Which is the best 24 inch external monitors for new M4 iMac?

I'm currently using a 27-inch iMac from 2017, and I'm planning to purchase the new M4 iMac, which only comes in a 24-inch size. As a result, I'd like to add a second monitor to the iMac -- but similar in size. So I'm looking at 24-inch monitors.


Does anyone have any recommendations of a monitor that will work well with the 24-inch iMac?


Thanks!


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 1:59 PM

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Jan 17, 2025 5:53 PM in response to YogaFan

YogaFan wrote:

Thanks! I'm looking for one without speakers or a webcam. I just want it to be comfortable for my eyes to move from one screen to the other, and I know I probably can't match the quality of the iMac screen, and its high resolution, on a second monitor that's 24 inches. Some people have mentioned the LG UltraFine, but that doesn't seem to come in 24". I'm looking at one of the Dells.


LG used to have a 24'' IPS UHD 4K UltraFine™ Monitor (model 24MD4KLB-B) that attached via Thunderbolt 3, and that had 98% coverage of DCI-P3. They discontinued it.


There's another 24" LG 4K monitor that attaches via less exotic means, and costs only about $300. This one is the 24UD58-B . There is no specification of sRGB coverage, only of NTSC coverage. That's usually a Bad Sign when it comes to color accuracy – and this monitor appears to be aimed at gamers.


The ASUS ProArt PA24US is a 24" 4K monitor that has 99% coverage of Adobe RGB, 95% coverage of DCI-P3, and a built-in colorimeter – features that might appeal to photographers. It lists for $1299.


That's all that I can find. You would think that given that 3840x2160 is the same resolution as Ultra HD TV, that there would be cheap, good, 24" UHD 4K monitors all over the place. But apparently not.

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Jan 20, 2025 6:47 AM in response to YogaFan

  1. Both links are for the same monitor.
  2. You will notice marled different in quality, since the monitor you link to is not 4K like the iMac's screen, it's a low 1080p.
  3. I would go for a 27" to match the resolution of the iMac.
    1. LG 27US500-W Ultrafine Monitor 27-Inch 4K UHD (3840x2160) HDR10 IPS Borderless Design Reader Mode Flicker Safe Switch App HDMI DisplayPort - Amazon.com
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Jan 19, 2025 11:35 AM in response to YogaFan

If you're going to get a M4 iMac and add an external 27" monitor why not just get a Mac Mini M4 and then get a 27" 4K or 32" 4K monitor for about $650 less than the similarly configured M4 iMac alone would cost. I know as I just got one with an LG 32" 4k monitor for $1417 whereas the iMac would have cost me $2065.


Just some food for thought.


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Jan 17, 2025 2:09 PM in response to YogaFan

Pretty much any monitor will work.


Its comes down to budget and specific requirements you may have of it like if you need it to be 4K or higher resolution. Refresh rate, color accuracy, wether it should be Smart or not, with speakers or web cam built in, etc...


I would suggest looking at Dell, Samsung, BenQ and even LG options.


You might find that there aren't as many 24" monitors out there with 4K or higher resolutions.

You can always get a 27" display or higher if you want. The physical dimensions of the iMac's display does not limit what you can output to.


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Jan 17, 2025 2:25 PM in response to Phil0124

Thanks! I'm looking for one without speakers or a webcam. I just want it to be comfortable for my eyes to move from one screen to the other, and I know I probably can't match the quality of the iMac screen, and its high resolution, on a second monitor that's 24 inches. Some people have mentioned the LG UltraFine, but that doesn't seem to come in 24". I'm looking at one of the Dells.

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Jan 17, 2025 6:16 PM in response to Servant of Cats

I don't think they make the LG UltraFine in 24 inches now, if they ever did.


If it's helpful, what I want to do is use separate screens for the material I'm typing (in a Word document) and websites or other research I'm working from, for which I'll use the second screen. I'll probably use the iMac for websites and the second monitor for Word documents. So I guess the color accuracy and resolution aren't as important on that second monitor? I just want to be sure that my eyes don't suffer from the difference in the quality of the two screens.


Thanks for your help.

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Jan 17, 2025 8:27 PM in response to YogaFan

YogaFan wrote:

I just want to be sure that my eyes don't suffer from the difference in the quality of the two screens.


If the requirement is simply that the external monitor doesn't physically damage your eyes, that's a pretty low bar. There are lots of 24" 1920x1080 monitors that presumably will not damage your eyes.


But you're going to notice a difference in the quality of text when you set one side-by-side with a 24" 4.5K Retina iMac.

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Jan 19, 2025 12:44 PM in response to YogaFan

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. After comparing the Mac Mini and the iMac M4, I've decided to go with the iMac and to add a second, 24-inch monitor. I'm considering the following two monitors and would appreciate any suggestions or advice anyone would have as to which is better for my purposes -- or if you have any other suggestions for a 24-inch monitor. (Note that I'll likely be using the extra monitor for typing documents in Microsoft Word and the iMac screen for websites and other graphics-intensive uses. I don't need speakers or a webcam in the additional monitor.)


https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-PA247CV-DisplayPort-Daisy-Chaining-Anti-Glare/dp/B08K2NT2G7?th=1


https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-PA247CV-DisplayPort-Daisy-Chaining-Anti-Glare/dp/B08K2NT2G7?th=1

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Jan 20, 2025 6:57 AM in response to Phil0124

Oops, my bad. Here are the two monitors I'm considering -- and please note I've decided to get a 24" monitor, not a 27. I'm aware of the difference between the resolution of the iMac monitor and the additional one I'm getting, but I plan to use the second monitor only for Microsoft Word, so it doesn't matter.


Here are the monitors I'm considering:


https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-PA247CV-DisplayPort-Daisy-Chaining-Anti-Glare/dp/B08K2NT2G7?th=1


https://www.amazon.com/Dell-P2423D-Monitor-23-80-inches-Adjustability/dp/B09TD9XZT3/ref=pd_lpo_d_sccl_1/138-4007396-5296010?pd_rd_w=i66Jb&content-id=amzn1.sym.4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_p=4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_r=JFF6JG98ZXKFYTPB4DC6&pd_rd_wg=Yl7u4&pd_rd_r=fb60a176-2ad7-4172-832d-450bbf8751a4&pd_rd_i=B09TD9XZT3&th=1


Thanks.

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