The best monitors for MacBook Pro are the perfect companion to your Apple laptop, whether you need a laptop for graphic design or something simpler for college work. In so many cases, pairing your MacBook Pro with a great monitor can give you more screen real estate, better picture quality, handy extra features and much more.
Our top choice is the Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q, a superb 27-inch display that boasts fantastic image quality and a 4K resolution. It hits 96.1% of the Adobe RGB space and 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut, and with a built-in colorimeter, it’s ideally placed for your important colour-accurate work.
But there are many other excellent monitors worth considering. We have significant experience reviewing monitors, laptops and more, with anything from the most budget creations to the highest-end wallet-busters coming under our microscope. Keep reading to see which displays gained our seal of approval.
Quick list
We'll start with a quick list of our top options. Click 'Read more' or scroll down to for our full guide.
We highly rate this 4K display for its balance of price and features. With a high pixel density of 163ppi and solid colour coverage (and built-in colourimeter), we found it to be a great option for creative work. Read more below
We love this mid-range option, which balances price and features, with good colour coverage for creative work and USB-C supporting DisplayPort 1.4 and power delivery. Sharp 4K resolution and a dedicated Apple mode sweeten the deal. Read more below
The Studio Display is the best option if you love Apple products and want to balance image quality with price. Its 5K resolution, great colour gamut support and solid build quality make it a great choice. Read more below.
If you don't need 6K resolution but want a premium screen with great colour accuracy for photo editing, we can vouch for the quality of this 32-inch 4K screen. The hood and Hotkey Puck G2 are nice additions. Read more below
We think this OLED gaming monitor is a great option for more screen space. It boasts fantastic colour, a fast response time and a relatively gentle curve, keeping distortion negligible for creative tasks while giving an immersive feel to films and gaming. Read more below
Want a quality 4K monitor without needing to remortgage your home? The Iiyama Prolite 32-inch fits the bill, and it brings high-resolution clarity for a reasonable price, all within a spacious and sturdy 32-inch body. Read more below.
Connections: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x USB 3.2, 2 x Thunderbolt 3/USB Type-C, 1 x audio
Brightness (typical): 250 cd/m2
Reasons to buy
+
Excellent image quality
+
Crisp 4K resolution
+
Built-in colorimeter
Reasons to avoid
-
Extremely expensive
-
Contrast could be better
-
No picture-in-picture
Buy it if
✅ You want the optimum balance between quality and price: This is cheaper than any Apple monitor while providing 4K resolution and great colour coverage.
✅ You want a display for creative work: 99.8% of the sRGB gamut, 96.1% of the Adobe RGB space will have most creatives covered.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want more space: We think 27 inches is a good size for 4K, but some creatives may want even more space to work across multiple windows.
❌ You don't need a display for creative work: If you're not using your MacBook for art or design work, even this display may be overkill.
The bottom line
🔎 Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q is a pro screen that comes with good connectivity for MacBooks and a very reasonable price tag for the specs provided. ★★★★½
What you need to know:
The Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q is our top pick as the best external monitor for MacBook Pro because we found it to offer great performance and features for a fairly reasonable price.
Design and build: We liked the ergonomic stand, which can swivel, pivot and tilt, as well as adjust vertically, making it very flexible. We also found the connectivity options to be ideal for the MacBook users among us thanks to two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports and 90W power delivery. The design may not turn heads, but the specs and performance provided make this our pick as the best monitor for MacBook Pro for most creatives.
Display: The 4K screen has a high pixel density of 163ppi. We found that this translates into great detail for creative work, and that was backed up by our test results for colour coverage. We got 99.8% of the sRGB gamut, 96.1% of the Adobe RGB space and 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut. There's also a built-in colourimeter, which should help you calibrate for optimum colour performance.
Pricing: This Dell monitor is our top pick because we think it provides great value. We've tested a lot of monitors, and we think a solid 4K display of this size with great colour control for little over $1,000 / £1,000 is a winner.
✅ You want a great value display for creative work and general productivity: We found this monitor to be accurate and well designed, and it's the second-cheapest on our list.
✅ You want an ergonomic design: We liked the C-clamp base that came with our review model.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need specialist specs for photography: BenQ's PhotoVue monitor below provides higher Adobe RGB coverage and other features designed specifically for photographers.
❌ You want Thunderbolt support: USB-C does the job, but Thunderbolt is faster.
The bottom line
🔎 BenQ DesignVue PD2706UA is a well-priced monitor for creatives and general office use for anyone who doesn't have very specific requirements in terms of colour coverage. You sacrifice extra features and Thunderbolt support, the price is very good. ★★★★½
What you need to know:
We've reviewed a lot of BenQ monitors, and we're big fans. This is one of its more affordable options and occupies a space as a solid mid-range option as a MacBook Pro monitor.
Design and build: We appreciated the ergonomics of the Ergo mount with C-clamp, which our reviewer found helped reduce clutter on her desk to keep thing neat. There are two USB-C ports, one with 65W of power delivery. It's a shame there's no Thunderbolt, but the display did the job to keep our MacBook Pro charged during testing.
Display: We found colour coverage and accuracy to be excellent if not quite up there with BenQ's pro photography monitors (see below). It came out of the box fасtоrу саlіbrаtеd, and асhіеvеd 95% P3, 100% sRGB and 100% Rec.709 and a colour accuracy of Dеltа Е ≤ 3 in our testing, makin it a solid choice for the creative work if you don't need the broader Adobe RGB coverage of a display like the PhotoVue below for print work. Our reviewer appreciated the inclusion of BenQ's signature eye-care technology, using ultra-low blue light and flicker-free technology to offer a more comfortable viewing experience.
Pricing: This is more expensive than our budget pick at number 2 in this list, but it's cheaper than most of the others, making it a solid value option. We think this is a great option for designers and also editors that aren't ready to invest in a display with all the bells and whistles.
✅ You're a huge Apple fan: If you like the design of your MacBook, you'll surely love this premium display.
✅ You don't mind spending a little extra: While it's nothing on the Pro Display XDR, the Studio Display still costs a pretty penny.
✅ You want nano-texture glass: Apple's anti-reflective treatment is available on the Studio Display.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need the best that Apple offers: While this is an excellent screen, it's outdone by the Pro Display XDR.
❌ You want more adjustment: Unless you spend extra, the Studio Display can only be tilted, not raised or rotated.
The bottom line
🔎 Apple Studio Display gives you a taste of Apple quality without breaking the bank. The most important element (image quality) is top notch, but we wish it came with HDR and a higher refresh rate than 60Hz. ★★★½
What you need to know:
For anyone looking to edit video or work on immersive 3D design on their MacBook Pro, Apple's own Pro Display XDR is a stunning if eye-wateringly expensive option. hope you're getting a good, screen, and it certainly delivered that when we tested it.
Design and build: If you have a MacBook, you're probably a fan of Apple's engineering, in which case you're certain to love this display. It has the sleek design and finish that we expect from Apple. It comes with one Thunderbolt 3 port, meaning it can go at the end of a Thunderbolt chain, but can't be a Thunderbolt hub. There are three USB-C ports for connecting accessories.
Display: The Studio Display offers solid display performance, with bright, vivid images and wide viewing angles. You can expect 600 nits of brightness and a crisp 5120 x 2880 resolution. It didn't totally wow us, though, due to its lack of HDR support and mediocre 60Hz refresh rate. There are a few tricks up its sleeve, though, like the A13 Bionic chip that powers its webcam and studio mic array, or the (optional) nano-texture glass that does a good job of cutting out reflections.
As for colour spaces, we appreciated the reference modes for colour spaces including DCI P3, sRGB, NTSC, BT.709, and many more. One of those modes is for 'Apple Display', which will make it match a MacBook Pro for brightness, which we found ensured a consistent look with the two displays next to each other.
Pricing: At around $1,500, this is a pricey monitor. Nano-texture glass is another $250, while a height-adjustable stand will set you back another $400. Read more: Apple Studio Display review
Connections: SD card reader, 2x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C PD 60W, USB Type-B Upstream, 2x USB 3.1 downstream
Brightness: 250 cd/m2
Reasons to buy
+
Great colour coverage and uniformity
+
Excellent colour accuracy
+
Lots of editing-specific features
Reasons to avoid
-
Built-in OSD controls annoying to use
-
Stand is a little wobbly
-
Contrast could be better
Buy it if
✅ You want a display for photo editing: Hardware calibration and great colour coverage make this an option for those who print their photos.
✅ You want a large display: 32 inches provides a good amount of space for multitasking or comparing images.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a tight budget: This isn't bad value for a pro display of this size, but it's twice the price of our top pick.
❌ You don't print photos or design work: Those who only create digital work may not need such broad colour coverage and features like Paper Color Sync.
The bottom line
🔎 BenQ SW321C PhotoVue is among the best monitors for photographers using MacBooks, particularly for those who want the colour coverage for accurate prints. It has useful time-saving features and much accessible price tag than other Pro monitors. ★★★★½
What you need to know:
If you need a big, premium 4K screen with the colour accuracy for professional photo editing and video editing, we suggest the BenQ SW321C PhotoVue. After testing this gorgeous monitor in-depth, we can say that if you're a photographer who works on a MacBook Pro, this is one of the best options.
Design and build: This isn't the sleekest-looking monitor, and the bezels are thicker than on some modern displays, but the build feels solid and robust. And while the menu buttons were a bit confusing, the Hotkey Puck control provided makes up for this – we found its wheel and buttons really handy, allowing smooth navigation to select and change inputs and colour modes. We thought the stand could be steadier but we liked the touches of the cable management slot and the place to store the Puck. As for articulation, the display can be swiveled 45 degrees to each side and tilted up to five degrees down and 20 degrees up. It can also be pivoted 90 degrees to portrait orientation.
Display: We tested 99% Adobe RGB and 100% sRGB colour coverage and 95% of the video colour space DCI-P3. We found accurate colour accuracy out of the box, with an impressive average Delta E of 0.9 in our tests. We found the anti-glare coating to be effective, minimising reflections when working in harsh light.
Pricing: This is an expensive display aimed at professionals, but we think it's worth it for those who work in different colour spaces. Additional features like the hood for shading the display and the HotKey Puck help to justify the price.
Connections: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C (supports power delivery), 1x USB-B 3.2 upstream, 4x USB-A downstream (1 for fast charge B.C 1.2)
Brightness: 1000 nits (peak)
Reasons to buy
+
Brilliant curved OLED panel
+
Minimal stretching or distortion
+
Impressive colour gamut
+
Refined design
Reasons to avoid
-
Pro-level price
-
No colour-temperature adjustment
Buy it if
✅ You want an ultrawide monitor for your MacBook: A wider display means room to open windows side by side.
✅ You work on two MacBooks: This monitor can display output from two devices at once.
✅ You want a modern-looking design: This monitor looks more contemporary than some of the more utilitarian options on our list.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You don't want a curved screen: Some people feel a curved screen distorts the lines in design work.
❌ You have a small desk: A 34-inch display can dominate a smaller office.
The bottom line
🔎 Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 is a great value ultrawide monitor. It's designed for gaming, which you're not that likely to be doing on a MacBook, but its OLED display and picture-in-picture abilities make it an option for multitasking creatives too. ★★★★½
What you need to know:
The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 is a premium ultrawide gaming monitor, but we found that it's also great for creative tasks such as video editing, photo editing or graphic design.
Design and build: Sporting various shades of white, this monitory has a very distinctive design, and it's a lot more eye-catching than many of the more function-oriented displays we've picked. Whether you like that will depend very much on your taste, but the gaming touches are relatively low key. The two-pronged stand looks very modern, as do the almost non-existent bezels around the display. We were happy to find a wide range of ports on the back. We would have liked a little more adjustability and a better on-screen display, but this is the best ultrawide monitor for MacBook Pro that we've tested to date one we factor in price.
Display: Our reviewer found that 34-inch OLED panel offered fantastic colour coverage and 175Hz refresh rate. In some curved displays, the curve can create too much distortion for creative work, but we found that the curve wasn't too pronounced while still immersing him impressively well in his gaming endeavours. Our tester was also impressed by the convenience of having three brightness settings available ('Bright', 'Brighter' and 'Brightest'). The latter goes to a maximum 1,000 nits of brightness. That's very bright.
Of course, it’s a boon to multi-taskers as well, especially those dealing with massive spreadsheets or who use several different apps at once. Its picture-in-picture and KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) permit connecting to two devices at once and view them without switching peripheral, which can be handy for multitasking and working across multiple programs.
Pricing: Ultrawide monitors are pricey, but we think this gaming-oriented option from Philips is surprisingly good value at just under $800 / £650.
Connections: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C, Ethernet, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type B, headphone jack
Brightness (max): 350 nits
Reasons to buy
+
Bright and sharp
+
Decent colour reproduction
+
KVM
Reasons to avoid
-
Heavy
-
Fiddly OSD
Buy it if
✅ You want a 4K display at a great price: We were impressed with the clarity of the image at this price.
✅ You want a large display: This 31.5-inch panels provides lots of work space.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want extra features for creative work: This value monitor doesn't have preset colour modes or much in the way of extra features.
The bottom line
🔎 Iiyama Prolite 32-inch is a solid option if you want a 4K display for less. It's a lesser known brand, but we were pleasantly surprised by the clarity and colour coverage of this monitor, although it does lack special features and Thunderbolt support. ★★★★
What you need to know:
As a work monitor for MacBook Pro users, the Iiyama Prolite XUB3293UHSN-B5 is a strong proposition. It has the brightness, the colour response, and the convenience of the built-in KVM to be a handy desk companion. The fact it’s big and high-res just makes it even better.
Design and build: The monitor is big and heavy but comes with a suitably stout stand. We were surprised at how high it can be raised, and there's a 100mm VESA mount for attaching it to an arm). This also allows for a good degree of flexibility with positioning. The controls for the OSD are a bit fiddly but we found it possible to get used to them.
Display: There's some reasonable colour accuracy on display too. In our tests, the screen outperformed its listed brightness, managing 403 nits at 100%. It can also output 100% of sRGB, 83% of AdobeRGB, and 92% of P3, but doesn't have sRGB or AdobeRGB presets, so you'll have to calibrate those manually. The refresh rate tops out at 60Hz, with a 4ms response time, but if you're working on a MacBook Pro, you're not going to be that focused on gaming, which is the main reason you'd want a higher refresh rate.
Pricing: The best thing about the Prolite display is the price, which is very accessible for a 4K display. If you’re looking for something that can fullscreen Lightroom or Premiere Pro, but can’t quite stretch to a pro screen, this package from Iiyama is an attractive proposition.
✅ You want a portable display for your MacBook: This portable monitor is compact and travel friendly.
✅ You work out of the office: Uses for a portable display include working on the go or showing work during visits to clients.
✅ You want an OLED screen: There are cheaper portable monitors about, but Asus's OLED display tech makes this the best we've tested.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need the best colour coverage: This only reaches 95.5% of sRGB, but that's actually not bad for a portable display.
❌ You're looking for a main external monitor for your MacBook: At just 16-inches, this display isn't going to be much bigger than that on your MacBook.
The bottom line
🔎 Asus ZenScreen MQ16AH is the best portable monitor we've tested for using with a MacBook. We were impressed with the contrast of the OLED panel, and the compact size makes it potentially useful for travel. This probably won't be your main monitor for your MacBook though. ★★★★
What you need to know:
These days, portable monitors are becoming part of many MacBook Pro users' arsenal. They’re small and travel-friendly, keeping you mobile while giving you that extra screen real estate wherever you go. For that, the ASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH is our current pick – an unflashy but dependable portable monitor that delivers good colours and decent brightness.
Design and build: We liked the nicely refined design, with plenty of ports for connection and buttons to adjust parameters. The monitor even has a standard socket for a photography tripod, which could be a novel way of keeping it free-standing – especially since the supplied stand is a foldy piece of leather and vinyl that's unlikely to impress.
Display: Asus claims 400 nits of brightness, but this appears to be a bit of wishful thinking – in our testing, we only managed a maximum of 318 nits. This is still very decent however, and makes the ASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH useable in a range of lighting situations, which is exactly what you want from a portable monitor. We found colour coverage is excellent, covering 95.5% of sRGB and 100% of DCI-P3. It may be portable, but this is a serious monitor suited to creative work.
Pricing: We think that at around $350 / £450, the ASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH represents fairly reasonable value for what it offers. There are much cheaper portable monitors out there, but most of them look rather poor compared to a MacBook Pro screen and don't have anything like the specs for creative work.
The monitors above are our top picks for pairing with the MacBook Pro, but there are other displays you might want to consider. Below, we've included a few choices we've personally reviewed that didn't quite make the cut. Take a look if you're still not settled on what to go for.
This upper pro-level 31-inch IPS display includes support for multiple colour spaces, 4K HDR support for video editors and has multiple HDMI and DisplayPort connections in addition to the ability to calibrate itself. It’s a star performer for high-end colour accurate work.
The Samsung M8 is a promising alternative to an Apple all-in-one sans the all-in-one bit. It’s an attractive 4K monitor that comes loaded with more features than you can dream of, and while it might not have a computer inside, it can still function without one for certain tasks that can be performed online. We would absolutely love it if it wasn’t for its middling audio, its non-existent ergonomics, and its wobbly build.
To get the best monitor with your MacBook Pro, there are a couple of things to consider. Firstly, USB-C connectivity is ideal. Only the newest 14- and 16-inch Macbook Pros come with HDMI ports, while all other models are limited to USB-C ports for connecting to external displays. And, while it’s not necessary, most USB-C capable monitors can deliver power via that USB-C cable. If you prefer a one-cable solution, you’ll want to ensure you’re getting enough power from the monitor.
If you’re hoping to do any kind of content creation on your Apple laptop, then having a wide colour gamut coverage is crucial. Look for 97% DCI-P3 or higher. You’ll also want a resolution to match your portable’s. Using a 4K monitor between 24 and 32 inches will provide a viewing experience similar to that of your MacBook Pro’s retina display.
Lastly, you may also want to consider other aspects of the monitor that aren't to do with the screen. Do you want built-in speakers, or do you have another audio setup? Do you need a fully articulating stand to be able to position the monitor at any angle, or will something simpler fit the bill?
Many of our expert contributors and reviewers have been using MacBook Pros as their regular laptop with an external monitor setup for years, so they know what they're looking for. When we review monitors, we carry out lab tests to check their brightness, contrast and colour coverage and accuracy, but we also use them in practical situations over several weeks for our own everyday work and also put them through their paces for photo and video editing.
We test their brightness and colour reproduction using professional colorimeters, not just relying on factory claims, and we dive down into responsivity, refresh rates and everything else that's important to creatives' work and play.
But we make sure we don't just geek out over tech specs, but also take a realistic view of what a monitor is like to use, and what the intended user is going to get out of it. You can read more about how we test and review at Creative Bloq.
The short answer is yes, mostly. While most MacBook Pros come with a pretty limited port selection, typically a couple of USB-C ports, there are Mac-compatible dongles for just about every type of connectivity. Unfortunately, that does mean you’ll have to invest in an adapter to use those Apple laptops with monitors that don’t have USB-C connectivity. Of course, owners of the most recent 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros won’t have to worry about that since they come with HDMI ports.
With that said, a few monitors have had issues connecting to M1 MacBook Pros sporting the latest macOS. If you’re considering a monitor that doesn’t natively support Thunderbolt / USB-C connectivity, you’ll want to see if others have had software-related issues and if the manufacturer has updated the firmware to address the issue. For full details see our post on how to connect a monitor to MacBook Pro.
Can a MacBook Pro support a 4K monitor?
MacBook Pros are incredibly powerful for their thin and lightweight design. Not only are they more than capable of driving a 4K monitor, but more recent models can drive even higher resolution displays. The 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, for example, can drive a 6K display at 60Hz while the 14- and 16-inch M1 Pro models can drive two.
Can I use multiple monitors with my MacBook Pro?
Yes, you can use multiple monitors with some models of the MacBook Pro. For instance, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M2 Pro chip from 2023 support up to two external displays simultaneously, based on the resolution (up to 8K) and refresh rate (up to 240 Hz) of each external display. For older models, check the tech specs here to see how many connections are supported.
Is Apple's Pro Display XDR a good monitor for MacBook Pros?
There's no doubt that the Pro Display XDR is an incredible monitor. It packs a 6K resolution into its 32-inch frame, alongside massive brightness, HDR support, amazing contrast and compatibility with a wide range of color gamuts. We didn't include it, though, because it is so very expensive. That might be fine for studios, but it's priced out of the range of most consumers. If you'd like to know more, see our Apple Pro Display XDR hands-on review.
Matt is Managing Editor at TechRadar.com, and previously worked on T3, MacLife and MacFormat. He's been testing technology for over a decade, working in specialist Apple publications as well general technology and creative journalism, and has charted Apple’s ups and downs since his student days (but still hopes to hear “one more thing”). By day, you can find him covering TV, audio, smart home gear and more at T3.com, as Home Tech Editor. By night, he's probably updating or pairing or installing some new piece of technology in the quest for the perfect setup.
