The model we reviewed has a 144Hz refresh rate, but you can get an even faster 164HZ model for about $100 more. You can run games at more than 120 frames per second and see every frame, thanks to the Raptor 27’s fast refresh rate. This 27-inch screen displays gorgeous colors with stunning accuracy, at crisp quad HD resolutions. The Razer Raptor 27 is currently our pick for the best MacBook Pro gaming monitor. But if you just need a spacious 4K display to expand your MacBook's screen real estate and get more done, Dell's 27-inch UltraSharp is a great pick. With an MSRP of just over $500 it's reasonably priced, too - the only big downside is that the UltraSharp is neither as bright (advertised as maxing out at 350 nits) nor as fast (60Hz refresh rate) as the Liquid Retina XDR display built into the 2021 MacBook Pros. This UltraSharp offers plenty of ports, too, and it has both USB-A and USB-C downstream ports, meaning you can plug USB accessories directly into the monitor and (as long as your laptop is connected via USB) use it as an impromptu USB hub for your MacBook. We also appreciate this monitor's thin-bezelled InfinityEdge display design, as thin bezels tend to help whatever you're looking at pop off the screen.

This 27-inch display offers great color reproduction, and its 3840 x 2160 resolution lets you work and play on your MacBook at 4K. The Dell UltraSharp U2720Q is a workhorse of a 4K monitor that does everything pretty well, making it our overall pick for the best MacBook Pro monitor.

Mac external monitor connector