Best Mac Monitors for Macbook Pro and Mini 2011 - 2012

TN vs. IPS Panels

TN or "twisted nematic" panels are standard for most LCD screens. This is because they cost less to produce, use less energy, and have faster response times than IPS panel monitors. This leads to a better overall viewing experience for movies and games. However, TN panels are not ideal for photo editing monitors as they can only reproduce 6 bits per color (RGB) for a total of 18 bits. IPS or "In-Plane Switching" panel monitors are desirable for photo editing as they have more accurate color reproduction because they use 8 bits per color or 24-bit color depth. With 24-bit color depth or 256 colors for red, green, and blue, a display can accurately protray "true color" or 256x256x256 which is 16.7 million colors. Some more recent S-IPS panel monitors can produce beyond true color in reaching 30, 36, and even 48 bits. IPS monitors also have a wider viewing angle which allows for accurate color for almost any angle. In general you should expect to pay considerably more for an IPS monitor when compared to a TN panel monitor although this has changed somewhat in the last couple years as many budget IPS monitor options have been released.

IPS Panels have the wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction(display 24-bit color depth) desired by most artists and photographers. In the past slow response times limited IPS monitors ability to watch and edit video. Much of the problems with response times have been solved; however, IPS panels are still not ideal for watching movies or gaming. Most IPS panel monitors still go no lower than 8ms for response times and the best gaming monitors have been designed with response times as low as 1ms.

LED Vs. LCD

LED or "light emitting diode" technology is used as a backlight to light the thin "liquid crystal display" or LCD. LED backlit monitors are thinner, lighter, have higher contrast, use less energy, and don't emit mercury like CCFL or "Cold cathode fluorescent Lamps" backlit LCD monitors. Until recently CCFL LCDs were cheaper than LED LCD monitors; however, much of this price differential is no longer there.

Resolution

Full high definition resolution is considered 1920 x 1080p resolution which simply shows the amount of pixels in a display by the width, 1920, and the height, 1080. Some monitors go beyond high definition like Apple's Thunderbolt Display which has a 2560x1440 resolution. This is again desirable for photo editing as it gives you more pixels to work with.

Response Time

The time it takes for a pixel to go from one end of the color spectrum to the other or from black to white and back.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio measures the deepest black and whitest white. New LED technology can completely turn off LED lights to produce deeper and more accurate blacks.

Connectors

Monitors typically have HDMI, DVI (white), or Analog RGB (blue) connectors.

New Apple Thunderbolt I/O Technology

From Amazon: "Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O (input/output) technology delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second of transfer speeds in both directions. The Thunderbolt port allows you to connect to new Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals as well as existing USB and FireWire peripherals using simple adapters. You'll be able to move data up to 20 times faster than with USB 2.0 and more than 12 times faster than with FireWire 800, and you can daisy-chain up to six high-speed devices without using a hub. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI, and VGA displays."

Glossy Vs. Matte Screens

Although pictures can sometimes appear more brilliant with a glossy screen the glare can sometimes be a distraction. If you purchase a monitor with a glossy screen be sure to find one with an anti-glare coating.

The Apple Thunderbolt Display uses the all new Thunderbolt Technology which allows you to get 10 gigabits per second of transfer speeds in both directions. It's truly an all-in-one solution; however, it may be on the pricey side as a standard office solution. Specifications include a 27-inch IPS display with LED backlighting, Thunderbolt and MagSafe All-in-One Cable Connectors, 2560 x 1440 Resolution; 16:9 Aspect Ratio, FaceTime HD camera, 3 USB 2.0 ports, 16.7 million colors , 12 ms response time, 375 cd/m2 brightness rating, Gigabit Ethernet port, FireWire 800 port, and Thunderbolt port. Comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. For $100 you can extend the warranty with Apple's Apple Care Protection plan.

Apple Thunderbolt Display MC914LL/A (NEWEST VERSION)
Amazon Price: As Low As $905.00

The Dell Ultra Sharp is a popular alternative to Apple's Thunderbolt. It can reproduce more colors at 1.07 Billion and has a significantly lower response time at 6ms. Technical specifications include 2560 x 1440 resolution, 178°(H) / 178°(V) viewing angle, 0.233mm pixel pitch, dynamic contrast ratio DC 80000:1, D-Sub, 2 DVI, HDMI, Component, Composite, USB 2.0 (1 up 4 downstream), and DisplayPort connectors, and Height, Swivel, Tilt adjustment. It also includes a 3 year parts and labor warranty vs. the Thunderbolt standard one-year limited warranty.

Dell UltraSharp U2711 27-inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor - Max Resolution 2560 x 1440 (WQHD)
Amazon Price: As Low As $779.99

The Smart Buy series from HP is one of the most affordable and popular S-ips options for photo editing. Specifications include a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 0.2505 mm pixel pitch, 370 cd/m² typical brightness rating, 178° horizontal; 178° vertical viewing angle, 7 ms response time, DisplayPort and DVI-D connectors, Tilt: -5° to + 35°; Swivel: -45º to + 45º, 5 USB 2.0, 1.07 billion displayable colors, 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 3 year parts and labor warranty.

Smart Buy 30IN LCD 2560X1600 1000:1 ZR30W Dvi-d Dp 7MS S-ips U.s
Amazon Price: $1,166.99 (as of 11/03/2011)

 Dell UltraSharp U3011 30-inch Widescreen Monitor with PremierColor - Max Resolution 2560 x 1600- 16:10 Aspect Ratio - Contrast Ratio 1000:1 - Response

Amazon Price: $1,139.00 (as of 11/03/2011)
For when a 27 Inch display is simply not enough.

 If you're not a photo editor and if you don't need super accurate color reproduction, then there are some really great alternatives. The Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED is the bestselling monitor of 2011 on Amazon. It comes with 1920x1080p Full HD resolution, a 20,000,000:1 MEGA Contrast Ratio, Integrated Stereo Speakers, and can be mounted via 100mm x 100mm VESA mount compliant holes. Additional specifications include 170°(H) / 160°(V) viewing angle, 300 cd/m2 brightness rating, D-Sub, DVI connectors, tilt adjustment, built-in speakers, and a 3 year parts and labor warranty. Comes with a 3 year parts and labor warranty along with Viewsonic's Pixel Performance Guarantee.

Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED 24-Inch (23.6-Inch Vis) Widescreen LED Monitor with Full HD 1080p and Speakers - Black
Amazon Price: $179.99

 The VX2453MH-LED and VX2753MH-LED are my choice for best gaming monitor of 2011. It has an all new design which allows you to completely remove the stand and tilt the monitor back. It also weighs around 9 pounds so it's perfect for taking to a LAN party or on a trip. Input lag is not noticeable and with a 2ms response time (1ms for the 27 inch version) you get a smooth picture during all of the action sequences. Specifications include 1920 x 1080 resolution, 170°(H) / 160°(V) viewing angle, 250 cd/m2 brightness rating, 30,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (LED backlight can be completely turned off), D-Sub, 2 x HDMI, 2W x 2 built-in speakers, and a 3 year parts and labor warranty with Viewsonic's Pixel Performance Guarantee.

Viewsonic VX2453MH-LED 24-Inch Ultra-thin Widescreen LED Monitor - Black
Amazon Price: $184.99 (as of 11/03/2011)