Best USB-C monitors 2021: 4K, portable, ultrawide & more

Best
USB-C Monitors for Macbooks
iMore
2021

Although it’s not the most expensive or state-of-the-art USB-C monitor on this list, the MSI Optix brings the best bang for your buck. The wide curved screen delivers an immersive experience that’s beautiful for game-play, and the high refresh rate will produce gorgeous playback. This one also implements anti-flicker technology and blue-light filtering to reduce eye fatigue for those who spend hours in front of the monitor. The 27-inch MSI Optix features 2560×1440 WQHD resolution, a 165hz refresh rate, and AMD Freesync for beautiful playback and gameplay, no matter what you plan to use it for.

The price tag on the LG UltraFine 4K is very appealing. You can have a quality 4K monitor that works seamlessly with your Mac. Though it doesn’t have the Apple design aesthetic, the good stuff is all on the inside. Just like an Apple brand monitor, all of this USB-C monitor’s controls are available in the settings section of your Mac.

This 24-inch display fits right into the pocket of reasonably priced and excellent quality if you don’t mind the boxy black look. As for the price, you can get two of them for almost one LG UltraFine 5K Display price.

Though LG’s UltraFine 5K was designed specifically with Apple’s MacBook Pro in mind, it’s the 34WK95U-W that wins our hearts. This 5K monitor has a 5120×2160 resolution, 34-inch display, a Thunderbolt 3 port, an HDMI port, a DisplayPort port, and a couple of USB-A ports. It’s more versatile than the UltraFine, and that’s ultra-fine with us.

LG’s UltraFine 5K monitor combines amazing color, crystal clear picture, and high-quality speakers for a lovely cinematic experience. Use it with your Mac or Apple TV to watch 5K videos and any other visual eye candy your heart desires. It’s 27-inches big, which is about the size of Apple’s larger iMac, and has a similar P3 wide color gamut with 500 nits brightness. For full 5K resolution on a larger display, the UltraFine 5K is your perfect choice.

Its biggest downfall is that it doesn’t quite have that Apple aesthetic. LG has designed an attractive Edge-Arcline base for some of its monitors, which looks better with Apple products. The UltraFine 5K, unfortunately, still has that big, boxy black base.

Equipped with 4K UHD 3840×2160 resolution and 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, the BenQ EW3280U Entertainment monitor is built for performance. Sharp graphics, bright colors, and an impressive built-in speaker system combine to make this USB-C monitor a fantastic entertainment experience. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, designing, or editing, this monitor has the visuals and sound you need to get the job done. The only downside to this monitor is that the USB-C port does not support charging, so you’ll have to charge separately.

The ZenScreen is a favorite around the iMore office for its incredible portability. It’s a 14-inch screen with a USB-C connector. You can rotate between landscape and portrait mode, and it’s compatible with Thunderbolt 3. If you need a second screen when you’re headed for the coffee shop, this takes up just the right amount of space without being a burden on your portability. When it comes to portability, this is one of the best USB-C monitors for Mac.

If accurate color reproduction and brightness are important to you, then a good VESA DisplayHDR 400 monitor will be a good bet. This 27-inch monitor from LG has beautiful colors, contrast, and brightness due to VESA DisplayHDR 400 technology. Get the most out of 4K resolution with this well-designed monitor, and it comes with USB-C compatibility as well.

If what you need is expansive space to work with, the LG 29UM69G-B serves it up and then some. This extra-wide USB-C monitor has an aspect ratio of 21:9, so you probably won’t even need a second monitor! The Screen Split 2.0 technology allows you to move effortlessly between desktops or even view several at once, which is when this monitor really shines.

Alongside its wideness, you will also enjoy the 1080p resolution, graphics powered by AMD FreeSync, and continuous 1ms motion blur reduction. Overall it’s a great choice at a very reasonable price.

Bottom line

Picking the best 4K USB-C monitor for Mac can be difficult. It’s important to consider how much room you have on your desk, what you plan to use your Mac laptop for, and how much you can afford. That’s why the MSI Optix is the perfect fit for most people. At 27-inches, it’s big, but not too big. It has good resolution, a high refresh rate, and an excellent value for the price.

If the LG is just a bit out of your range, the ASUS ZenScreen truly is the next best thing, and it’s portable! On the other end, consider the always impressive MSI Optix. The monitor is powerful and beautiful too!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Lory Gil is iMore’s former managing editor and spends more time in front of her monitors than she does anywhere else. She’s constantly switching between desktop and mobile for work and knows how important an easy setup is.

Luke Filipowicz is iMore’s gaming guru and knows how important a great monitor with zero lag is. If he had the room on his desk, he’d surround himself with 360-degrees of 4K displays.