How to Choose a Monitor for Your Mac^® Devices [2024 Updated]

Professionals in creative fields have long had an affinity for the sleek styling of Mac devices, but as you likely know already, many require larger displays for their workflows. When choosing a monitor to hook up to your Mac, you often find that the design of the bigger screen clashes with that of the Apple product. Thankfully, monitor manufacturers like BenQ have invested much in developing screens that complement the Mac environment in style and performance. In this article, we’ll look at what you should consider when choosing a monitor to seamlessly integrate with your Mac. 

Perhaps the most obvious specifications when shopping for a monitor are screen size and resolution. While devices like the MacBook have excellent screens, they’re sort of small due to the laptop form factor. As mentioned before, many Mac users find that they need a bigger screen to work with. Since you’re looking for a significant upgrade, 27” or 32” screens are advisable. Anything smaller won’t give you the major increase in screen size you’re looking for. Always choose the biggest monitor your desktop can accommodate, so if possible, go with 32”. If not, 27” works great as well.

Coming from Mac, you’re used to high pixel density and sharp visuals. Also, if you’re in a creative field, you’re very detail-focused. Thus, the best resolution for you would be ultra HD 4K, or 3840 x 2160. Even on a 32” monitor, 4K remains very dense and crisp, without visible pixels, or graininess. Lower resolutions, such as 1440p or 1080p, do not offer the same experience. For photography, design, and video editing, you should go with 4K, as that resolution is now the standard for high end visuals. Check here to select your preferred user interface and desktop scaling.

Consider Mac Connectivity

As a Mac user, you need to have USB-C on your monitor for convenient and seamless connectivity without resorting to bothersome adapters. Monitors with Thunderbolt are even better, supporting the native connection standard of Mac. Ideally, you should get a monitor that offers USB-C or Thunderbolt with power delivery that’s enough to drive and recharge your MacBook. That way your workspace is spared cable clutter, and the monitor and Mac share just one cable for everything you need them to do.

In the case of USB-C, not all monitors with this connector support power delivery. Some instances of USB-C are for data only. Make sure to carefully read the specifications for each monitor you consider purchasing.

*Your Thunderbolt 3/4 devices are compatible with USB-C on BenQ displays, ensuring consistent and seamless work efficiency.

Color Gamut Support

The default color space for Mac is P3, also known as Display P3. You need to make sure your monitor of choice offers nearly total coverage of P3. That’s usually at least 90%, but really good monitors reach 95% and higher. Depending on your workflow, you may also need support for Adobe RGB (popular in photography) and sRGB (a staple color space in design). Typically, monitors with excellent P3 support have no problem covering Adobe RGB and sRGB, as P3 is wider than the other two and effectively encompasses them.

Scaling Support

By default, your Mac uses what the operating system considers the optimal resolution for your display size. The scaling chosen affects the size of text and icons as shown on your screen. In most cases we recommend using the resolution and scaling that Mac OS automatically sets for you. However, you may manually change resolutions to make text and other visual elements increase or decrease in visible size. This may prove beneficial, depending on your preferences.

Enhanced Ergonomics

Mac-minded professionals tend to spend long hours at their desktops, meaning comfort takes a high priority. Basic monitors simply won’t do. You need a screen that you can adjust in terms of placement and viewing to suit your preferences. That entails height adjustment, tilt, angle, and swivel. Premium monitors provide for all of these with long-lasting durability and smooth operation. The last thing you want is a creaky or clicky screen that makes noise every time you adjust it. Good quality displays provide comfort and ergonomic consideration with a firm emphasis on quality assurance.

BenQ has several monitors specifically designed for Mac users. The PD3220U and PD2725U deliver the high pixel density 4K visuals we mentioned before. However, if you’re interested in an ultrawide monitor to go along with your Mac, the PD3420Q is likewise a perfect match, with a resolution of 3440 x 1440. All three have Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery so you only need one cable between Mac and monitor. They also offer 95% P3 coverage and are designed to match the colors and other image parameters of your Mac screen. What you see on the small display appears in identical form only bigger on the monitor, with no bothersome inconsistencies that could potentially throw off your work.

With regards to ergonomics, all BenQ monitors for Mac feature advanced stands that support quite a lot of adjustment, helping you customize the way the monitor is placed on your desk. In addition, BenQ monitors for Mac support your creative workflows in additional ways that we highlight here. 

 *Monitors with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C also work seamlessly with Mac devices that feature Thunderbolt 4. 

If you’re on a tighter budget, you may want to consider alternatives such as the PD3205U and PD2705U. They also have 4K and USB-C with power delivery, but do not offer Thunderbolt. Still, USB-C works in essentially the same way, and the power delivery maintains the neat workspace you want without redundant cables. Both monitors offer 99% sRGB, which is great for graphic designers, web designers, and content creators in different fields, from gaming to video.

These monitors also come in versions (PD2705UA and PD3205UA) with an ergonomic arm stand that’s extremely handy for finding just the right position for the screen. Adjust monitor height, angle, and depth to better match your particular preferences.  

If you’re more into photography and need to work with Adobe RGB, then the SW321C, SW272U, and SW272Q deliver 99% coverage of the popular color space. They arrive fully calibrated from the factory, so you’re ready to go out of the box. The BenQ SW series of monitors uses AQCOLOR technology and features hardware color calibration for better accuracy and consistency. You will not find more color-accurate panels anywhere else. They’re also ready for Mac thanks to the inclusion of full USB-C functionality, supporting power delivery, data, audio, and video from one port.

As you can see, BenQ has a complete lineup of Mac-friendly monitors ready for you to choose from. If you need more info, reach out to us on social, we’re always available!