Dual Monitor Gaming Mac
Shop for dual monitor at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Aug 20, 2019 These are the top portable monitors for on-the-go gaming, work, and more. In the crowded world of computer monitors designed for every situation possible, there’s one subset that often gets overlooked: Portable monitors.
BestUSB-C Monitors for MacbooksiMore2020
Even if you have that large, lovely 16-inch Macbook Pro, that one monitor is not always enough for all the incredible things you'd like to do and see with your computer. If you're looking for a large-screen display to go with your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, you've come to the right place. Your best bet is the LG UltraFine 4K display thanks to its versatility and price. It's perfect for most people, though there are other monitors better suited to different needs.
Best Overall: LG UltraFine 4K
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 the 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 the price of one LG UltraFine 5K Display.
Pros:
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Dual-screen full 4K display support
- Supports 85W charging
- Easy to set up
Best Overall
LG UltraFine 4K
Dual-screen full 4K support.
Hook up two for a beautiful, bright, and convenient workflow for your Mac laptop.
Source: iMore
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 5120x2160 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.
Pros:
- Pro-quality technology
- Nano ISP color 5K display
- USB hub
- Versatile input options
Cons:
- No built-in camera or microphone
- Poor built-in speaker quality
Premium Option
LG 34WK95U-W Nano-ISP UltraWide
From MacBook to iMac with LG and Thunderbolt 3.
Use LG's UltraWide monitor with your Mac laptop and daisy chain it with a second 4K monitor.
Source: iMore
With LG's latest update to its UltraFine 5K monitor, you can use it along with your 2018 (or later) iPad Pro with USB-C. That's because the monitor now supports USB-C and Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt 3 charges the MacBook Pro, and the three USB-C ports offer 5Gbps downstream. Its 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.
Pros:
- Up to 5K resolution
- Designed for Apple
- Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C
- Built-in speakers, camera, and mic
Best for iPad Pro
LG UltraFine 5K
Full 5K display plus support for USB-C.
If your workflow includes both a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro, this is the monitor you want.
Best for Entertainment: BenQ EW3280U Entertainment Monitor
Equipped with 4K UHD 3840x2160 resolution and 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, this monitor is built for performance. Sharp graphics, bright colors, and an impressive built-in speaker system combine for an amazing 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 actually support charging, so you'll have to charge seperately.
Pros:
- 4K UHD resolution
- 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut
- True-tone treVolo audio with two speakers and a 5W subwoofer
- HDRi imagery with intelligent brightness control
Cons:
Dual Monitor Gaming Machine
- USB-C port does not support charging
- Expensive
Best for Entertainment
BenQ EW3280U Entertainment Monitor
Full visual + sound experience
Combine eye and ear candy for a full entertainment experience that looks and sounds amazing.
Source: ASUS
The ZenScreen is a favorite around the iMore office for its incredible portability. It's a 15.6-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.
Pros:
- Weighs less than 2 pounds
- Ultra-slim at only 8mm thick
- Comes with its own cover
- 60Hz refresh rate
Best on a Budget
ASUS ZenScreen
As portable as it gets.
The ZenScreen is ASUS's very portable monitor with a USB-C port, a great-looking IPS panel, and more.
Source: iMore
Graphic designers, photographers, and videographers win big with BenQ's DesignVue 4K Display. It's built for you. The variety of display modes are useful, and the incredibly easy way to switch between them, including split-screen, is an absolute pleasure to use.
The screen meets all your high-quality resolution needs. The blacks are deep, the reds are bright, and the whites are so bright you almost need sunglasses. I actually worked in Dark mode for a while, which reduced the brightness a bit, while still keeping the screen clear.
Pros:
- Sharp picture
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Legacy ports
- Multi-angle stand
- Comes with its own hotkey controller
- Variety of screen filter options onboard
Cons:
- Connection ports are positioned
- Not as Mac-friendly as LG's UltraFine 4K display
- Poor quality speakers
- Very expensive
Best for Creatives
BenQ PD2720U DesignVue 4K
Space saver
If you're a graphic designer, photographer, or videographer, you're going to love the variety of display modes here.
Bottom Line
Picking the right second screen for your MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro is a difficult one. 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 LG UltraFine 4K is the perfect fit for most people. At 24-inches, it's big, but not too big. It's got an incredible 4K screen resolution and a variety of versatile ports for connecting all manner of peripherals.
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 LG UltraFine 5K. The monitor is powerful and beautiful too!
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Lory Gil is iMore's 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.
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Buyers GuideGet 4K for your Mac with these great monitors
To get the most out of your Mac, you need a beautiful display. A 4K monitor is a huge step in the right direction. Here are the best 4K monitors for your Mac.
Best4K Monitors for MaciMore2020
Are you upgrading that high-tech home office of yours? Your Mac or MacBook's display is already gorgeous, but if you're in the market for a second display or even something larger than what you have, a 4K monitor is a massive step in the right direction. If you want to try and maintain the same level of definition as your current display, here are the best 4K monitors for your Mac.
HDR10 support: LG 27UD68-W
Staff FavoriteOne of LG's latest monitors, the 4K 27UD68-W sports USB-C, HDR support via 2 HDMI ports and a DisplayPort, a headphone jack, and two down-stream USB-A ports. It also has excellent viewing angles, thanks to its IPS panel, and its gray-to-gray response time is a blazing-fast five milliseconds.
2014 Mac Mini Dual Monitors
Best for an entertaining experience: BenQ EW3280U Entertainment Monitor
For high-quality visuals and next-level sound, you can't beat the BenQ EW3280U. This bad boy is equipped with 4K UHD resolution and 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut for a crystal clear picture and vibrant colors. It also comes with True Tone treVolo Audio that includes multiple speakers and built-in 5W subwoofer so that you can expect an exceptional sound experience, as well. This makes it an excellent monitor for streaming video, gaming, and even video editing work.
USB-C connection: HP Z27
HP's new Z27 4K monitor may just take over the top spot after more testing since it features USB-C, as well as DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, and HDMI. Its colors are immaculately accurate, and with a gray-to-gray response time of 8 milliseconds, you won't see any hiccups while you're working or gaming.
Upgrade pick: BenQ PD3200U
BenQ's 32-inch monitor is somewhat expensive. Still, it offers excellent features for the creative pro, like several different modes (including Darkroom) for photo and video editing, a built-in SD card reader, as well as a 5-port USB hub, HDMI ports, and mini and regular DisplayPorts.
Dual Monitor Games
Budget option: LG 27UD58-B
This inexpensive monitor from LG has the company's excellent IPS panel, as well as a swift 5-millisecond response time. With a refresh rate of 60Hz, excellent viewing angles, and a designated gaming mode, this is a solid all-around monitor for most people. It doesn't offer much in terms of inputs (HDMI and DisplayPort only), but it'll do in a pinch.
If you need Thunderbolt 3: BenQ PD3220U
Mac Mini 2012 Dual Monitor
BenQ's big 32-inch PD3220U is not only a Thunderbolt 3 monitor, meaning you can daisy chain monitors together but also has quite a few ports. With one Thunderbolt 3 port, one USB-C, two USB-A, an HDMI, DisplayPort port, and a headphone jack, this monitor has tons of connectivity to attach all your favorite devices. Plus, it's 60hz screen refresh rate, 600 nits brightness, and beautiful P3 wide color gamut makes this screen look amazing right out of the box.
A couple of suggestions
Of course, when it comes to using a newer MacBook, you're not only going to want USB-C (since it's the only port the MacBook lineup has anymore), but you're likely going to want some extra ports. That's where the LG 27UD68-W comes in. Since it 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, making it not only a fantastic monitor but a whole hub for connectivity.
When it comes to excellent 4K monitors, the BenQ EW3280U is hard to beat, with excellent bang for your buck. Its combined features and price make it a great consideration for anyone looking for a 4K display to use with their Mac, but the lack of USB-C can be concerning for some.
Lastly, if the price is your only concern, the LG 27UD58-B is probably the monitor you should pick up. Since it was released a couple of years ago, it received a massive price cut recently, and that's no laughing matter.
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NamasteDual Monitor For Macbook
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Dual Monitor Gaming Setup
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