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Which monitor do you have?
almost 5 years ago from David Bograd, Product Designer
I'm looking to buy a new monitor. Which monitor do you have and can you recommend anything specific?
42 comments
Lee Fuhr, almost 5 years ago What's with the downvotes?
I just upvoted to overwrite the inanity.
And I'm still on a non-retina Thunderbolt display. Like Ahmet said, it's nice to be able to see what the unwashed masses see.
Remus Baltariu, almost 5 years ago Interesting approach. I find it so difficult for my eyes to not see smooth letters.
Bole ★, almost 5 years ago I still use a 2003 20-inch Apple Cinema Display.
Matt Walker, almost 5 years ago
This made me belly laugh. +1 upvote for you.
Marc Edwards, almost 5 years ago
If you have a Thunderbolt 3 Mac, and you want a Retina 27-inch display, pretty much your only option is the LG UltraFine. CES 2019 may introduce some new 5K Thunderbolt 3 displays though. Apple will introduce a new pro display alongside the 2019 Mac Pro. It’s highly likely the display will be the same panel as the iMac and iMac Pro’s displays (5K, 27-inch, using an LG panel).
If you don’t have Thunderbolt 3, you probably can’t run a 5K display at 60hz.
I’d avoid 4K 27-inch displays, especially if you’re using them with a Mac. The sweet spots for display pixel density are around 110PPI (pixels per inch) for non-Retina and 220PPI for Retina. Displays in the 160PPI to 180PPI range (typically 4K, 27-inch displays) are a very bad idea — you’ll need to run the system display scaling to be able to read text and use macOS’ UI. Display scaling means worse performance, worse battery life for laptops, and there’s some nasty unavoidable artefacts that make design work a challenge.
My current picks:
- Retina: LG 5K UltraFine.
- Non-Retina: A 110PPI IPS display from LG or Dell (Dell often use LG panels for their IPS displays).
- An iMac or iMac Pro. That sounds like a silly option, but it is an easy (and expensive) way to get the best Retina display available right now.
Future pick:
- Apple’s 2019 pro display, if you can wait and can afford it.
Omer Balyali, almost 5 years ago
(Came here to post your article on the topic)
It's a must read if you are picky about your display: https://bjango.com/articles/macexternaldisplays/
Also, I'm using Dell P2715Q and P2415Q (While it conradicts Marc's recommendation, I find these displays to be really good, especially for color reproduction)
Thanks! I really like the Dell IPS LCD displays. Glad to hear you’re happy with yours. :D
Jon ., almost 5 years ago
Wish I knew this earlier.. Work just bought 15 new "BenQ 32"LED SW320" monitors for design. They are horrible on macs, even with the newest models. Great picture, but very laggy.
Are you running it scaled? It seems like a great display, apart from the pixel density (31.5-Inch 3840×2160, so 140PPI).
I am running scaled actually. Should I not maybe?
I don’t know if you’ll really have a choice. At 140PPI, turning off scaling will make the macOS UI and text too big or too small.
Ahmet Sulek, almost 5 years ago
Still using Cinema Display, it is nice to see what I'm building on a non retina display.
Andrew Ciobanasiu, almost 5 years ago
Work: LG UIltrawide 34" 34UM95C-P
Home: Dual 30" ACD (old but still going strong)
While I like the dual displays, I'll probably just replace them with an updated single ultrawide.
Stan Marsh, almost 5 years ago Master 2 MX is such a great mouse
Cory Williams, almost 5 years ago
The Windows XP background really throws me.
Ha. I actually have my PC hooked up to it and I use a software KVM to swap between the two for casual work.
Mitch Warren, almost 5 years ago
What software (KVM?) do you use? That sounds handy.
I currently use ShareMouse and it works well enough for casual work/browsing. Not doing much gaming these days and a wired connection cuts any noticeable latency issues. The docked Mac is the host.
Also tried Synergy but I've been able to get by on the free version of ShareMouse.
James Young, almost 5 years ago I'm using the 38-inch version of the LG, I recently tried the 49-inch Samsung and switched back due to the poor color display and the 144mz only works with the windows.
Airon Maynhem, almost 5 years ago Very nice :)
Sander Smeekes, almost 5 years ago
LG 27UD88-W - 4K IPS Monitor
Very satisfied =)
Thiago Duarte, almost 5 years ago I use the LG Ultrafine 5k at work and the Asus ROG PG279Q at home as a "work-gaming hybrid" option.
My combo aswell! Love 165hz on the Asus display. Hope apple introduces higher HZ soon.
Conor Sweeney, almost 5 years ago LG Ultrafine 4K with the touch bar MacBook Pro. Perfect combo
Yasen Dimov, almost 5 years ago
I have LG UltraFine 5K at work and the Acer Predator X34 at home. Love both to bits, but the 5k LG is the bomb.
Liam Stanley, almost 5 years ago
I'm using Dell UltraSharp - U2515H
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-U2515H-25-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B00SPWPF1O
Jimmy Koli, almost 5 years ago I too have a similar monitor at home. How the text appear on the same. Since when i use the same monitor with my mac book pro the text doesn't appear too crisp.
If you are using Mojave, you should follow this guide to fix https://ahmadawais.com/fix-macos-mojave-font-rendering-issue/
Jimmy Koli, almost 5 years ago I have the problem even before Mojave. Even the Menubar attached below looks pixelated.
Tony Gines, almost 5 years ago
I work primarily on an iMac 5K 27". The screen on this thing blows me away. It's so good.
For mobility, I picked up a 13" 2016 MBP. I've decided it's better to work on an actual desktop at my desk and have a less powerful, mobility-focused macbook for when I need to be mobile. It's nice being able to pop in 32gb of RAM on the desktop. I'll probably get another 32gb soon.
Aaron Sagray, almost 5 years ago
HP Z27 4K is a fantastic monitor. Just got one, alongside my old Displayport Cinema display. I'm probably going to replace the Cinema display with another Z27.
Rachit Singh, almost 5 years ago Any gotchas? I'm thinking about buying one (and it needs to last me a while)
Jeff Couturier, almost 5 years ago
I've used ViewSonics for years because they're reasonably priced, have excellent color and reliability. My current is a ViewSonic VA2855SMH 28" 1080p LED.
Kaj Heijmans, almost 5 years ago
LTR
Dell UltraSharp UP2716D - IPS (browser)
Dell S Series S2716DG - TN @144hz (code editor / gaming)
Apple Thunderbolt Display 27inch - IPS (design tools);
David Bograd, almost 5 years ago
Thanks for all the comments everyone! Really helpful and interesting to see what's being used.
I've been considering buying this one, how do you like it?
Marek L, almost 5 years ago
Love it. Good colors (factory callibration), thin bezels, looks good.
Chris Delbuck, almost 5 years ago
+1 for this display. Absolutely beautiful picture quality, colors, and not glossy.
Remus Baltariu, almost 5 years ago At the moment I use an LG 27" 4k display, but not recommended. Looking forward to what 2019 will bring... CES and Apple. Lately, I'm looking at ultrawide monitors, but I don't think I can get over non-retina PPI. Still searching for the best option. What ultrawides have lately is the USB hub and the ability to charge your laptop... and that is something really nice. De-cluttering. Escaping dongles and cables. But as I said, looking forward to what CES will bring since it's happening right now.
Devesh Kumar, almost 5 years ago LG 27UK850-W 4k Monitor connected to an iMac 5K
Martin K, almost 5 years ago
I'm running my work on 2x LG Ultrafine 5K screens. But I can really recommend Dell 27" LED 4K U2718Q for it's price tag.
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