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Thinking of giving someone—or yourself—a monitor for their Mac? Whether you’re looking for a modern display at an affordable price or something in the prosumer realm, here are the best Mac monitor gifts with 4K resolution, USB-C/Thunderbolt, and more.
While you can find cheaper monitors, all of the options below feature USB-C or Thunderbolt, 4K resolution, and pass-through charging, making them a good fit for Apple’s MacBooks, and should also provide longevity.
We’ll start with affordability and move on to prosumer monitors. You can also find our full review of the best monitors for Mac for even more options:
The best Mac monitor gifts
Great Value – Samsung 32 Inch Smart Monitor M8
Samsung’s Smart Monitor M8 offers a compelling choice for those who want 4K resolution, USB-C and a large screen at an affordable price. It even has an iMac-like design in a choice of four colors.
- USB-C with up to 65W charging
- 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution
- 32 inch panel
- Aspect ratio 16:9
- 60Hz refresh rate
- HDR10 support
- Includes a magnetic SlimFit webcam with face tracking
- 400 nits brightness
- 99% sRGB
- 4 ms response time
- Built-in 2.2 channel speakers
- Available in white, blue, green and pink
- Thin bezels and an overall slim design
- Doubles as a smart TV with built-in Apple TV+ and AirPlay 2
- Price: MSRP $699-$729, currently on sale for $449
The Smart Monitor M8 is available directly from Samsung and Amazon with a holiday sale price of $449.
A similar option is the LG 32-inch Smart Monitor for $499, which includes features like AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, USB-C, 4K resolution, and more.
Thunderbolt Monitor Under $700 – LG 24″ UltraFine
If you want the speed and flexibility of a Thunderbolt monitor (not just USB-C), the 24-inch LG UltraFine is a solid choice at $699.
It’s a slightly smaller screen compared to other modern options, but you get higher-end features like 98% DCI-P3, Thunderbolt connectivity that supports Daisy chaining, native Mac controls for brightness, and a simple, clean design.
- 23.7 inch panel with nano IPS
- 4K – 3840 x 2160 resolution
- Aspect ratio 16:9
- Brightness: 540 nits max
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 98% DCI-P3
- 85W power delivery via Thunderbolt
- 2x Thunderbolt (1 up, 1 down up to 40 Gbps)
- 3x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 up to 5 Gb/s
- MSRP $699 – Currently on sale
The 24-inch LG UltraFine display is available at Amazon, Apple, BH Photo and more.
Affordable professional display – BenQ PD3220U
The 32-inch BenQ PD3220U features Thunderbolt, 4K resolution, 95% DCI-P3 color, 85W power delivery for MacBook, multiple professional modes, hotkeys, solid metal kickstand, plenty of I/O, and portrait orientation support.
It’s a strong competitor to Apple’s Studio Display, but with a larger panel and a few hundred dollars cheaper.
- 31.5 inch IPS panel
- 4K – 3840 x 2160 resolution
- Aspect ratio 16:9
- 60Hz refresh rate
- Brightness: 250 typical, 300 nits HDR peak
- 95% DCI-P3
- 100% sRGB
- HDR10
- Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports – 85W and 15W power delivery
- Daisy chain with Thunderbolt
- 2 x HDMI 2.0
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
- 3 x USB 3.1
- 1 x USB C
- 1 x USB B
- headphone jack
- thin frames
- Support for landscape and portrait orientation
- MSRP: $1,199 – Available on Amazon for less
You can find the BenQ PD3220U on Amazon and BH Photo.
Apple Studio screen
Starting at $1,599, the Studio Display is aimed at creative professionals who appreciate Apple’s sleek (and metal) construction.
Although it has a number of advantages, the Studio Display does not offer Thunderbolt ports, but it does have three USB 3.1 Gen 1 (10 Gbps) ports.
- 27 inch panel
- 5K 5120 x 2880 resolution
- Aspect ratio 16:9
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 600 nits brightness
- P3 wide color support
- True Tone support
- 1x Thunderbolt 3 port with 96W power delivery
- 3x USB-C ports (3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s)
- Built-in 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with center stage support
- 6 speaker system with spatial audio support
- Studio quality 3 mic array
- Aluminum construction
- Supports most reference modes like Pro Display XDR Except for HDR
- Price: $1,599-$2,299 (depending on stand and screen finish), sometimes available for less
Studio Display is available from Apple, Amazon, BH Photo, Best Buy and more.
Bonus idea – iPad or iPad Air + Sidecar
Another great gift idea that can check the Mac monitor box and more is an iPad or iPad Air.
With Sidecar’s free feature, you can use the 10.9-inch display as a secondary Mac monitor, and of course, you get a lot more functionality since you’re also getting an Apple tablet.
Check out more 9to5Mac gift guides:
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