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USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 Display Buyer's Guide for New MacBook Pro

Apple's new MacBook Pro (http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-pro/) models feature between two and four Thunderbolt 3 ports that carry power, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA over a single cable, creating one standard for connecting most accessories and peripherals. Thunderbolt 3 uses the same connector type as USB-C, also called Type-C, meaning the new MacBook Pros are compatible with a growing lineup of USB-C external displays.





(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/side_2016_macbook_pro.jpg)


USB-C displays can display up to 4K video, transfer data, and charge the new MacBook Pro at up to 60W over a single cable connected between the display and notebook. LG's new UltraFine 5K display, meanwhile, uses Thunderbolt 3 to display 5K video and fully charge the new MacBook Pro at up to 85W. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar can drive dual 5K displays (http://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/14/late-2016-mbp-amd-gpus-support-dual-5k-displays/), while the 13-inch model can drive one 5K display.





LG launched its UltraFine 4K and 5K displays (http://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/27/apple-4k-5k-lg-displays-new-macbook-pro/) in partnership with Apple, which exited the standalone display business (http://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/28/apple-out-of-display-business/) after discontinuing its Thunderbolt Display (http://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/23/apple-discontinues-thunderbolt-display/) earlier this year. The first USB-C displays from other manufacturers were released just this year (http://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/04/usb-c-monitors-macbook-acer-lenovo/), so the current selection remains limited. MacRumors has rounded up most of the options available from LG, ASUS, Acer, and Lenovo below.





<h3>LG 27UD88</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/LG-27UD88.jpg)" alt="lg-27ud88" width="545" height="403" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-533059" />


Display size: 27-inch


Display resolution: Ultra HD (3,840×2,160 pixels)


PPI: 163


Display technology: IPS LED


Aspect ratio: 16:9


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: sRGB (over 99%)


Brightness: 350 cd/m2


Ports: 1 input USB-C, 2 USB 3.0, 2 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort 1.2


Cables included: USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB, HDMI, DisplayPort


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: Up to 60W


Price: $699 at B&H Photo Video (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1224163-REG/lg_27ud88_w.html/BI/2696/KBID/3612/kw/LG27UD88W/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xLG27UD88W) or $740 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-27UD88-W-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B01CDYB0QS/)





<h3>LG 38UC99</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/LG-38UC99.jpg)" alt="lg-38uc99" width="545" height="293" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-533077" />


Display size: 37.5-inch curved


Display resolution: Wide QHD+ (3,840×1,600 pixels)


PPI: 110


Display technology: IPS LED


Aspect ratio: 21:9 (ultrawide)


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: sRGB (over 99%)


Brightness: 300 cd/m2


Ports: 1 input USB-C, 2 USB 3.0, 2 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort 1.2


Cables included: USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB, HDMI, DisplayPort


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: Up to 60W


Price: $1,499 at B&H Photo Video (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1279018-REG/lg_38uc99_w_37_5_21_9_wqhd.html/BI/2696/KBID/3612/kw/LG38UC99W/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xLG38UC99W) or $1,699 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/LG-38UC99-W-38-Inch-UltraWide-Bluetooth/dp/B01LW54S4U/)<!--more-->





<h3>LG UltraFine 5K</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/lg-ultrafine-5k.jpg)" alt="lg-ultrafine-5k" width="528" height="400" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-533082" />


Display size: 27-inch


Display resolution: 5K (5,120×2,880 pixels)


PPI: 217


Display technology: IPS LED


Aspect ratio: 16:9


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: DCI-P3 wide color gamut


Brightness: 500 cd/m2


Ports: 1 Thunderbolt 3 and 3 USB 3.1 Type-C


Cables included: Thunderbolt 3


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: Up to 85W


Price: $974 from Apple (http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display) until December 31, 2016. $1,299.95 after. Available December.





<h3>LG UltraFine 4K</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/lg-ultrafine-4k.jpg)" alt="lg-ultrafine-4k" width="392" height="368" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-533108" />


Display size: 21.5-inch


Display resolution: 4K (4,096×2,304 pixels)


PPI: 218


Display technology: IPS LED


Aspect ratio: 16:9


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: DCI-P3 wide color gamut


Brightness: 500 cd/m2


Ports: 1 input USB-C, 3 USB 2.0 Type-C


Cables included: USB-C to USB-C


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: Up to 60W


Price: $524 from Apple (http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKMY2LL/A/lg-ultrafine-4k-display) until December 31, 2016. $699.95 after.





<h3>Lenovo ThinkVision X1</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/lenovo-thinkvision-x1.jpg)" alt="lenovo-thinkvision-x1" width="545" height="545" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-533121" />


Display size: 27-inch


Display resolution: Ultra HD (3,840×2,160 pixels)


PPI: 163


Display technology: IPS LED


Aspect ratio: 16:9


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: sRGB (100%)


Brightness: 300 cd/m2


Ports: 1 input USB-C, 1 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort 1.2


Cables included: Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: Up to 60W


Price: $639 from Lenovo (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/60E2GAR1US/460/13A439ED5F5F4D00B060758E4FA2D734) or $760 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkVision-LED-lit-Monitor-60E2GAR1US/dp/B01EORW6YM/)





<h3>ASUS MB169C+</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/01/asusmonitor.jpg)" alt="asusmonitor" width="545" height="314" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-481078" />


Display size: 15.6-inch


Display resolution: 1080p (1,920×1,080 pixels)


PPI: 141


Display technology: IPS


Aspect ratio: 16:9


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: Unknown


Brightness: 220 cd/m2


Ports: 1 input USB-C


Cables included: Unknown


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: None


Price: From $157.84 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C83BE06/)





<h3>Acer H277HU</h3>


<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2016/11/acer-h277hu.jpg)" alt="acer-h277hu" width="515" height="396" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-533295" />


Display size: 27-inch


Display resolution: 1440p (2,560×1,440 pixels)


PPI: 108


Display technology: IPS LED


Aspect ratio: 16:9


Refresh rate: 60Hz


Color gamut: sRGB (100%)


Brightness: 350 cd/m2


Ports: 1 input USB-C, 2 USB 3.0, 1 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort, 1 DVI


Cables included: USB-C to USB-C and others


Power delivery to MacBook Pro: Up to 60W


Price: $458.99 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Acer-H277HU-kmipuz-27-Inch-speakers/dp/B01B64O3M4)





<h3>Which to Buy</h3>


The <strong>best option</strong> is LG's UltraFine 5K display. The display's Thunderbolt 3 port enables pass-through charging to the new MacBook Pro at up to a full 85W. It is also the brightest display at 500 cd/m2 and it has a wide DCI-P3 color gamut that shows more vibrant colors compared to the traditional sRGB standard. The 27-inch display has a built-in camera, microphone, stereo speakers, and three USB-C ports at 5 Gbps speeds. Apple's sale price of $974 (http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKN62LL/A/lg-ultrafine-5k-display) is expensive overall but reasonable for 5K displays.





An affordable <strong>Thunderbolt Display replacement</strong> is Acer's H277HU display. It has the same 27-inch screen size, 1440p resolution, and LED-backlit IPS display technology as the Thunderbolt Display. The display familiarly connects to and charges the MacBook Pro at up to 60W over a single cable. It runs at a full 60Hz refresh rate and has a decent variety of ports: 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 HDMI 2.0 port, 1 DisplayPort, and 1 DVI port. Amazon's price of $458.99 (https://www.amazon.com/Acer-H277HU-kmipuz-27-Inch-speakers/dp/B01B64O3M4) is very reasonable.

<div class="linkback">Related Roundup: MacBook Pro (http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-pro/)
Tags: USB-C (http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/usb-c/), 4K displays (http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/4k-displays/), 5k displays (http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/5k-displays/), Thunderbolt 3 (http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/thunderbolt-3/)
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now) (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Retina_MacBook_Pro) </div>
Discuss this article (http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-c-thunderbolt-3-displays-2016-macbook-pro.2015493/) in our forums

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Source: USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 Display Buyer's Guide for New MacBook Pro (http://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/16/usb-c-thunderbolt-3-displays-2016-macbook-pro/)