The 6 Best Monitors For MacBook Pro And MacBook Air - Winter 2024: Reviews (2024)

1. Best Monitor For MacBook Pro

   Apple Studio Display 2

   

   Mixed Usage

   6.9

   Office

   8.1

   Gaming

   6.1

   Media Consumption

   7.5

   Media Creation

   7.8

   HDR

   3.1

   Size

   27"

   Pixel Type

   IPS

   Max Refresh Rate

   60 Hz

   Variable Refresh Rate

   No

   Native Resolution

   5120 x 2880

   HDR10

   No

   See all our test results

   The Apple Studio Display is the best monitor for MacBook Pro that we've tested. It's one of two monitors available from Apple, as it's the lower-end version of the Apple Pro Display XDR, which is meant for professional content creators. While the Studio Display has fewer features than the Pro Display XDR, like the lack of HDR, it's still a great monitor, especially for casual photo editing. It has exceptional accuracy before calibration thanks to its outstanding sRGB mode that you can only access with a macOS device. It also delivers high pixel density with its 5k, 27-inch screen, meaning text looks incredibly sharp.

   It has an impressive selection of additional features, including a built-in webcam and microphone. It also includes four USB-C ports, but only one supports Thunderbolt 3 to connect your laptop. Lastly, you can get it in different variants, as you can get the standard fixed stand, a height-adjustable stand, or one without a stand if you want to mount it. You can also choose between a glossy or matte screen finish, and regardless of whichscreen finish you choose, it doesn't have issues in a well-lit room as it gets very bright.

   See our review

2. Best Ultrawide Monitor For MacBook Pro

   LG 40WP95C-W 8

   

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   Mixed Usage

   7.5

   Office

   8.0

   Gaming

   See Also

   Apple MacBook Air (2022, M2) ReviewBest Mac desktop 2024 – Apple's desk computers comparedYou can gain access to your Mac wherever you are on another Mac, PC, iPad or iPhone

   7.2

   Media Consumption

   7.5

   Media Creation

   8.3

   HDR

   6.5

   Size

   40"

   Pixel Type

   IPS

   Max Refresh Rate

   72 Hz

   Variable Refresh Rate

   Yes

   Native Resolution

   5120 x 2160

   HDR10

   Yes

   See all our test results

   If you like working with multiple windows opened simultaneously, an ultrawide display like the LG 40WP95C-W is a good alternative to the Apple Studio Display. It has fewer features than the Apple monitor, as it doesn't have a webcam or mic, and it has a lower 5120x2160 resolution, which means that its text clarity isn't as good, but it still delivers sharp text. It doesn't get as bright as the Apple monitor either, which means it isn't as good to use in a bright office space, but it's still fine if you have a few lights around.

   However, it has a few advantages over the Apple monitor because it supports HDR, andits 40-inch screen has a wide21:9 aspect ratio, so there's plenty of space to open multiple windows. Its impressive connectivity makes this great to use with the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, as it has two USB-C ports supporting Thunderbolt 4. They each deliver 96W of power, enough to keep MacBook Airs and most MacBook Pros fully charged while you're working. It also has a Picture-by-Picture mode, which is great if you want to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

   See our review

3. Best Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro

   Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx 52

   

   Mixed Usage

   8.5

   Office

   8.7

   Gaming

   8.8

   Media Consumption

   8.0

   Media Creation

   8.6

   HDR

   8.0

   Size

   27"

   Pixel Type

   IPS

   Max Refresh Rate

   160 Hz

   Variable Refresh Rate

   Yes

   Native Resolution

   3840 x 2160

   HDR10

   Yes

   See all our test results

   If you don't like ultrawide displays or simply prefer something cheaper, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx. With a much smaller screen than the LG 40WP95C-W, it isn't as good for multitasking, and it has a lower resolution than the Apple Studio Display, so text isn't as sharp. It doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 like the LG, but it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, which has less bandwidth than Thunderbolt and still delivers 90W of power to charge your MacBook. Once hooked up to your MacBook, this monitor has excellent performance for almost anything you might want to do with your laptop.

   It gets extremely bright and has good reflection handling, so content is easy to seeeven in a very bright room. Its ergonomics are also excellent, and watching a movie with another person or sharing work with a colleague is easy. Its extremely accurate sRGB mode makes it an excellent choice for content creation and editing. Additionally, HDR is great on this monitor, so everything from games to the latest movies looks bright and vibrant. It's also amazing at gaming, whether you want to play games directly on your MacBook or use a game streaming service like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW. However, it only has three USB ports.If you want a monitor with more USB connectivity, consider the Dell U2723QE. While its gaming and HDR performance are considerably worse than the Acer, it has more USB ports, which may be helpful if you have a lot of peripherals to connect to your MacBook.

   See our review

4. Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro

   Dell S2722QC 11

   

   Current Deal: The Dell S2722QC has dropped in price by $120 at Amazon.com. Get Deal

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   Mixed Usage

   7.7

   Office

   8.6

   Gaming

   7.1

   Media Consumption

   7.6

   Media Creation

   8.4

   HDR

   6.4

   Size

   27"

   Pixel Type

   IPS

   Max Refresh Rate

   60 Hz

   Variable Refresh Rate

   Yes

   Native Resolution

   3840 x 2160

   HDR10

   Yes

   See all our test results

   If you want something simpler and don't want to spend a ton of money on the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, the Dell S2722QC is a great choice to get as a lower mid-range monitor, and it often goes on sale. Its USB hub delivers only 65W of power, which isn't enough power for MacBook Pros in some situations. However, it can still charge your MacBook Air while you're using it, and it has two USB-A ports if you want to charge other devices.

   Besides that, the high 4k resolution helps deliver crisp images, and even though it doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode like the Acer, it still has decent accuracy before calibration if you want to use it for casual photo editing. While it has great brightness, it doesn't get nearly as bright as the Acer, so it's not as well suited to very bright rooms. Also, as it's a lower-tier monitor with a focus on productivity work, its HDR and gaming performance are significantly worse. However, this won't have a big impact if you're using it for office tasks. Though it works well with macOS, there are some reports online of people experiencing flicker with M1 Macs, which could get distracting if you experience this issue.

   See our review

5. Best Budget Monitor For MacBook Pro

   ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV 11

   

   Mixed Usage

   7.1

   Office

   8.2

   Gaming

   6.9

   Media Consumption

   7.2

   Media Creation

   7.9

   HDR

   3.0

   Size

   27"

   Pixel Type

   IPS

   Max Refresh Rate

   75 Hz

   Variable Refresh Rate

   Yes

   Native Resolution

   2560 x 1440

   HDR10

   No

   See all our test results

   If you're looking for a budget monitor for your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, check out the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV. Although there aren't many USB-C monitors available at a budget-friendly price, some good options like this are still available, but the main trade-off versus the Dell S2722QC is that it has a lower 1440p resolution, so textisn't as sharp. However, it's still great for productivity as itfeatures a USB-C port with 65W of power delivery, which is enough to chargea MacBook Air but not a MacBook Pro in some situations.

   This monitor has incredible ergonomics, making it very easy to adjust to an ideal position. It's designed with content creators in mind, as it has an extremely accurate sRGB mode, so you won't have to calibrate it if you work in that color space. However, it doesn't support HDR, which is disappointing if you're a video editor and need that. If you want a monitor that does support it, the Dell S2721QS is a great budget-friendly 4k monitor that does, but it doesn't have any USB ports, and there are some macOS compatibilityissues with a DisplayPort to USB-C cable.

   See our review

6. Best Cheap Monitor For MacBook Pro

   ASUS VG246H 0

   

   Mixed Usage

   6.5

   Office

   7.6

   Gaming

   6.3

   Media Consumption

   6.5

   Media Creation

   7.2

   HDR

   2.7

   Size

   24"

   Pixel Type

   IPS

   Max Refresh Rate

   75 Hz

   Variable Refresh Rate

   Yes

   Native Resolution

   1920 x 1080

   HDR10

   No

   See all our test results

   If you want something cheap and don't want to spend much money, consider an entry-level model like the ASUS VG246H, which has a lower 1080p resolution than the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV. It has fewer features than the ASUSas it doesn't have a USB-C port, but that's what you must expect for a cheaper display. It means you need to connect to it over HDMI; if your MacBook doesn't have an HDMI port, you'll need to get an adapter. Despite that, it still works well with macOS computers.

   It's well-built with an incredibly ergonomic stand, making it easy to adjust to an ideal viewing position. It also has wide viewing angles that keep the image consistent from the sides, meaning it's a great choice if you often need to share your screen with someone else. Although it's limited in extra features, it has an sRGB mode that results in great accuracy. Still, it locks most picture settings, including the brightness, so it's only beneficial for editing content with that color space in a dark environment.

   See our review

Notable Mentions

Recent Updates

1. Feb 14, 2024: Replaced the Dell U2723QE with the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx as 'Best Mid-Range', as it has better performance; added the Dell U3223QE as a Notable Mention.

2. Dec 07, 2023: Verified that all monitors are still available; added the Gigabyte M27Q P and ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV to Notable Mentions.

3. Nov 10, 2023: Added the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0) to Notable Mentions; updated text for clarity throughout.

4. Oct 13, 2023: Updated text for clarity throughout and made sure that the monitors are still available to purchase.

5. Aug 16, 2023: Verified that the monitors are still available to purchase and updated text for clarity; added the Gigabyte M34WQ to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best external monitors for Macbook Proor MacBook Air. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.

If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitorreviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.