There’s one drawback to having access to a high-end MacBook Pro with a Liquid Retina display. And it’s this: if ever a time comes to add a second display, it’s going to be found wanting when put next to the vibrant 3024×1964 native resolution visuals that pop with authentic color accuracy on that M4 Pro powered laptop, assuming we’re talking about their latest and greatest model, of course.
Today’s challenge, then, is to find the best monitor for MacBook Pro laptops, one that won’t do the setup a disservice when the Apple machine lights up with stunning visuals. No one wants to see an accompanying display that looks as if it’s been put through a low pass filter, all washed out and struggling to keep up with the snappy, color-rich MacBook graphics. That’s an indecent proposal. Here to prevent such a calamity is a list of monitors, each designed to match your MacBook’s style and performance.
The message being: you don’t have to compromise on visuals—because your screen should never feel like a third wheel.
Key Features to Consider
Let’s keep this short. Professional photographers and videographers have fallen in lust with Apple MacBook Pro laptops for a good reason.
Fast and intuitive to work with—another good reason to own a MacBook—their displays boast industry leading color and clarity. In point of fact, color accuracy is unparalleled, as proven by the 1600 nit Liquid Retina display. Furthermore, the Thunderbolt 3 and 4 compatible computers lead the field when it comes to lightning fast transferral of large media files. Thunder and lightning, that sounds like the beginnings of a great ad campaign.
In short, all sorts of media professionals, from filmmakers to wedding photographers, prefer industry-leading color accuracy and high contrasts. If a second screen is going to be called in to expand a media studio, it had better offer the same degree of workflow enhancing, Adobe inspired color authenticity and a wide color gamut that’ll do justice to print and broadcast quality imagery.
Best Monitor Recommendations for MacBook Pro
Now that we’ve established some ground rules, let’s get moving and pull up the first MacBook Pro screen companion review.
BenQ SW321C
The BenQ SW321C second monitor starts off by mimicking the clean aesthetics found on a MacBook. A flat, wide matte base and sleek stand throws caution to the wind, eliminating wobble and instability. The solid foundation, matte gray in color, supports a 4K ‘photographer quality’ panel, a 32” screen that sports HDR10 and 99% Adobe RGB color fidelity. We called in one of our office graphic designers to check out the screen for possible cons, and she told us that it had been in her best monitor for MacBook Pro shortlist ever since it was released.
The goal of a display like this is not to create the sharpest, most vibrant visuals. That would undermine its role in a media production environment. The BenQ SW321C monitor has been calibrated so that it reproduces colors and image details, as they were originally intended to be seen. Whether that’s for print or broadcast, the visuals output by this screen will always look exactly as intended. E < 2 color accuracy, color space consistency, authentic black level rendering, all of these media grading levels ensure the BenQ SW321C stands out as a go-to professional monitor.
Production technician takeaways – It’s not just about looking pretty—this monitor is built to serve the needs of serious professionals. The creative project leaders using it can obviously make the screen look impossibly vibrant, but that’s not the goal. Keenly aware of this, our graphic designer tester checked the screen closer. A nano matte panel coated the screen, defeating reflections and conveying a paper-like surface that further emulates a print surface. Paper Color Sync took this feature one step better, assuring the same tones seen on screen ended up on printouts.
Pantone validated and embedded with 16-bit LUTs (LookUp Tables), the first entry on our list sets the bar high, impressing with its looks, making the creative process precise and seamless, delivering professionalism to those who demand pixel accuracy. The product also has an all-purpose superfast USB-C connector, and you’ll find a shading hood included in the box. Use it to block image-influencing overhead lights and the sun.
Apple Studio Display
When nothing less than the Apple device ecosystem is acceptable, the only logical choice for a second monitor is the Apple Studio Display, complete with its wide color gamut P3 rating. There’s also the XDR model, but there’ll be more on this hefty investment further on in the post. In the meantime, the Studio Display monitor is a 5K panel with a 12MP center stage camera. We felt good about this feature; we’re quite aware of creative types, how they’re collaborative creatures.
If a project should become bogged down by uncertainties, it’s good to know everything could be put on pause while we FaceTimed a fellow production staffer. Spatial audio was also well executed on the six speaker monitor, producing deep booms and crystal clear highs. Dolby Atmos capable, this was clearly more than an image production team’s monitor. Indeed, the display is heavily influenced by multimedia hardware, making it a fine system addition for media studios in search of an affordable second monitor.
Production technician takeaways – It’s a 27” ultra-minimalistic monitor capable of assuming pride of place on any editor’s desk. While not the absolute best monitor for MacBook Pro laptops, it’s a relatively affordable option for smaller studios. Also, boasting 15.7 million pixels, the Apple Studio Display is something of a color accuracy purist. To test this frequently touted feature, we brought in our office Spyder X Pro. It confirmed our thoughts, that the 600 nit screen was calibrated to produce meticulously accurate colors, rich and crisply rendered.
We don’t always like screen ambience control systems; they often fall flat on big screen televisions, altering color when light levels change in a room. Not so with the True Tone light sensor on this display. It kept colors and light levels faithful, no matter the ambient lighting. Rattling off the last of a very long list of built-in monitor specifications, the Apple Studio Display has three fast USB-C ports, one Thunderbolt connector, and users can expect freedom of choice between two elegant tilt and adjust stands. It’s exceptional 5K display is also coated in a special nano-texture glass, keeping reflections to a minimum.
Asus ProArt Display PA32UCG
A note of suspicion rises above the cacophony of the office when third-party products are reviewed as replacements or additions to premium gear. It’s a reflex that’s developed over time, but, at least in this case, the Asus ProArt Display PA32UCG quickly dismissed potential worries. Maybe it was the 1600 nit brightness, drawing details and highlights out of formerly dim images. Or maybe it was the Dolby Vision and HDR10 certification, heralding a true-to-life, pixel-perfect color rendering experience. Blacks sucked in light while highlights struck our eyes with vibrant detail.
It was hard to fault the 32” Asus ProArt, and believe us, we tried. The Spyder X Pro came out again, but E (ΔE) < 1 color space accuracy was exactly on the mark, delivering precisely tuned Adobe RGB and sRGB. If color profiles needed storing, the monitor had us covered again, using its scaler IC processor to save color data, which could then be instantly recalled on a programmed hotkey. Then, with media workloads done for the day, our reviewer was able to catch up on his gaming. The 120Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution ensured adequate gaming immersion and shear-free play, no clipping or glitching causing distractions to enemy takedowns.
Production technician takeaways – Jack-of-all-trades monitors tend to end up being moderately capable. The Asus ProArt PA32UCG nimbly sidesteps this truism. The screen exhibited above average video and image editing prowess, could switch to its gaming persona with very little effort, and it did all of this while avoiding cable clutter. Media workers and gamers don’t usually mix—mainly because they have a talent for creating desk chaos, mixing multimedia peripherals with gaming accessories, but we felt this system was the exception to that rule.
To accomplish this impressive feat, the skinny screen conceals a small but fully decked out panel of connectors. Plain old USB-A, two HDMI connectors, also a DisplayPort socket and Thunderbolt 3 connector, the collection of ports has something for everyone. Features-wise, we took advantage of the ‘Picture-by-Picture’ mode, using the A and B split-screen comparison to directly compare different color spaces. Includes a detachable monitor hood
Dell UltraSharp UP2723QE
Going upmarket a bit, reviewing Alienware adjacent gear, the Dell Ultrasharp UP2723QE monitor doesn’t feel as if it falls behind a MacBook Pro, in terms of performance, when they’re put together. At a 27” diagonal screen size and a 4K resolution, the screen just misses out on qualifying as a small flatscreen television. Besides, equipped with IPS Black technology, 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 color accurate performance, it would be wasted on such mundane tasks.
Single-cable convenience came to mind first when our tester unboxed the Dell UltraSharp. It’s slim silver form factor incorporates a handy USB hub, leaving us room to add peripherals when a MacBook Pro is being ‘borrowed’ by a neighboring cubicle. By the way, this was the 27” model, but the range goes all the way up to a massive 49” screen, which we could imagine using to push our Final Cut Pro timeline and editing controls. Assigned the smaller model, we played around with color grading tools and the effects panel. The 2000:1 contrast ratio and 3840×2160 UHD graphics adjusted immediately, never glitching once.
Production technician takeaways – Fully loaded with thin bezels and stunning, wide color space image authenticity, the Dell monitor performed solidly, as expected. It does lack speakers, but media production teams tend to prefer their own studio monitors anyway. There was a very brief question mark over high-dynamic range performance, but some light calibration work and the presence of the VESA DisplayHDR 400 label provided immediate reassurance.
Truth be told, we came to a consensus, putting the Dell display right in the middle of our best monitor for MacBook Pro second screens lineup. Colors and screen brightness were exceptional, but the 400 nit peak brightness and middle-of-the-road HDR performance posed as roadblocks to its further climb up the list. Better screens are out there with higher refresh rates and stronger HDR modes. Still, we couldn’t fault the screen build, nor the plethora of connectors, providing HDMI and USB-C port connectivity.
LG UltraFine 27MD5KL
Leaving middle-of-the-road system specifications far behind in our rearview mirror, the LG UltraFine 27MD5KL loaner we drafted in for our next review sports a 5K resolution and a 27” diagonal width. It’s an IPS display again, so viewing from just about any angle is possible. A 500 nit peak brightness rating just serves to underscore its display specs, with a 1100:1 contrast ratio pushing the screen high in the discerning eyes of our review experts. For color numbers, only understood by image professionals, a DCI-P3 of 99% was quoted in the monitor literature. Color accurate and razer sharp visuals, the screen definitely has enough street cred to impress image and video production engineers.
For MacOS compatibility, there are three USB-C connectors and a Thunderbolt 3 port as well. And like the Apple monitors on this list, the LG UltraFine has a camera and speakers. If our spidey-sense tingles during a particularly harrowing graphics project, we could FaceTime the project manager and make any necessary alterations. We loved the screen. As for the bezels around that display, they felt ever so slightly too thick. Not a problem for ordinary computer users, creative types will notice such things.
Production technician takeaways – The 14ms response time monitor felt a bit slow, but this isn’t a lightning fast gaming monitor, so it’s not a dealbreaker. Even so, for video production pros, a decent response time and refresh rate can make all the difference. We can really see this monitor making more impact in a print shop or professional photographer’s back office, editing images and preparing printouts. It does have the color gamut to succeed in these disciplines.
A microphone and camera, 2.0 speakers and outstanding picture quality, the UltraFine 27MD5KL has all you’ll ever need to make a go of photo editing or 3D workloads. What it can’t be recommended as, not without reservations, is to be repurposed as a gaming screen. Single-duty only, this product sits firmly in the image processing camp. That 5K resolution and wide color gamut earn the display a notable mention as a more than capable monitor for your MacBook Pro.
Apple Pro Display XDR
Moving with dizzying speed all the way to the other end of the scale—with 6K now, a full K above and beyond the Studio model—the Apple Pro Display XDR is a state-of-the-art second screen. If asked whether it’s the best monitor for MacBook Pro owners, we’d maybe hum and haw a little, but, truthfully speaking, it’s hard to deny the big 32” panel’s place at or very close to the top of our review list. Figures, like a 1600 nit brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, only solidify our view.
At first, our tester was puzzled. What is XDR? Extra Dramatic Resolution was an immediate no-go. It was rejected. Researching the term—experts in our field, we’re familiar with HDR and all it entails—XDR is the Apple assigned name for their eXtreme Dynamic Range technology. It creates absolute inky blacks and super-vibrant tones, a signature MacOS aesthetic that’s several leagues above what a regular computer monitor can reproduce. Rattling off some more numbers, expect a 10-bit color depth and ultrawide P3 color gamut. A 218 ppi, 6K Retina display that sets the bar impossibly high, it also comes with an equally impossible price tag attached.
Production technician takeaways – According to the succinct engineering sections in the product description, edge lighting isn’t used on the Apple Pro Display XDR. Innovative rear lighting, composed of 576 brightly illuminated blue LEDs replaces the edge lighting approach, as regulated by twelve digital controllers. The results have to be seen to be believed. Down side: once it has been seen, it’s difficult to go back to an ordinary display.
All the expertly calibrated color profiles and innovative contrast maximizing technologies aside, the monitor uses a 16:9 aspect ratio and drives 6016×3384 beautifully rendered pixels around. It’s a perfect match for a MacBook Pro, no doubt about that, but the price of the monitor can be hard to swallow, plus an extra $1k gets thrown on top when the reflection killing nano-texture glass version is selected. Users can find three USB-C connectors and a Thunderbolt port on the rear of the slim-profile monitor.
Samsung ViewFinity S9
The resolution of the MacBook Pro monitors on this post have risen and fallen in rollercoaster-like fashion. Leveling out a little, the 27” Samsung ViewFinity S9 drops down to 5K. Its 5120×2880 screen resolution is bumped into near gaming territory by a 5ms GTG refresh rate, but the bright 500 nit screen does identify as a creative panel, as it has a wide DCI-P3 color gamut that sits comfortably high at 99%. Surprisingly, just like the much more expensive Apple Pro screen above, the display has a 218 ppi level of detail density.
We could already see how this entry would fit in within a busy production environment. The impressive pixel density and color authentic images practically shout out video production studio quality. And should the editing ever finish, the respectable refresh rate could lead to an occasional gaming session. It only takes a closer look at the screen, though, to see where its heart belongs. It’s up close that you see the matte anti-glare finish, a feature that dramatically cuts distracting reflections. Pantone approved, glare out and hardware calibrated, the monitor adapts to accommodate any type of media editing.
Production technician takeaways – Even the silvery stand for the Samsung ViewFinity S9 emulates Apple ecosystem products. We could easily imagine an iPad or MacBook sitting next to the screen, looking every bit as futuristic and elegant as the screen itself. Looking behind, we found one Thunderbolt 4 port and three USB-C connectors. A mini DP (DisplayPort) connector was also on hand, fully rounding out a decent complement of ports. We didn’t feel the urge to calibrate the monitor, but we were well aware of the Smart Calibration feature and the ability to pull up color profiles on a compatible smartphone.
Last but certainly not least, an unobtrusive slim profile 4K camera roosted on top of the ViewFinity. It connected seamlessly to our MacBook Pro, all the better to provide quick FaceTime or video conferencing calls. Two 5W speakers received incoming calls. Otherwise, it would be a very one-sided conversation. Good enough for communications apps, we’d still recommend something with a little more power if you’re going to be listening to game or movie audio on this monitor.
Some Final Mac-Flavored Musings
The one big roadblock preventing buyers from taking home some of these color accurate screens is cost. They’re simply very expensive, even as investments paid off over time. If price is no object—lucky you—the gorgeous 6K eye candy you’ll get from a 32” Apple Pro Display XDR is hard to beat. If affordability is paramount but you just have to own an Apple monitor, then compromise a little by opting for the 27” Apple Studio display. It’s less expensive, yet you still get access to six powerful speakers, a 12MP camera, and all that Apple-calibrated 5K picture fidelity.
Outside the apple ecosystem, the BenQ SW321C delivers faithful Adobe RGB color reproduction. We also felt drawn to its nano matte screen and Paper Color Sync mode. In truth, the designers behind the BenQ have engineered a color-precise print and photographer monitor. What’s displayed on that screen, every hue and tone, is exactly what’ll end up on a piece of photo paper. Of course, if price is a factor, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
For cost-cutting, consider the Dell UltraSharp 27” UP2723QE. Its color gamut is wide, accuracy is excellent, and its price won’t drain your bank account. Shortcuts have been made, however, so expect slightly less than stellar HDR performance. Ultimately, your idea of the best monitor for MacBook Pro laptops is going to depend on your own priorities, and budget. If you have the cash laying around, by all means, purchase one of the two Apple screens on this list. The BenQ is a great third option, as is the Asus ProArt.
Choose wisely, don’t forget the cable decluttering ports available on each monitor, and get ready to see your ideas come alive, filled with true-to-life color and ultra-sharp high resolution details.
