If you’ve just purchased a new Mac, such as a recently released Mac, you may be considering which display options are best for you.
Here are my top picks, covering multiple product categories, price ranges, and more.
Updated December 10, 2025: Updated pricing and availability details to include Samsung M9 Smart Monitor.
best external mac display
Apple Studio Display (Save over $230)
We can’t talk about the best displays on the market without mentioning Apple’s Studio Display. Although it’s more expensive, it features a beautiful Apple design with a 27-inch 5K display. There’s also one Thunderbolt 3 port for connecting your Mac, and three bonus USB-C ports.
- screen: 27-inch 5K Retina display with 218 pixels/inch (resolution 5120×2880)
- brightness:600 nits
- color support: Wide color (P3) that supports 1 billion colors
- refresh rate:60Hz
- webcam: 12MP ultra wide (center stage compatible)
- True Tone Technology: Adjust the display color temperature to match the surrounding lighting.
- port: 1 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port for host connectivity (provides up to 96W host charging) and 3 USB-C ports (up to 10 Gb/s) for peripheral, storage, and networking connectivity
Studio Display is available in multiple configurations at various price points highlighted below. If you’re looking for an iMac-like experience on your Mac, there’s no better option than the Apple Studio Display.
Apple is reportedly planning to release a new Studio Display during the first half of 2026. There are no rumors about what to expect with that update. Nevertheless, we recommend looking for deals on current Studio Displays to avoid paying full price for something that could quickly become obsolete.
Standard glass, with tilt-adjustable stand
Standard glass, with tilt and height adjustable stand
Nano-textured glass with adjustable tilt stand
Nano-textured glass, with tilt and height adjustable stand
samsung m9 smart monitor
The 32-inch Samsung M9 Smart Monitor is an attractive option for Mac users as it features a 4K OLED panel. my 9to5 toys My colleague Justin Kahn recently switched to a Mac mini and says, “I’ve had a lot of fun pairing it with my Mac mini over the past few months.”
- panel: 32-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) quantum dot OLED with glare-free coating
- refresh rate:165Hz
- port: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C, 2x USB-A
- Built-in camera: Yes, 4K
- HDR support: Yes (HDR10/HDR10+)
While it doesn’t offer the crisp 5K or 6K resolution of some options on this list, you do get the benefits of OLED, including deeper blacks and better color reproduction and contrast.
Buy Samsung M9 OLED Smart Monitor.
LG Ultra Fine 6K
The LG UltraFine 6K has been highly anticipated ever since LG teased it at CES in January. The display promised an affordable alternative to Apple’s Studio Display and Pro Display XDR.
It has a 32-inch panel with a resolution of 6144 x 3456 pixels. There are many ports. Important specifications are:
- 31.5 inch 16:9 IPS black panel
- UHD 6K 6144 x 3456 (60Hz)
- 450 nits brightness, 600 nits brightness with HDR
- 2000:1 contrast ratio
- 98% DCI-P3 & 99.5 Adobe RGB coverage
- Integrated USB-C hub and KVM
- 1x DisplayPort
- 1xHDMI
- 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 5), USB PD 96W
- 3x USB-C
Click here to buy LG UltraFine 6K
Asus ProArt 5K Display (New)
My colleague Jeff Benjamin just worked on this, and it immediately caught my attention. The Asus ProArt (PA27JCV) Display 5K offers the same 5K resolution (5120 x 2880) in a similar 27-inch form factor as the Studio Display, but at half the price.
- screen: 27 inches 5K resolution (5120 x 2880 pixels), 218 PPI, matte finish to reduce reflections.
- brightness: Standard brightness 400 nits, peak brightness 500 nits
- Webcam: none.
- port: USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and standard DisplayPort 1.4.
- guarantee: 3 years (or 5 years after November 2025)
For more information, check out Jeff’s full review above. If you’re looking for a 5K display for your Mac, look no further than Asus ProArt.
Here’s where you can buy the Asus ProArt Display 5K.
Asus ProArt 6K display
If you’re looking for something bigger and higher resolution, ASUS has you covered. The new Asus ProArt Display 6K (PA32QCV) is a 32-inch display with a native resolution of 6016 x 3384. My colleague Jeff called this “ridiculously good value” in his review.
- 31.5-inch 6K (6016 x 3384) IPS display
- 218PPI
- 178° wide viewing angle
- 60Hz refresh rate
- Dual Thunderbolt 4 connectivity
- HDR10 and VESA DisplayHDR™ 600
- 98% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB wide color gamut
- Ergonomic design with tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment features
- guarantee: 3 years (or 5 years after November 2025)
Perhaps the best thing about the ASUS ProArt 6K display is its price. At $1,300, it’s significantly cheaper than some of the most popular 4K and 5K displays on the market.
Here’s where you can buy the ASUS ProArt 6K display:
Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K
Samsung’s ViewFinity S9 5K is another attractive option to pair with your new Mac, and it’s much cheaper than Apple’s Studio Display. In fact, it’s currently on sale for $999.99.
It features a matte display to reduce glare and distractions. There’s also a clever modular 4K camera inside. There’s one Thunderbolt 4 port for connecting to your Mac, as well as a Mini DisplayPort and three USB-C ports.
The Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K also doubles as a smart display with built-in streaming apps and other features powered by the company’s Tizen OS.
- screen: 27-inch 5K resolution (5120×2880 pixels) with 218 PPI, matte finish to reduce reflections.
- brightness:600 nits.
- Webcam: Detachable 4K camera
- port: 1 Thunderbolt 4 port (offers up to 90W of power delivery), 1 Mini DisplayPort, and 3 USB-C ports for connecting peripherals and accessories.
Here’s where you can buy the Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K.
Read our detailed review: Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K Display – A great Apple Studio Display competitor
BenQ 27 inch 5K PD2730S Thunderbolt Monitor
At the moment, this might be my favorite option on this list. The BenQ PD2730S 27-inch 5K monitor is packed with a wide range of Mac-friendly features, with the highlight of course being crisp 5K resolution.
- screen: 27-inch 5K resolution (5120×2880 pixels) at 218 PPI, matte finish to reduce reflections.
- brightness:400 nits.
- Webcam: none
- color gamut: 100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709, 98% P3
- refresh rate:60Hz
- port: 1 x upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (provides up to 90W power delivery), 1 x downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, 2 x downstream USB-C ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 port, and 3 x USB-A ports
- Hotkey pack G3: Physical external controller with dial and multiple programmable action buttons
Buy the BenQ PD2730S 27-inch 5K monitor here.
Read the full detailed review: BenQ’s 27-inch 5K Thunderbolt 4 Designer Monitor is a legitimate competitor to the Apple Studio Display
BenQ 32-inch 4K PD3225U Thunderbolt Monitor
If you’re looking for a 32-inch display for your new Mac for under $1000, this is one of the most attractive options. BenQ makes some of our favorite Mac accessories. However, the big downside to this one is that you *only* get 4K resolution, not 5K resolution. However, it features plenty of port options and a price tag of less than $1,000 for a 32-inch panel.
- screen: 31.5-inch 4K UHD (3840×2160) IPS black panel with 16:9 aspect ratio and 140 PPI (pixels per inch).
- brightness: 400 nits peak brightness.
- webcam: no.
- port: 1 x Thunderbolt 3 input (offers up to 85W power delivery), 1 x Thunderbolt 3 output (offers up to 15W power delivery), 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-B upstream port, 1 x USB-C downstream port, 3 x USB-A downstream ports, and 3.5 mm headphones Jack x 1
Buy the BenQ 32-inch 4K PD3225U Thunderbolt Monitor here.
Read our detailed review: Is a 32-inch 4K Mac display really a starter?
Samsung Viewfinity S80TB
Another affordable 4K option comes from Samsung with the Viewfinity S80TB, which has Thunderbolt connectivity and a 27-inch panel.
- screen: 27-inch IPS panel with 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160) and 16:9 aspect ratio.
- brightness: Standard brightness of 350 nits.
- webcam: no.
- port: 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports (one provides up to 90W power delivery), 1 HDMI 2.0 port, 3 USB-A 3.0 ports, 1 RJ45 Ethernet port, and 1 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Here’s where you can buy the Samsung Viewfinity S80TB.
Dell U4025QW 40 inch ultrawide
If you want to pair your Mac with an ultrawide display, the Dell U4025QW is one of the best options on the market. The 40-inch display packs 5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. There’s also a huge number of ports, a matte screen finish, and more.
- screen: 39.7-inch ultrawide curved display with 5K2K WUHD resolution (5120×2160) and 140 PPI pixel density.
- brightness: Standard brightness of 300 nits.
- webcam: no.
- port: 1 x Thunderbolt 4 input (provides up to 90W power delivery), 1 x HDMI 2.1 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C upstream port, 2 x USB-C downstream ports, 4 x USB-A downstream ports, 1 x RJ45 Ethernet port, and 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack.
You can buy the Dell U4025QW 40-inch Ultrawide here.
Samsung ViewFinity S65TC
A more affordable way to enter the ultrawide display market is the Samsung ViewFinity S65TC, which is currently on sale for almost half the price. While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other options, you still get a 34-inch ultrawide curved display and plenty of ports, including one Thunderbolt 4 port with power delivery.
- screen: 34-inch ultra-wide curved display with Ultra-WQHD resolution (3440×1440) and 1000R curvature for immersive viewing.
- brightness: Standard brightness of 350 nits.
- webcam: no.
- port: 1 x Thunderbolt 4 port (provides up to 90W power delivery), 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 3 x USB-A 3.0 ports, 1 x RJ45 Ethernet port, and 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Here’s where you can buy the Samsung ViewFinity S65TC.
summary
These are just a few of the best external display options to pair with your new Mac. All of these offer excellent macOS integration, rich connectivity options, and unique sizes and form factors.
Did you recently buy a new Mac? Which display do you use it with? Let us know in the comments.
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