For a Mac mini TV setup, input speed can matter as much as picture
A TV used with a needs more than good brightness and contrast. One LG TV looked dim, dark, rough, and weak in contrast when used as a Mac display. A four-year-old low-end 52-inch Samsung TV looked much better with older MacBook Pros, with a brighter and sharper image.
The problem was Samsung’s TV and menus. The TV was slow to notice the HDMI input, so waking the Mac meant waiting for the TV to switch over. When the r signal was not detected quickly, the TV tried to show Samsung TV channels instead, even after related were turned off.
Possible res include Samsung, TCL, , and UHD TVs, but the budget may still push the choice back toward Samsung.
Key points
- A TV setup should be judged on brightness, sharpness, and contrast.
- A budget Samsung TV can look crisp with a Mac, even if it is not high-end.
- Samsung TV may be slow to recognize HDMI input after the Mac wakes.
- Built-in TV channel screens can appear when the r signal is not detected fast enough.
- Before buying, check input switching and unwanted TV menus, not just picture quality.