The new Apple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with Apple’s silicon aim to take your productivity to the next level by promising seamless performance. However, the small screen may somewhat limit your productivity, especially if you often have to shuffle between multiple windows and documents. Well — connecting an external monitor seems like the only way out then. Speaking of which, here are some of the best ultrawide monitors for your MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
All the best ultrawide monitors for Mac give you ample screen space to open 3-4 windows side by side, thereby letting you cross-reference your research material without any issues. And given the prowess of the recent MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, they should have no duplication issues or extending the displays. More importantly, most of these monitors have VESA mounts, meaning you needn’t waste precious desk space. Instead, you can mount them on a monitor arm and save on space while keeping your desk free from wires and cables. But before we get to the best widescreen monitors for Macs –
- Add more ports to your Mac with a dedicated USB-C hub.
- Interface your Mac to a monitor using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable for better connectivity.
- A USB-C docking station with power delivery is an excellent companion for your Mac on a desk.
1. Dell S3423DWC Curved USB-C Monitor
- Resolution: 3440×1440 | Panel Size: 34-inches | Panel Type: VA
- Curved: Yes | VESA Mount: Yes
- Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x USB Type-B, 2 x USB Type-A
Kicking off the list is a reliable ultrawide monitor from Dell aimed toward users with a focus on productivity. The large 34-inch panel is more than sufficient to run multiple windows or different instances of an app. For those of you interested in gaming — the refresh rate can also go all the way up to 100Hz.
The Dell S3423DWC is a good fit for your Mac thanks to the fact that it has a USB-C port. So, not only can you output your Mac’s display via this port but you can also use it to charge your MacBook simultaneously. This is thanks to the fact that the USB-C port supports 65W power delivery.
Another aspect to like about the Dell S3423DWC is its built-in speakers. They are loud and eliminate the need for an additional speaker setup on your desk. The slight curvature of the monitor ensures you get a good view of everything on the screen without a lot of distortion. However, the contrast levels and viewing angles aren’t that great as per reviews. But, that is to be expected from a monitor with a VA panel. If you want a budget-friendly ultrawide monitor that’s quite large, the Dell S3423DWC is a solid option.
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2. LG 34WN80C-B Curved UltraWide Monitor
- Resolution: 3440×1440 | Panel Size: 34-inches | Panel Type: IPS
- Curved: Yes | VESA Mount: Yes
- Ports: 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB Type-C
If you do not want to empty your pockets on an ultrawide monitor, the LG 34WN80C-B is worth considering. This one proves to be a bang-for-the-buck deal considering its rich feature set. It is a great monitor for creatives and can display 99% of the sRGB color gamut, with the colors being rich and accurate. More importantly, the USB Type-C port is capable of Power Delivery and can deliver up to 60W of power.
Simultaneously, the WQHD resolution does a great job rendering clear and crisp text, making it apt to read text and view pictures. Unlike the one above, the looks are simple.
But it’s very ergonomic and lets you tilt and swivel the monitor. On the downside, the LG 34WN80C-B is not truly built for gamers, for it has a standard refresh rate of 60Hz and lacks support for AdaptiveSync standards like FreeSync or G-Sync. Nonetheless, it’s a great productivity-focused monitor, and the ultrawide form factor is the cherry on top.
The LG 34WN80C sports an ample number of ports. You will find a duo of HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.2 connector, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C port. So, you can connect your MacBook Pro (or a laptop with similar configurations) via a USB Type-C cable, and that’s about it.
So far, it has attracted a fair number of user reviews. People like it for its rich and immersive display, as well as for the value-for-money proposition.
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3. INNOCN 44C1G Ultrawide Monitor
- Resolution: 3840×1080 | Panel Size: 43.8-inches | Panel Type: ADS
- Curved: No | VESA Mount: Yes
- Ports: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x USB C, 2 x HDMI
Do you want a monitor for work and games? If yes, say hi to the INNOCN 44C1G ultrawide monitor. It’s big so you can open as many windows as you can, plus the wide aspect ratio ensures you have an immersive gaming experience. Moreover, the INNOCN monitor can go all the way up to 120Hz making it an excellent gaming companion.
For the price, INNOCN offers a rather large monitor with a screen that stretches almost 44 inches diagonally. For its size, we wish the display was curved since it can be slightly tiring for your neck to get a glance of content at the extreme ends of the display.
However, the INNOCN monitor makes up for this with a high-quality panel that produces excellent colors. It’s also plenty bright and the viewing angles are good. Blacks appear deep making it a good monitor for consuming media. Something worth noting though is the INNOCN ultrawide monitor is rather narrow and may not be suitable for all applications. For example, some users report the monitor isn’t apt for working with documents or spreadsheets due to its narrow width.
If you’re okay with this and your use case doesn’t involve such tasks, the INNOCN 44C1G is a large-screen ultrawide monitor that’s available at an affordable price point.
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4. Samsung Business CH890 Ultrawide Curved Desktop Monitor
- Resolution: 3440×1440 | Panel Size: 34-inches | Panel Type: IPS
- Curved: Yes | VESA Mount: Yes
- Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type-C
The Samsung C34H890 is an elegant monitor that easily doubles as an entertainment unit just as easily it works as a business monitor. The WQHD resolution gives you one of the best pictures, and the 100Hz refresh rate adds to it. What makes this premium monitor worth every cent is that it packs a sleek look, thanks to the thin bezels and the stylish mount. Moreover, this monitor has special perks for gaming enthusiasts and supports AMD’s FreeSync technology and 10ms input lag.
One of the primary advantages is that this Samsung monitor is very flexible. You can swivel and rotate it at your convenience.
Though it has a VA panel, the picture quality is decent and displays pretty accurate pictures. If we talk numbers, this monitor can display around 95% of the sRGB color space. The feature that helps it stand apart from the rest is its built-in PIP and PBP mode, using which you can further boost your productivity, especially if you use a two-computer setup.
Like the one above, the Samsung C34H890 is also capable of Power Delivery. In this case, the power output is only limited to 45W and might not be enough to power your MacBook Pro fully. On the upside, it will be enough for the MacBook Air M1.
You will also find an HDMI 2.0 port followed by a single DisplayPort, USB 3.0 ports, and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. AMD’s FreeSync support is the cherry on top for gamers who own a Windows PC.
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5. Samsung CHG90
- Resolution: 3840 x 1080 pixels | Panel Size: 49-inches | Panel Type: QLED
- Curved: Yes | VESA Mount: Yes
- Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.2, 4 x USB-A
The Samsung CHG90 49-inch ultrawide monitor for Mac is a paradise for productivity. The size and the unique aspect ratio are perfect for running multiple apps or instances of the same app at once. This is useful if you’re into trading or need to have multiple documents or spreadsheets open simultaneously. It’s also useful if you edit videos and want to see the entire timeline on the screen without scrolling constantly.
You’re getting a 1080p ultrawide curved monitor here with support for up to 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync 2 for reduced latency. A big highlight of this monitor is its HDR10 support with a peak brightness of 1000 nits. This makes it an excellent proposition for those who want to enjoy watching content after working hours. Samsung’s unique picture-by-picture mode lets you split the monitor into two via software and run two different devices on either side, which is excellent for multitasking.
Before you hit that Buy Now button, note that this is a large ultrawide monitor. Ensure you have ample space on your desk. Some users have faced connectivity issues too, with the signal dropping randomly, and the fix is to disconnect and reconnect the cable. This isn’t frequent but is still worth mentioning, especially considering the monitor’s cost. It’s one of the best ultrawide monitors for a MacBook Pro purely in size and picture quality.
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6. LG 38WN95C-W
- Resolution: 3840 x 1600 pixels | Panel Size: 38-inches | Panel Type: IPS
- Curved: Yes | VESA Mount: Yes
- Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C), 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x USB-A
The LG 38WN95C-W is an excellent ultrawide monitor for MacBook Pro and Air users. This is mainly because you need a single cable to connect the monitor to your Mac and charge it simultaneously, thanks to the Thunderbolt 3 port. The QHD+ resolution, coupled with the 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR600, make this a great choice for creative professionals who rely on details and accurate colors.
You can also use this monitor for gaming, thanks to Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compatibility. The monitor can touch a max refresh rate of 144Hz and has a fast response time of 1ms. You also get two 5W speakers built-in. So, if you’re gaming or editing videos, you don’t need to connect your headphones. You also get a host of multitasking features with LG’s software on the monitor.
The 38-inch size is ideal for productivity while not taking up too much desk space. The only annoying aspect of this monitor as pointed out by several users is that it keeps prompting you to switch to the Thunderbolt input even if you haven’t connected any device via that port. It can surely get annoying to receive the prompt repeatedly every day. If you’re not primarily going to use the Thunderbolt 3 port, keep this in mind.
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Productivity All the Way
A large ultrawide monitor compatible with your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air is always a treat for multitaskers and gamers alike. Of course, since we’re talking about Macs, productivity is the aspect most people would want to focus on. An ultrawide monitor for your MacBook can help you perform multiple tasks at once, thus improving your workflow and saving you extra time.
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Last updated on 22 December, 2023
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