The MacBook Pro already features one of the most gorgeous displays you could ever find in a laptop.
However, you can actually take it even further by using a second, much-larger screen that will help make your MacBook Pro display much better, bigger, and clearer. This is possible with a 4K monitor.
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With so many options to choose from, it can get rather overwhelming. However, if you’re planning to enjoy the best possible 4K viewing experience for your MacBook Pro, then we got you covered.
After hours of research on the market, we’ve come up with our list of the five best 4K monitors for the MacBook Pro.
Top 5 Best 4K Monitors for MacBook Pro
| Best 4K Monitor for MacBook Pro | Screen Size | Refresh Rate | Panel Type | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell UltraSharp U2720Q 27 Inch 4K UHD Monitor | 27 inches | 60 Hz | IPS | |
| Philips Brilliance 279P1 27″ Frameless Monitor | 27 inches | 60 Hz | IPS | |
| ASUS ROG Swift 47.5” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor | 47.5 inches | 138 Hz | WQHD | |
| HP LED-Backlit LCD Monitor 42.5″ Black Pearl Monitor | 42.5 inches | 60 Hz | IPS | |
| Acer CB282K smiiprx 28″ UHD 4K Monitor | 28 inches | 60 Hz | IPS |
| Best 4K Monitor for MacBook Pro | Screen Size | Refresh Rate | Panel Type | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell UltraSharp U2720Q 27 Inch 4K UHD Monitor | 27 inches | 60 Hz | IPS | |
| Philips Brilliance 279P1 27″ Frameless Monitor | 27 inches | 60 Hz | IPS | |
| ASUS ROG Swift 47.5” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor | 47.5 inches | 138 Hz | WQHD | |
| HP LED-Backlit LCD Monitor 42.5″ Black Pearl Monitor | 42.5 inches | 60 Hz | IPS | |
| Acer CB282K smiiprx 28″ UHD 4K Monitor | 28 inches | 60 Hz | IPS |
While 4K monitors are still a bit expensive, they’re actually far more affordable than they were back in the day. This makes them a really worthwhile investment considering how crisp and sharp the display can be.
Though there are already 5K monitors on the market, particularly the official Apple Studio Display, the price difference is just way too huge.
So if you’re looking for a more affordable display, then a 4K monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate is simply perfect. Now, let’s have a look at your options.
Top Pick: Dell UltraSharp U2720Q 27 Inch 4K UHD Monitor
If we’re to review a 4K monitor for MacBook Pro that can be considered the best overall, then it’s definitely the UltraSharp U2720Q from Dell.
Featuring 27 inches of clear display, the U2720Q is by far the best 4K monitor you could connect to your laptop. It’s no joke when we say this monitor does everything pretty well.
Aside from it being a 4K monitor, it also comes with the InfinityEdge display design which features thin bezels that only make videos and images on the screen pop even more.
It also comes with a handful of ports including USB-A and USB-C ports. If you’re the type who wants to plug accessories straight into the monitor, then you can do that with this one.
Since the U2720Q is a reasonably priced monitor for its specs, it’s not surprising why a lot of users love it. It also has a 60Hz refresh rate (the same applies to all monitors on this list) which is nice.
Pros
- Excellent color accuracy
- Thin bezel design
- Various USB ports are available
- Impressive specs for its price
Cons
- Not as bright as advertised
Runner-up: Philips Brilliance 279P1 27″ Frameless Monitor
For MacBook Pro users who want a 4K monitor for image editing purposes, then the Brilliance 279P1 27-inch frameless monitor from Philips is the obvious choice. It’s also a really solid alternative to the U2720Q as it offers pretty solid performance at a much lower price.
Thanks to its 4K resolution and 27-inch display, you can enjoy even sharper and clearer images from your MacBook Pro.
What makes it even better is that it comes with an impressive hub containing lots of ports for various accessories. There’s even a USB-C cable with a 65W power output which you can use to charge your laptop.
Probably its main selling point is its strong image quality. This means that if you’re into image editing, you’ll find it a lot easier since the colors are accurate.
For a 4K monitor with an impressive performance for its price, there’s no doubt the Brilliance 279P1 is one of the best-selling 4K monitors on the market.
Pros
- Solid 4K monitor for its price
- Excellent hub connectivity
- Color-accurate display
Cons
- Brightness is not as expected
- Only features a 65W USB power output
Premium Option: ASUS ROG Swift 47.5” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor
A 4K monitor with a 27-inch screen size is often enough for most users. However, if you want a massive screen for your MacBook Pro, then you might want to consider the ASUS ROG Swift monitor.
Measuring 47.5 inches, this is by far the biggest 4K monitor in this list which is almost twice the size of the other monitors.
Of course, this also means that you’ll have to spend way more since a 4K monitor of this price doesn’t come cheap. Still, if you have the funds, then you’ll be able to enjoy everything that this premium monitor has to offer.
Apart from its massive size, it also has a 138Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for gamers. If you’re a gamer yourself, then you’ll surely be able to make the most out of this monitor.
However, it also works well for those who spend time working on creative tasks and need an emphasis on color accuracy. 133% sRGB coverage, 10-bit color depth, and Delta E<2 color support – these are just some of its premium features.
That said, it’s quite expensive, and for the most part, you won’t really need a 4K monitor of this scale anyway.
Pros
- Excellent brightness
- Very sharp and crisp OLED display
- Massive screen with a lot of details
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Too big for most users
Big Screen Alternative: HP LED-Backlit LCD Monitor 42.5″ Black Pearl Monitor
On the other hand, if you really need a large 4K monitor for your MacBook Pro but don’t have enough budget for the ASUS ROG Swift, you can consider the Black Pearl monitor from HP instead. It’s considerably cheaper but obviously more expensive than the 27-inch monitors on this list.
With a screen size of 42.5 inches, the Black Pearl offers a very large display for you to work on. It’s capable of displaying 4K at 10-bit color, not to mention it features impressive color accuracy. Thanks to its massive size, it works best for those who do video editing and graphic design.
It doesn’t mean you can’t use it for office productivity though. Its large screen area means you can open various documents at once without having to squint your eyes to view their contents. You can even prevent eye strain when working for long periods, thanks to its “lower blue light” settings.
The caveat is that you’ll need a large desk to display it. You also have to maintain a bit of a distance from your computer desk to be comfortable. It also has no internal speakers, but it has a deep stand where you can hide external speakers instead.
Overall, it’s the best value 4K monitor if you’re looking for one with a screen size of 40 inches upward.
Pros
- Massive screen area for easier viewing
- Amazing color accuracy
- Excellent value for a large display 4K monitor
Cons
- Requires a large open space
- Still quite expensive
Budget Option: Acer CB282K smiiprx 28″ UHD 4K Monitor
Affordability is the Acer CB282K monitor’s main selling point. Measuring 28 inches, this UHD 4K monitor offers a decent display and performance.
However, for its price point, this means you’ll have to do away with the features that you can find in the more expensive products on this list.
In particular, this monitor doesn’t have any USB-C connectivity. The only ports it has are two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort. However, for a really affordable price, there’s really not much to complain about. Besides, it’s more than capable of running images and videos in 4K.
Of course, there will be some compromise, but if you just need a 4K monitor for your MacBook Pro on a budget, this is a really solid option. Since it’s from Acer, you can surely trust its overall quality.
Pros
- Really cheap
- Features the typical functionalities of a 4K monitor
Cons
- No USB-C connectivity
- Color accuracy isn’t as impressive as the more expensive units
To Sum Up
You can find lots of excellent 4K monitors on the market, but if you’re specifically after a monitor for your MacBook Pro, then these five are the ones you’d want to look at.
I would personally pick the Philips Brilliance 279P1 as it’s way more affordable than the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q. However, if you’re looking for higher color accuracy, then the Philips Brilliance is better.
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