External monitor for Macbook

[shpongle11]

Hello

I want to purchase an external monitor for my MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016). I am a physics, engineering student and my uses are list as underneath :

• Some light CAD work using Autodesk softwares like (Autocad , EAGLE)
• Some programming
• LabView
• Powerpoint / Word
• YouTube
• Lynda

What would be some good (not expensive) choices for an external monitor for me? I also use keyboard and mouse with my macbook?

Thank you for reading through.

 

[chscag]

Nowadays you can purchase a nice 23" to 27" monitor and not spend a fortune. A lot depends on its resolution and if it's 4K. If you need 4K for your work, Dell, BenQ, LG, all have nice monitors you can buy. Or you can walk into a Best Buy, Fry's, Microcenter, Staples, etc, and take a look what they have to offer.

 

[shpongle11]

What metrics should I look at before making the purchase, so that the mirroring screen does not look distorted? Is it the refresh rate, resolution, aspect ratio, availability of Thunderbolt ports, etc ? I have to do some very light CAD work. Will my device : Macbook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) be able to drive the monitor without distortions?

 

[chscag]

The specs for your MacBook are:

Graphics Card Intel HD Graphics 515
Graphics Memory Up to 1.5 GB shared from main memory
Display Connection USB 3.1 Gen 1 digital video output
Display Modes Dual display extended, video mirroring, and AirPlay Mirroring
External Resolution Up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz or up to 4096 by 2160 pixels at 24Hz
Camera 480p FaceTime


You would need to purchase a monitor that falls within those specs. Keep in mind that any external monitor must be driven at its native resolution in order to obtain the best quality display. When you shop around, be sure to obtain specs on the particular monitor and then compare those specs to that of your MacBook. Also, the type of input for the monitor is very important. Note that your MacBook video output is limited to USB 3.1 Gen 1 digital video output. Any monitor you buy must conform to that.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I want to purchase an external monitor for my MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016).

Have a look at the recommendations from The Wirecutter (a respected authority):
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-monitors/
https://thewirecutter.com/?s=best+monitor

You probably want either a 24-inch or a 27-inch monitor. You don't do graphics or high-end gaming, so you don't need *the best* (most expensive) monitor. There are some really excellent buys out there right now.

The HP N270h 27-inch monitor, at only $159, is a screaming deal right now:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJMM366/?tag=macforums0e4-20
This monitor is huge, the display in beautiful, it has a wide viewing angle, and it's fast enough even for gaming! Check out the reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJMM366/?tag=macforums0e4-20

This monitor has an HDMI input, and your MacBook has a USB 3.1 (Type C) output. So you will need a cable that can mate the two. This is a perfect high quality choice:

Monoprice USB Type C to HDMI 3.1 Cable - 3ft
$17
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24440