USB-C/Thunderbolt display capabilities have expanded significantly over the last couple of years. While Apple's Pro Display XDR isn't suitable for most Mac users at over $5,000, it also offers the more affordable Studio Display. But there are also many reliable options from LG, Samsung, BenQ and other manufacturers. Here are the best USB-C/Thunderbolt displays, many of which are available for between $400 and $1,600.
Update May 20, 2024: Samsung is running a limited-time promotion c Get 44% off the ViewFinity S9 5K, plus 34% off the 32″ Smart Monitor and 47% off the 27″ Smart Monitor.
At Almost 50% off, it's tempting to choose the 5K ViewFinity S9 over the Apple Studio Display. Below are all the specs and details.
Table of Contents
- Best USB-C/Thunderbolt Displays for Mac: Higher-End Options
- Samsung ViewFinity S9
- BenQ PD3225U
- LG UltraFine OLED Pro
- Apple Studio Display and LG UltraFine Displays
- Studio Display
- LG UltraFine Displays
- Best Budget USB-C/Thunderbolt Displays for Macs
- Dough Spectrum One Specifications
- BenQ 27- or 32″ Ergo Arm 4K Smart Monitor
- Samsung 32″ M8 Smart Monitor
- LG 32″ Smart Monitor
- LG 32″ Smart Monitor 32UP550-W
- Hold on?
All of the displays below work when connected with a single cable to a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and even to PC. iPad Pro and iPad Air 2020 and later can also be used with any of these USB-C/Thunderbolt displays, but with limitations.
- Related: The best monitor arms to give your Mac's external display flexibility
While the Apple 6K Pro Display XDR is a fantastic product (full review), the reality is that, at over $5,000, it's too big for the needs and budget of many MacBook owners.
Luckily, there are several reliable 32-inch and larger options from other companies around $1,000 that offer an immersive experience. We'll also look at some 27- to 32-inch 4K USB-C displays priced between $400 and $800.
Best USB-C/Thunderbolt Displays for Mac: Higher-End Options
Samsung ViewFinity S9
This is an interesting alternative to Apple Studio Display. Samsung ViewFinity S9 features a 27-inch 5K panel, partial metal body, 99% DCI-P3, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and more.
Specs:
- Slim metal design (aluminum stand, silver plastic back).
- 27″ IPS 5K panel – 5120 x 2880
- 99% DCI-P3.
- 600 nits brightness.
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 5ms response time
- 1000:1 contrast ratio
- Matte display finish
- Built-in. in the color calibration mechanism.
- Average color accuracy Delta E ≦ 21.
- USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
- 1 Thunderbolt 4 port, 3 USB-C ports C, 1 mini port. DisplayPort
- 90 W power supply
- Built-in SlimFit 4K webcam
- Built-in speakers with Adaptive Sound+
- Samsung Smart Hub for use as a TV (remote control included).
- Height, tilt and angle adjustment. swivel
- 100 x 100mm with VESA mount
- Price: $1,599, but sells out frequently
ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor available at samsung.com, Amazon and Best Buy.
BenQ PD3225U
image via BenQ
32-inch features BenQ PD3225U Thunderbolt 3, 4K Resolution, 98% DCI-P3 Color Gamut, 85W MacBook Power, Multiple Pro Modes, Hotkey Puck, Mac Color Matching, Magic Keyboard Brightness Adjustment, and More.
Features:
- 31.5-inch black IPS panel.
- 4K – 3840 x 2160 resolution (140 pixels per inch).
- Anti-glare coating
- 2000:1 contrast ratio
- 16:9 aspect ratio .
- 60Hz Refresh Rate
- Brightness: 400 (typical), 400 nits (peak HDR).
- 98% DCI-P3
- 99% sRGB
- 99% Rec. 709
- Color Modes: Animation, B&W, CAD/CAM, Darkroom, DCI-P3, DICOM, P3 Display, HDR, Low Blue Light, M-Book, Rec.709, sRGB, custom
- Color tone adjustment for Mac
- HDR10/Display HDR 400
- Hotkey Puck G2
- Display Pilot 2 to control display brightness with using a Mac keyboard
- I/O:
- 1 Thunderbolt 3 port with 85W power delivery and daisy-chain support
- 2 HDMI 2.0 ports
- 1 DisplayPort 1.4
- 3 USB 3.2
- 1 USB C
- 1 USB B
- Headphone jack
- Thin bezels
- VESA wall mount 100 x 100mm
- Price: $1,099
You can purchase the new Thunderbolt monitor directly from BenQ and Amazon. And now you can find the predecessor to the BenQ PD3220U on Amazon for $999.
LG UltraFine OLED Pro
After the 32-inch model initially started selling for $3,999, the 27-inch model reached $2,999, but those prices have since dropped.
image via LG
The transition to OLED is interesting. While there are some benefits such as blacker color and more, display burn-in may be an issue.
Specs:
- 27- and 31.5-inch OLED options -screen (27-inch still unavailable)
- 3840 x 2160 resolution, 4K
- 60Hz refresh rate
- USB-C with 90W power pass-through
- Up to 500 nits brightness
- Dolby HDR 400 True Black
- 1 ms response time
- 10-bit color depth
- 2 DisplayPort
- 3 USB
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- 1 x HDMI
- DCI P3 at 99%
- Adobe RGB 99 %
- Price: $1,999 – $3,499
You can purchase the LG UltraFine OLED at Adorama and other retailers.
Apple Studio Display and LG UltraFine
Studio Display
image via Apple
Apple Studio Display arrives alongside the new Mac Studio and marks a return to professional monitors after since 2016, the LG UltraFine series has become an official recommendation.
The Studio Display costs $300 more than the LG UltraFine 5K and is aimed at those who appreciate Apple's refined (and metallic) build quality.
Specs:
- 27-inch panel
- 5K 5120 x 2880 resolution
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- 218 PPI
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 600 nits brightness
- P3 wide color gamut support
- True Tone support
- 1 Thunderbolt 3 port with 96W power delivery and 3 USB-C ports
- Built-in 12MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera with Center Stage support
- 6-speaker system with Spatial Audio support
- 3 studio-quality microphones
- Aluminum build
- Supports most reference modes such as Pro Display XDR except HDR
- Price: $1,599 – $2,299 (depending on stand and screen finish)
- Supports most reference modes such as Pro Display XDR >
Studio Display is available at Apple, Amazon, Adorama, Best Buy and other retailers.
Check out our detailed comparison and more details about Studio Display:
- Here's a comparison of the new Apple Studio Display with Pro Display XDR and LG UltraFine
LG UltraFine Displays
image by Jeff Benjamin
While the 27-inch UltraFine Display (review) was truly the only option on the market with USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 support at full 5K resolution, the $1,300 price tag may make it a tough sell for some.
Another compromise is thicker frames for the built-in webcam. Current models are 27-inch 5K displays and 24-inch UltraFine 4K displays.
The 24-inch 4K UltraFine costs nearly half the price and is an attractive Apple-approved display option for those comfortable with a smaller size. The 24-inch version replaced the 21.5-inch 4K model in May 2019 and retails for around $700. Full review can be found here.
Best Budget USB-C/Thunderbolt Displays for Mac
Dough Spectrum One Specs
This could be an interesting new monitor. MacBook Pro ProMotion support, 100W USB-C, robust I/O, 98% DCI-P3, and an optional low-matte glossy finish for what Daf says is an optimal viewing experience all sound impressive starting from $599. /699.
- 27″ display (nano-IPS Oxide TFT LCD)
- 4K – 3840 x 2160 resolution (163 pixels per inch).
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- 144Hz refresh rate (48-144Hz range).
- Brightness: 450 nits (typical), 750 nits peak HDR
- 98% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB
- HDR6 support
- 2 USB-C ports:
- 1 USB 3.1 upstream port Gen 2 up to 10 Gbps with 100 W power delivery (supports DisplayPort 1.4)
- 1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 port up to 10 Gbps with 15 W power delivery
- 2 HDMI 2.1 inputs
Spectrum One is now available directly from the Dough store and from BH Photo. You can purchase the matte version starting at $599 and the glossy version starting at $699.
While there are several reliable USB-C displays with sub-4K resolution on the market, you can spend several hundred dollars to purchase one. A new display with a lower image quality than what you're used to on your MacBook won't cut it for many.
Here are some of the best 4K USB-C displays around $600 or less.
BenQ 27- or 32-inch Ergo Arm 4K
BenQ's new Ergo Arm 4K designer monitors offer a powerful array of features and specifications. Prices range from $599 to $749.
Specs:
- 27- or 32-inch panel with 4K resolution and 3840 x 2160 (anti-glare matte).
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- Single USB-C cable connection with 90W power delivery. (65W for PD2705UA)
- 1 x USB-C in/out
- 1 xUSB-C out
- 1x HDMI 2.0
- 1 DisplayPort 1.4
- 2 USB-B inputs (USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1)
- 3 USB-A ports (USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1) 1) Output
- 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
- KVM switch for controlling two Macs or PCs with one keyboard/mouse
- Brightness 250–350 nits
- 163 pixels per inch
- 60Hz refresh rate
- HDR10
- 95% DCI P3/99% sRGB
- 178 degree viewing angle
- Response time 5 ms
- 2 built-in speakers with a power of 2.5 W
- Flexible ergonomic bracket
- Price: 599, 649, 749 dollars.
>
The $599 PD2705UA has 65 W of power instead of the 90 W of the PD2706UA and PD3205UA. Meanwhile, the PD2706UA is the only one of the three to offer DCI P3 support, if that's an important feature.
You can buy BenQ's new Ergo Arm 4K designer monitors directly from Amazon and Adorama. Find out more in our full review.
32-inch Samsung M8 Smart Monitor
Image from Samsung
The successor to last year's M7, the Smart Monitor M8 offers an attractive package for those who need 4K resolution, USB-C, and a larger screen for under $1,000. It even has a design very similar to the iMac and four color options.
Specs:
- USB-C with up to 65W charging
- 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution
- 32-inch display
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- 60Hz refresh rate
- HDR10 support .
- Includes SlimFit magnetic webcam with face tracking
- 400 nits brightness
- 99% sRGB
- 4 response time ms
- Built-in 2.2-channel speakers
- Available in white, blue, green and pink.
- Thin bezels and overall slim design.
- Thin bezels and overall slim design.
- Thin bezels and overall slim design.
- Thin bezels and overall slim design.
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- Can function as a Smart TV with built-in Apple TV+ and AirPlay 2.
- Price: MSRP $699-$729, often available for less.
Smart Monitor M8 can be purchased directly from Samsung and Amazon. The white version typically retails for $699.99, while the color options retail for $729.99.
32-inch LG Smart Monitor
The new LG Smart Monitor, which is a competitor to the Samsung Smart Monitor M8, described above, has an attractive list of features and functions for its $500 price.
- USB-C with up to 65W charging
- Also has 2 HDMI ports, 1 USB-C A, 1 Ethernet port and 3.5 mm audio jack
- 4K resolution 3840 x 2160
- 31.5″ panel
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- 65Hz refresh rate
- Adjustable stand with clamp
- Brightness 250 nits
- 90% DCI P3
- 5ms response time
- Smart TV capable, with LG webOS, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.
- Price: MSRP $499.99
You can find the LG Smart Monitor on Amazon, LG direct, and Adorama.
LG 32-inch 32UP550-W
This budget option from LG is a more attractive choice than the old 27-inch inch 4K 27UK850. The 32UP550-W features a 32-inch screen, 4K resolution, USB-C, 96W power and more.
Specs:
- 1 USB port -C with 96 W power
- 2 HDMI ports
- 1 DisplayPort
- 2 USB 3.0
- 1 headphone jack
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- 60 refresh rate Hz
- Brightness up to 350 nits
- 3840 x 2160 resolution
- DCI-P3 at 90%
- HDR10
- Anti-reflective coating
- MSRP: $449 or less
Best Commentary by Gustav J. Gustav
32-inch 4K displays have always seemed awkward to me: the pixels are too small for regular ones. mode and is too large for HiDPI mode.
I would like to see a 34-inch diagonal ultra-wide display with a resolution of 6880×2880. This is the perfect size for HiDPI mode.
And yes, the time has come for 120Hz displays. Let's take a look at ProMotion on external displays.
View all comments
This 32-inch affordable 4K USB-C display from LG is available to order on Amazon.
Holding out?
Thinking of waiting? If you feel like you can't compromise on 4K resolution, but are willing to save some money by skipping the USB-C/Thunderbolt connection, Philips offers a 27-inch 4K display at a significantly lower price than other displays. on this list. AOC also offers a similar 27-inch 4K option.
Sidecar
Another option is to take advantage of macOS's great Sidecar feature, which lets you use your iPad. as an additional display.
