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Which monitor do you have?

over 4 years ago from , 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, over 4 years ago

    What's with the downvotes?

    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.

    18 points
  • Bole ★, over 4 years ago

    I still use a 2003 20-inch Apple Cinema Display.

    Cinema Display

    15 points
  • Marc EdwardsMarc Edwards, over 4 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.
    10 points
    • Omer BalyaliOmer Balyali, over 4 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)

      3 points
    • Jon .Jon ., over 4 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.

      0 points
      • Marc EdwardsMarc Edwards, over 4 years ago

        Are you running it scaled? It seems like a great display, apart from the pixel density (31.5-Inch 3840×2160, so 140PPI).

        1 point
        • Jon .Jon ., over 4 years ago

          I am running scaled actually. Should I not maybe?

          0 points
          • Marc EdwardsMarc Edwards, over 4 years ago

            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.

            1 point
  • Ahmet SulekAhmet Sulek, over 4 years ago

    Still using Cinema Display, it is nice to see what I'm building on a non retina display.

    6 points
  • Andrew CiobanasiuAndrew Ciobanasiu, over 4 years ago

    Work: LG UIltrawide 34" 34UM95C-P LG UIltrawide 34" 34UM95C-P

    Home: Dual 30" ACD (old but still going strong) Dual ACD 30"

    While I like the dual displays, I'll probably just replace them with an updated single ultrawide.

    4 points
  • Sander SmeekesSander Smeekes, over 4 years ago

    LG 27UD88-W - 4K IPS Monitor

    Very satisfied =)

    3 points
  • Thiago Duarte, over 4 years ago

    I use the LG Ultrafine 5k at work and the Asus ROG PG279Q at home as a "work-gaming hybrid" option.

    3 points
    • Jon .Jon ., over 4 years ago

      My combo aswell! Love 165hz on the Asus display. Hope apple introduces higher HZ soon.

      0 points
  • Conor Sweeney, over 4 years ago

    LG Ultrafine 4K with the touch bar MacBook Pro. Perfect combo

    3 points
  • Yasen DimovYasen Dimov, over 4 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.

    3 points
  • Liam StanleyLiam Stanley, over 4 years ago

    I'm using Dell UltraSharp - U2515H

    U2515H

    https://www.amazon.com/Dell-UltraSharp-U2515H-25-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B00SPWPF1O

    2 points
  • Tony GinesTony Gines, over 4 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.

    2 points
  • Aaron SagrayAaron Sagray, over 4 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.

    2 points
  • Jeff CouturierJeff Couturier, over 4 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.

    2 points
  • Kaj HeijmansKaj Heijmans, over 4 years ago

    LTR

    1. Dell UltraSharp UP2716D - IPS (browser)

    2. Dell S Series S2716DG - TN @144hz (code editor / gaming)

    3. Apple Thunderbolt Display 27inch - IPS (design tools);

    1 point
  • David BogradDavid Bograd, over 4 years ago

    Thanks for all the comments everyone! Really helpful and interesting to see what's being used.

    1 point
  • Marek LMarek L, over 4 years ago

    Dell U2717D https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-ultrasharp-27-infinityedge-monitor-u2717d/apd/210-ahgv/monitors-monitor-accessories

    1 point
  • Remus Baltariu, over 4 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.

    1 point
  • Devesh Kumar, over 4 years ago

    LG 27UK850-W 4k Monitor connected to an iMac 5K

    0 points
  • Martin KMartin K, over 4 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.

    0 points