Adding an external monitor to your MacBook Pro is a great way to boost your productivity and elevates your experience, whether you're doing creative work, playing games, or consuming entertainment.
Our top choice overall is the BenQ MA270U. Specifically designed for Mac users, it offers seamless macOS integration and flawless color accuracy at an impressive price point. We've also included choices for specific needs on our list. For example, the ASUS ProArt PA32KCX stands out as the definitive 8K choice.
For further options, see our guide to the best monitors for graphic artists.
Matt is Managing Editor at TechRadar.com, and previously worked on T3, MacLife and MacFormat. He's been testing tech for over a decade, working in specialist Apple publications as well as general technology and creative journalism, and has charted Apple’s ups and downs since his student days.
The top 3 monitors for MacBook Pro
Our top pick. Purpose-built for Mac users, this stunning 32-inch 4K display delivers flawless colour matching with MacBook screens through BenQ's Mac Colours technology.
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This excellent 4K display delivers professional-grade colour accuracy and smooth performance at an outstanding price. With 99% sRGB coverage and 120Hz refresh rate, it's exceptional value overall.
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If you want the superb lighting control and HDR performance offered by an OLED, the ASUS ProArt PA32UCDM is your best bet. It's expensive, but considerably undercuts Apple's Studio Display.
Read more below.
The best monitor for MacBook Pro overall
30-second review: Purpose-built for Mac users, this stunning 32-inch 4K display delivers flawless colour matching with MacBook screens through BenQ's Mac Colours technology. Its generous screen size, exceptional colour accuracy and seamless integration with macOS make it perfect for all kinds of creative work, from photo editing to graphic design. Whilst it lacks Thunderbolt 4 and has weak internal speakers, it knows exactly who it's built for. This is undoubtedly the monitor I'd recommend to most MacBook Pro users.
Pricing: At £599.99/$729.99 (often on sale for £549.99/$629.99), the BenQ MA320U offers outstanding value for a 32-inch 4K display with this level of Mac integration and colour accuracy. It's significantly more affordable than Apple's own Studio Display whilst delivering comparable colour performance and a larger screen. For creative professionals invested in the Apple ecosystem, it represents an excellent investment that won't break the bank.
Design and build: The impressive ergonomic flexibility of the BenQ MA320U means it'll slot easily into pretty much any home office or studio setup. Its height is adjustable and it tilts, swivels and pivots through a full 90 degrees for portrait mode work. The wide base provides excellent stability, though it does require a decent amount of desk space. The 32-inch IPS panel features a Nano Matte coating that's brilliant at reducing reflections and glare, making it ideal for working in bright conditions. The silver chassis and slim bezels give it a clean, modern aesthetic that complements Apple's design language perfectly.
Display: The luxurious 32-inch 4K screen is brilliant. The Mac Colours technology ensures perfect colour matching with your MacBook's built-in display, eliminating any jarring shifts when you switch between laptop and monitor. Colour accuracy covers 98% of the P3 colour gamut, making professional photo retouching and colour grading entirely viable. The anti-glare panel is effective and much easier on the eyes during long working sessions. The 60 Hz refresh rate is perfectly adequate for creative work, although isn't suited for gaming. Best of all, the Display Pilot 2 software is a genuine game-changer, allowing you to control brightness, volume and other settings directly from your Mac keyboard without fiddling with clunky monitor buttons.
Read more: BenQ MA320U review
"You get a monitor that just feels like an extension of your MacBook rather than a compromise. For creative professionals who are locked into the Apple ecosystem, it’s one of the best monitor choices you can make."
The best value monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: This monitor is exceptional value, delivering professional-grade performance at a fraction of the cost of premium alternatives. Overall, it excels where it matters most: image quality, colour accuracy and smooth performance, making it a great choice for MacBook Pro users.
Pricing: At $277 / £288, this monitor is very low priced for a 27-inch 4K display with 120Hz refresh rate. It's significantly more affordable than the premium Dell UltraSharp whilst still delivering excellent colour accuracy and professional features that creative professionals need.
Design and build: The S2725QS features an attractive ash-white finish with ultra-thin bezels that complement Apple's aesthetic perfectly. The stand is fully adjustable for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot, though the pivoting mechanism can feel somewhat clunky. Build quality is solid throughout, with a sturdy metal stand that adds reassuring weight. The only connectivity limitation for MacBook users is the lack of USB-C, which means you'll need a hub or adapter.
Display: The 4K IPS panel delivers 3840 x 2160 resolution with 350 cd/m² brightness and 1500:1 contrast ratio. With 99% sRGB coverage, it provides excellent colour accuracy straight out of the box, making it ideal for design work and content creation. The 120Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync Premium ensures smooth motion, beneficial for both creative work and occasional gaming. The IPS screen provides excellent viewing angles, whilst ComfortView Plus technology reduces blue light emissions without affecting colour accuracy.
Read more: Dell 27 Plus 4K review
"The Dell 27-inch Plus is good for anyone who needs colour accuracy and sharp details, thanks to its 99% sRGB coverage and 4K resolution. "
Best OLED monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: OLED monitors come with inherent advantages and drawbacks, but the brilliant precision and clarity of this pro-level monitor is not to be underestimated. If you want to experience true HDR visuals, this is one of the best monitors with which to do it.
Pricing: Sitting at $1,899 or £1,599, this is certainly not a cheap monitor, though it's pretty much in line with what you'd expect for a pro-spec monitor, and is much more affordable than Apple's own Studio Display.
Design and build: If you're as averse as I am to the crass LED lights that inevitably adorn gaming monitors, the sleek and understated design of the ASUS ProArt PA32UCDM will immediately appeal. That ProArt minimalism is present and correct, underpinned by top-tier build quality that feels as premium as you'd hope for that price. Connectivity is also generous, with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting display daisy chaining and 96W of power delivery.
Display: So, OLED, then. There are many reasons why you might want to pair an OLED display such as this one with your MacBook Pro. The perfect per-pixel lighting gives you total precision, with the tiniest details perfectly rendered against the darkest backgrounds. There's no light bleed, no unwanted halo effect. The colour rendering is brilliantly vibrant, aided by the glossy panel coating. Our review used the word 'sizzles', and it's really not hyperbole. HDR content looks fantastic on this thing.
Of course, OLED also has its drawbacks. Brightness tops out at around 250 nits, and while that should be fine for most day-to-day use, anyone working in environments with bright ambient light is going to struggle. Ultimately, like many things, it's a trade-off. OLED may be suitable for you and your workflow; it may not. But in any case, this is a superb monitor, with impressive colour accuracy and an ultra-snappy refresh rate.
Read more: ASUS ProArt PA32UCDM review
"OLED technology isn't perfect. But it can do things when it comes to lighting control and HDR that LCD monitors can only dream of. Add in a pro-friendly feature set, and you have a compelling early example of what OLED display technology is going to bring to creative workflows."
The best premium monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: This luscious, ultra-sharp 5K display is pitched towards creative professionals, and it hits the mark beautifully. Its high resolution and impressive colour accuracy make it perfect for all kinds of high-end creative work, from photo-retouching to 3D modelling. It's not the brightest, and lacks built-in audio, but it knows exactly who it's built for.
Pricing: At £999.98/$1399, the BenQ PD2730S undercuts the Apple Studio Display even before you factor in that Apple makes you pay extra for accessories that come with the BenQ as standard. It's not a cheap monitor, but for most serious creative budgets it's not prohibitively expensive, and I'd say it makes for an outstanding investment if you're going to be doing a lot of creative work on your MacBook Pro.
Design and build: The impressive ergonomic flexibility of the BenQ PD2730S means it'll slot easily into pretty much any home office or studio setup. Its height is adjustable and it tilts, swivels and pivots. Our reviewer did note that the base is a little large, which could be a problem if your desk space is at a premium, but there is always the option of VESA mounting. The plastic build is lightweight without feeling cheap, and the 27-inch IPS panel itself has a Nano Matte coating to reduce reflections and glare.
Display: The luxurious 27-inch 5K screen is just brilliant. Everything looks razor sharp, and the impressive colour accuracy includes 98% of the P3 colour gamut, putting professional retouching and colour grading in play as things this monitor can be used for. It has a 60 Hz refresh rate, which is fine for creative work but isn't much good for gaming, so take note of that if you use your MacBook pro to hop from one to the other. Our reviewer's only real criticism was of the built-in speakers, which are a little weak – a problem that can easily be solved with a good pair of headphones.
Read more: BenQ PD2730S 5K Designer Monitor review
"The BenQ PD2730S has been built for creative professionals who crave an ultra-sharp display, accurate colours and plenty of connectivity."
The best Apple monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: 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. You're getting some impressive specs, and they certainly delivered that when we tested it. The most important element (image quality) is top notch; however, I wish it came with HDR.
Pricing: At around $1,500 / £1,499, this is a pricey monitor. Nano-texture glass is another $250 / £250, while a height-adjustable stand will set you back another $400 / £400.
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 you 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 (the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600, by way of comparison, offers 175Hz). 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, creatives will appreciate 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.
Read more: Apple Studio Display review
"If you’re a content creator that is fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, then we can imagine the Studio Display being a decent investment – as long as you have the cash. For other people, though, there’s better alternatives out there."
The best 8K monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: If you need the absolute pinnacle of resolution and colour accuracy, the ASUS ProArt Display PA32KCX is in a league of its own. Its 32-inch Mini-LED panel packs 32 million pixels with 4,032 local dimming zones, delivering extraordinary detail, brightness and colour reproduction. With dual Thunderbolt 4 ports offering single-cable connectivity and 96W charging, it integrates seamlessly with MacBook Pro laptops. The eye-watering price tag puts it firmly out of reach for most, but for those who need it, nothing else comes close.
Pricing: At $7,999 / £7,999, this is an investment that only makes sense for professionals whose work demands 8K resolution – think film studios, post-production houses and high-end content creators. For everyone else, there are far more affordable options on this list.
Design and build: The PA32KCX is built like a tank, as you'd expect at this price point. It's heavy at 14.1kg with stand, but the robust mount offers tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustments. A flip-up colorimeter lives in the bottom bezel for built-in calibration, and the screen plugs directly into the mains with no power brick required. The included screen shade comes in five parts and is a little fiddly to assemble, but is a one-time job. Note that the monitor has a fan cooling system that's audible in quiet environments and continues running even in standby, which is worth noting if you work in a silent studio.
Display: The Mini-LED panel is truly exceptional. With 100% P3 colour gamut coverage, 965 nits of measured SDR brightness, and 4,032 local dimming zones, it delivers brightness and contrast that rivals OLED. Dolby Vision support makes it ideal for HDR video review. You'll need a Mac with an M5, M4, M3 Pro/Max or M2 Pro/Max chip to drive 8K via HDMI 2.1 or Thunderbolt, and both macOS and Windows scale beautifully to the resolution. The built-in colorimeter works with ASUS' ProArt Calibration app to keep colours accurate over time, and the DisplayWidget Center app lets you switch between colour modes without navigating the OSD.
Read more: ASUS ProArt Display PA32KCX review
"ASUS has crammed 32 million pixels into the 32-inch Mini-LED screen. It produces excellent detail, brightness and colour, but at this price, 8K might be a step too far for many creatives who don't work for a multinational company."
The best ultrawide monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 is a premium ultrawide gaming 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 creative pros too, for tasks such as video editing, photo editing and graphic design.
Pricing: Ultrawide monitors are pricey, but I think this gaming-oriented option from Philips is surprisingly good value at just under $800 / £650.
Design and build: Sporting various shades of white, this monitor has a very distinctive design, and it's a lot more eye-catching than many of the more function-oriented displays I'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.
Read more: Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 review.
“With a relatively gentle 1800R curvature, the level of distortion becomes negligible for creative tasks such as video/photo-editing or graphic design, while retaining that immersive, enveloping sensation when watching films or playing games”
The best portable monitor for MacBook Pro
30-second review: Dual-stacked monitors aren't for everyone, but the Uperfect Delta Max Touch makes a compelling case. Its two 18.5-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen displays are connected by a beautifully engineered hinge system that folds a full 360 degrees, giving you twice the screen real estate of a traditional portable monitor in a package that weighs just 2.36kg. It lacks the colour calibration and wide gamut that some creatives will need, but if you value portability and productivity – especially for video editing timelines or multitasking across multiple apps – this is hard to beat.
Pricing: At $799.99/£590.60 (often discounted to around $599.99/£442.95), the Delta Max Touch represents strong value when you consider you're getting two touchscreen displays. That makes it an excellent investment for MacBook Pro users who need extra screen space on the go.
Design and build: The build quality is genuinely impressive. The hinge system holds the displays firmly in any position without being too stiff to adjust, and the whole unit can be operated one-handed on its included stand without toppling. It's VESA compatible for arm mounting, and Uperfect includes all the USB-C and HDMI cables you'll need. Note, though, that if your MacBook Pro doesn't have an HDMI port, though, you may need an HDMI to USB-C adaptor.
Display: The two IPS panels deliver a picture that most people will be happy with, offering 120Hz refresh rates and decent clarity for Full HD. The touchscreens are responsive and accurate right to the edges of both displays. You can arrange the screens to clone, expand, or sequence (the latter treats the two monitors as one large square display, which is particularly handy). However, the lack of a wide colour gamut and missing colour calibration tools will be a dealbreaker for creatives who need absolute colour accuracy.
Read more: Uperfect Delta Max Touch review
"The Uperfect Delta Max Touch monitor is a fantastic piece of kit. The two 18.5-inch displays provide a lot of extra screen real estate for maximising productivity across a range of creative applications."
Also tested
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.
How to choose the best monitors for MacBook Pro
To get the best monitor for MacBook Pro, there are a few 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. 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 know 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?
How we test the best monitors for MacBook Pro
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 are solely focused on what creatives need
✅ We try out every program we recommend
✅ We consult experts in video editing
✅ Long-term, real-world software testing
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.
FAQs
Is the MacBook Pro compatible with all monitors?
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 it all goes totally wrong, see our guide to how to fix a black screen on a MacBook Pro). 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.
