27" screen for a MacBook Pro

[272BHP]

I need to buy a second screen for a MacBook Pro so I can be a bit more productive when I work from home, can anyone recommend a good one? It is a bit of a minefield out there with all the different resolutions and adaptors.

It is mainly for coding - thanks.

[tim0409]

If you want 4K this is great monitor (but expensive) -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-27UK850-Adjustable-Dis...

I would recommend getting a monitor which supports USB-C - works really well with MacBooks.

[272BHP]

I was looking at that one but because there are so many in that range I could not figure out which one to get.

I was also put off by the fact that it says it is white when the image suggests that it is black.

[mikef]

Or just buy a cheap USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to Displayport or USB-C to DVI-D cable off Amazon. Or a doc/adaptor

And get the best 4K monitor within your budget

[P4ulB]

I find 27" monitors at 4K to be a bit too small.

A 2K monitor (2560x1440) is a nice compromise.

[petrolbloke]

P4ulB said:

I find 27" monitors at 4K to be a bit too small.

A 2K monitor (2560x1440) is a nice compromise.

I have a Dell U2715H (27", 2560x1440) at work and it's really nice. Haven't tried a 4K monitor yet, but I expect I'd think the same as you.

[272BHP]

I thought a 4k would be the same resolution as a iMac screen which is why it was my first choice.

I am not sure a 13" MacBook we also have would be able to drive it though.

I will have a look at the Dell

[HM-2]

P4ulB said:

I find 27" monitors at 4K to be a bit too small.

A 2K monitor (2560x1440) is a nice compromise.

Another +1 for this. Not much point buying a 4K monitor in 27" and then having to set text upscaling to 125% or 150% in order to be able to read anything.

I'd be looking at a 32" minimum for 4K, but plenty of decent 2K monitors around. For your use case I'd go IPS over TN, expect to pay ~£300 for a decent one. Plenty of options from the likes of Dell, BenQ, AOC, Viewsonic...most of them use the same panel so are much of a muchness, only differing in anesthetics.

We use 27" 2K Dell UltraSharps at work for a very similar coding heavy use case. Often fitted to rotatable mounts so people can do it in portrait

[mikef]

P4ulB said:

I find 27" monitors at 4K to be a bit too small.

Hmm. On the other hand I run two 24” NEC 4K monitors (more expensive than the 27” versions) for video and photo work

They give the sort of image quality I’m used to from MacBook retina screens, phone displays etc

If I switch one of them back to HD resolution, the difference is clearly discernible

[Vaud]

272BHP said:

I am not sure a 13" MacBook we also have would be able to drive it though.

Check the model, many can.