Do you remember when flat screens were the big thing? Well, now Curved Monitors or Curved screens are the most sought after!
A curved monitor has a screen, which in contrast with the flat-panel display, features a concave viewing surface. Curved monitors are basically a monitor with gentle curves designed to maintain your field of view, making sure the image remains accurate and uniform even if you’re sitting close to a large screen.
They improve your vision and are especially useful when you need a large screen to use with your MacBook Pro.
The need for a curved monitor could arise due to the small screen of your MacBook Pro.
It might seem like an easy task to choose a curved monitor that would best suit your needs, but with the rising competition and varying features it is a tough task to complete.
But, don’t worry. You will be getting to know the 5 best curved monitors for MacBook Pro in this article!
Our top picks
1. BenQ EX3501R
This BenQ EX3501R curved monitor provides you with the most impressive modified experience for personal satisfaction and outstanding gaming experience. It lets you indulge in the gaming performance of distinct elements with its hyper-realistic video quality and features HDR technology in a gaming monitor.
BenQ has designed its monitor for an optimal viewing performance by illustrating the enormous screen size with awe-inspiring curvature. It displays the cinematics quality ratio of 21:9 with ultra-high resolutions.
Pros
- Ultra-slim bezel-less edge-to-edge design for endless horizons surrounds your vision with an eternal perspective
- Universal multi-platform connectivity with multiple HDMI, display ports, and USB 3.1 ports to host various sources
- AMD FreeSync for intense gaming by eliminating image tearing, broken frames, and wavy gameplay
- 100 Hz high refreshing rate, height adjustment stand, eye care technology, 1800R curvature, and 3440×1440 resolution
- Great for working, gaming, and watching movies
- Plenty of features, including FreeSync
- USB-C with DP Alt Mode
- High contrast ratio and pixel density
Cons
- There is No VESA mount
- Nominal ghosting apparent in fast-paced games, particularly in dark scenes
- It is quite Expensive
- Its HDR support is software-enabled only
- Its USB-C lacks power delivery
2. Samsung CF791
The Samsung CF791 is a fully curved wide-angle monitor that gives immersive viewing with 1500R curvature. The monitor is 34 inches, deeper curved, full of cinematic beauty, and a gaming experience that outputs incredible image details and higher pixel density.
It has an unpaired intricate design with a bezel-less screen on three sides, an anti-glare panel for a cleared view, and tilt-height modifiable. Specifically, its polished white rim and forming keep cables neatly stored.
Pros
- It Can produce deep dark scenes
- Its Colors appear uniform
- It does Great motion handling
Cons
- Image degrades when viewed at an angle
- Higher input lag than other monitors
3. MSI Optix MPG27CQ
The MSI Optix MPG27CQ comes with a 27 inches curved VA display for maximum viewing. Besides, it contains a 36 percent more screen-to-body ratio (super-narrow bezels) to enjoy the best immersion with a multi-monitor 180-degree setup.
It exhibits the curvature rate of 1800R for ample gaming joy. Correlated with the FreeSync technology, MSI generates the sharpest visuals and eliminates screen tearing, shuttering, and lagging of graphics.
Pros
- Great gaming features, including low input lag
- Great design and an excellent RGB lighting system
- 144Hz native refresh rate over either DisplayPort or HDMI connection
- Support for AMD FreeSync
- It has a Good pixel response
Cons
- Image degrades when viewed at an angle
- Disappointing accuracy out of the box
- Lacks support for HDR
- Ho-hum video-playback performance
4. LG 38UC99
LG 38UC99 comes with a 3.8 inches ultra-wide curved display uniting a 21:9 aspect ratio ideal for designers, photographers, and creative professionals. It displays exceptional picture quality and innovative features like color depth, brightness, viewing angle, making it a severe companion of dedicated professionals.
Looking further, this monitor holds the broad quad high purpose resolution, which is four times evident than primary HD. Moreover, giving users the real feel of refined graphics with terrific 3840×1600 pixel deliverability.
Pros
- AMD FreeSync enabled
- Robust feature set
- The world’s first curved 38-inch IPS monitor
- Enhanced features for Multi-tasking
- Screen Split 2.0
- Ultra-wide 21:9 and QHD
- 99% sRGB (color calibrated from the manufacturer)
- IPS Panel type
- 1ms Motion Blur Reduction
- Multiple charging ports
- Mac is compatible via USB Type-C
- Bluetooth audio
Cons
- It is expensive
- It has a stingy warranty
- It has a maximum refresh rate of 75hz
- Its Response time is 14ms / 5ms GTG
5. Alienware AW3418DW
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is one of the best ultra-wide IPS display monitors available in the market. Sporting a 34 inch curved three-sided bezel-less display, out-of-the-box calibration, and of course, includes NVIDIA G-sync. The monitor features a 1900R curvature display with wide viewing angles and incredible resolution.
Besides all of that, Dell has focused more on its iconic design sweeping the infinity display and 21:9 aspect ratio that makes every moment epic. Moreover, their unique step venting elements help to minimize heat and maximize performance.
Pros
- Fast 120Hz refresh rate (overclocked)
- Impressive color and brightness
- Zero lag and nice additional gaming features
- IPS panel
- Fastest ultrawide monitor
- It has a 3440 x 1440p resolution
Cons
- It is Expensive
- Underwhelming LED effects
- Contrast ratio is not relatively as high as other modern IPS panels
How to Choose a Curved Monitor for Your MacBook Pro
Now, we have listed down the eight crucial factors to keep in mind when planning to invest and searching for the best curved monitor for your MacBook Pro.
The most important factors are:
Its main purpose
The biggest reason curved displays are famous is that they fill up more of your peripheral vision, which allows you to concentrate on your work instead of being distracted by what’s happening around you. If you’re watching or playing a game, this engaging experience can be hard to deter from.
First, you should be well aware of your monitor’s primary goal. Will you be using them for gaming, design, editing, or just everyday work?
For instance, gamers should go for curved monitors with a high refresh rate and low response time. On the contrary, normal users usually don’t care about those but prioritize monitors with high contrast VA panels.
Therefore it is important to research beforehand and know what kind of curved monitor would best suit your needs.
Resolution
The minimum HD resolution you can get is 1080p (Full HD), which is more than enough. Of course, you can also get the 2160 (UHD/4K) or 1440p (QHD/2K) ones.
Inherently, you would want the ones with increased resolution, right? No doubt it can get more costly, but it should be worth it. So it all depends on your budget.
Size
For average viewing distance, it is recommended to get the 32” monitor, which is wide enough. Make sure to evaluate the pixel density and resolution of your monitor.
This is because the resolution must conform to the pixel density. A more comprehensive monitor will have lower pixel density when it meets a low-resolution monitor.
Refresh Rates
Refresh rates refer to the number of times your monitor refreshes the displayed image per second. The higher, the better.
If you plan to purchase a curved monitor For gaming, you should go for the ones with 144Hz. Other than that, 60Hz – 75Hz should be more than sufficient.
Response Times
If refresh rate means the higher, the better, response times are the opposite. The shorter, the better. Gaming monitor’s response times can go as low as 0.5ms, while typical monitors are as high as 5ms.
We would recommend going for the 1ms ones as you don’t want to end up with motion blurs.
Panel Technologies
There are three types of panel technology, which include:
- TN (Twisted Nematic)
- IPS (In-Plane Switching)
- VA (Vertical Alignment)
TN monitors are the cheapest out of all three due to their low image quality.
IPS monitors are recommended due to their accurate color reproduction, better viewing angles, and faster response time. And lastly, VA monitors deliver the best contrast out of the three.
You should decide on the panel technology you need Based on the purpose behind the purchase of your curved monitor.
Curvature Specs
You might have seen the term “curvature” numerous times above. So, what is “curvature specs”?
A curved monitor with 1800R curvatures means that the monitor has a curved radius of 180mm. Lower curvature equals more curved display.
Price
As with all products, it is essential to do your research and keep in mind what product comes in your budget. You should do your inquiry before paying for what you’re purchasing.
You can start from your budget and then slowly go through the other features and factors of the different curved monitors. It is recommended to first decide how much you would like to spend and then search for products in that range to avoid disappointment.
FAQ
What is the best monitor to use with your MacBook Pro?
Although there are plenty of monitors that could be labelled the best, it mostly depends on your choice and budget which curved monitor would be best for you!
All projectors have different specifications, prices and features. To determine the one best for you, you will need to conduct some research and we hope that with our above-mentioned five monitors for MacBook pro and our buying guide, you will be able to find the best one for yourself.
Will any monitor work with MacBook pro?
The Thunderbolt ports on your MacBook Pro aid video production. You can use an external display, a projector, or an HDTV with your MacBook Pro.
To connect a VGA display or projector: Use a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter to connect the display or projector to a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your MacBook Pro.
To connect an HDMI display or HDTV: Use a USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter to connect the HDMI display or HDTV to a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your MacBook Pro.
To Connect a USB-C display: Connect the display to a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your MacBook Pro.
What monitor does Apple recommend?
While Apple has its own Pro Display XDR, it’s an ultra-high-end display meant for experts and starts at a whopping $4,999 — not including its $999 stand.
If you need something more down-to-earth that still offers incredible execution without wrecking the bank, we have listed above monitors you can pair with your MacBook Pro.
What is the best-curved monitor for work?
If you are in a profession that needs curved screens like video editing, graphic designing, you’ve multiple options to choose from, such as Samsung CF791, LG 38UC99, Alienware AW3418DW, BenQ EX3501R, and MSI Optix MPG27CQ are some significant curved monitors.
If you’re one of those hardcore gamers and your work revolves around that, then the best curved monitors are Alienware AW3418DW, and MSI Optix MPG27CQ are the best available options with AMD or NVIDIA Sync and faster refresh rates.