I’m accepting the fact that an M3 iMac, being limited to just 24GB of RAM, might not be future-proof or capable enough to justify my buying one.

Therefore, I’m thinking maybe I need a Mac Mini with 32GB of RAM or a Mac Studio with 64GB.

Thing is, if you get an iMac, you automatically get some kind of wonderful Apple monitor built in.

But if you buy a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, Apple wants to sell you a $1,500 monitor to go with it.

I do not believe a monitor should cost $1,500.

What am I losing or giving up if I buy an el cheapo 4K monitor and attach it to a new Mac Mini or Mac Studio? Is this a terrible idea?

Is the 4.5K monitor built into the M3 iMac insanely great to the point where a 24GB M3 iMac would be a better value proposition than a 32GB Mac Mini attached to a cheap monitor?