BestUSB-C Monitors for MacbooksiMore2019

If your daily-use Mac is a MacBook and you need a bigger display than the 13 or 15-inch laptop screen, your best bet is LG's 27-inch 4K display for its versatility and price. It's perfect for most people, though there are other monitors better suited to different needs.

Best Overall: LG 27UK850-W

LG's latest 4K display is perfectly sized for most people at 27-inches. It supports a wide range of peripherals, including USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort, HDMI, and standard headphones.

However, if you find yourself on a scenario where your device (iMac, MacBook Pro, Air, Mac Pro or Mini) is not responding and you happen to have a Windows PC, then you can still be able to easily make a USB bootable installation media for your Mac OS X to reinstall the operating system using the Recovery Assistant.

The best part of this monitor is its ability to power your MacBook while acting as a display so that your battery does not limit you. It can even power the 13-inch MacBook Pro with ease (though it struggles to keep the 15-inch MacBook Pro juiced up more than a trickle during use).

Pros:

  • Built-in USB hub for all your peripherals
  • Easy setup
  • 4K display
  • 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time
  • IPS 3-side borderless display

Best Overall

LG 27UK850-W

The best USB-C monitor for most people.

This 4K monitor is perfectly situated between price and features with a variety of ports, high-speed data transfer, and 60W charging for your MacBook.

The 27-inch Envy has a great display that looks as good as its hardware. It's ultra-thin with a 'micro-edge' bezel, meaning it has a 3-sided nearly bezel-less edge, so you see more on the screen than, say an iMac's 27-inch screen. The USB-C connector powers up to the 13-inch MacBook Pro (it'll trickle charge the 15-inch MacBook Pro, too) so you won't have to worry about battery drain.

It's got a small base for minimal desktop footprint and can be mounted on a wall. With two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and support for AMD FreeSync, it's the perfect gaming display, movie-watching screen, and everyday monitor.

Pros:

  • 4K display
  • Fast 60Hz refresh rate
  • Zero lag for gaming

Best Value

HP Envy 27

An affordable option that looks as great as it performs.

The HP Envy 27 is a quality model monitor for this price. With a 27-inch 4K display and USB-C connection, you're getting the biggest bang for your buck.

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 for daisy-chain

LG UltraFine 4K

Dual-screen full 4K support.

Hook up two for a beautiful, bright, and convenient workflow for your Mac laptop.

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 5120 x 2160 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

Bootable windows usb mac

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 and have data transfer up to 40Gbsp and 85W charging.

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 for performance, reliability, and productivity.

The future is curved, and LG is the pioneer of bending the display rules. This 38-inch UltraWide monitor has a 21:9 ratio with split-screen support and is perfect for graphic designers and professional photo and video editors. The display has a USB-C data transfer port, two USB- A ports, plus a couple of HDMI ports, and a DisplayPort port.

Pros:

  • Well-designed
  • Easy setup
  • Versatile ports
  • Good built-in audio

Best Curved

LG 38WK95C-W Curved UltraWide

Ahead of the curve.

If you need to charge your Mac laptop and transfer data at the same time, you're in luck because this curvy beauty has what you want.

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 its own USB-C port, a great-looking IPS panel, and Eye Car technology to prevents eye fatigue.

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 27UK850-W is the perfect fit for most people. At 27-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 27Uk850 is just a bit out of your range, the HP Envy 27 truly is the next best thing. With 4K resolution and USB-C support, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the LG model does, but it's got everything you need to make your second screen work for you. Your most significant compromise is that there are fewer ports than the more expensive model, and the base isn't as sturdy.

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.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Second screen time

Take a monitor on the go with one of these options for your Mac

For work or play, consider one of these portal solutions for your favorite Mac.

What is USB?

USB is an industry standard for connecting computers and other devices. Many Mac computers have USB-A ports (sometimes referred to as USB 3 ports), which look like this:

USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 Gen 1 can transfer data up to 5 Gbps, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 can transfer data up to 10 Gbps.

What is USB-C?

USB-C describes the shape and style of a port on your computer and the connectors that you can plug into the port. USB-C ports look like this:

Several different data transfer standards, like USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3, can flow through a USB-C port and connector. You can also connect your computer's AC power adapter to a USB-C port with a compatible USB-C charging cable.

USB-C ports are reversible, so you don't have to worry about which side of the connector is up when you plug it in.

These Mac computers have Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports that support USB 3.1 Gen 2 and Thunderbolt 3:

  • iMac Pro (2017)
  • iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017)
  • iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017)
  • iMac (21.5-inch, 2017)
  • MacBook Pro (2016 and later)

These Mac notebooks have USB-C ports that support USB 3.1 Gen 1:

  • MacBook (2015 and later)

You can use your USB 3 devices with the above Mac models using an appropriate adapter.

What version of USB does my Mac support?

Windows

You can use System Information or System Profiler to see what type of USB ports your Mac has, how fast these ports are, and what's currently connected to them. Learn more about identifying USB ports on your Mac.

What transfer rates does USB offer?

USB 3.1 Gen 2 can transfer data up to 10 Gbps. Newer Mac models with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports support these speeds.

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Speeds of previous USB versions:

  • USB 3 and USB 3.1 Gen 1 can transfer data up to 5 Gbps.
  • USB 2 can transfer data up to 480 Mbps.
  • USB 1.1 can transfer data up to 12 Mbps.

Does USB 3 offer more power than USB 2?

USB 3 devices can use up to 900mA of power (compared to 500mA used by USB 2 devices). You'll need to use a USB 3 cable to use the 900mA of power available. USB 2 cables don't support 900mA.

Why don't I see blue inserts on the USB ports of my Mac?

Some manufacturers use a blue insert to designate a USB 3 port or device. All USB ports on Mac computers that support USB 3 are USB 3 capable and don't have blue inserts.

What USB 3 devices are supported?

All devices that conform to what is commonly referred to as the '2008 version 1 USB 3.0 specification' are supported.

Are USB 3 hubs supported?

Hubs that conform to what is commonly referred to as the '2008 version 1 USB 3.0 specification' are supported.

How do I get the best performance from the USB 3 ports?

The first device you plug in will configure the port, so always connect USB 3-capable hubs or devices first.

What happens if I plug in a USB 2 device into the USB 3 port first?

If you plug in a USB 2 hub first, all devices connected or 'daisy-chained' to that hub will operate up to the maximum transfer rate of USB 2 speed (480 Mbps).

What happens if I plug my USB 3 device into a USB 2 port?

Your device should be backwards-compatible with USB 2 ports. However, you won't get USB 3 speed and power may be limited to 500mA.

Is USB 3 supported in Windows 7 and 8 using Boot Camp?

Yes. USB 3 is supported natively in Windows 8. See Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8 for more information.
To implement USB 3 support on Windows 7 using Boot Camp, download and install the Windows Support Software (drivers). See Boot Camp: Installing Windows 7 Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Are there differences between USB 3 cables and other USB cables?

Yes. USB 3 cables:

  • Use more wires than other USB cables. This makes USB 3 cables a bit thicker than other USB cables.
  • Usually have a blue insert.
  • Have an 'SS' symbol on the connector that plugs into the computer.
  • Use a different connector on the device end than USB 2 cables.
  • Can deliver more power to an attached device (900mA).

Can I use a USB 2 cable to connect a USB 3 device to my computer?

If the device end of the cable fits into the connector on the device, yes. However, because it has fewer wires, you won't get USB 3 speed and power may be limited to 500 mA.

How can I determine if my device is connected as a USB 3 device?

Use the System Information utility:

  1. From the Apple () menu, choose About This Mac.
  2. Click System Report.
  3. Under the Hardware heading on the left side of the System Information window, click USB.

USB 3 devices appear under USB 3.0 Bus, and USB 2 devices appear under USB 2.0 Bus. Click the device names to learn more about each one.

Why do my USB 3 devices seem to only work at USB 2 speed when I use virtualization software on my Mac?

Some virtualization software doesn't yet support USB 3. Contact the manufacturer of your virtualization software for more information.

Why don't some USB 3 devices activate or appear on the USB 3 bus?

Try these tips if a USB 3 device doesn't activate or appear on the USB 3 bus:

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  • Be sure you've installed the latest software updates available for your computer. To check, choose App Store from the Apple menu and see if any updates are available.
  • Sometimes unplugging and plugging the device back in can resolve the issue.
  • Try plugging the device into another USB port on the computer.
  • Check to see if a firmware update is available for your device from the manufacturer.
  • If the device came with an AC adapter, use it.
  • Restart your computer.
  • Try a different USB 3 cable.
  • Try a different USB 3 hub.

Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

Bootable Windows Usb Mac

  • If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.
  • If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.
  • To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

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