These Are the Best Budget-Friendly Monitors and Displays For Your Mac

When it comes to finding the best budget-friendly monitors and displays for Mac, there are a lot of things to consider. The first thing you should figure out is your budget, as monitors can get rather expensive, really quickly, as evidenced by the Apple Studio Display and its $1,500 starting price tag. However, the great thing about the monitor market is that there are so many different options out there, you really can’t go wrong as long as you know what you’re looking for. That being said, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite monitors at various price points.

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Best Budget-Friendly Monitors and Displays For Mac Under $1000

While the Apple Studio Display is arguably the nicest-looking monitor on the market, it does lack a few features that you can find in competing products at a lower price point. The three monitors listed below are all under $1,000, reaching the top end of our budget-friendly selections. But whether you want as much screen real estate as possible or are trying to build out a “single cable setup”, there’s something for everyone.

• LG 32UL950-W Ultrafine 4K UHD LED Monitor with Thunderbolt 3 – With the LG 32UL950-W, you’re getting an IPS monitor with a UHD 4K resolution that displays breathtaking clarity and fine detail with four times the resolution of Full HD. Simplify the setup with a single cable for video/audio plus data transfer, as well as simultaneous laptop charging. Ideal for demanding professionals, this is the most versatile Thunderbolt yet. The compact port enables 40Gbps data and high-bandwidth video, including a 4K signal to two different screens, or 5K/60fps to a single screen.
• Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor – This massive 49-inch display from Samsung features QHD resolution and brings you a display as wide as two QHD monitors sitting side by side with incredibly detailed, pin-sharp images. The ultrawide curved panel’s 32:9 aspect ratio keeps games alive—even when you need to pause allowing you to open various windows at once and jump between tasks seamlessly.
• ViewSonic ELITE XG320U 32-Inch 4K UHD 150Hz Gaming Monitor – Immerse yourself further into the gameplay with games rendered in incredible clarity and detail. The 4K Ultra HD IPS panel is built for rich graphics, incredible colors, and deep contrasts. In addition to the 4K resolution, this monitor also features a built-in HDMI 2.1 port, allowing you to take advantage of the fast 150 refresh rate with your new MacBook Pro or Mac Mini.

Best Budget-Friendly Monitors and Displays For Mac Under $750

In the sub-$750 market, there are still some really great monitors, unless you really want a 49-inch screen to pair with your Mac. In this category, we have a monitor that offers USB-C connectivity along with a KVM switch, another one that features dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, and the last one is great for those who do graphical design work and care more about color accuracy.

• Dell UltraSharp U2723QE – Streamline your workspace with extensive connectivity ports including USB-C (up to 90W power delivery), RJ45 (Ethernet), DP1.4, and HDMI. Dell’s UltraSharp U2723QE features an Auto KVM which will seamlessly switch controls over to the second connected PC. The included stand also offers height, swivel, tilt, and pivot adjustments, removing the need to grab a VESA mount for ergonomic adjustments.
• Samsung CJ79 Series 34-Inch ViewFinity Ultrawide QHD – The CJ79 features two Thunderbolt 3 ports to connect compatible Macs and PCs. The built-in 7-watt stereo speakers offer an enhanced entertainment experience when viewing videos and playing games. It sports a 34-inch curved ultra-wide screen with a 21×9 aspect ratio, making it great for multitaskers.
• BenQ PD3205U 32-Inch 4K UHD Computer Monitor for Designers – The BenQ PD3205U monitor is factory calibrated for color accuracy and comes with a report straight from the manufacturer. It also features BenQ’s AQCOLOR technology which reproduces accurate colors on professional monitors. And lastly, this monitor features a built-in KVM switch to connect multiple computers, along with 90W power delivery via USB-C.

Best Budget-Friendly Monitors and Displays For Mac Under $500

When trying to find the best monitors under $500, things start to get really tough, as the different display technologies being used continue to drop in price, providing a plethora of fantastic options. We’ve included three options that we would consider ourselves, which include an entry from LG’s excellent UltraFine lineup of monitors, a gaming monitor with great color accuracy, and another that has ultra-thin bezels around the edges.

• LG UltraFine 4K UHD 27UN850-W – LG UltraFine displays delivers Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) resolution with supremely accurate colors, even when viewed off angle. With the 27UN850-W, this  27-inch display offers the versatility of USB Type C connectivity plus the benefit of sRGB 99% color gamut to express highly accurate colors. LG’s Black Stabilizer senses dark scenes and helps make it brighter so that you can find the enemies hiding and waiting to attack your player in the dark.
• ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ-W 27-inch HDR Gaming Monitor – The ASUS ROG Strix lineup is definitely tuned for gamers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great experience on the Mac. It sports a 27-inch QHD resolution, along with covering up to 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and is DisplayHDR 400 certified. But if you have a gaming PC or console, you’ll enjoy G-SYNC certification in addition to ASUS’ Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync, eliminating ghosting and tearing while playing those fast-paced games.
• Dell S3221QS 32-Inch Curved 4K UHD Ultra-Thin Bezel Monitor – The three-sided ultrathin bezel design in 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution lets you enjoy immersive viewing in incredible clarity and fine detail with 4 times the resolution of Full HD. It sports a modern, elegant design with a subtle textured pattern at the back of the monitor that has its own unique look. It brings the feeling of a harmonious blend of great style and quality into every living space.

Best Budget-Friendly Monitors and Displays For Mac Under $300

The last category we want to cover is for those who want the best budget-friendly monitors and displays for Mac under $300. As is the case with the sub-$500 category, there are so many different monitor options for less than $300 that it can make your head spin. However, this category is also the most dangerous as there are quite a few unrecognizable brands out there that may look good on paper, but don’t really follow through when you have the monitor on your desk.

• GIGABYTE M27Q KVM Gaming Monitor – GIGABYTE gaming monitors offer the ultimate specifications and quality, users can truly enjoy the upscaled performance without the need for extravagance. The GIGABYTE M27Q is touted as one of the world’s first “KVM gaming monitors” allowing you to control multiple devices with a single keyboard and mouse. There’s even a dedicated button built into the monitor, making it easier than ever to switch between devices without skipping a beat.
• Samsung UJ59 Series 4K UHD Computer Monitor – Samsung’s UHD upscaling technology includes signal analysis and detail enhancement that seamlessly upconverts SD, HD and Full HD content to near UHD-level picture quality. Framed by slim screen bezels and finished in stylish matte black, the Samsung UJ59 sits elegantly on virtually any desk. And its Y-shaped stand provides a firm footing and a refined metallic touch.
• Sceptre 32-inch E325B-QPN168 QHD IPS Monitor – Despite being priced at less than $250, the Sceptre E325B-QPM168 uses a phenomenal IPS panel that cannot be beaten when it comes to consistently delivering top color performance and sharp visibility from multiple viewing angles. With 120% sRGB, this monitor offers a wider color gamut than most conventional monitors, giving deeper colors and defining features.