The best monitors for MacBook Pro

The best monitors for MacBook Pro can help us work better and faster, providing more screen space and a more comfortable viewing experience. But which monitors are the best buys? At Creative Bloq, most of our writers pair MacBook Pros and Airs with monitors both in the office and at home, so we're well-positioned to help. 

We've reviewed and tested dozens of monitors firsthand in our search for the best MacBook Pro monitor, and we've also spent hours comparing specs and customer reviews. Based on our evaluations, we've drawn up a pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pros, and Airs, for different needs and budgets. We've compared the pros and cons of each and suggested what type of users each display is best for.

For more choices, see our guides to the best 4K monitors and best monitors for video editing. Just remember that they need to be USB-C monitors for a MacBook Pro.

Quick list

We'll start with a quick list of our top options. Click 'Read more' or scroll down to for our full guide.

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The best monitor for MacBook Pro overall

The Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q is our top pick as the best external monitor for MacBook Pro because we've found it to offer great performance and features for a fairly reasonable price. It's a 4K screen with 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.

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.

See our full Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q review for more details.

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The best budget monitor for MacBook Pro

We think the Dell monitor above is good value, but it still represents quite an investment. For a more affordable option that can still do the job for creative work, we think the ASUS ProArt PA278CV is a very reasonably priced option. It's a 1440p display, so you don't get the clarity of 4K resolution, but the colour coverage and accuracy are outstanding for this price (we tested Delta E < 2 and 100% sRGB and Rec.709).

It comes pre-calibrated out of the box, something you rarely see on cheaper displays, and it allows for easy colour adjustments, from switching between various colour gamut modes to fine-tuning all sorts of parameters to get the screen looking the way you want. There are compromises here, not least the lack of 4K resolution, but you get USB-C connectivity with 65W power delivery, which we happily used to power a MacBook. There's also a USB hub and an ergonomic stand. It's not an option for video editors or designers working with 4K footage, but for other creative work it does the job very well, and the price makes it a good option as a MacBook Pro monitor for students.

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The best premium monitor for MacBook Pro

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. At around $5,000 (not including the stand) you'd hope you're getting a good, screen, and it certainly delivered that when we tested it. 

With resolution of 6016 x 3384, it can handle many 6K formats (though not quite the 6K full-frame recording of a RED camera). Added to that is an incredible HDR peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits, with a typical brightness of 1,000 nits . There are 576 individual dimming zones for backlight control, so contrast is colossal, and we found dark areas to be well defined and blacks to be gorgeously black. 

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. You can also apply a nanotexture effect on the screen to reduce reflectivity.

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 thee USB-C ports for connecting accessories. When we tested the display, we found it hard to fault. As we said at the time, it looks slick, has a clean sharpness to the screen and is brilliant at colour reproduction.

Read our Apple Pro Display XDR review for more details.

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The best mid-range monitor for MacBook Pro

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. It's 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 found colour coverage and accuracy to be excellent if not quite up there with BenQ's pro photography monitors (see below). We also 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, which we found did the job to keep a MacBook Pro charged. 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.

Read our full BenQ DesignVue PD2706UA review for more details.

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The best monitor for photo editing on MacBook Pro

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. 

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. The additional features are the icing on the cake, but it's nice to have the shade hood and the Hotkey Puck G2, which is handy for changing colour space and to quickly access shortcuts. 

See our full BenQ SW321C PhotoVue review for more details.

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The best ultrawide monitor for MacBook Pro

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. 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. 

There's also 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. For more details, read our full Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 review.

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The best affordable 4K monitor for MacBook Pro

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. If you’re looking for something that can fullscreen Lightroom or Premiere Pro, but can’t quite stretch to a 5K screen or a monstrous curved ultrawide, then this package from Iiyama is an attractive proposition

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 one downside is that 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.

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The best MacBook Pro monitor for accuracy

It turns out that if you want the best of the best monitors for MacBook Pro, you'll need a big ol' budget – who knew? This professional monitor for video editing competes with Apple's own Pro Display (see number 3) in price, but we found it delivers for demanding professional requirements.

Resolution is DCI Cinema 4K (4096x2160) on a 31.1-inch screen. This means that you’re not just getting a lot of real estate to work on, but you're also getting the sweet spot in 4K viewing. But where the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X really stands out is in its accurate colour reproduction. 

It comes with its own colour calibration hardware, with a built-in sensor that will run regular checks to ensure what we're seeing is what we should be seeing, and with no extra effort required on our part. Eizo’s specialist software also helps you choose the colour profile you want to work with, and it has HLG HDR support for video compositing and grading, with 10-bit colour support and 98% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RBG coverage. 

This would be at the top of our list if it weren't for the price and specific features that are overkill for a lot of people. If you do need those specs, you will surely know it. See our full Eizo ColorEdge CG319X review for more details of our experience with this screen.

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The best portable monitor for MacBook Pro

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.

The manufacturers claim 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.

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.

Read our ASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH review for the full picture. 

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The best smart monitor for MacBook Pro

Including a Samsung monitor in pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pro might seem like some kind of treason, but hear us out on this one! Fans of the 24in iMac line will appreciate the Samsung M8 smart monitor. Looking at this display's sleek, iMac-esque look, minimal port selection and several colour options, it's obvious what Samsung is trying to do here: give consumers an affordable, non-all-in-one option that delivers on everything else.

Now, we do think that this monitor feels flimsier than Apple's offerings and its image quality isn't as exceptional. However, the 4K display is impressive in its own right. As we said in our review, the Samsung M8 is absolutely chock-full of features. There's USB-C connectivity with power delivery, a handy magnetic clip-on SlimFit webcam, Smart TV functionality and even an IoT hub that lets us see a map of all our smart devices and to control them directly from the monitor.

Granted, it is missing a few things one might reasonably expect from a monitor at this price, most notably an articulating stand and high-quality speakers, but if you're looking for a feature-rich external monitor that works well with your MacBook Pro, the Samsung M8 is an interesting, good-looking option to consider, especially if you have a bunch of smart device, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than any display that Apple currently offers. 

See our full Samsung M8 Smart monitor review for more details.

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How to choose the best monitors for MacBook Pro

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?

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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 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.

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FAQs

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