6 Best Monitors For iPad Pro
- Dell Ultrasharp
- LG UltraFine
- Apple Studio Display
- BenQ GW2480T
- ASUS ZenScreen
- SAMSUNG Viewfinity
iPads are rapidly approaching the point of replacing laptops entirely. The integration of stage managers, external keyboards, monitors, mice, and trackpads has significantly bridged the gap between iPads and laptops, making them incredibly versatile.
With all these accessories, you can turn your iPad into a workstation. The only limitation now is the iOS itself.
You can connect the iPad to a monitor using a USB-C cable, or you can get an HDMI to USB adapter.
You can mirror the iPad on the monitor, or you can use it as an extended screen. You can adjust all of that. Open ‘Settings,’ tap on ‘Display and Brightness,’ and adjust the monitor settings there.
For external monitors to work on your iPad, you need to have iPad OS 16 or above, and your iPad needs to be powered by an M1 or M2 chip or a newer one.
An external monitor opens up a realm of possibilities for productivity and entertainment with your iPad. Enjoy enhanced experiences like watching movies, editing photos and videos, designing graphics, getting work done, writing, and playing games on a larger, high-quality screen. Additionally, you can showcase presentations to colleagues and unlock various other functionalities.
Let’s dive into the best monitors for iPads:
Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q
Size:27-inches
Resolutions:3840x2160
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Connectivity:USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort
Height Adjustment:Yes
Tilt Adjustment:Yes
Vertical Mode:Yes
Built-in Speakers:No
Ports in The Monitor: DisplayPort, HDMI, 2 x USB Type-C, 3 x USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio jack
The Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q is a visually stunning monitor with its 4K UHD resolution and ultra-thin bezels. Even the logo on the monitor is small. Brands do love to put those big logos that take up useful monitor space. The IPS panel ensures wide viewing angles and accurate colors. It offers versatile compatibility with the iPad Pro with HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C connectivity options.
The sleek silver and black design makes a great combo and fits into any environment. You can connect the monitor to your iPad with USB-C directly or you can connect it with HDMI if you have a separate adapter. (I couldn’t see the difference in quality)
You can also use the monitor in vertical mode, detach it from the leg, and add it to the wall or other mount.
In summary, the Dell U2720Q is a high-quality monitor with an awesome build design and additional ports. It will function with iPad Pro and MacBook and has all the functionality you could possibly need from a monitor, but it is pricey. However, if you plan on using the monitor for more than 4 hours a day, it’s crucial to invest in a high-quality product that not only meets your functional needs but also provides an enjoyable viewing experience.
LG UltraFine UHD 27-Inch
Size:27-inches
Resolutions:3840x2160
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Connectivity:USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort
Height Adjustment:Yes
Tilt Adjustment:Yes
Vertical Mode:No
Bult-in Speakers:Yes
Ports in The Monitor: DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI, USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack
LG Ultrafine UHD 27 has 4k resolution and a 27-inch big screen, but you can also get it with a 32-inch screen. The monitor covers 99% of the sRGB spectrum, making it ideal for photographers, video editors, graphic designers, and anyone who’s looking for those perfect vibrant colors. The monitor also offers connectivity with iPad Pro with a USB Type-C port or with HDMI or DisplayPort if you have an adapter.
Technically, the monitor can be used vertically, but LG themselves say it’s not recommended to use it in vertical mode due to the ventilation. As they said, “It was not designed to be used in portrait mode.”
It’s possible to detach the monitor from the leg and mount it on a wall or other mounts.
In summary, LG Ultrafine UHD27 is a high-quality monitor with beautiful, vibrant colors. It can function with Mac, iPad, and other laptops. It has all the necessary functions of a monitor and even has built-in speakers.
Apple Studio Display
Size:27-inches
Resolutions:5120x2880
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Connectivity:USB-C, Thunderbolt
Height Adjustment:Yes
Tilt Adjustment:Yes
Vertical Mode:No
Bult-in Speakers:Yes
Ports in The Monitor:Thunderbolt 3 port, x3 USB-C ports
Apple Studio Display has 5k resolution and a 27-inch big screen. It has 600 nits of brightness and supports one billion colors. The color accuracy is on point, making it a perfect choice for photographers, video editors, graphic designers, and basically anyone who works with design and colors.
When you buy the monitor, you have to choose a stand. There are various stand options available. The simplest and the most affordable is a tilt-adjustable stand. For more flexibility, you can opt for a stand that offers both height and tilt adjustments simultaneously, though this tends to be on the pricier side. Alternatively, you can choose a stand with a VESA mount adapter, allowing you to mount the monitor on a wall or other compatible mounts for added versatility.
Unlike other monitors on the list, it also has a built-in camera, which makes life easier if you need to jump on a quick video call. You can also connect this monitor with your iPad using Thunderbolt 3 port. It looks exactly the same as USB-C, but it is twice as fast. The monitor is truly magnificent, but it is also costly.
BenQ GW2480T
Size:24-inches
Resolutions:1920x1080
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Connectivity:HDMI, DisplayPort
Height Adjustment:Yes
Tilt Adjustment:Yes
Vertical Mode:Yes
Bult-in Speakers:Yes
Ports in The Monitor: DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, 3.5mm audio jack
BenQ GW2480T is a 24-inch budget monitor that you can also get with a 22-inch and 27-inch screen. The monitor is equipped with Eye-Care technology that reduces eye fatigue for your comfort. The monitor works in tandem with the iPad, but it doesn’t have a USB-C port. In order for this to work, you need to buy an adapter or a hub that gives your iPad an HDMI or DP port input. From my experience, the quality doesn’t change whether you use USB-C, DP, or HDMI.
The monitor can be used in vertical mode. No additional accessories are required. You can adjust the height of the monitor and tilt to get that perfect eye level. At the back, there’s a cable manager that allows you to hide all the wires and keep the desk clean.
In summary, it’s a great budget monitor that has all the functionality you could require from a monitor. You can connect it to your iPad and browse the web, play games, watch movies, draw, take notes, read on a bigger screen.
ASUS ZenScreen Portable Monitor
Size:15.6-inches
Resolutions:1920x1080
Refresh Rate:60Hz
Connectivity:USB-C
Height Adjustment:No
Tilt Adjustment:No
Vertical Mode:Yes
Bult-in Speakers:Yes
Ports in The Monitor:USB-C
Asus ZenScreen is a 15.6-inch portable monitor with only one port — USB Type-C which allows it to work together with iPad. It’s also equipped with a blue light filter, so there wouldn’t be eye fatigue. It has a sleeve and a tripod at the back, so you can easily travel and re-lace the monitor whenever necessary.
This compact monitor is the smallest on this list, tailor-made for individuals in need of a dual monitor setup for work. Its portability shines as it can be carried on airplanes and various locations. Ideal for content creators, remote workers, and frequent travelers.
In summary, it’s a good budget monitor for iPads. If you require a dual-monitor setup for your work, it will give you that without breaking the bank.
SAMSUNG 32-Inch Viewfinity
Size:32-inches
Resolutions:2560x1440
Refresh Rate:75Hz
Connectivity:USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort
Height Adjustment:Yes
Tilt Adjustment:Yes
Vertical Mode:Yes
Bult-in Speakers:Yes
Ports in The Monitor:USB-C, USB, HDMI, Displayport
SAMSUNG 32-Inch Viewfinity is a 32-inch big monitor with amazing resolution and colors that has vertical and horizontal modes and will work with iPads, MacBooks, and other laptops. Customize the height and tilt of the monitor to achieve the perfect eye level, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience and eliminating any potential neck strain.
In summary, it’s a great monitor with great color accuracy and big screen that allows you to multitask and keep multiple files open simultaneously. With exceptional color accuracy, this monitor is an ideal choice for designers, photographers, and video editors. Its spacious screen also caters to the needs of marketers, finance professionals, remote workers, content creators, and anyone seeking an additional monitor for iPad or MacBook usage.
Disadvantages of Using iPad with External Monitor
- You can’t turn off the iPads screen when it’s connected to an external monitor, but you can lower the brightness on the iPad itself as a solution.
- The speaker output is fixed; when your iPad is connected to the monitor, the sound will emanate from the monitor, and it cannot be switched back to the iPad.
Final Thoughts
The external monitor support has brought iPads closer to replacing MacBooks, but it’s still not there yet, iOS still has a lot of limitations that macOS doesn’t have. The biggest limitation is the iPad OS software itself.
All these monitors are compatible with iPad Pro M1, M2, and newer models, as well as iPad Air M1 and newer models. While they can function with iPad Mini and classic iPad, as well as older iPad Pro and Air models, the monitor’s capabilities may be limited. In such cases, it won’t adapt to the full size and will mirror the iPad screen rather than becoming an extension.
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