Although most monitors work with your MacBook, some offer a few advantages. Those with USB-C ports make it easy to connect your laptop. However, the monitor needs to support DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt to get a video signal from the MacBook over USB-C. It also needs to have enough power to charge your laptop while you're using it.
While macOS is optimized for use with monitors that have a pixel density of 110 or 220 PPI, not all monitors have exactly this. The next best alternative is to use your MacBook with any resolution you prefer, and make sure text looks sharp. There are other factors you should consider depending on your usage. For example, having good color accuracy is important for content creation, and it's good to get something with deep blacks and bright highlights if you work with HDR content.
We evaluate monitors' macOS compatibility by testing with a 2023 MacBook Pro (M2 Pro) and a 2024 MacBook Pro (M4 Max). The results are also valid for any chip and MacBook, including newer M5 models and the MacBook Neo.
We've bought and tested more than 390 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best external monitor for MacBook Pro, including the best MacBook Air monitors. Also, check out our recommendations for the best monitors for Mac mini, the best monitors for Mac Studio, and the best monitors for programming. If you're shopping for a laptop, check out the best Apple laptops and MacBooks.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best Monitor For MacBook Pro
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzNative Resolution5120 x 2880USB-C DisplayPort Alt ModeThunderboltSee all our test resultsUSB-C Power DeliveryThe best monitor for MacBook Pro is the Apple Studio Display XDR. It's a high-end 5k model that has features to take full advantage of your MacBook. This includes Thunderbolt 5 ports, which are ideal if you have the latest MacBooks that also support Thunderbolt 5. Plus, it delivers 140W of power, enough to charge even power-hungry laptops. It also supports daisy chaining to a second screen, and there are two other USB-C ports to connect your devices. As expected from Apple's flagship monitor, it has features you can use with macOS, including True Tone that syncs settings between the MacBook and the monitor.
It also looks similar to a MacBook, and you can get it with its standard glossy coating or the Nano-texture matte coating to match the coating of your MacBook. It delivers great picture quality, mainly thanks to its Mini LED backlighting. It has 2,304 dimming zones that help deepen black levels while making the monitor get bright and make highlights pop, but there's haloing around bright objects. On the plus side, it displays a wide range of colors and comes with a very accurate sRGB mode, which is ideal if you're a content creator.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzNative Resolution5120 x 2880USB-C DisplayPort Alt ModeThunderboltSee all our test resultsUSB-C Power DeliveryIf you find the Apple Studio Display XDR too expensive or you aren't going to take advantage of its high-end picture quality for editing HDR content, look into the cheaper Apple Studio Display 2026. It's another 5k option that's meant to take advantage of the latest MacBooks. However, as it's lower-end in Apple's lineup, there are some notable trade-offs. It doesn't support HDR at all and has much worse picture quality because it doesn't have any local dimming, so blacks look gray. Like the XDR, it has Thunderbolt 5 ports, including one that supports daisy chaining, but it has less power delivery, offering a max of 96W.
Besides that, it offers good picture quality in SDR as its sRGB mode is even more accurate than on the XDR. Like the higher-end model, you can also get it with a glossy or matte coating, so you can choose whether you want clearer images or less mirror-like reflections, respectively. If you want a glossy 5k monitor that costs less, you can also check out the BenQ MA270S. It even has a bigger USB hub, but it can be harder to find.
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Best Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160USB-C DisplayPort Alt ModeThunderboltSee all our test resultsUSB-C Power DeliveryIf you want a lower-cost monitor that still offers good value, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It's different from the Apple Studio Display 2026 because it's not a proprietary Apple monitor, so it lacks a few features. For example, it isn't available with a glossy coating to match your MacBook. It also takes a hit in text clarity compared to the Apple monitor because it has a lower 4k resolution, and the matte coating has some added haze. It doesn't have Thunderbolt support, but instead it supports the lower-bandwidth DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C, and it has 90W of power delivery. Plus, it has a KVM switch that's helpful if you have more than one computer connected.
The Acer is actually better than the Apple monitor for HDR. This is because it has Mini LED backlighting with an effective local dimming feature that helps improve picture quality in HDR. It displays fairly deep blacks next to bright highlights, but there's haloing around bright objects. You can only use this local dimming in SDR, though, and blacks look gray without it. You can consider the KOORUI S2741LM if you want a similar option with local dimming that works in SDR, but it has worse color accuracy.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160USB-C DisplayPort Alt ModeThunderboltSee all our test resultsUSB-C Power DeliveryIf you want to save some money without necessarily getting into the budget category, the Dell S2725QC offers solid value as a lower mid-range pick. It's especially worth getting when you can find it on sale. Like the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, it's another 4k, 27-inch option, but there are some notable differences and trade-offs in performance. For example, the Dell has much worse picture quality because it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting or any local dimming. This means blacks look gray and highlights don't pop in HDR.
That said, because you can't use the Acer's local dimming in HDR, this monitor has similar picture quality if you're just going to use it in SDR. It also has an accurate sRGB mode that helps if you're a content creator. Like the Acer, the Dell also comes with a small USB hub to connect your devices. However, it has lower power delivery over USB-C, and its 65W of power may not be enough to quickly charge higher-end MacBooks. You can also consider the cheaper and similar Dell S2725QS if you want something without any USB ports, though, but that means you'll have to connect your laptop over HDMI.
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Best Budget Monitor For MacBook Pro
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate144 HzNative Resolution2560 x 1440USB-C DisplayPort Alt ModeThunderboltSee all our test resultsUSB-C Power DeliveryIf you're looking for something on a budget, check out the Dell S2725DC. It's a step-down model and different from the Dell S2725QC as it has a lower 1440p resolution, so images and text aren't as sharp and detailed. It doesn't have HDR support either, but considering the S2725QC's limited picture quality in HDR, this doesn't make a big difference anyway. It comes with similar productivity features as the S2725QC, including an ergonomic stand and a small USB hub that has DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery.
It's even a good choice if you're a content creator. Despite not having a dedicated sRGB mode, it's accurate before calibration with minimal white balance and color inaccuracies. However, gamma tracking is on the dark side, which means you have to calibrate it to avoid this issue. Besides that, it also gets bright, which is ideal if you want to use it in a bright room, but reflections are distracting in sunny environments.
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Best Cheap Monitor For MacBook Pro
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessSize24"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate100 HzNative Resolution1920 x 1080USB-C DisplayPort Alt ModeThunderboltSee all our test resultsUSB-C Power DeliveryIf you're on a really tight budget to get a monitor after buying your new MacBook, a good alternative to the Dell S2725DC is the Dell P2425H. The main trade-off is that it has a smaller screen with a lower 1080p resolution, so images aren't as detailed, and there's less screen space to work with. However, this is what you have to expect from a cheap, entry-level monitor.
While it's a simple office monitor that offers the basics, like a wide viewing angle and a very ergonomic stand, it includes a USB hub. This helps if you want to connect your devices directly to it. It also has a USB-C port, but it doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode like the S2725DC, so you can't use this for a video connection with your MacBook. Instead, you need to connect your MacBook to it via HDMI or with a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter. Another thing to consider is that it's dimmer than the S2725DC, so it's not a good choice for use in a very bright room.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV:
The ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV is a 6k monitor that's bigger than the Apple Studio Display XDR as it has a 32-inch screen. The ASUS also has a bigger USB hub, including a KVM switch. However, it's worse for HDR because it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting.
See our review -
ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV:
The ASUS ProArt PA27JCV is a 5k monitor that's a cheaper alternative to the Apple Studio Display 2026. It has a bigger USB hub and also supports HDR, but some people may not like its aggressive matte coating.
See our review -
Dell U2725QE:
The Dell U2725QE is a 4k work monitor that has a bigger USB hub than the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, including Thunderbolt 4 support. That said, it costs more and is worse for HDR as it lacks Mini LED backlighting.
See our review -
AOC Q27G3XMN:
The AOC Q27G3XMN is a budget-friendly 1440p monitor with better picture quality than the Dell S2725DC thanks to its Mini LED backlighting. This makes it a great choice if you want to use it in HDR. However, it has fewer productivity features than the Dell.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS:
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is an entry-level 1440p model that competes with the Dell S2725DC. The ASUS has better out-of-the-box accuracy, which is useful if you're a content creator. Unfortunately, it has a smaller USB hub than the Dell.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 13, 2026:
We made several changes based on newly-released monitors. We replaced the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV and the Dell U2725QE with the Apple Studio Display XDR and the Apple Studio Display 2026, which have better MacBook compatibility. We also replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, which has better picture quality. In the Notable Mentions, we added the PA32QCV and the U2725QE.
Mar 19, 2026:
We replaced the Apple Studio Display 2022, as it's been discontinued, with the ASUS ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV. We also replaced AOC Q27G3XMN with the Dell S2725DC for consistency with other recommendations. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell U4025QW and added the Q27G3XMN.
Feb 06, 2026:
We removed the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX as it's hard to find, and we renamed the Apple Studio Display to the 'Best Monitor For MacBook Pro.' We also added the Dell S2725QC as the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro' to give another option. In the Notable Mentions, we added the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx.
Nov 10, 2025:
We replaced the Dell U3225QE with the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX because it has better picture quality. We also removed the Dell U4025QW as it doesn't fit into the scope of the article, and added the Dell U2725QE as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor For MacBook Pro.' Lastly, in the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 40WP95C-W, the Dell S2722QC, the Dell P2423D, and the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, and we added the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, the Dell S2725QC, and the U4025QW.
Jun 02, 2025:
We replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx with the Dell U3225QE, which has Thunderbolt support, and for consistency with other recommendations. We also added the Dell P2425H as the 'Best Cheap.' Lastly, we added the XV275K, the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV, and the Dell P2423D to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best external monitors for MacBook Pro and the best MacBook Air monitors. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.