Best monitors for the Mac mini in 2024

Our expert reviewers have tested out the best monitors for the Mac mini - from color-accurate displays for content creators to high-resolutions for professionals. 

We loved the Apple Mac mini when we reviewed it, awarding it 5 stars and call it the best mini PC you can buy. But to get the best out of the compact device, you'll want a display with a wide color gamut and fast refresh rates. 

Having tested everything from the best business monitors to the best monitors for photo editing, we wanted to know which screens really complement Apple's diminutive device. So, we went hands-on with the best Mac mini monitors. As part of our rigorous review process, we compared ratios, resolutions, and response times of the top monitors. We also assessed built-in connectivity and eye-care technology for long hours in front of the screen to help you find the one that matches your workspace and fits your workflow. 

Best monitor for the Mac mini overall

The BenQ PD2725U is a top choice for those searching for the best monitor for their Mac mini. This monitor delivers stunningly clear and vibrant visuals with its 4K UHD resolution and 100% sRGB color accuracy.

One of the standout features of the PD2725U is its dual-view function, which allows users to split the screen into two parts and display different content on each half. This is particularly useful for professionals working with design or video editing software, as it allows them to preview their work in different color spaces or screen sizes.

Regarding connectivity, the PD2725U has a range of ports, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C, making it easy to connect to various devices. It also has a built-in KVM switch, allowing users to easily switch between their Mac mini and other computers using a single keyboard and mouse.

The PD2725U also has a flexible stand that can be adjusted for height, tilt, and pivot, allowing users to find the most comfortable viewing angle. Its slim bezel design makes it a stylish addition to any desk setup.

Overall, the BenQ PD2725U is a versatile and high-performing monitor that is well worth considering for anyone needing a top-quality display for their Mac mini.

Read our full BenQ PD2725U Monitor review

Best 4K monitor for Mac mini on a budget

The two most critical things you want for a Mac mini are pixel density and connectivity. The Dell S2722QC gives you both at a very decent price. It's a 4K 27-inch panel, which translates into roughly 160DPI. That's not as good as Apple's own 5K studio display or the Pro Display XDR. But then those monitors are massively more expensive.

Moreover, you still get really nice, sharp fonts from MacOS on a 27-inch 4K monitor. The S2722QC also offers decent image quality from its IPS panel. OK, there's only very basic HDR support with no local dimming and just 350 nits peak brightness. Likewise, color gamut coverage is pretty limited. So, this is not remotely a pro-grade display for content creation.

But in usability and broad productivity terms, it still has nice colors and characteristically great IPS viewing angles. As for connectivity, the highlight is USB-C with 65W of power delivery. More expensive monitors can offer over 95W of charging over their USB interfaces. But with a Mac mini display, that's far less critical given the Mini will be powering itself. 

What does matter is that the S2722QC has a USB hub, so you can decide what works better for you in terms of connecting peripherals like keyboard, mouse and external storage - hooking them up to the mini itself or connecting them to the display.

Of course, the USB-C connectivity also means that this is a great choice if you're using this display with both a Mac mini and a MacBook. And for MacBooks, rather than the most power hungry PC notebooks, 65W of power delivery is just fine.

The S2722QC also doesn't have a dedicated DisplayPort interface. But, again, that's really only of concern for PC usage. For Mac mini and other Apple computers, it's USB-C all the way. All told, this is a very nice little 4K panel for general Mac mini productivity.

Best Mac mini monitor for image quality

The Apple Pro Display XDR is the sort of monitor you may not need, but you'll definitely want. It's beautifully designed, of course - this is Apple, after all. A low-carbon aluminum that's incredibly sleek, smooth, somehow next-gen in appearance. 

It's a big monitor for the tiny Mac mini, one for the studio or home office, measuring 28.3 x 16.2 x1.1 inches without the stand. But it's 32-inch of what Apple calls 6K (6,016 x 3,384px)  - a massive canvas for all sorts of projects and apps and windows and countless open tabs. Expect 1,600-nit peak brightness, and excellent color coverage - with out of the box settings, expect 106.7% sRGB and 75.6% for wider DCI-P3 color gamuts. 

Apple also keeps connectivity clean - arguably too clean, so around the back you'll find a power connector, Thunderbolt 3 port, three USB Type-C ports, and the stand connector. And that's one of the biggest issues with the Pro Display XDR: the stand is sold separately (and it's not cheap). 

If you don't mind the monitor's expensive price-tag, you'll find a display with wide appeal. Matthew Murray over at Tom's Guide tested out the $5K monitor for a month - and even found it difficult to go back “regular” PC monitors after trying it. He said, "As much as I love Windows, the ease of use here was incomparable. And the sprawling variety of built-in reference modes, which include presets for home and office use, HDR video, digital cinema, photography, print imagery, and Internet and Web work, further ensures there’s a usage scenario for everyone."

Best 6K monitor for the Mac mini

Dell knocked it out of the park with their highly featured 6K monitor. Dell has managed to delicately perch this beautiful display right between Apple's Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. The subsequent result is a more affordable, gorgeous 6K display with color accuracy to go to bat against the Pro Display XDR and the features of the Studio Display, all with better port options for the masses. Our review of this display resulted in a perfect score, which rarely happens.

The U3224KB UltraSharp 6K monitor features an integrated 4K HDR webcam, Thunderbolt connectivity up and downstream, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, USB-A, RJ45, and USB-C ports. Essentially, this monitor is designed to not only be an additional display for your Mac mini, but also be a Thunderbolt Dock. Granted, a handful of those ports are available on the Mac mini, but having additional ports for power users is always welcomed, especially when it doesn't clutter your desk.

Dell also built an auto KVM switch that allows the ports to switch between connected computers seamlessly. In practice, you can have your Mac mini and MacBook connected to this display (and perhaps a few other devices), and with a simple input switch, your mouse and keyboard, external storage, and even an internet connection could follow you between computers.

Read our full Dell Ultrasharp 3224KB review

Best 5K monitor for the Mac mini

As an Apple product, it's no surprise that the Apple Studio Display is well optimised for use with Mac mini. The most obvious upside is the 5K panel itself. With 5,120 by 2,880 pixels on a 27-inch panel, you're getting fully 218 pixels per inch. That's enough for MacOS to do its beautiful, high-DPI thing with fonts. Text really does look gorgeous on this monitor.

As a straight SDR monitor, the Studio Display is pretty sweet. It's rated up to 600 nits brightness, which is plenty, the colors are accurate and the viewing angles are fab. However, there's no HDR support of any kind, no local dimming or any of the other trick stuff that some monitors, including Apple's own Pro display XDR, have to increase dynamic range. 

Still, connectivity is absolutely on point for using with Mac computers, including the mini. WIth three USB-C ports, it can act as a powerful hub for connecting peripherals and features likes the web cam are properly integrated with MacOS, so it supports Center Stage tracking technology. Nice. In typical Apple fashion, the speakers are also a zillion times better than any comparable screen.

The main downside is price. This thing is megabucks for a 27-inch monitor with no HDR support. What's more, you have to pay extra if you want a stand with height adjustability. As standard, it only offers tilt. Ouch. The anti-reflective nano-texture screen cover is another pricey option. Oh and the bundled Thunderbolt cable for primary connectivity to the Mac mini is only 1m long. Longer cables are very pricey. All of which means the value argument for the Studio Display is tough to make. But if you can afford it and don't need HDR capability, this is still a very nice solution for the Mac mini.

Read our full Apple Studio Display review

Best Mac mini monitor for photo and video editing

With the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV, Mac mini users will have a reliable workhorse. Video and photo editing will be a breeze, and the graphics will be stunning. This 4K monitor is an upgrade from the PA278CV, a QHD monitor. Due to its perfect coverage of the sRGB color space provides a sharp image and accurate colors for content creators.  Compared with the PA278CV, it comes with twelve preset modes, making it an excellent option for photo editors using a Mac mini. 

In addition to thin bezels and a simple design, it has a metallic finish plastic stand and a clip on the back for cable management. Its power and OSD buttons are at the bottom of the device, where it sports a built-in ruler on the bottom bezel to assist content creators and photo editors. Its matte anti-reflective coating provides vibrant colors with 100% sRGB color accuracy, which is excellent for most work purposes, and it tops this with impressive 178-degree viewing angles.

In addition to DisplayPort over USB-C, it has two HDMI v2 ports, one DP, and four USB 3.1 type-A downstream ports. Its USB-C with Power Delivery comes in handy if you share your Mac mini monitor with a MacBook Pro as the monitor can deliver 65W of power. 

Read our full Asus ProArt PA279CV review

Best Mac mini monitor with built-in hub

The Dell UltraSharp U2723QE is a 27-inch 4K display with a built-in USB-C hub. It’s an all-in-one model, as sleek as the Apple Mac mini in its own way, that’s ideal for connecting extra devices and peripherals. 

On the specs side, the monitor features 3840 x 2160 UHD resolution, HDR options, and impressive color coverage - expect sRGB (100%), Rec 709 (100%), and DCI-P3 (98%) color spaces. For anyone worried about spending hours in front of the screen, there’s Low Blue Light output and the anti-glare, 3H Hard Coating to cut down reflections. Trying it out ourselves, we found we could use this monitor for hours without eye-strain or fatigue. 

It’s not the brightest display, in our experience, but the 2000:1 contrast ratio and HDR created well-balanced, beautiful images in true-to-life colors. We also found the monitor works well for editing and reviewing video content with accurate colors. 

Unfortunately, we did find the cable Dell provides is a bit short. And when connecting via USB-C, you need to choose between High Resolution or High Data Speed. We also noticed a faint shadow along the top and bottom edge of the screen on our unit. Minor niggles, in a way, because overall, this a versatile monitor for any workspace. With its built-in hub, it’s as much a space-saver as the Mac mini. .

Read our full Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 4K USB-C Hub Monitor review 

Best ultrawide monitor for the Mac mini

Really big monitors usually aren't a great fit with Mac computers. That's because of pixel density, as in not enough of it. Take a typical 4K 42-inch mega monitor. Sounds great, but that only works out to 110DPI, Which just isn't enough for nice, crisp fonts in MacOS.

Enter the Dell UltraSharp U4021QW. It's a 40 incher, so it's a pretty big old thing. But it runs a 5K2K resolution or 5,120 by 2,160 pixels. That translates into just under 140DPI. That may not sound like a huge upgrade, but it's the same as a 32-inch 4K panel and just enough for MacOS to work its magic on text properly.

The 40-inch 21:9-aspect proportions also make for fantastic desktop space. For multi-tasking, this monitor is awfully hard to beat. The 2500R curve is likewise gentle enough that it shouldn't be a deal breaker for those who aren't totally sold on screens with a really tight radius.

The connectivity is great, too, thanks to USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 which is ideal for the Mac mini, plus DisplayPort and HDMI if you also want to connect other computers and devices. There's even an integrated ethernet port for networking passthrough, albeit Apple's mini machine does have its own gigabit port.

On the downside, there's no HDR support at all. Plus, at 300 nits this isn't the brightest display. So, it's not ideal for use in really bright ambient conditions. And it's not exactly cheap, though priced at around the same level as Apple's 27-inch Studio Display, you sure do get a heck of a lot more monitor for your money.

Read our full Dell UltraSharp U4021QW review

Best budget ultrawide monitor for the Mac mini

It's difficult to have everything in a single monitor, especially at the more affordable end of the market. Take the LG 34WN80C. It's got a lot going for it. There's the 34-inch ultrawide panel that offers lots of desktop space for comfortable multi-tasking. 

It also has decent color accuracy thanks to an IPS panel, plus HDR support, albeit it's of the basic HDR10 variety and there's no local dimming or eye-popping brightness. This monitor tops out at 300 nits.

Then there's good connectivity, including USB-C, which is ideal for the Mac mini, plus additional DisplayPort and HDMI options ensuring all your possible needs are covered. What you don't get is terribly high pixel density.

LIke all but a few 5K2K 34-inch ultrawide monitors, the LG 34WN80C runs 3,440 by 1,440 pixels. That's good for providing lots of desktop elbow room. But it only works out to 110DPI. That simply isn't enough to allow MacOS to render really clean, sharp fonts.

How much that bothers you is a subjective call. At this price point, you simply can't have but a large format ultrawide monitor and sufficient pixel density to do MacOS full justice. So, it's a question of taking your pick. But if multi-tasking muscle on a fairly moderate budget is your bag, you could do an awful lot worse.

How to choose the best Mac mini monitor for you

Besides price and connectivity, ideally, you want a monitor that supports USB-C, Thunderbolt, or HDMI. Still, you must also consider other factors, like resolution and color accuracy, if you are a creative professional and display size looking for the best monitor for video editing, photo editing, or graphic design. You will also want above-average display sizes if you frequently use your Mac mini for entertainment or gaming.

There are no limitations to what you can choose unless you have limited space. Monitors with a 27-inch or larger screen are an excellent choice for work and entertainment. Monitors with a screen size under 24 inches are not usually the best 4K monitors - if they can even reach that resolution. So, if you wish to have excellent resolution and pixel density, a 24-inch monitor is the minimum for desk-based monitors. If you use your Mac mini for office work, you might go the extra mile or inches in this case and choose a 32-inch display size. An ultra-wide might be your best option for a Mac mini for entertainment and gaming.

Regarding resolution, a 4K monitor is the sweet spot these days. You can save money by going with a 2K, also known as QuadHD, which is an appropriate option, but you won't get the crisp text that your Mac mini is capable of. With Mac OS, DPI is everything, so HiDPI mode is essential. Luckily the Mac mini supports most monitors. It's just Mac OS which sometimes is finicky about enabling HiDPI mode on monitor resolutions that are not the Apple defaults. If you run into problems enabling HiDPI, we suggest you try BetterDummy, a free and open-source application that allows all M1-based Macs to enable HiDPI modes on all displays.

Finally, on connectivity, Apple's Mac mini with M1 silicon can connect one external display with a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port at up to 6K resolution and one external display with its HDMI 2.0 port to a maximum of 4K. If your monitor has a DP connector, you'll need an inexpensive Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C to DisplayPort (DP) adapter.

How we test the best monitors for the Mac mini

Our team of expert reviewers have tested a massive range of displays, from We've also featured the best ultrawide monitors to the best monitors overall.

The Mac mini is capable of driving one monitor at 6K. A secondary monitor at 4K, meaning any monitor below 4K (UHD - Ultra High Definition), is a poor investment because your monitor will get old very quickly. You won't be able to use the maximum resolution your Mac mini can deliver fully. We included a 2K Quad-HD option for thin wallets and small budgets, but anything below 2K is already semi-obsolete.

Nowadays, a 27-inch screen is an excellent entry-level monitor for all purposes. Above that, a 32" (technically 31.5 in some models) adds some extra screen real estate for increased clarity and productivity, particularly for those working with spreadsheets or complex applications. However, 34 inches is the current sweet spot for ultrawide monitors where you can work in a generous 5:9 area and simultaneously watch a 16:9 video.

While there are monitors over 40 inches, we believe the best monitors for the Mac mini require a considerable viewing distance and too much space, making them less than ideal. We included a 31.5-inch monitor for productivity, a 34-inch ultrawide for those who prefer a screen with the extra room of "5K2K" resolution (5120 x 2160), and those who use their Mac mini for multimedia and entertainment.

Based on the requirements above, we researched the market options and selected the best monitors in a wide range of prices, from Apple's own Pro Display XDR at the top with its 6K beauty and the same price as a motorcycle down to a decent yet workable QHD 2K workhorse that costs 20 times less yet delivers excellent results. All but one supports USB-C, and most support HDMI 2.0, allowing you to use them as your primary display or as a secondary display, like any of the best monitors for a dual set-up.