The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best for gamers
3. Best for editing
4. Best budget
5. Best for artists
6. Best for Photo Editing
Q&A
While it might not be the opportune resolution for Macs (that goes to the Retina and MacOS-friendly 5K resolution), 4K has rapidly become the industry standard for most of the high-end monitors that you can buy right now. Make no mistake, however, a 4K display is still going be a deliciously hi-res experience, with super clear text and crisp and clean video and picture quality.
There are plenty of monitors with 4K displays out there to choose from, and some are better for different use cases than others. We've tested some great monitors, so we've assembled this list to help you find the perfect monitor for your Mac desktop setup. Our pick for the best overall is the Philips 27B1U7903 which, long name aside, is a stunning 4K display that brings the clarity and brightness you need, while bringing loads of extra ports to the table. If you're looking for something a bit different, however, then you'll want to take a look at the rest of our picks.
For high-end Mac users, you may also wish to consider the best alternatives to Apple's Pro Display XDR if you can afford to spend extra, or simply take a look at the best monitor for Mac mini.
Quick list
Best overall
Scoring an impressive four and a half stars in our review, the Philips 27B1U7903 is a great addition to any desk. Plug your MacBook in with the USB-C port on the back, and you'll not only get a stunning, micro-LED lit display, but an impressive amount of extra ports with the built-in dock.
Best for gamers
The Evnia 42M is a massive OLED gaming panel with 138HZ refresh, insane response times, and stunning picture quality. Thanks to a plethora of ports on the back including USB-C, it's also a very handy Mac companion.
Best for editing
It has incredible detail and resolution, a huge range of color modes for every type of work, a Mac-specific color mode for Apple users, a remote control puck for on-the-fly settings adjustments, and more. It also boasts a very large number of ports and has excellent build quality, as well as a hefty stand.
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Best budget
This Samsung monitor is a slim stunner, and it comes in at a bargain price. There are two options that you can get with this one — a curved monitor which costs a little more, or a flat version which works out as the cheapest. It might not have some of the snazzy features of others on the list, but it's a great way of saving a little when buying a new monitor.
Best for artists
This might not be the cheapest monitor, but it's a stunning panel with great features. It has an adjustable stand in the back which changes the height and angle of the display easily enough. It has HDR color support and it's factory-calibrated so you can be confident the colors are solid too.
Best for photo editing
LG's big 32-inch 32UL950 is not only a Thunderbolt 3 monitor, meaning you can daisy chain monitors together, but it also has an extensive selection of ports. Plus, its ultrafine 4K display and high color fidelity make this screen look amazing right out of the box.
Best overall
The Philips 27B1U7903, while a mouthful to say, is an excellent monitor. The 4K display is an absolute monster. It has a massive multitude of ports that leave you with loads of ways to plug in. There is a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB4 hub, as well as all the standard HDMI and Display port slots.
That hub has 4 USB 3.2 ports, another Thunderbolt 4 slot, and even an Ethernet LAN 1GB connection. That effectively makes the monitor an all-in-one device which means you won't need to have a seperate dock. It's not cheap, at $1199, but you get a super high-quality monitor for the price.
Best for gamers
We've found the ultimate gaming monitor for Mac users to be the Philips Evnia 42-inch OLED model. It's got a whopping 42-inch 4K with incredible contrast and lighting. There's also a 138Hz refresh rate for any game you can imagine, HDR 10, great contrast, and super-fast response times too.
It also has an excellent array of ports for connecting a Mac, PC, and any peripherals you might want or need. The build quality is also off the charts and it has a lovely matte finish. The only drawback is its hefty price tag of $1,500-ish depending on where you can find one.
Best for editing
Editing photos and videos requires some super accurate screens, and while this one isn't as spectacular as the most expensive models that you can find out there that designed for the purpose, it's still an excellent, accurate display.
For one, it's near-perfect representation of the RGB color space is going to do you well to make sure that you're getting the best color representation possible, and it's size means you'll be able to blow things up that little bit bigger.
It's also got loads of features that just make it a great monitor. There's a cool control puck, which removes the controls for the OSD from the monitor to a separate device, making navigating around super easy. It's stand is good too — If you're doing any work that needs accurate colors, then this is the monitor for you.
Best budget
If you're on a budget but want a super high resolution 4K monitor then there aren't all that many options — but this 32-inch curved 4K display from Samsung brings the size and resolution at an incredibly low price. It's just over $400 for this curved option, but if you opt for the flat-screen version then you'll save even more and still have a massive 4K panel.
It might not have all the features as some of the more expensive models on this list, but you're paying a fraction of the cost so you can't expect them. What you do get is a solid, bright, crisp, and clear display that also happens to be really big.
Did we mention it's big? Because it's really big.
Best for artists
An artist want's super solid color representation and some nice screen real estate to fill with art, and the Benq PD2700U delivers in spades. For those that use loads of photoshop and procreate, there's not going to be much better — and the incredible pixels per inch is going to make sure your work looks great no matter how close you zoom in.
There's more to like as well, such as its sturdy stand and multiple display inputs. Just be aware that there's no USB-C connection on the back so you'll need to use a dongle when connecting it to your MacBook.
Best for photo editing
For photo editors, a large, clear display so that they have plenty of display real estate to edit photos and other files. The LG 32UL950-W is an excellent option, at 32 inches, and features an Ultrafine LG 4K display.
Connectivity is also excellent, with loads of inputs and outputs at the back so that you can plug all your stuff in. We like the stand of this monitor in particular — it's wide, well-built, and has loads of adjustments so that you can get the screen exactly where you want it.
Q&A
Which 4K monitor for your Mac should you choose?
You can always trust iMore. Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Find out more about how we test.
If we could only pick one, then the LG 27UK850-W would be our top choice for a 4K monitor for Mac because we love the flexibility of having a wide variety of different ports.
This top 4K monitor can charge your MacBook, MacBook Air, or 13-inch MacBook Pro, and it also features two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, a display port, and a headphone jack. So this isn't only a fantastic monitor but a hub of connectivity.
When it comes to excellent 4K monitors, the BenQ EW3280U is also hard to beat, with excellent value for money. Its features and price make it a solid choice.
What should I look for in a 4K monitor for Mac?
If you're keen to add a first or second screen to your Mac, there are some key points you need to consider before shopping for one of the best 4K monitors. Here are the ones to remember:
- Connectivity — Apple is sneaky with ports. If you're looking for a 4K monitor for a newer MacBook, you're going to want it to come with a USB-C port unless you have a USB-C hub. Always be sure that whatever device you're connecting to your Mac is compatible.
- Size — Most people think bigger is better with monitors and we tend to agree. But the size you go with should be dictated by the space you have available in your home office. Because of that, a higher resolution can be more practical and almost always better. It allows you to see clearer details and it allows you to fit more information on the screen.
- Portability — People rarely need a second screen they'll move around which is why we haven't included a portable 4K option, but it is worth thinking about if you need one before you buy a new, bulky monitor.
- Response time — If you're planning to useyour new monitor for gaming, you'll need a low response time. This is how long it takes for the display to respond to what you're doing. Generally, anything under 10ms is good, although the lower the better if you're serious about gaming.
- Refresh rate — This is how many times in a second your display draws a new image and it's measured in Hz. You'll find many of the best 4K monitors have 60 Hz refresh rates, but the MacBook Pro has refresh rates of up to 120 Hz so if you want to make the most of the screen, look for higher specs.
If a new monitor is part of a wider plan to refresh your tech and home office, we have plenty of other ways to do so. The best wireless mouse for Mac is perfect for added comfort and efficiency, while you might want to zone out with music or podcasts via the best over-ear headphones for iMac.
While cloud storage is all the rage now, there are still times when you need one of the best external hard drives for your Mac or even the best CD/DVD drives for Mac.
Are 4K monitors worth it?
As prices drop on hi-resolution monitors, they are becoming more and more worth your money. Colors look better, picture is clearer, there are often smoother refresh rates, and more — a 4K monitor should be one of the first upgrades for your desk setup.
