The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best all-in-one
3. Best from Apple
4. Best 6K
5. Best premium
FAQs
How to choose
How we test
Depending on how you use them, the best monitors for the Apple MacBook Pro make for the best MacBook Pro experiences.
With a second screen to complement your Apple laptop, workflows become faster, you have more screen real estate for all your apps and tabs. But there are a few key features to look out for. The most obvious is USB-C or Thunderbolt connectivity with power delivery. These will allow you to connect your MacBook Pro to any of the best business monitors and keep it charged with a single cable. You can also use that single cable as a dock, with various devices hooked up to the monitor itself, like a keyboard, mouse, and external storage.
Our team of expert reviewers have put the best monitors for MacBook Pro to the test. Since MacOS makes good use of higher resolutions and increased pixel density, we've checked for high quality panels and excellent colour coverage. We've also compared the precision, accuracy, connectivity options for each monitor. As part of our rigorous review process, the team even analyzed the best monitors for the Mac mini for when you're deep in the Apple ecosystem.
The quick list
BenQ's 32-inch 4K monitor ticks so many boxes. The 4K resolution ensures decent pixel density and sharp font rendering. There's full Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, including display daisy chaining. And it's a beautifully built display with 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut.
At little more than a third the cost of Apple's Studio Display, you don't miss out on much with Dell's 27 incher. The 4K resolution ensures decent pixel density, while the USB-C connectivity with device charging enables slick single-cable docking support with charging.
It's not cheap, but the Apple Studio Display is so well optimised for the MacBook Pro. The 27-inch 5K IPS panel delivers Retina-style pixel density for uber-crisp fonts. There's also an outstanding webcam, excellent speakers, Thunderbolt 3 and a trio of USB-C ports.
The best monitor for the MacBook Pro in 2023
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Best monitor for MacBook Pro overall
✅ You want a great all-round premium monitor: BenQ has nailed it with this 32-inch 4K beauty. The image quality is super, the build quality and design are superb and the connectivity has you covered. It's the perfect panel for your Macbook Pro.
✅ You want single-cable docking capability: Thanks to Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery and plenty of ports, you can hook up your MacBook Pro with a single cable, keep it charged and connect peripherals like external storage.
✅ You want a great looking display: And we're not just talking about image quality. With its slim-bezel styling and Space Grey-style colourway, this is the perfect partner for your MacBook Pro.
❌ You need something seriously punchy: This monitor's main weakness is brightness. It only goes to 300 nits. To be clear, that's plenty for most workflows and needs. But if you need something seriously bright, this monitor isn't the best choice.
❌ You're after a true HDR monitor: The BenQ DesignVue PD3220U does have HDR10 support. But it's only the most basic kind that allows for correct HDR colour rendering. This monitor can't actually display HDR visuals.
❌ You're on a really tight budget: For what you get, the BenQ DesignVue PD3220U is reasonably priced. But it's still a lot of money and the Dell U2723QE offers a similar solution in a smaller package for way less money.
🖥 The BenQ DesignVue PD3220U is a fabulous all-round monitor that makes for a perfect fit with the MacBook Pro. The 4K panel delivers sharp, accurate image quality, the connectivity is great and it's even styled sympathetically to suit Apple laptops.. ★★★★★
What you need to know
BenQ's DesignVue PD3220U is getting on a bit these days. In technical terms, you could even argue it's a little dated. After all, it's not some fancy pants new OLED panel. It doesn't even support local dimming or true HDR capability. But it's still a damn fine display and one that suits the MacBook Pro perfectly, both in technical terms and aesthetically.
Design and Build Quality: The BenQ DesignVue PD3220U is a perfect fit with your MacBook Pro when it comes to design and build quality. The minimalist slim-bezel design is very "Apple" with its Space Grey-style colourway. Moreover, the PD3220U is relatively unusual in having consistent bezel width on all four sides of its IPS panel. That makes for a pleasing premium look.
Connectivity is another strong point. Up front and centre is Thunderbolt 3 connectivity with 85W of power delivery, plus both USB-C and a trio of USB-A ports. That means you can hook up your MacBook, drive the display, keep everything charged and also dock peripherals like external storage, all with one cable.
But it gets better. Unlike the official Apple Studio Display, the BenQ DesignVue PD3220U makes full use of Thunderbolt 3's daisy chaining capability courtesy of a second Thunderbolt 3 downstream port. So you could buy two of these monitors and connect to them with a single cable. Yes that includes retaining all the other single-cable docking and charging functionality. That would be one awesome pro-level MacBook display solution.
Performance: First up is the PD3220U's 32-inch panel. It's a quality IPS item with full 4K resolution. At 140DPI, it doesn't offer true Retina-style pixel density. But it still serves up nice, crisp fonts and plenty of image detail. Likewise, the 32-inch diagonal makes for ample physical screen real estate.
There's plenty of precision on offer, too, with 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 digital cinema gamut. Granted, with no local dimming and only 300 nits peak brightness, this isn't remotely a true HDR display. But it can process an HDR10 signal and render HDR colours correctly. So there is basic HDR support, which can be handy for some workflows. Even better, the DesignVue PD3220U comes factory calibrated and there's a Mac-specific M-Book mode that synchronises colours profiles between the display and a connected MacBook Pro at the clock of a few buttons.
Value for money: As for what you miss out on for the price, well, there's no webcam or microphone array and the built-in stereo speakers are nothing on the Apple Studio Display's sextet of drivers. In truth, the PD3220U's speakers are best viewed as backups only to be used in emergencies. But then the Apple Studio Display costs at least 50% more. It's over double the price if you spec Apple's pricey height-adjustable stand and the optional anti-glare coating.
And, of course, the Apple's panel is much smaller. All told, the BenQ DesignVue PD3220U makes better compromises and offers superior value. It's a really slick and effective screen that suits the MacBook Pro perfectly.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It's not cheap but it is a very strong overall package | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | The features and design are a perfect match for MacBook | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | It's not the brightest, but it is otherwise a peach of a panel | ★★★★☆ |
Best all-in-one monitor for the Macbook Pro
✅ You want a full-featured monitor: Dell's 4K 27 incher has it all. You get a superb 4K IPS panel, fantastic features including comprehensive connectivity, plus slick slim-bezel styling. It really is a great package.
✅ You appreciate single-cable connectivity: USB-C with power delivery enables not only standard single-cable connectivity but also next-level docking thanks to daisy chaining support, a KVM switch and an ethernet port.
✅ You want a high-DPI monitor: At 163DPI, this Dell doesn't quite achieve Retina levels of pixel density. But by any normal standard, it is extremely sharp and delivers very crisp fonts in MacOS and plenty of image detail.
❌ You want a really big display: 27 inches isn't tiny. But it doesn't make for a huge amount of desktop real estate. A 32-inch 4K monitor would be a better choice if you appreciate the ergonomics of a larger screen.
❌ You need true HDR support: The U2723QE does offer basic Vesa DisplayHDR 400 support. But there's no local dimming and the peak brightness is just 400 nits, so this monitor doesn't deliver a true HDR experience.
❌ You appreciate lush build quality: The slim-bezel design is fairly slick. Just don't expect lush Apple-style all-metal construction. This monitor is mostly made from plastic and it doesn't feel hugely high quality.
🖥 The Dell UltraSharp U2723QE Monitor is a fantastic all rounder. The 4K 27-inch panel is pin sharp, the connectivity options are utterly comprehensive and the silm-bezel design looks slick, too. It's a fantastic screen to use with a MacBook Pro. ★★★★½
What you need to know
Looking for a monitor that gives you most of the day-to-day viewing experience of Apple's pricey Studio Display for around one third the cost? Try the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE. It offers the same 27-inch form factor and single-cable connectivity for so much less cash.
Of course, with the huge savings come a few compromises. Most obviously, this is a 4K rather than 5K display. Consequently, the pixel density clocks in at around 163DPI, quite a bit lower than the Studio Display's 218DPI. The thing is, there's definitely a case to be made for diminishing returns when it comes to desktop display pixel density.
Design and Build Quality: As standard, you get not only a stand with tilt and height adjustment, but also swivel and even rotate into portrait mode. Apple charges you $400 / £400 just to add height to the Studio display's standard tilt-only arrangement. The Dell's slim-bezel design is very slick, too, and compliments the MacBook Pro's sleek lines well.
Then there's the U2723QE's excellent connectivity. USB-C with a decent level of power delivery to keep your MacBook Pro charged is a given, we wouldn't recommend a monitor for the MacBook Pro without it. But the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE ups the ante with display daisy chaining support, enabling you to connect to dual monitors with a single cable. And, yes, that includes dual 4K monitors. What's more, the U2723QE also has an integrated KVM switch, making it quick and simple to share this monitor with your MacBook Pro and maybe a work PC, and also networking support thanks to the integrated LAN port.
Performance: For sure, the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE delivers very sharp font rendering in MacOS and oodles of image detail. Is the Studio Display sharper and even more detailed? Yup. But the gap isn't nearly enough to justify the yawning price premium. Indeed, this Dell can do things the Apple display can't, most notably it's Vesa DisplayHDR 400 certified. OK, that's only entry-level HDR support. But it can be handy in a pinch for some workflows to have at least rudimentary HDR capability.
As if all that wasn't enough, this monitor stands out for its excellent image quality. It doesn't just offer any old IPS panel but LG's latest IPS Black technology with twice the contrast of most equivalent displays, including the Apple Studio Display. Dell also rates the panel at 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 digital cinema gamut, which is a very decent performance given the relatively reasonable price point.
Value for money: Ultimately it's an awfully close run thing between this display and the BenQ DesignVue PD3220U for overall honours as a MacBook Pro monitor. This Dell is clearly better value and offers a fantastic feature set. It's only really the BenQ's larger panel size, which makes for more day-to-day elbow room, and Mac-optimised colour profiles that swing it. But it's a marginal call and you could easily make the case for this not just being a great value option for the MacBook Pro, but the best choice, period.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | For the money, the feature set and performance is fantastic | ★★★★★ |
| Design | The build quality is mediocre but the styling is slick | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | The 4K panel delivers accurate, pin-sharp image quality | ★★★★★ |