factor.
It is 1920×1080 Full HD with a refresh rate of up to 75Hz. Users can connect via HDMI or VGA depending on the use case.
It has built-in 3 W speakers and a headphone jack for using headphones or speakers.
This simple monitor will combine with your desktop setup, and its aluminum leg is the perfect place for a closed Mac mini or MacBook Air.
The best Thunderbolt monitor
LG UltraFine 27MD5KLB-B
LG UltraFine Thunderbolt monitors remain the best third-party monitoring options for Mac users. The 27-inch 5K model is designed with macOS in mind with Thunderbolt 3, integrated brightness and volume control, and a built-in camera.
Thunderbolt 3 means that users can connect a Thunderbolt 3 compatible USB Type-C connector to their Mac and have access to the monitor, the 94W power switch and the USB-C hub on the back. The data is transmitted at 40 GB / s and transmits the data from the three USB 3.1 Type-C ports at 10 GB / s each.
When using an M1-based Mac, you’ll be able to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3, but you can’t chain monitors or connect external GPUs. However, Thunderbolt hubs and storage devices will work.
At a resolution of 520 x 2880 5K, a 99% P3 color gamut and a light of 500 nits, you will have the greatest possible experience on Apple on a third-party display.
The best performance monitor
LG 27GN95B-B
Game monitors often come with bright LED backlights, aggressive design and expensive price tags. The 27-inch LG UltraGear game monitor is a performance unit with all the specifications you would want when connecting a Mac.
The monitor is comparable to the LG UltraFine 5K mentioned above, but this screen comes with about 450 USD cheaper. You won’t find Thunderbolt 3, but it has an HDR10 and 98% P3 color gamut.
The 3840×2160 4K screen 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 capabilities.
Although you may not be able to take advantage of the game’s features, the bright display with wide color accuracy is as close as you can get to UltraFine without spending extra money.
The back of the monitor has an RGB LED ring that will glow colors depending on the settings made with proprietary software or through the monitor settings. It can be turned off completely or it can display static colors as you like.
You can connect via HDMI or DisplayPort and it has a USB 3.1 Gen 1 type B input for access to two type A ports.
LG UltraGear 27GN95B-B can be ordered from B&H for $ 844.99.
The best UltraWide monitor
Acer El342CKR Pbmiippx
Ultrawide monitors have become popular as an alternative to many display settings. This will be especially important for M1-based Mac users, as you can connect a single external display. The 34-inch Acer El342CKR Pbmiippx monitor is a 21: 9 ultrawide QHD display.
QHD is the “2K” or 1440p resolution that matches between HD and 4K. The ultrawide 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 display for easier viewing when looking straight ahead. It has AMD FreeSync for PCs that are compatible with spec.
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 will support up to 100Hz.
You can buy the 32-inch Acer ultra-wide monitor for $ 429.99 from B&H.
Apple monitor
Apple Pro Display XDR
Of course, the best screen you can buy is the one sold by Apple itself. Pro Display XDR is a monster of a monitor with reference specifications and a giant price.
We can’t seriously recommend Pro Display XDR, because people who need it will already buy it. However, if you have to spend a few thousand dollars, this will complement any M1-based Mac with its 32-inch display and beautiful design.
Apple compares the Pro Display XDR to professional reference monitors that cost at least $ 40,000. The 6016×3384 6K display has a contrast of 1 million to 1 and a color depth of 10 bits.
M1-based Macs can run the screen smoothly, but it was originally designed for use with Apple’s Mac Pro.
The standard Pro XDR display is reduced to $ 4,799 with the coupon code APINSIDER the Adorama. The stand is not included and can be purchased for $ 959 ($ 40 of 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 may want to consider using an eGPU to increase performance, power your Mac laptop, and in some cases provide old ports and networks.
DIY cases 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 that route.
But the latest eGPU Breakaway Pucks from Sonnet are able to increase the performance of USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 displays.
Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Pucks comes in two variants, depending on the integrated eGPU you would like. The Radeon RX 5500 XT is available for special order at B&H for $ 599.99. The Radeon RX 5700 is also available at B&H for $ 899.99.