Monitor Recommendations for MacBook M2 Pro 16"

Ethan Bargain-Hunt on 12/05/2024 - 17:22

As per the title, looking for an external display for my M2 Pro.

I realise the apple studio displays are the most ideal, but are there any other suggestions.

Ideally wanting an IPS display, something over 30" (potentially ultrawide).

Budget up to $1200 (potentially a few hundred more).

Mainly doing office work, some editing.

I use a surface pro for work which is connected to 2 external thinkpad displays through this little hub that work provided (which the two monitors connect to and which connects to the surface pro and charges it, not sure what it's exactly called), but it's just taking up too much space (the cables connecting the surface pro). So if possible, I'd like a monitor that can support both laptops (for when I'm working from the surface pro and separately for the macbook).

Happy to answer any questions if more clarity is needed.

Thanks.

Computing Computer Peripheral LCD Monitor

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 12/05/2024 - 17:43

    M2 Pro 16 inch:

    Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:
    Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, or one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI
    One external display supported at 8K resolution at 60Hz or one external display at 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI

  • simonnarai on 12/05/2024 - 17:45
    +2

    I'm usually OK to pay the Apple premium, but I do think their Studio Display is quite pricy, although it's a very nice looking screen with the Macs.

    I bought a Samsung ViewFinity S9 (5K 27") a couple months back and have been very happy with the purchase, I believe the panel itself is identical to the Studio Display, and the dual inputs compared with just one on the Studio Display was a point in favour of the Samsung in my situation.

    They can be found without much effort for $1700-1800, but I got mine for about 50% off RRP (paid about $1270) direct from Samsung combined with a corporate discount from work, so if you can find it around that price I'd say its well worth it.

    I previously had the widescreen Xiaomi, and that served me well for many years, but the increased pixel density was worth losing that in my line of work.

    In my experience 4K monitors don't look nearly as good due to scaling on the Mac, so for better or worse, a 5K monitor is ideal, if you can live with 27".

    • Ethan Bargain-Hunt on 12/05/2024 - 18:05

      Interesting, yeah I'll have a look into that one (I'd put it down as a work expense come tax time so might get a bit back there as well). But yeah scaling seems to be the biggest issue when deviating from the studio display or anything that's not over 2k (as much as I'd love to drop that much, but it's not a necessity by any means, but don't want to cheap out either since I'm looking to future proof).

      27" isn't ideal but I'll keep it in mind if all else.

      But appreciate the recommendation!

  • sumyungguy on 12/05/2024 - 18:03
    +1

    Optimal display resolution for Mac OS is 218 PPI. Pixel density of your MacBook display is 254 PPI. Apple's 27-inch 5K Studio Display offers 218 PPI as does the 6K 32-inch Pro Display XDR. A typical 27-inch 4K display is 163 PPI. So it depends on your use case and how much you're prepared to allocate.

    • Ethan Bargain-Hunt on 12/05/2024 - 18:08

      Yeah it's the biggest bummer when it comes to buying anything that's not a studio display. Use case is, again, mainly office work and some video editing.

      I work in the media so it's a lot of just media monitoring, releases, that sort of thing.

      Would scaling really be that big an issue (maybe someone else can speak to that from real use)? Like more eye strain or?

      • sumyungguy on 12/05/2024 - 18:11

        I mainly consume media, only do a little creating. I have my Mac mini connected to a Dell 27-inch 4K display, cost me $300 and works fine for my needs. My other desktop is a 27-inch 5K iMac. I've seen a couple of 27-inch Studio Displays going for around $1,700 at Cashies… very tempting. I have a friend with a 32-inch 4K but you need to be able to sit well back from it. Here's a good resource on the subject: https://bjango.com/articles/macexternaldisplays2/

        • Ethan Bargain-Hunt on 12/05/2024 - 19:09

          Cheers mate, will have a read ($1700 for a studio display does sound tempting though…)

  • Principal Reasonable on 12/05/2024 - 18:13

    Do not buy the LG 32UN880. I purchased mine mid March and a month and a half later the bottom left corner of the display went dim. The only way to get it fixed is to take it to the closest service centre which is more than an hour away. One trip there and back to drop it off and one more of those to pick it up. Service centre only open weekdays so would need to take leave to go which means I am probably better off buying a replacement. Long story short, do not buy an LG.

    • Ethan Bargain-Hunt on 12/05/2024 - 19:08

      There were a few LG's i was considering, but sorry to hear about your experience.

    • esybeast on 12/05/2024 - 20:25

      always buy from amazon!

      • Principal Reasonable on 13/05/2024 - 06:31
        +1

        I did buy it from Amazon, after 30 days you have to contact the manufacturer for support.

  • CrispyChrispy on 12/05/2024 - 20:52
    +1

    through this little hub that work provided (which the two monitors connect to and which connects to the surface pro and charges it, not sure what it's exactly called

    A docking station :)

  • miwahni on 12/05/2024 - 23:37

    Can't help with your query but I would like to know what sort of hub you are using? We were recently issued netbooks for work, with a small Dell hub but it only supports one external display.

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