8 monitors to take your MacBook Pro to the next level

Your MacBook Pro has probably served you well, but its screen is only so big. 

If you want to beef up your display real estate, a quick Google search brings up dozens upon dozens of external monitors, which can broadcast your MacBook Pro screen in dimensions and qualities of every shape and size. But which one is right for you?

No need to scour the reviews: We’ve scoured them for you, and picked out the best ones. 

Apple partnered with LG to create these monitors, which the Korean electronics giant unveiled in late October 2016. While you may know LG for its notch-less Android phones or massive smart TVs, it also makes some of the first monitors tailor-made for MacBook Pro. 

Today, LG’s 27MD5KA-B 27-inch 5K LED monitor remains one of the top monitors around, and one of the only ones with a 5K display. It has one of the largest displays you’ll find, with a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution — 218 pixels per inch. 

It also has a Thunderbolt 3 port, which will allow you to simultaneously charge and transfer data from your MacBook Pro and has more power than a regular USB-C port. It’s a true multitasker, coming equipped with three additional USB-C ports as well as built-in cameras, microphone, and speakers. 

If you can’t decide what to do, don’t worry: You can split the screen into two or four frames to do multiple things at once.

LG also makes a smaller 21.5-inch 4K monitor, and we’re big fans. This bad boy has the same ports as its big brother, as well as the built-in speakers, minus the camera and microphone. The resolution (4,096 x 2,304) is slightly worse, but still blows most monitors out of the water. 

$1,299 and $699, respectively, are big bucks to drop on monitors. But if you’re looking for excellent picture quality, it’s worth the price.

Runner up: BenQ PD3200U

This monitor measures 32 inches diagonally — one of the the largest monitors you’ll find — and for $800, its 4K resolution will make for a great picture. You might feel like you’re working on a TV screen, but you’ll be able to fit all the tabs and windows your heart desires. 

It’s equipped with BenQ’s proprietary eye-care technology which aims to reduce flickering and dampen blue light. This will theoretically reduce the strain on your eyes, helpful if you’re staring at your screen for long periods of time. 

It also has a 4-millisecond response time, so for gamers, this is one of the best options. 

Okay, this isn’t actually a monitor, but have you ever tried traveling with one of those things? They’re heavy, bulky, fragile — and a pain to set up in a coffee shop or on a plane. 

With a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, and the $9.99 Duet Display app, you can turn an iPad Pro into a monitor for easy work. And if you’re using iWork, you can easily continue your work on your tablet. 

Your iPad won’t offer the same area or resolution a larger monitor will, but it’ll still give you a second screen to help with work while on the go. And if you have a 12-inch MacBook Pro, an adjacent iPad more than doubles the size of your display.

And hey, it’s not every day you get to tap and swipe your way around MacOS. 

If you have a crowded desk, Lenovo’s LI2364d is, at 23 inches, a compact, slim device that won’t take up much space. It also comes with a thin stand that you can easily adjust to your preference — plus it’s way easier to tilt this monitor than it is most others. 

The screen is naturally anti-glare, so when it comes to bright days in the office, it’ll be less of a pain to look at than some of its bulkier competitors. 

It also barely has bezels, so if you want to be the really cool kid in your office, you can place two side by side to get a mega-screen. 

But the best part is that it’s super easy to assemble: Unlike many larger monitors that require a jumble of wires, just plug this one in and you’re good to go.

Runner up: LG 27UD88-W

Unlike many top monitors that are black and bulky, this monitor is gorgeous. It’s thin, nearly bezelless, and more futuristic-looking than its competitors. It’ll blend right into your desk, which is hard to find at a $699 price point. 

This 27-inch monitor is also ideal for multitaskers: It supports 14 split-screen layouts, including the picture-in-picture that Samsung’s features. And with a 3,840 x 2,160 4K display, you’ll see a clear and accurate picture of your photos, videos, or games. 

You won’t get the resolution or performance that you’ll get from the more expensive UltraFine monitor, but the 27UD88-W is still a solid pick for its price, and the form factor is still great.

If you’re on a budget: Acer H277HU

The Acer H277HU is a sub-4K 2,560 x 1,440 screen, so the pixels won’t dazzle you compared to those of its more expensive competitors. But for only $444.29, it’s one of the best deals you’ll find for a solid monitor. And it’s almost bezelless, which some users will take over a 4K screen. 

If you’re willing to compromise on the resolution, however, this monitor offers a ton of ports compared to others at this price. It features a USB-C connector for your MacBook Pro, in addition to a DisplayPort interface for older Macs, two USB ports for iPhone, iPad, or mouse, and an HDMI port for gaming consoles or even set-top boxes. 

The H277HU also has a 4-millisecond response time, like the BenQ, making it a solid gaming option.

Runner up: Samsung UE590 

One of Best Buy’s top sellers, Samsung’s $369.99 monitor natively supports a picture-in-picture split-screen mode, which makes it easy to browse the internet or do work while watching Netflix in the background. 

There are two HDMI ports, meaning you could feasibly connect a PC and a gaming console at the same time. We’ve never tried playing Smash and Minecraft simultaneously, but if that’s your bag, the UE590 is the monitor for you. 

But image and definition are what really make this monitor good. With 3,840 x 2,160 resolution and a contrast that the company claims can display over a billion colors, you’ll see a very detailed and realistic picture. And there’s a built-in button to switch to “eye-saver mode,” to reduce blue light and, consequently, eye strain.