Best external 27" display for late 2013 MacBook Pro for circa £300

Joined
Jan 12, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hi, I want to get a 27" external monitor for my MacBook Pro (spec's below). Can it actually output 4k (or UHD, or whatever it's called) via the display port? Would it be worth me getting a UHD 27" display like the ASUS PB287Q, 28'' 4K (3840x2160) monitor and will the MBP be able to make good use of the 4k display?
If not, would I be better off with an older Apple 27" LED Cinema Display which I believe is 2560x1440?
I don't have a great budget so am looking to get something used or cheap for under £300.
I'm not an expert and have been confused by what I have read online so will appreciate any pointers.
Thanks


Spec's of my Mac:
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce
GT 750M 2048 MB Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB
Running Mojave 10.14
 

Raz0rEdge

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
15,745
Reaction score
2,071
Points
113
Location
MA
Your Mac's Specs
2022 Mac Studio M1 Max, 2023 M2 MBA
Don't bother with the Apple Cinema displays since they are very old and offer a lower resolution. Dell and BenQ make very good monitors that should suit your budget well.

Your MBP can drive up to 4k monitor over the HDMI. If you stick with the Thunderbolt (TB) port, you are limited to 2k.
 
OP
M
Joined
Jan 12, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Wow, I was under the impression that TB would give better resolution.
Would the HDMI be 4k at 60hz or 30hz?

Also, is there a particular grade or type of HDMI cable I would need?

Also, if you have any specific monitors in mind (perhaps one that someone here has used successfully with the same MBP), a model number or link would be great.

Thanks again
 

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,210
Reaction score
1,418
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
Don't forget.."Best Monitor" to one person can be very different to another person. Just like purchasing a large flat screen TV...it's best to actually see how a computer monitor display's info (crispness, sharpness, brightness, color saturation, etc.). Of course purchasing over the internet makes this more difficult (especially making side by side comparisons).

Here's an article on "Best Computer Monitors for 2019"...which has a mix of sizes & price-points:

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402101,00.asp

And here's an article for "Best 27" monitor for 2018":

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-27-inch-monitor/

HTH,

- Nick
 

Raz0rEdge

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
15,745
Reaction score
2,071
Points
113
Location
MA
Your Mac's Specs
2022 Mac Studio M1 Max, 2023 M2 MBA
Wow, I was under the impression that TB would give better resolution.
Would the HDMI be 4k at 60hz or 30hz?

Also, is there a particular grade or type of HDMI cable I would need?

Also, if you have any specific monitors in mind (perhaps one that someone here has used successfully with the same MBP), a model number or link would be great.

Thanks again

The 4k would be at 24hz, 2k at 30hz and 1080p at 60hz.

One of things you want to look for is that the monitor has an IPS panel. Stay away from TN panels. I had a BenQ BL2711U which worked really well.
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
4,409
Reaction score
2,098
Points
113
Location
Sacramento, California
Hi, I want to get a 27" external monitor for my MacBook Pro (spec's below).

It isn't a 4K monitor (which you probably don't need anyhow), but this is an amazing deal going on right now:

Dell 32" FHD Monitor D3218HN
$149 with free shipping
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-32-...SA-Ultra-Wide-178-178-Viewing-Angle/547634722

Another great deal:

HP N270h 27-inch monitor, at only $159, is a screaming deal right now:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJMM366/?tag=macforums0e4-20

This monitor is large, the display is beautiful, it has a wide viewing angle, and it's fast enough even for gaming! Check out the reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJMM366/?tag=macforums0e4-20
 

Raz0rEdge

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
15,745
Reaction score
2,071
Points
113
Location
MA
Your Mac's Specs
2022 Mac Studio M1 Max, 2023 M2 MBA
I would absolutely NOT recommend a 1080P monitor at 27" and above. The absolute max size should be about 21". Once you get higher, 2K is minimum resolution.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top