There are hundreds of monitors on the market and choosing the right one can be a tough job. We’ve rounded up the best monitors to pair with your M1-based Mac.
Best all-round monitor
Dell – U2720QM Ultrasharp
The Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q 27-inch monitor offers multiple display input options and great specifications at a reasonable price. The monitor doesn’t support Thunderbolt, but the included USB-C port supports DisplayPort alt mode for connecting to your M1-based Mac.
This USB-C monitor connects to your laptop via a single cable for display-out, 90W of power, and three additional USB-A ports. The main difference between this monitor and the more expensive one from LG is the lack of the Thunderbolt specification.
Data transferred over the USB-C connection is 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 the Mac.
The Dell Ultrasharp also has a DisplayPort and HDMI connection for multiple inputs. The M1-based Mac can only connect to one external monitor, so connection via USB-C is ideal.
This monitor has a resolution of 4K at 3840×2160, HDR 400, 95% P3 color gamut and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The included stand allows vertical or horizontal rotation.
You can buy the Dell U2720Q Ultrasharp 27-inch monitor for $ 529.00 from B&H (currently on backorder). Or you can pick it up now for $ 544.50 from Amazon.
Best Budget Monitor
Lenovo – Q24i-10
If you choose a budget-conscious monitor, you don’t have to buy something you don’t like. The Lenovo Q24i-10 24 inch HD monitor has a unique design and slim form factor.
It is 1920 x 1080 full HD with a refresh rate of up to 75 Hz. Users can connect via HDMI or VGA depending on usage.
It has built-in 3W speakers and a headphone jack for use with headphones or speakers.
This simple monitor fits perfectly with your desktop setup and the aluminum base is the perfect place for a Mac mini or closed 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, integrated brightness and volume controls, and a built-in camera.
Thunderbolt 3 means users can connect one Thunderbolt 3 compliant USB Type-C connector to their Mac and have access to the monitor, 94W power pass-through and the USB-C hub on the back. Data is passed at 40 GB / s and passes data from the three USB 3.1 Type-C ports at 10 GB / s each.
If you’re using an M1-based Mac, you can take advantage of Thunderbolt 3, but you can’t link monitors or connect external GPUs. Thunderbolt hubs and storage devices will work, however.
With a 5120×2880 5K resolution, 99% P3 color gamut and 500 nits brightness, you’ll have the most Apple-like experience possible on a third party display.
Best performance monitor
LG 27GN95B-B
Gaming monitors often come with bright LED backlights, an aggressive design and expensive price tags. The LG UltraGear 27-inch gaming monitor is a performance powerhouse with all the specs you’d want when connecting a Mac.
The monitor is similar to the aforementioned LG UltraFine 5K, but this screen is about $ 450 cheaper. You won’t find Thunderbolt 3, but it does have HDR10 and 98% P3 color gamut.
The 3840 x 2160 4K display has a refresh rate of 144 Hz and a response time of 1 ms. When using compatible PCs, it has AMD FeeSync and Nvidia G-Sync capabilities.
While you may not take advantage of the gaming features, the bright screen with wide color accuracy is as close to UltraFine as possible without spending extra.
The back of the monitor has an RGB LED ring that shines colors depending on the settings made with proprietary software or through in-monitor settings. This can be turned off entirely 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 for access to two Type-A ports.
The LG UltraGear 27GN95B-B can be ordered from B&H for $ 844.99.
Best ultra-wide display
Acer El342CKR Pbmiippx
Ultrawide monitors have become popular as an alternative to multiple monitors. This is especially important for M1-based Mac users, as you can only connect one external display. The Acer El342CKR Pbmiippx 34 inch monitor is a 21: 9 ultra-wide QHD screen.
QHD is the “2K” or 1440p resolution that fits between HD and 4K. The ultra-wide monitor has a resolution of 3440 x 1440 and a 93% P3 color gamut with HDR 400 and a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz.
It has a curved display so it is easier to see when looking straight ahead. It has AMD FreeSync for PCs compliant with the specifications.
There are two DisplayPort 1.4 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 Acer 32-inch ultra-wide monitor for $ 429.99 on B&H.
The Apple monitor
Apple Pro Display XDR
The best display you can buy is, of course, the one sold by Apple itself. The Pro Display XDR is a monster monitor with reference-quality specifications and a massive price tag.
We can’t seriously recommend the Pro Display XDR as the people who need it have already bought it. However, if you have a few thousand dollars to spend, this will complement any M1-based Mac with its 32-inch display and beautiful design.
Apple compares its Pro Display XDR to professional reference monitors that cost at least $ 40,000. The 6K screen at 6016 x 3384 has a contrast of 1 million at 1 and 10-bit color depth.
M1-based Macs can keep the display running smoothly, but it was originally designed for use with Apple’s Mac Pro.
The standard Pro Display XDR gets a discount of $ 4,799 with coupon code APINSIDER at Adorama. The stand is not included and can be purchased for $ 959 ($ 40 off the retail price of $ 999).
eGPU options
Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Pucks
Apple’s M1-based Macs do not support external GPU (eGPU) technology. But if you have an Intel-based Mac, consider using an eGPU to boost performance, power your portable Mac, and in some cases provide legacy ports and networks.
The DIY enclosures generally cannot speed up a monitor connected via USB-C or Thunderbolt 3, so look for HDMI or DisplayPort monitors if you go that route.
But Sonnet’s latest eGPU Breakaway Pucks can improve the performance of USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 displays.
The Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Pucks come in two varieties, depending on which integrated eGPU you want. The Radeon RX 5500 XT model is available by special order from B&H for $ 599.99. The Radeon RX 5700 model is also available for $ 899.99 from B&H.