10 Best Monitors for MacBook Pro 2020

Last year, Apple finally cut the strings on its Thunderbolt Displays, recommending users to choose from the multitude of external displays available from third party manufacturers. We have no reason to complain; there are definitely a lot of high-quality options out there for you to choose from which means that finding the best monitor for MacBook Pro is still easy!

The only problem is finding the right one for your needs and budget, as well as understanding all of the differences between each monitor.

To keep things simple for you, we will provide you with a list of the best monitors and provide you with some useful shopping info that will make choosing one a breeze.

Things to Consider About Monitors for MacBook Pro

Like we said, getting a MacBook monitor from third party manufacturer opens up exciting choices, but more choices lead to more confusion. Read these tips to make your journey simpler:

  • 4K and Quad HD Isn’t for Everyone. That’s 4K and Quad HD displays are not supported by every MacBook Pro that Apple sells. You can check that by simply looking up the version number of your Thunderbolt ports. Anything from and above 2.0 will work, but if you have a MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 1.0, not so much.

We have some awesome displays for you too, and you know what they say, you can’t miss what you never had!

  • You Get to Choose What Feature You Want. This is what it means to be in control of your destiny! When you choose from third party manufacturers, anything is up for grabs. 1080p, 4k or even 5k displays. 20” small or 40” big. Monitors with 90° rotation or wall mounting capabilities. Monitors with a touchscreen or ultra-wide displays. You choose what features you want to play with!

Top 10 Monitors for MacBook Pro Table

PictureNameTypePriceRating (1-5)
Picture
Name
Type
Price
Rating (1-5)
1. LG 27UD58-B 27-Inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor with FreeSync4K$$4.6
2. HP Pavilion 21.5-Inch IPS LED HDMI VGA Monitor & AmazonBasics Mini DisplayPortFull HD$4.5
3. ViewSonic VX2478-SMHD 24" IPS WQHD 1440p Frameless LED Monitor HDMI, DisplayPort Wide Quad HD$$4.5
4. LG 34UC98-W 34-Inch 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD IPS Monitor with ThunderboltWide Quad HD$$$$4.4
5. ASUS Designo MX27AQ 27 Inches 2K WQHD 2560x1440 Monitor Wide Quad HD$$$4.3
6. Dell Ultrasharp U2417HJ 23.8" Screen LCD Monitor with Wireless Charging StandFull HD$$4.3
7. BenQ 27-inch IPS Quad High Definition LED Monitor (SW2700PT), Adobe RGB Color ManagementQuad HD$$$4.3
8. Samsung CF791 Series 34-Inch Curved Widescreen Monitor (C34F791) Wide Quad HD$$$$4.2
9. ASUS PB328Q 32" WQHD 2560x1440 4ms DisplayPort HDMI DVI Eye Care MonitorWide Quad HD$$$4.0
10. Dell UltraSharp U2913WM 29-Inch Ultra Widescreen LED-Lit MonitorWide Full HD$$4.0

How to Choose the Perfect MacBook Pro Monitor

To choose the best monitor for MacBook Pro, there are three basic things you should keep in mind: how much space you have, what your work demands and what kind of entertainment you consume.

  • Do You Have the Space? Since you’re purchasing this monitor as a secondary display in addition to your MacBook, chances are you might not have much So, keep in mind that a 22-inch 1080p monitor will fit most places comfortably, but anything above 27 inches may take more space than you think.
  • What Kind of Work Do You Do. See what features your professional work demands. Are you a graphics designer or movie editor? Then you’ll probably need a high-quality 4k display with accurate color rendering. If you’re a DJ or music producer, you will need an ultrawide display so you can see all aspects of your DAW software easily. If you’re a writer or programmer, a simple 1080p widescreen display will do.
  • What Kind of Entertainment Junkie Are You? There are some things you might want to get for the sake of fun! Are you one of those people who want to stream Netflix in 4k? Maybe you’re a gamer and would also like to hook up your monitor to your gaming rig or console? Then I have only one thing to say to you: 144Mhz Refresh Rate and 4K Display for the win!

Top 3 Best Monitor for MacBook Pro Reviews

1. LG 27UD58-B 27-Inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor

This is the best entry level 4k 3840 x 2160 display for your MacBook Pro. It is a 27” display with extremely accurate color reproduction and has wide viewing angles. The star of the show is LG’s on-screen split-screen control; this allows you to accurately divide your display for running up to four applications at once, giving you superior multitasking capabilities.

It also has the incredibly awesome ‘freesync’ feature which gives incredible fluidity and eliminates lag should you wish to connect this monitor to your gaming rig or PS4 pro. All in all, this is the best monitor for MacBook Pro giving users the best value for the money.

2. HP Pavilion Monitor & AmazonBasics Mini DisplayPort

If your MacBook Pro doesn’t support a 4K display or you just don’t want one, fear not. There are plenty of options for you to choose from and this one is the most beautiful, highest quality monitor we’ve found that won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

It’s a simple 21.5” 1080p monitor with good (but not great) viewing angles, but the display quality is top-notch. While we don’t recommend this for people who need accurate color reproduction like designers, this is perfect for those looking to go office work like writing or programming.

It doesn’t take a lot of space and will be the perfect low-cost secondary display for your already expensive MacBook Pro and will serve you admirably for the days to come.

3. ViewSonic VX2478-SMHD Frameless LED Monitor

ViewSonic has created an incredibly competent 1440p monitor for your MacBook Pro. It’s a 24” 2560×1440 display with highly accurate colors, smooth refresh rate, and wide viewing angles.

The bezels on this display are really small, and the IPS display gives amazing, crisp colors make watching Netflix and playing games a joy. Also, the large 24” display is easy on the eyes, making the work you do less strenuous.

Plus, the display comes with a DisplayPort cable so you can get started instantly. The addition of speakers, which are OK, are also a nice bonus; this makes the monitor one of the best secondary displays you can get for your MacBook Pro!