Best
MacBook Air monitors
macstore.ar
2022

Best overall: LG 27UN850-W

Great computer monitors must offer full color, brightness, and sharpness. On these three points, the LG 27UN850-W blew us away, so it’s considered the best MacBook Air monitor on the market. The color is spot on and didn’t require additional fine-tuning during setup.

Speaking of setup, the entire process for the 27-inch monitor takes less than 10 minutes. The same speediness can’t be said about other monitors on the market. We’re also impressed with LG’s decision to add multiple ports on this monitor. As a MacBook Air owner, you will stick with USB-C primarily. However, with two USB-A and two HDMI ports also available, you have the flexibility to use the monitor elsewhere. (The USB-C port also supports a 60W power transfer so that you can charge your laptop during use.)

Not everything about this monitor is positive. For one, the monitor’s 5W speakers are lackluster. Of course, we live in a world where external speakers or headphones reign, so this probably won’t matter. However, given the price point for this monitor, we were expecting more. However, this is the best MacBook Air monitor you can buy.

With this impressive curved monitor, you can easily connect to the best Mac on the market through any of the two Thunderbolt 3 ports included in its design. What’s excellent about Thunderbolt 3 ports is that they can transfer data at 40Gbps while charging your device simultaneously. There are also DisplayPorts, HDMI, and USB ports available.

This monitor also uses Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology, making the colors bright and the images clear. With a 100Hz screen refresh rate, everything in your game or movie will look as clear as if you were looking out of the window with HD glasses on. This monitor also comes equipped with Freesync.

This monitor’s design matches perfectly with anyone who enjoys the visual appeal of a Mac as it is sleek and straightforward.

Ideally, Apple would be making 5K monitors itself to go with its lineup of laptops. But, unfortunately, that isn’t the case. So instead, the iPhone maker wants you to purchase a 5K monitor from LG. With a breathtaking 5120×2880 resolution and P3 wide color gamut, this 27-inch LG UltraFine 5K Display is an excellent choice — if you can afford it.

Featuring a Thunderbolt 3 cable and USB-C cable, the 27MD5KL contains one Thunderbolt 3 (input) port and three USB-C (USB 3.1, 5Gbps) ports.

This monitor is more than double the price of our overall pick, and that by itself shouldn’t come as a surprise. In 2022, 5K monitors still aren’t mainstream. Our biggest beef about the monitor isn’t the price, but instead that it looks bland and boxy like dozens of other displays available. All you have to do is look at LG’s OLED televisions to see that the company has design skills. Unfortunately, it’s missing here. There’s also the question of whether spending this amount of cash for only a 27-inch monitor is worth it. That’s up to you to decide.

Portable monitors get the job done for folks on the go, especially business travelers who might sometimes appreciate a larger display than the MacBook Air can provide. In addition, these types of monitors offer a good, but not great, display appearance.

The 15.6-inch Gechic portable monitor weighs less than two pounds and is only 1.1cm thick. It offers an IPS screen and full HD 1080p resolution and features a smart cover that protects it when not in use. You can use the cover as a screen holder in portrait or landscape orientation.

We love this monitor solely for its portability and price. The stand isn’t the strongest, however.

Finally, there’s this 32-inch 4K HDR monitor from BenQ. Featuring low blue light and flicker-free technology to reduce eye strain, this monitor is excellent for Mac gamers who need a bigger screen. Besides a USB-C port, the monitor offers two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.2, and a 3.5mm audio out.

With AMD Freesync technology, this monitor has done a great job of removing broken frames, image tearing, and choppy gameplay sometimes associated with external monitors. However, there are some drawbacks, starting with poorly designed speakers. We’re also shaking our heads over the confusing control panel and missing power passthrough.

Despite these limitations, we like this monitor immensely. The EW3270U covers 100% of Rec. 709 and 95% of DCI-P3 standards. Yes, the colors are accurate, and the 4K content is wonderfully rendered.

Bottom line

If you’re in the market for an external monitor for your MacBook Air, you’ll quickly notice there’s a wide selection from which to choose. Our favorite MacBook Air monitor, the LG 27UN850-W 27-inch 4K Ultrafine UHD IPS Monitor, is a terrific choice for anyone looking for a great performance monitor at a fair price. Yes, it has weird onboard controls and lackluster speakers. Most external monitors do, unfortunately. I appreciate the beautiful colors, brightness, and sharpness instead.

Besides offering superb features, this monitor is also reasonably priced, suitable for students and the budget-conscious alike. So look around and find the best deal for you!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Bryan M. Wolfe is a dad who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. Penn State (go Nittany Lions) graduate here, also a huge fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe