...I want to get a Mac Mini and hook that up to a bigger monitor.
Here is a reprise of a older post. (I would have just linked to it, but I can't find it anymore.)
How about a humongous computer monitor with an amazing picture for a very reasonable price?
Here’s the background. My son is a programmer. He wanted a new monitor that could easily show four full size pages at the same time with a bit of desktop left to work with. He noticed that in the $200 to $300 range that 4K UHD televisions (he was looking for something in the 42-inch range) could now be had for about $300! Televisions used to not have the refresh rate to keep up with the better animated video games, or the best resolution, but now they do, especially televisions from Samsung and LG. A television is now way less expensive than an equivalent size dedicated computer monitor. We can only assume that this is due to economies of scale. (Samsung sells way more televisions than computer monitors.)
The thing is that this might not be right for you. If you go smaller than 42-inches, you aren't going to find 4K monitors. If you go bigger than 42-inches, the screen is going to have the same resolution, but it is going to be spread over a larger area, making things less crisp. So a 42-inch 4K television is ideal for application as a computer monitor. But...a 42-inch monitor may be too big for many people to sit close to and look at comfortably. Or it may be too big for your workspace. Also note that NOT ALL 4K 42-inch monitors have the specs to work well as computer monitors.
We looked at all the Samsung and LG models, and we decided that while QLED and OLED models looked a bit better, they weren't so much better that they justified the additional substantial cost. In fact, they may be a bit over-saturated for use as a computer monitor. We identified a couple of television models that had the specifications necessary, and which looked good when we auditioned them.
So, this is what my son got, for only $300:
Samsung - 43" Class - LED - 6 Series - 2160p - Smart - 4K UHD TV with HDR
$300
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsun...rt-4k-uhd-tv-with-hdr/6373061.p?skuId=6373061
It's a breathtaking monitor at an amazing price, if you don't mind that it is REALLY BIG! It also makes a really good television, of course. My son uses it with his MacBook Air.
It is also stunning that for the price this thing includes Wi-Fi, upscaling, and powered stereo speakers.
One note, if you have a recent Mac, you will likely need an adapter to go from your Mac's Thunderbolt port to the monitor's HDMI port, and *this is critical*, your HDMI cable must be HDMI 2.0 compliant or better, and your USB-C adapter must support Thunderbolt.
This adapter has worked well for Mac users:
Anker USB C to HDMI Adapter (4K@60Hz), PowerExpand+ Aluminum Portable USB C Adapter, for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Pro, Pixelbook, XPS, Galaxy, and More (Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 ports)
$17
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07THJGZ9Z/?tag=macforums0e4-20
Please let us know if you decide on a television as a monitor, and how you like it.