A vast majority of users who use a Mac in their day to day usually do so connected to an external monitor, because the advantages that you can get to enjoy are many, especially if your Mac is one of Apple‘s laptops. In this post we want to talk to you about some of the best monitors that you can find on the market, so that, if you are thinking of acquiring an external screen for your Apple computer, you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Reasons why you should use an external monitor
As we mentioned, the use of an external monitor connected to a Mac is increasingly common for different reasons. The first of these is that, after all, there are certain tasks and above all, certain professionals who need to work with a large screen , but that, nevertheless, their working device is either a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air, which implies that the screen size is more or less reduced depending on the model they have purchased.
Perhaps, you can say that, in that case, instead of buying an Apple laptop, the most appropriate thing would be to buy an iMac, however, the fact of working with a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air gives you the versatility of being able to do it wherever you want , since it is a laptop, and also at home with a larger screen thanks to an external monitor . So using an Apple laptop with a good monitor gives you enormous versatility when it comes to work.
Another reason why many professionals look for an external monitor is because of the productivity that you can have when using it. At the end of the day, what an external monitor provides is a larger screen of specific dimensions, which means that, compared to Apple laptops, when working you enjoy a larger screen where you can have different windows open simultaneously , something that will increase productivity.
Finally, you also have to take into account what you will need to connect your new monitor, and that is that depending on the Mac model you have, if it does not have an HDMI or Thunderbolt port , you will have to purchase a HUB separately. to be able to connect your computer with the monitor.
The most compact 24 inches
Once we talk about the monitors that we have selected in this post, we are going to start with a very standard screen size but that, without a doubt, coming from 13, 15 or 16-inch screens will result in a tremendous change in your workflow, this is the popular 24-inch. This size is one of the most used because it is really practical both at a functional level and when it comes to occupying space within the desk where you work.
Lenovo C24-25 23.8 “FullHD
We start with the option provided by the Lenovo brand, a company with great prestige in the world of computers. In this case, the monitor has a size of 23.8 inches with a FullHD resolution, that is, 1920 × 1080 pixels. It also has TUV Low Blue Light technology that will help you maintain the health of your eyesight.
Inside the box you will find in addition to the monitor, the HDMI cable with which you can connect it with your Mac and also a 1.8 meter VGA cable. Another of the highlights of this Lenovo C24-25 is its response time, which is 4ms . The angle of view it provides is 178º / 178º without distortion or reflections and a tilt adjustment that can go from -5º to 22º.
BenQ GL2480 – 24 “FullHD
BenQ has developed this monitor with gamers in mind, but without a doubt it is also a great option for the public who look to their monitor to gain productivity on a 24-inch screen. It has a FullHD resolution that is, 1920 × 1080 pixels, but without a doubt, it stands out for the response time that it is capable of offering, just 1ms, a true marvel, hence this monitor is thinking for a gaming public .
The design is also very careful, its really thin frames minimize the possible distractions that you may have and will allow you to make configurations of several panels. If we talk about connectivity, it has its respective HDMI, DVI and VGA ports so that, first, you can have several devices connected to it and, also, the way to switch between them is as comfortable as possible.
HP 24f – 24 “Monitor
We continue with the 24 inches, as we said, a really usable standard size and that many professionals enjoy every day. In this case we go with the option provided by the HP brand. A 24-inch monitor, again FullHHD, that is, 1920 × 1080 pixels . It is a resolution that if you do not have a very high demand for professional issues, it is more than enough to enjoy a fantastic user experience when using it.
The response time in this case is 5ms , since this monitor is not intended for an audience that is going to use it to play, but it is designed for productivity, where a minimum response time will rarely be needed. It has the Low Blue Light mode that consists of a gradual change of colors to a warmer range so that your eyes do not suffer from the continuous use of the screens. Finally, if we talk about connections, this monitor has an HDMI and a VGA port.
SAMSUNG C24F390 – 24 “curved monitor
We could not finish talking about 24-inch monitors without doing one that is also curved, something that has become very fashionable in recent years and that, for certain professionals, it is a tremendous advantage to have a type of screen like this. Again, the resolution of this monitor is 1920 × 1080 pixels, that is, FullHD, with HDMI and VGA connections.
You may be wondering, why can having a curved screen be beneficial? Well, the 1800R curvature that the Samsung monitor has is capable of providing the user with an immersive experience of the content they are viewing on the screen. Also, its response time is 4ms with a 60Hz refresh rate .
Monitors up to 27 inches
As we told you, one of the reasons why many professionals want to work with a monitor connected to their MacBook Pro or MacBook Air is due to the fact that they have a larger screen, so much so, that the 24 inches can fall short for depending on which users or professionals, therefore, many of them choose to go directly to 27 inches, a very popular and used size.
LG 27UL500-W-27 “Monitor
The LG company enters this post for the first time, one of the most specialized companies in the development of quality monitors offers in this case not only an increase in screen size, but also in resolution. This LG monitor has the desired 27 inches and also with a screen resolution in 4K , that is, 3840 × 2160 pixels.
At the port level, it has 2 HDMI ports to which you can connect two different devices, even two computers. The design is another of the points that stands out the most about this screen, with a white color on the back, which combined with the low thickness makes it very attractive to the eye.
Philips 275E1S / 00 Monitor 27 “
Another of the companies with the most recognition in the market in this case is Philips, a recognition earned by offering a lot of quality in their products, as is the case with this 27-inch monitor. It has a screen resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels, that is, QHD . At the connection level, it has HDMI, DVI and VGA ports so the variety and different options are assured.
One of the strengths is in its refresh rate, which amounts to 75Hz , which, added to the fine frame it has, provides the user with a sharp and detailed image. It also has the LowBlue mode, that is, an intelligent software technology to reduce the always harmful short-wave light, which added to the Flickerfree technology, which manages to avoid eye strain, gives the user a very pleasant experience.
BenQ PD2700U – 27 “Professional Designer Monitor
The very name of this monitor indicates for which public, or rather, for which professionals it is directed by its characteristics. All designers delight in this fantastic monitor from the BenQ brand. With a 4K resolution, that is, 3840 × 2160 pixels, IPS technology and with the ability to adjust the height of the monitor itself to suit the user.
However, the highlight of this monitor is given by the AQCOLOR technology , which is capable of producing accurate colors with 100 & sRGB color space and factory calibrated Rec 709. It also has the DualView function that improves productivity by being able to work with two different modes. Finally, it has a KVM switch, which allows you to display content from two PC systems with a single keyboard and mouse combination to save space and work more efficiently.
The largest screen for your Mac with 32 ″
We left 27 inches behind and increased in size, until we reached 32, a very considerable size that, of course, attracts attention. If before we commented that for many users 24 inches is not enough and they have to choose 27, the same happens in this case. There is a specific audience that needs at least 32 inches of screen and therefore here you have these fantastic options.
AOC Gaming Monitor C27G1 – 32 “
We enter the 32 inches from the hand of AOC and its monitor designed for the gamer public that includes a series of very interesting characteristics. First of all we are talking about a QHD resolution, that is, 2560 × 1440 pixels in a curved 32-inch screen size, which is another of the most striking characteristics of this monitor, its screen is curved.
It has a frameless design that undoubtedly makes it especially attractive to the eye. At the door level, it offers two HDMI inputs, which provides the user with the ability to connect two devices at the same time. Its refresh rate is 60Hz and the response time of 1ms, ideal for the audience it is aimed at.
Asus VG32VQ TUF Gaming – 32 “curved monitor
Another monitor designed for gamers, in this case from the Asus company. This means that the response time will always be very low, in this case 1ms, thanks to ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync technology , how could it be otherwise. It also has a really high refresh rate, 144Hz . Of course, the screen size of this monitor goes up to 32 inches.
In terms of resolution, it offers QHD quality , that is, 2560 × 1440 pixels. It has Adaptive-Sync technology that eliminates image defects for a very smooth experience. In addition, it is compatible with HDR10 , a current standard in the industry that exceeds the chromatic support and brightness level of conventional monitors.
BenQ EW3270U – 32 “Video Entertainment Monitor
We end this compilation of monitors with another option from the BenQ company, in this case designed for the consumption of multimedia content. This 32-inch BenQ monitor has a 4K screen resolution, that is, 3840 × 2160 pixels, a real marvel. It supports HDR content, which increases the dynamic range between black and white to provide sublime quality and extremely high detail.
It also has Brightness Intelligence Plus technology that makes the monitor dynamically adjust the brightness and color temperature depending on the content being viewed and the ambient light that is available at all times. At the port level, it has HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, USB-C and DisplayPort inputs.
Which one do we recommend?
We want to end this post with the recommendation of the writing team. Without a doubt, all the options that we have talked about are fantastic, but as always, it all depends on the use that is going to be made of the device, in this case, the monitor. Obviously the option with the most specifications will always give the best user experience, however, in many cases it is not necessary to spend so much money on the top option. In this case, the product that we think provides that best quality / price ratio is the LG 27UL500-W , since it offers a large screen size such as 27 inches at a very reasonable price, accompanied by a 4K resolution that will make the delights of all users.
However, it is not the only one that delights the writing team, if we look at the different 24-inch options, the option the SAMSUNG C24F390 has a curved screen that, although at first glance it may seem like a simple aesthetic detail In practice, depending on the use, it can be really good, and also aesthetically it also brings that modern touch that most users like so much. Finally, in the 32-inch range , the one that most catches our attention is the BenQ EW3270U monitor for its 4K resolution and compatibility with HDR content. In addition, Brightness Intelligence Plus technology, which at first may seem like a simple marketing item, is very beneficial for eye salutation when you are sitting for a long time in front of the screen.