How We Ranked The 5 Best Monitors For Mac Mini

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard

(ISF Certified)

True Score Methodology

v1.5

321,248

Reviews Analyzed

Updated Apr 30, 2024 12:44 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

When you’re using a Mac Mini, selecting the right monitor is essential for maximizing performance and productivity. Look for monitors with excellent contrast ratios, broad color gamut coverage, and strong brightness to handle various lighting conditions. Features like DisplayPort connectivity, blue-light filters, flicker-free displays, and adjustable stands ensure a seamless and comfortable user experience. High color accuracy and dynamic visuals are crucial, especially for tasks like photo editing, video production, and design.

Our guide identified five top monitors after analyzing 196 models and over 321,248 reviews, with 71% of experts being unreliable. We use True Score to verify and certify monitors as tested, while filtering out fake reviews with our Trust Score. The winning monitors excelled in rigorous testing, delivering outstanding performance and reliability. We also feature great monitors that are versatile across various devices. For those with Apple laptops, our guide includes the best monitors for MacBook Pro, ensuring seamless compatibility and enhanced display performance for professional and creative work.

How Did We Rank the Best Monitors for Mac Mini?

After evaluating over 200 websites, Gadget Review has pinpointed the best monitors for your Mac Mini. We analyzed expert reviews, customer experiences, and testing methodologies to identify 2 required test results, 1 nice-to-have test results, and 1 must-have specifications. Our buying guide emphasizes monitors that deliver outstanding clarity, precise color reproduction, and optimal Mac Mini integration. Let our detailed research guide you to the ideal monitor for your needs.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Must have a display port.

? Test Criteria

  • Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 or higher (infinite), offering deep blacks and bright whites for an exceptional viewing experience.
  • Color Accuracy: Covers at least 90% of the DCI P3 color gamut, providing rich and vibrant colors.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Reflections: A reflection percentage of less than 6% of the total light emitted ensures optimal performance across a wide range of lighting environments, enhancing overall viewing pleasure.

Latest Updates

  • 04/30/2024: Republished the list to include the best monitors for Mac Mini based on our True Score system.

Top Monitors for Mac Mini For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Asus ROG PG27AQDM

    • Best For Mac Mini

    The Asus ROG PG27AQDM excels for creatives and gamers, blending smooth performance with high-end features, superior colors, and effective glare reduction.

    Asus ROG PG27AQDM Review →

    True Score

    87
    89
    10

    Experts

    90
    6k

    Customers

    SAVE $120
    $899.00
    $779.00

    Snapshot

    Reasons to Buy

    • Stellar Picture Quality
    • Fast Response Time
    • Low Input Lag
    • High Refresh Rate and VRR Support
    • Wide Viewing Angles

    Reasons to Avoid

    • No HDMI 2.1 Support
    • Low Overall Brightness

    Specifications

    Aspect RatioAspect Ratio16:9
    Available InputsAvailable Inputs3.5mm, DisplayPort, HDMI, USB
    Bluelight FilterBluelight FilterYes
    Built-In SpeakersBuilt-In SpeakersYes
    Built-In WebcamBuilt-In WebcamNo
    Curved ScreenCurved ScreenNo
    Display TypeLED
    Flicker FreeFlicker FreeYes
    HDMI Inputs2
    HDR FormatHDR10
    High Dynamic Range (HDR)Yes
    Max Resolution2560 x 1440
    Panel TypePanel TypeOLED
    Refresh Rate240 Hz
    Response TimeResponse Time0.03 ms
    Rotating ScreenRotating ScreenYes
    Screen size26.5"
    Sync TechnologySync TechnologyAMD FreeSync, G-Sync

    All Specs

    Test Results

    Brightness (nits)311
    Contrast Ratio (as ratio, x:1)0
    Color Gamut/Accuracy % (DCI P3 xy)95
    Color Gamut/Accuracy % (DCI P3 uv)0
    Color Gamut % (Adobe RGB Coverage xy)90
    Color Gamut % (sRGB Coverage xy)100

    All Retailers

    • $779.00
      $899
      Save $120

      Availability

      In Stock

      Free Shipping

      Yes
    • $779.99
      $1,451
      Save $671

      Availability

      In Stock

      Free Shipping

      No

    Our Verdict

    Creative professionals and competitive gamers seeking smooth visuals and superior performance should consider the outstanding Asus ROG PG27AQDM. This premium monitor is suitable for Mac Mini users, offering a seamless blend of high-end gaming and productivity features. It has a great reflection handling of 2%, which reduces glare in bright rooms. That’s paired with its impressive brightness output of 311.24 nits, ensuring vivid images adaptable to various light conditions. While it may not match the brightness of the HP OMEN 27QS, it more than compensates with its superior reflection handling.

    It has a great DCI P3 color gamut coverage of 94.85%, ensuring more accurate and vibrant colors and making it an excellent choice for creative work and entertainment where color accuracy is paramount. The responsiveness is noteworthy, with a low input lag of 13.9 ms, ensuring a seamless user experience. Its swift response time of 2.13 ms is excellent for fast-paced content, minimizing motion blur. The OLED panel type of this monitor delivers deep blacks and high contrast, enhancing the overall visual experience. Additional features like built-in speakers and a rotating screen add to the versatility of this monitor.

    The Asus ROG PG27AQDM is a fantastic choice for Mac Mini users, offering excellent performance and versatility. Although it does not excel in one particular area and has a premium price, it’s a well-rounded monitor, and its overall performance and value make it a reliable pick.

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    HP OMEN 27QS

    • Best For Macbook Pro

    The HP OMEN 27QS blends affordability with performance, offering crisp visuals, high responsiveness, and vibrant colors for a top-tier viewing experience.

    HP OMEN 27QS Review →

    True Score

    85
    83
    4

    Experts

    91
    986

    Customers

    SAVE $80
    $299.99
    $219.95
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW

    • Best For Dell

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW excels in color accuracy and minimal glare, ideal for design and editing in any light, focusing on immersive viewing experiences.

    Dell Alienware AW3423DW Review →

    True Score

    83
    85
    14

    Experts

    86
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $200
    $899.99
    $699.99

    Did you know 71% of computer monitor reviewers are untrustworthy?

    Our research found only 33 of 110+ computer monitor reviewers as of July 2024 can be trusted. This is why Gadget Review is committed calculating the most accurate product scores on the web.

    To do this, we give every computer monitor review site a Trust Rating, which measures how trustworthy the site and their testing claims are. We then leverage AI & a machine learning model to combine and calculate the Trust Rating with data from experts and consumers to deliver the True Score, the web’s most accurate product quality rating.

    321,248

    Monitor Reviews Analyzed

    196

    Total Products Analyzed

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240

    • Best For Business

    The Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 offers unmatched response time and high refresh rates for crisp, smooth visuals, perfect for gaming and color-critical work.

    Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 Review →

    True Score

    83
    83
    10

    Experts

    88
    333

    Customers

    SAVE $250
    $999.99
    $749.99

    DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

    For film enthusiasts seeking an immersive experience, the best monitor for watching movies should combine a large screen with crisp resolution, ideally featuring HDR technology for vibrant colors and deep contrasts.

    Gamers looking for high-speed performance should consider the best 240 Hz gaming monitor, known for ultra-smooth frame rates, while console gamers can find specialized displays like the top gaming monitor PS4. For those needing multifunctionality, the monitors with a webcam provide excellent convenience for video conferencing, and the top vertical monitor is perfect for coding or reading lengthy documents.

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Tempest GP27U

    • Best For Vertical

    The Tempest GP27U excels in bright rooms with high brightness and color accuracy, ideal for creative work and casual gaming.

    Tempest GP27U Review →

    True Score

    73
    73
    5

    Experts

    78
    61

    Customers

    SAVE $322
    $871.67
    $549.99

    Category Snapshot

    Computer Monitors

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      27 Brands, 196 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      Dell, HP

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $100-$1,500

    • Average True Score

      74.46

    • Important Test Criteria

      Brightness (cd/m2)
      Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

    • Most Trusted Testers

    • Top Monitor Experts

      Samuel Breton, Chris Eberle

    • Typical Warranty

      2 years

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Monitors for Mac Mini?

By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 1 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these computer monitors and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase the best monitor for a Mac Mini.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Contrast Ratio>1000:1YesThe difference in brightness between the whites (lit sections) and blacks (dim or unlit sections) of a monitor panel.
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)> 90%YesHow much of the DCI P3 xy color gamut is covered by the monitor, which helps indicate color accuracy for HDR content, which includes certain movies.
Reflections< 6%No (Nice to have)The total amount of light, in percentage, your monitor reflects.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 110+ computer monitor reviewers and found that 33 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for computer monitors.

  1. Samuel Breton – Rtings, MuckRack
  2. Chris Eberle – Tom’s Hardware, LinkedIn
  3. Tony Hoffman – PC Mag, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every computer monitor review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Computer Monitor Test Data & Results

1. Contrast Ratio (as ratio, x:1) Test Results

Contrast ratio is responsible for making images appear “dynamic” and “dramatic.” By having a good contrast ratio, a monitor is able to recreate dramatic differences between light and dark spots in scenes, images and games accurately.

At a minimum, we recommend a contrast ratio of 1000:1, as this will do a good enough job at allow for detail in dark scenes and images. If contrast ratio gets too low, the picture quality suffers, and the monitor performs worse across the board, no matter the lighting condition. By getting a monitor with a sufficiently high contrast ratio, you can ensure the picture quality doesn’t suffer, and dramatic scenes with stark shifts in lighting, whether they be in games or videos, are created as accurately as possible.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

2. Color Gamut/Accuracy % (DCI P3 xy) Test Results

Color gamut is responsible for making a monitor produce accurate colors when displaying a variety of content. The DCI P3 xy gamut is considered a “standard” gamut of sorts, and is used to help color grade films. Most HDR content will use this gamut at the very least (though other gamut exist) and it’s a commonly used gamut for films.

When it comes to a computer monitor, having a panel that covers at least 90% of the DCI P3 gamut means it’ll output accurate colors when watching HDR content and movies that use the gamut. If a monitor doesn’t cover enough of the gamut, it causes color inaccuracies and shifts the image quality. If you care about maintaining accuracy in the movies you watch so they look the way they were intended, this gamut needs to be properly covered.

Color Gamut P3 XY (in %; higher is better)

3. Reflections % (Total Reflections) Test Results

When using a monitor in any kind of room outside of one that’s pitch black, the screen is going to reflect light. As the light becomes strong, you’re likely to see more light and more glare reflect off it, but depending on the coating and screen type, this can be mitigated. Good screen coatings will keep ambient light and direct light managed by reducing the impact they have on the screen. Bad reflections handling means even weak light sources will create glare that makes it hard to use the monitor.

That’s why we recommend your monitor reflect no more than 6% of the total light shining on it. This keeps glare in check, prevents image quality from being ruined, and allows you to actually see what you’re working on when using your monitor. Lower is always better, but 6% is enough to work without issue.

Reflections % (lower is better)

Best Monitors for Mac Mini: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Compatibility: Ensure the monitor is compatible with your Mac Mini’s ports and connectivity options. Most Mac Minis feature HDMI, Thunderbolt 3/USB-C, and sometimes DisplayPort outputs. Verify that the monitor has corresponding input ports to ensure seamless connectivity. For users looking to maximize their Mac Mini’s capabilities, selecting the best Thunderbolt monitor can provide not only high-resolution displays but also serve as a hub for additional peripherals, enhancing your setup with streamlined connectivity.

  2. Not Considering Resolution and Size: Choose a monitor with an appropriate resolution and size for your needs. While a larger screen size offers more real estate, consider your workspace and viewing distance. Opt for a resolution that provides crisp text and images without straining your eyes, such as 1080p monitors (Full HD) or higher, like the top 4K gaming monitors, depending on your preference and budget.


  3. Neglecting Display Quality: Pay attention to display quality factors such as panel type (e.g., IPS, TN, VA), color accuracy, brightness, contrast ratio, and viewing angles. Mac Mini users often prioritize color accuracy and sharp visuals for creative tasks like graphic design, photo editing, and video production.

  4. Disregarding Design and Aesthetics: Consider the monitor’s design and aesthetics to complement your Mac Mini setup. Look for a monitor with a sleek, modern design and slim bezels for a seamless and stylish look. Additionally, consider factors like adjustable stands, cable management, and VESA mount compatibility for flexibility and customization.

The Best Monitors for Mac Mini Tests Compared

Product
True Score
Brightness
Contrast Ratio
Color Gamut (DCI P3)
Color Gamut (sRGB)
Input Lag
Response Time (ms)
Reflections %

Asus ROG PG27AQDM

  • Best for Mac Mini

87
  • 311.24 nits

  • 311.24:1

  • 94.85%

  • 99.98%

  • 10.8 ms

  • 2.13 ms

  • 2%

$779.00
$899
$120

HP OMEN 27QS

  • Best for Macbook Pro

85
  • 389.5 nits

  • 389.5:1

  • 94.35%

  • 100%

  • 8.5 ms

  • 4.2 ms

  • 4.8%

$219.95
$300
$80
83
  • 241.39 nits

  • 241.39:1

  • 99.81%

  • 100%

  • 15.8 ms

  • 1.96 ms

  • 1.4%

$699.99
$900
$200

Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240

  • Best for Business

83
  • 317.53 nits

  • 317.53:1

  • 96.12%

  • 106.96%

  • 13.55 ms

  • 0.79 ms

  • 1.8%

$749.99
$1,000
$250

Tempest GP27U

  • Best for Vertical

73
  • 570.22 nits

  • 570.22:1

  • 101.78%

  • 99.8%

  • 16.9 ms

  • 4.61 ms

  • 5.5%

$549.99
$872
$322

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