MacBook Pros stand the test of time and typically last a lot longer than other laptops on the market. If you're looking for the best monitor for your older machine, we recommend the HP VH240a, which offers all the bells and whistles you need for a home environment. Better still, look at its price! We've gathered other noteworthy models to help you choose the one that fits your needs best.
Best Overall: HP VH240a 23.8-inch FHD IPS LED Monitor
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The HP VH240a 23.8-Inch FHD IPS LED Monitor is a great monitor for basic everyday use and the best monitor for older laptops. Measuring at 23.8 inches, this screen comes fully equipped with superb picture and video quality, spanning 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920 by 1080P HD. The built-in anti-glare IPS LED-backlit panel accommodates 2 million pixels and 16.7 million colors to ensure that you always experience beautiful images.
The HP VH240a 23.8-Inch FHD IPS LED Monitor is designed to optimize your viewing experience as it can rotate 90-degrees resting in a vertical or horizontal position. You can also adjust the height and tilt to parallel with your needs at any particular time. This monitor delivers a response time of up to 5ms, which means that it delivers a fluid stream of motion without lagging or blurriness.
The design of the HP VH240a monitor is visually appealing. It features a super-thin frame, and an ultra-widescreen IPS LED monitor. It comes with the option to mount it on the wall via a VESA mount; however, it is not included.
For this and any other laptop + monitor combination, consider the best MacBook Pro accessories of the year.
This visually appealing LED monitor can rotate and offer vertical or horizontal viewing modes.
Best Portable : AOC I1659FWUX 15.6-inch USB-powered portable monitor
Portable monitors get the job done for folks on the go, especially business travelers who might sometimes appreciate a larger display than the MacBook Pro can provide. These types of monitors offer a good, not great, display appearance.
The 15.6-inch AOC portable monitor weighs less than two pounds and is only 8.5mm 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 both portrait or landscape orientation. Also, note the USB 3.0 cable offers both power and signal, saving you from carrying more than one cable!
We love this monitor solely for its portability and price. Though it's one of the brightness portable monitors you will find (212.6 nits) and offers excellent color accuracy, its color gamut lacks. And the stand isn't the sturdiest around. Regardless, for what it is, the monitor shines.
Offering a bright display for less, this portable monitor is great in a pinch when a lightweight, larger screen is needed.
Best Curved : LG 38WK95C-W 38-inch Class
The well-reviewed 38-inch LG 38WK95C-W UltraWide curved monitor is ideally suited for mirroring what's happening on your laptop or act as a secondary display. The result is a highly functional device that can also support the rest of Apple's lineup of laptops, plus the iPad Pro.
A big sibling to one of our favorite USB-C monitors for Mac, this display offers a resolution of 3480-by-1600, the wide-screen monitor includes data transfer and 60W charging using USB-C. It also has two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, and a DisplayPort. The 38WK95C-W also has a relatively decent set of speakers, a setup that's a breeze, and a joystick-style button at the bottom edge of the screen for monitor control that's a surprising joy to use!
Less impressive is the monitor's plastic backside that LG, for some reason, elected to make white. Luckily this odd design choice is only a problem if the monitor is sitting in the middle of a room. Also: the wide display isn't Retina; sometimes, those extra pixels-per-inch are missed.
Here's a tremendous curved display that enhances the MacBook Pro experience. You'll miss the Retina, however.
Best Gaming : BenQ EW3270U 32-inch 4K Monitor
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 an excellent choice 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 many times associated with external monitors. However, this is still a sub-$400, so you should expect some drawbacks starting with the 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 percent of Rec. 709 and 95 percent of DCI-P3 standards. Yes, the colors are accurate, and the 4K content is wonderfully rendered.
This 4K monitor provides a nice balance between features and price. Though limitations remain, for most gamers, this one will work very nicely.
Bottom line
If you're in the market for an external monitor for your older MacBook Pro, you'll quickly notice there's a wide selection from which to choose. The best model you can buy, the HP VH240a, is a terrific choice for anyone looking for a great performance monitor at an incredible price.
This 23.8-inch masterpiece offers superb picture and video quality, spanning a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920 by 1080P HD. The built-in anti-glare IPS LED-backlit panel gives you 2 million pixels and 16.7 million colors for an awesome experience.
