While all monitors in the market today work well with the MacBook Pro, those with Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C connections, wide color gamut, and high resolution deliver the best viewing experience worthy of a MacBook Pro.
Here are the best monitors for the MacBook Pro available right now.
Q: Which Monitors Work Well With MacBook Pro?
While the latest (and pricier) MacBook Pro models come with HDMI connectivity, monitors with USB-C or Thunderbolt ports work well with the MacBook Pro because they allow for a seamless single-cable connection.
There is a lot to love about this monitor. The Nano IPS panel with 98 percent DCI-P3 coverage produces rich and accurate colors to match the display of your MacBook Pro, and it has a 3840x1600 resolution for improved text clarity. In addition, the VESA DisplayHDR 600 makes watching movies and gaming much more immersive.
This monitor doesn’t skimp when it comes to ports either. Thunderbolt 3 connectivity allows you to connect and charge your MacBook using a single cable, which helps reduce cable clutter for a clean and professional setup. You also get two HDMI ports for use with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Throw in support for a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium Pro, and G-Sync compatibility, and you get an ultrawide monitor that can handle just about anything.
The design of this monitor is fantastic. It has super slim bezels, an anti-glare surface that looks amazing in bright and dark rooms, and zero branding, which means fewer distractions. The stand is rock solid with metal construction and a finish that matches the latest MacBooks.
You get two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one with 85W PD for connecting and charging your MacBook Pro and the other for peripherals or daisy-chaining a second monitor. At 32 inches, the 4K resolution produces sharp and crisper images. It uses a true 10-bit panel for strong color reproduction that meets the needs of professional designers and creators. In addition, it comes factory calibrated (Calman and Pantone verified) so that colors and images look accurate out of the box.
Depending on your workflow, you can choose from the many color modes, including Display P3, DCI-P3, sRGB, and Animation. With all things considered, the BenQ PD3220U is the best external monitor for the MacBook Pro.
This monitor works well with the MacBook Pro. The 4K resolution at 27 inches makes it one of the sharpest monitors available. You can use it for everyday office work and productivity, including photo and video editing. It gets bright enough to make highlights pop in HDR, and the picture remains excellent in bright and open office settings.
LG monitors have always had these fantastic designs, and the 27UN850-W is no different. It comes with black bezels and a matte white back that should look good in any office environment. Plus, the space gray stand blends well with the MacBook Pro and other products in the Apple ecosystem. The stand is fully ergonomic, so you can raise, lower, rotate, or tilt the screen to find the perfect viewing angles.
The only downside is that this model will only charge the M1 MacBook Pro at full-speed, but you’ll need a separate charger for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
The PA329CV isn’t cheap, but it offers a better bang for your buck than the BenQ PD3220U and the new Studio Display from Apple. With multiple color modes to choose from, including DCI-P3, sRGB, and Rec. 709, this monitor meets the needs of most creators and designers. The 32-inch 4K screen provides tons of real estate to organize your media browser and timelines or fire up multiple programs for multitasking.
This monitor connects to your MacBook Pro via USB-C and also provides power for charging. It can power the 13-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro while running full throttle, so you don’t need to connect extra cables. The built-in USB hub adds four USB-A ports to your MacBook to connect legacy USB devices and peripherals. Overall, the ProArt Display PA329CV is an excellent monitor to pair with the MacBook Pro if you need high color accuracy at a friendly price.
This monitor uses a Nano IPS panel from LG, and it displays a very wide color gamut. It reaches up to 98 percent of the industry-standard DCI-P3, meaning colors look vibrant and accurate, and you can use it for any professional creative task. There is DisplayHDR 600 to make everything pop when creating or watching content.
The Prestige PS341WU offers valuable tools to take full advantage of the expansive screen. You can split the screen to work with multiple programs simultaneously or view content from your MacBook and another PC to optimize your workflow. The only complaint is the lack of USB-C charging. Otherwise, it’s a suitable monitor for the MacBook Pro, and it supports the full 5120x2160 resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate via USB-C.
While primarily built for gaming, this monitor works great with the MacBook Pro. It has an incredibly sharp display and accurate colors, with 90 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It also accepts HDR signals and can output a decent HDR picture, but unfortunately, it doesn’t get bright enough to deliver the best experience. Still, it’s a proper display for everyday office work, gaming, watching movies, and editing photos.
You’ll like the clean and minimal design of this monitor, which makes it blends well in a professional setup. There is no RGB lighting or aggressive curves, just a simple black panel with thin bezels and a slim stand. The stand is fully ergonomic, allowing for tilt, swivel, raise, or rotation adjustments. Overall, if you’re a Mac user and gamer, the Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx will let you enjoy the best of both worlds.
The VG1655 connects via USB-C or HDMI and adds a second screen to your MacBook Pro that you can use like any other external monitor. The 1080p resolution produces sharp images and crisper text at 15.6 inches, and it’s bright, too, so you won’t have any problems reading text or content on the screen.
The whole device is well-built and doesn’t look cheap next to your MacBook Pro. It comes with a built-in kickstand that allows portrait and horizontal orientation. It is also incredibly lightweight, so it won’t weigh you down when traveling. Like most portable monitors, the VG1655 draws power from the connected laptop, but you can also plug it into a power source using its second USB-C port, which also allows you to charge your MacBook Pro at the same.
Overall, the ViewSonic VG1655 provides a cost-effective way to add an external monitor to your MacBook Pro and can significantly improve your workflow when traveling.
You can connect your MacBook Pro to an external monitor and charge it at the same time using the same cable. It is also much more convenient to unplug one cable than a couple more when it’s time to go.
Q: Do All Monitors Work With MacBook Pro?
All modern monitors work with the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro supports external displays through Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI (for the latest 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models), meaning any monitor, projector, or HDTV in the market today can work the MacBook Pro, either through a direct connection or display adapters.
Q: Which Monitor Resolution Is Best for MacBook Pro?
One of the reasons the MacBook Pros have such a brilliant display is higher resolution, which results in a higher PPI. Generally, the higher the PPI (Pixels Per Inch), the sharper and better the display.
A 4K (3840x2160) monitor resolution is the best for MacBook Pro because it produces a sharp and detailed picture at 24 inches, 27 inches, and even 32 inches. However, suppose you want the image quality to be as sharp as the MacBook Pro. In that case, you’ll need a monitor with a 5K resolution or higher like the new Apple Studio Display, although these are often expensive.
Q: Can I Use a Non-Apple Monitor With My MacBook Pro?
You can use any non-Apple monitor with your MacBook Pro to mirror or extend the display of your MacBook.
However, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 chip supports only one external display, but you can use up to two external monitors with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
