Best Products Computer Components The 5 Best Monitors for MacBook Pros in 2020 Find the perfect monitor for your workstation by Patrick Hyde Writer Patrick Hyde has 4+ years' experience writing about consumer technology and electronics. His work has appeared in Los Angeles Review of Books, Reactual, and more. our editorial process Patrick Hyde Updated on November 20, 2020 Computer Components Monitors Keyboards Mice Cards CPU USB/USB-C Storage Laptop Bags & Backpacks Printers View More Tweet Share Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. The Rundown Best Overall: BenQ 709 PD3200U at B&H Photo Video "The best option on the market to pair with a MacBook Pro." Best for Multitasking: LG 34WL850-W at B&H Photo Video "The perfect display for a home office or any productivity applications." Best for Design Professionals: Viewsonic VP3268 at Amazon "This huge 32-inch frameless ultra-wide 4K monitor delivers lifelike colors." Best for Gamers: LG 27UK850-W at Amazon "Its clear and detailed 4K Ultra HD resolution looks fantastic from even inches away." Best Ultrawide: Dell UltraSharp U3415W at EBay "For a huge screen space that offers plenty of multitasking, Dell has the solution." With most of us working from home and using our Mac laptops as ad-hoc workstations, having one of the best monitors for MacBooks is more valuable than ever. While ideally, you'd want something like the 34-inch LG 34WL850-W at B&H to work on, investing in something as modest as a 24-inch monitor like the Dell P2415Q at Amazon can provide some generous dividends by not restricting your work to a meager 17-inch panel. Most monitors also come with built-in adjustable stands to help get the angle you want, but you can also mount them to a monitor arm if they're VESA-compatible. Also, if ergonomic designs are your ideal, make sure to have an ergonomic keyboard and ergonomic mouse to match. Our top pick with all the features is the BenQ 709 PD3200U at Amazon. It's a 32-inch 4K monitor that pairs excellently with a MacBook Pro. It has incredible color reproduction making it a great option for graphic designers and a fast response time. It also boasts a number of enhancements to limit eye strain. To get the most out of your monitor, make sure to read our definitive guide on computer monitor how-tos and tips. But if you're ready to dive right in, our collection of the best monitors for MacBook Pros are awaiting you below. Best Overall: BenQ 709 PD3200U 32-inch 4K UHD Monitor 3.8 Buy on B&H Photo Video Buy on Adorama.com What We Like IPS screen Wide viewing angles and fast response time Easy to adjust What We Don't Like Somewhat expensive The BenQ PD3200U 32-inch 4K designer monitor is the best option on the market to pair with a MacBook Pro. This award-winning monitor was built with advanced IPS technology so that all types of professionals can work confidently in 100 percent sRGB and Rec.709 color spaces with brilliant color, wide viewing angle and 4ms response time when viewing pictures or videos. The BenQ monitor’s dual view function allows you to work in two separate modes at once such as sRGB, CAD/CAM, animation display mode or Darkroom mode without needing two screens. This monitor even has low blue light and flicker-free technology to reduce eyestrain – essential for professionals who look at screens during long work days or gamers who play well into the night. With adjustments available for height, tilt, pivot, stroke and swivel, this monitor can be comfortably fine-tuned for any user – plus the smart screen orientation detector will automatically transpose your screen contents so you can view them correctly with no extra effort. BenQ PD3200U DesignVue 32-inch 4K IPS Monitor Review Best for Multitasking: LG 34WL850-W Ultrawide Monitor Buy on B&H Photo Video Buy on Abt.com Buy on Adorama.com What We Like Large ultrawide screen Thunderbolt 3.0 input/output ports Great colors Useful software features What We Don't Like Expensive The LG 34LW850-W 34-Inch 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD Nano IPS Monitor blends great picture and features that make it a great option for any MacBook Pro owner. Equipped with Thunderbolt 3.0 input/output ports, this monitor allows you to transfer data from compatible devices with incredible speeds far superior to USB 2.0. The Nano part of the panel description means that it can produce an even broader color space than traditional IPS, resulting in brilliant, accurate colors. Apart from the cool included ports, the monitor itself has some fantastic features including OnScreen control, which allows you to make quick adjustments to screen configurations and display settings in just a few moves so you can create custom workstations. A fun-to-use Screen Split feature includes a handy picture-in-picture mode for multi-tasking. If you crave color accuracy, you know sRGB is the standard color space of ideal color reproduction. Providing over 99 percent coverage of the sRGB spectrum, this LG monitor is a great choice for photographers, designers, event planners or anyone else who needs their colors to be on point. Best of all, this monitor has a fully ergonomic design to make viewing pain-free. Adjust the height and tilt of the display to provide the best user experience for every person in the family or at the office. Previous version: LG34UC98-W Best for Design Professionals: Viewsonic VP3268-4K Frameless 4K Monitor Buy on Amazon Buy on Best Buy Buy on B&H Photo Video What We Like 4K resolution Great color accuracy Supports hardware calibration Minimal bezels What We Don't Like Not the best option for games If you’re a design professional, you need a monitor that can live up to your exacting standards. The View Sonic VP3268 4K monitor won’t let you down. This huge 32-inch frameless ultra-wide 4K monitor delivers lifelike colors and nearly perfect color accuracy ideal for graphic design, photography, or video. With screen-wide sRGB color uniformity and 4.39 trillion colors, you'll always make the right choice and never have to worry about color inconsistency no matter what part of the monitor you are viewing. The four-sided ultra-thin bezel minimizes distractions and is especially handy when working with more than one monitor. Hardware calibration is also available with the optional ViewSonic Colorbration Kit, which allows you to calibrate the monitor based on the type of work you are doing. It even comes with an advanced ergonomic design and an industry-leading three-year warranty so you can have peace of mind and body when making this purchase. Best for Gamers: LG 27UK850-W Monitor 5 Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on B&H Photo Video What We Like 4K resolution Reasonable price Great color reproduction Good black levels Supports USB-C What We Don't Like No Thunderbolt Coming in at under $600, the LG 4K UHD 27UD88-W 27-inch LED-lit monitor is a great value for the price. Though less expensive than other options, its clear and detailed 4K Ultra HD resolution looks fantastic from even inches away. It maintains color consistency with sRGB coverage over 99 percent so you never have to worry about inaccurate color when creating presentations, editing photos or designing your own graphics. The USB Type-C port lets you display stunning 4K video, transfer data and charge a laptop or mobile device all from the same place. Are you a gamer that plays a lot of games including dark scenes? LG's Black Stabilizer is perfect for you – it senses darkness and helps make it brighter giving you an edge when trying to spot clues or enemies in the dark. In fact, this monitor comes with three modes for gamers - two for first-person shooters and an RTS pre-set – for optimized gaming conditions no matter what you’re currently playing. 9 Best Macbook Pros of 2020 Best Ultrawide: Dell UltraSharp U3415W Buy on EBay Buy on Adorama.com What We Like Ultrawide high-resolution display Great color reproduction 5-year warranty Plenty of ports What We Don't Like On the more expensive side The Dell UltraSharp U3415W isn't the newest monitor from Dell, but it's one of the best for MacBook users craving a big screen for multitasking and productivity. You get a 34-inch curved ultrawide screen that gives you excellent viewing angles due to the IPS screen technology. Colors are well-calibrated out of the box and extremely accurate making this screen a good option for video and photo editing. Installing the Dell Display manager program that comes as a CD or downloads directly from the Dell website allows you to split the screen up into multiple boxes of different sizes, taking your multitasking to the next level. Refresh rate is 60Hz, so it's not the best choice for gaming, but the 3440x1440 screen looks crisp regardless of use case. Dell panels are noted for their quality, and this one is no exception. It comes with a five-year warranty which is two years longer than most manufacturers. Available port options are MHL, HDMI, DisplayPort in, mini DisplayPort in, DisplayPort out, Audio line out, USB upstream, and USB downstream. "For excellent viewing angles, accurate colors, and the easy screen management software, the U3415W is one of the best monitors you can get in terms of productivity." — Ajay Kumar, Tech Editor Final Verdict The best monitor to get for the MacBook Pro is the BenQ 709 PD3200U at Amazon. It's an excellent 4K IPS monitor with 100 percent sRGB, giving it amazing color reproduction and accuracy. It uses a number of technologies like low blue light and flicker-free to reduce eyestrain and has a dual view function to let you use it in two separate modes at once. For multitaskers, we like the LG 34WL850-W. It has great viewing angles, broad color range, and Thunderbolt 3.0 ports. About Our Trusted Experts Ajay Kumar is Tech Editor at Lifewire and comes with nearly a decade of experience in reviewing consumer electronics. He's reviewed hundred of products from laptops, tablets, phones, and monitors. He personally uses the Dell U3415W together with a MacBook Pro as his home workstation. What to Look for in Monitors for MacBook Pros Screen size - Your decision to add a monitor to your MacBook Pro is likely driven by a need for a larger screen. Most models come in a variety of sizes, often ranging from 23 inches to 34 inches and up (measured diagonally). Picture quality - A standard monitor will have a resolution of around 1920 x 1080 pixels. For an even more vivid viewing experience, look for a monitor with 4K Ultra HD resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels). Another factor that will contribute to stellar picture quality is color accuracy, which is especially important for designers. sRGB is the standard color space of ideal color reproduction, and the best monitors will have coverage over 99%. Design - The design of a monitor takes into account material, color, ergonomics, and build, among other things. Some have a wider footprint, while some are designed specifically to save space on your desk. Some designs are fixed, while others can tilt for a better viewing experience. Some even incorporate a curved screen. The best design is entirely based on your personal preference.