Hi all
I've been out of the game for so long the last monitor I bought connected via DVI, so Im a little lost.
Currently using 21 inch iMac, but the mrs is getting a new Macbook Air M2 and we will set it up with a dock and monitor.
It will be used for the usual browsing/emails etc, but the big thing it will be used for is editing 4k video for YouTube etc.
Im thinking between 27 and 32 inches…
4K
HDR, i'm not sure its relevant tbh although a PS4 will be connected to this monitor also
60Hz
I'll be getting a hub/dock at same time that will have HDMI, so that can be the means of connection,
Is there any manufacturer that has pulled ahead of the competition? Best bang for buck?
anything I should watch out for?
Price range $400-600ish
Thanks in advance fellow cheapies
ps: this is the one I'm currently thinking might be ok
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/MONLGL62762/LG-27UP600-W-27…
Several things to note here about the MacBook Air M1/M2:
1) You can't have multiple external monitors. Just one. Doesn't matter how many monitors can plug into your dock. So get a good quality dock with just one good HDMI - not one of those 138192381-in-1 docks with more plugs than you'll use.
Note: This is unless you're wanting to mess around with a lot of things: https://www.macworld.com/article/675869/how-to-connect-two-o…
-Also, this is your excuse to get one good quality external monitor, and a big one. Because you can't just add a 2nd one later (unless a future MacOS release changes this).
2) 4K@60 vs 4K@30 - extending on #1, except this time it's the dock makers that suck. They're unclear on which ports on the dock support 4K@60Hz, and it might just be the "thunderbolt"/usb-c only that supports it (some funky pbtech/amazon listings out there that mention 30 and 60 interchangeably throughout the ad). So it's worth reading some reviews of your chosen dock to make sure it will actually do what you want it to do, and can handle it through the HDMI. Or don't be afraid to test it immediately and return it if it doesn't do what the box promised.
3) Cables. Don't buy the expensive brands, the gold plated, etc. However, DO buy cables that mention 4K@60Hz - this is a relatively new guideline for data transfer rates. Make sure you get an HDMI/USB-C cable that can support the extra data throughput as well - they're not much more expensive, don't need the really expensive ones with gold plating and stuff. But every HDMI/USB-C is NOT made identically. For example, USB-C has at least 4 different data rates possible (2.0, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 4/Thunderbolt). So beware the "USB-C 2.0" specification (lots of ANKER and Belkin fall in this hole). Same for HDMI - port and cable needs to be one of the later specifications, at least HDMI 2.0, to handle 4K@60Hz. Amazon and other places can be good for finding cheap, well-made cables - but beware buying the no-names with 1000s of reviews but without some reviews showing the cable performs as promised - I always choose one where the screenshot shows the computer reporting back that the cable did what I would want.