I’ve never used a large monitor. My last monitor was a 19-inch old Benk, which my parents bought for me in the mid-2000s.
I’ve been working on a MacBook for almost 10 years now, and have always used only 13-inch models. My main computer right now is a MacBook Air with an M1, and I haven’t needed a big screen in a long time. Over the years I’ve gotten used to the small display.
But at the end of 2024, I decided to try working with a monitor. There were several reasons for this. The first is that the MacBook Air screen is physically insufficient to grip. For example, I often have over 30 tabs open in my browser, and the new tabs simply won’t fit on the screen.
The second reason was that I wanted to set up a full-fledged workplace, and there was no way without an external monitor.
Now let’s talk about what parameters I used to choose the monitor, which one I ended up buying, and what changed in the work.
Briefly:
How to choose a monitor
Briefly about the Redmi monitor
Necessary minimum for comfortable work
What you need to know before buying a large monitor
How does a large monitor cool?
Brief summary
How to choose a monitor
I had several accessories to choose a monitor:
▶︎ Diagonal – 27 inches
▶︎ idea – 4K
▶︎ Update rate – 60 Hz
▶︎ USB-C support
I wanted a large monitor, so 27 inches was the starting point. I also considered 32-inch models, but immediately refused widescreen 34-inch monitors because they are too wide and the 21:9 aspect ratio does not suit me.
4K is the base. With the development of 2K, the pixels on the 27-inch monitor will be improved. I agree, ideally you need 5K, but a good monitor with this level of development will be very expensive. The problem with macOS, resolutions and scaling has been greatly exaggerated. Using macOS as an example, it works great with 4K resolution. You can see the pixels, but only upon closer examination. In normal life you won’t do this. I sit about 60 cm away from the monitor, and the pixels are not noticeable at all.
60 Hz was included for reasons. First of all, I don’t need any more. Secondly, the higher the Hertz, the higher the price. In addition, other tradeoffs may arise.
USB-C was necessary because it was necessary to connect the monitor to the laptop without adapters and charge it with one cable.
Oh, and all this should cost reasonable money. In the end, I chose the Redmi A27U monitor (P27UCB-RA). This is a 27-inch monitor with 4K resolution, 60Hz and USB-C support. I bought it for 20 thousand rubles, and for this price there is no alternative.
The model was scheduled for September 2024, and although I purchased it in December, there was virtually no information about it at the time of purchase: only press releases and a few lengthy videos in Chinese. But I decided to take a risk – and not in vain.
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Briefly about the Redmi monitor
The monitor itself has this structure. There is only the Redmi logo on the back; there is no inscription on the side.
The monitor leg is made of metal, it is heavy, and the monitor rests firmly on it. It is possible to adjust the height, tilt the screen and rotate it 90 degrees. The leg has a hole for cable routing.
Height adjustment turns out to be a really important thing. After this, I am even more surprised that the translation of the Apple Studio Display version, which costs about 300 thousand rubles, does not include it.
The right remote control contains a small white LED indicating operation. It is not forgotten and does not catch the eye at night. If you lower the monitor and sit close to the table, the LED will not be visible at all.
Settings are controlled using the joystick on the rear panel. It is easy to feel with your right hand. The menu is clear and available in English.
The monitor connects to the computer via USB-C (cable included). There is also an HDMI cable in the box. The following connectors are located on the rear panel:
▶︎ One USB-C
▶︎ Two HDMI 2.0
▶︎ One DisplayPort 1.4
▶︎ Two USB-A 2.0
▶︎ 3.5 mm audio jack
▶︎ Power connector
You can connect various peripherals to the monitor, and then connect everything to your computer with one USB-C cable.
When you connect the monitor to your laptop, it charges automatically. The included power supply produces up to 90 W, which is enough for most laptops.
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Necessary minimum for comfortable work
Redmi A27U has a matte IPS screen with 8 Bit+FRC output (10 Bit, 1.07 billion colors). The manufacturer claims 100% sRGB coverage, 95% DCI-P3 and ΔE. В реальности цветопередача монитора близка к экрану MacBook Air. Единственное отличие заключается в том, что экран Mac чуть холоднее. Но эта разница заметна только при прямом сравнении.
If desired, the image can be customized to suit you; all the necessary sliders are there. For the monitor, I chose the DCI-P3 color profile and increased the contrast slightly.
Brightness is stated at 300 cd/m². During the day it is enough, but at night it has to decrease. The monitor stands near the open window. On a sunny day, the glare goes to the edge of the screen, but does not interfere with work.
The viewing angles were disappointing when black was turned on, especially in the corner with the Mac front. There are also highlights on the sides that stand out against the white and black backgrounds when you sit in front of the monitor. This cannot be fixed, but it is also not critical.
Apart from glare, the performance of the remaining displays is the bare minimum for a modern monitor if you want maximum image quality on your MacBook screen and a comfortable experience while working on it.
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What you need to know before buying a large monitor
The matte screen does a good job of suppressing glare.
After purchasing the monitor, I came across some operating features that I had not read about before.
My Ikea desk, measuring 120×60 cm, is close enough to comfortably work with a 27-inch monitor. For such monitors, the depth of the table should be at least 70 cm, and preferably 80 cm, so you have to buy a new table 140×80 cm.
Initially, I did not plan to go out with an open MacBook, and when I felt it, I was convinced that this was the right decision.
The fact is that if I limit the monitor in the way that is convenient for me, the laptop screen, when open, covers part of the monitor. Accordingly, the larger the MacBook size, the larger the monitor area it will cover. And this problem cannot be solved by the depth of the table.
There are two options: either place the MacBook on the stand on the side, or close the lid completely and use only the monitor, which is what I plan to do. In addition, I personally don’t need two screens, since I’m used to working with virtual desks.
If you’re using a MacBook with the lid closed or on a stand, you’ll need a keyboard, trackpad, and speakers. A good set will cost a small amount, most likely more than the monitor itself.
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How does a large monitor cool?
The photo was taken on a sunny day, the monitor is standing near an open window. In the photo there are immediate prospects, but in real life they do not interfere in any way.
After a decade of using 13″ laptops, the 27″ monitor is heating up with something from another universe.
I use a MacBook Air with 1680×1050 scaling, and even in this mode, the laptop screen can only fit one open application. The second one next to it is no longer a link.
For my external monitor I have the scaling set to 3008×1692. This is enough so that the font is not too heavy and it is comfortable to work with.
macOS scaling difference: 1920×1080, 2540×1440 and 3008×1692.
On the monitor, I can, for example, link two browser windows side by side, which are not limited in size. Pixelmator Pro has no hidden buttons, and Final Cut Pro has a lot more free space to display video previews normally.
Websites in the browser are no longer limited in window sizes. In fact, the Internet is perceived differently because some sites look different on a large display than on a kitchen screen. This is a big plus for work, since there is now much more information on the screen, and you rarely have to scroll through pages.
Another unobvious advantage of a large monitor is its positive effect on posture. The head now looks straight instead of down, so it remains in a natural position. As a result, the seat at the table became much more comfortable.
How to control the brightness and volume of a connected monitor on a Mac
To work with the monitor, I use the MonitorControl program. It is open source and its capabilities. More precisely, all I need from it is the function of simultaneous brightness adjustment on two screens so that the values coincide.
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Brief summary
I’m completely happy with the upgrade to a larger monitor. I still haven’t found any evaluation criteria from him or buy a smaller model with a hood..
Working at a computer has become much more comfortable. Even just watching videos on YouTube has become more enjoyable because the screen is larger, and there are no black bars at the top and smaller, like on all MacBooks.
True, now you will have to buy additional accessories to make your work even more comfortable.
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📸 All photos in the article:
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
