Is there a Truly Decent USB-C/TB Monitor for the MacBook Pro Yet?

[iEdd]

Hi all,
I've been researching monitors ever since I got my Touchbar 13" MBP, but it seems like there are some serious problems with all of them:

• Lenovo Thinkvision X1 – reports of it only charging at 45W? Sound issues/volume not adjustable with keyboard?
• Others – either no speakers, no or poor charging, no USB hub, no 4K (2560 x 1440, really?!)
• Common to all of these and Ultrafine 4K: USB3 ports run at only only USB2 speed when connected to the laptop at a decent resolution, due to using USB-C for video, rather than thunderbolt.

So the Ultrafine 5K seems like a winner, as it has none of the above problems, other than:
• It averages reviews of about 3/5 stars in Apple's store, and there's a whole thread with problems people have been having.
• Given all this, it still costs about $2000 (AU). That's obscene. You could almost get a whole iMac for that (~$2500 for 5K 27" edu).

Jumping back to the Ultrafine 4K – given it's only $1000, the slower USB and 4K resolution are liveable, but it too has all these reports of freezing, lockups and regretful buyers.

I'm just wondering – is there a monitor for the MacBooks with these features?
• Just works (something $300 monitors have done for a decade)
• Video and USB data + charging (at least 60W) over one USB-C cable
• USB hub built in (either A or C ports; beggars can't be choosers)
• At least 4K resolution
• At least 21.5" screen size
• Built-in speakers

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm feeling pretty disenchanted at the moment, especially with my new $3900 Apple laptop (compared to $2200 for maxed-out model in 2013) having all the reported keyboard problems just so it could be 0.2 mm thinner.

 

[bcaslis]

I have tried a few including the LG Ultrafine 5K and 4K. I have settled on the LG Ultrafine 5K for now. Reasons why:

• Great panel quality - basically same as iMac 5K
• Built-in hub that mostly works
• Speakers that work fine for me

In the U.S. it's $1300 (less than an iMac) and that is too expensive in my view. But after dealing with lots of problems with other monitors like the Acer USB-C monitor that was the most buggy item I have ever used, it's the best solution I could find. The Ultrafine 4K was very close and my only real issue with it was the speed of the ports on the built-in hub, but I almost decided on that one. Looking at the Apple reviews, most seem to be complaining it doesn't work with older Macs. I'm using mine with a maxed out 2017 13" MacBook Pro and other than bugs in High Sierra it has been working pretty well.

 

[iEdd]

Thanks for your reply.

Valid point with some of the Apple reviews, and there were some as well that had issues that were apparently fixed in one of the firmware updates. However, some of the complaints seem to persist.

What problems have you encountered in High Sierra? Any of the "failing to wake from sleep" issues?

I guess I'd feel better about these monitors being Apple price if they had Apple aesthetics and Apple quality (preferably 2010ish Apple quality).

 

[bcaslis]

I was getting consistent kernel panics when plugging into the monitor with 10.13. Since updating to 10.13.1 I have not had one yet but it's too early to be certain the problem is fixed. I was not getting kernel panics with 10.12.6.

 

[Fishrrman]

My advice (ain't what you were asking for, but I'll give it anyway):

FORGET about the "USB-c" part.
Instead, just concentrate on finding a high-quality display (even without USB-c).

A good display should be "a good display" first and foremost.
There are plenty of them out there, again, IF you aren't concerned about USB-c.

Just use the other port to plug in a USB-c charger (and hub) if you need to.

 

[funman895]

I actually just bought a Dell U3818DW (38" ultrawide 3840x1600) IPS monitor which has USB-C power/hub (100W power) and speakers/audio output. They're ~$1,000 on eBay right now (brand new) which makes them very competitive in this segment of high-productivity monitors that support everything you need over single USB-C connection.

I was about to agree with Fishrrman until I found this monitor and love it both as a screen and as something I've got to plug in/out very often.

 

[Wags]

I actually just bought a Dell U3818DW (38" ultrawide 3840x1600) IPS monitor which has USB-C power/hub (100W power) and speakers/audio output. They're ~$1,000 on eBay right now (brand new) which makes them very competitive in this segment of high-productivity monitors that support everything you need over single USB-C connection.

I was about to agree with Fishrrman until I found this monitor and love it both as a screen and as something I've got to plug in/out very often.

What machine use with it ?

 

[kudos212]

The lg ultrafine monitors are the only displays that are just like the iMac and MacBook pros. Yeah, a lot of them had software issues and the wifi shielding problem in the beginning but currently they don't have any sleep wake issues on the new version of high Sierra. I have 2 4k monitors and the 5k and they work fine. The issues are overblown.
[doublepost=1517481532][/doublepost]or wait for the apple displays that may come out later this year.

 

[benzslrpee]

i am currently using the viewsonic vp2785-4k and it ticks all the boxes except for built-in speakers. the color rendition is amazing

 

[funman895]

What machine use with it ?

I use it with a 2017 13" nTB MacBook Pro.

 

[iatbo]

I use it with a 2017 13" nTB MacBook Pro.

I am currently using the u3818dw monitor with 2017 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt3 ports. However, when the Mac is connected to the monitor via a single usbc cable (tried different usb3.1 and thunderbolt3 cables including the original one), the Mac cannot sleep successfully. When ever I put the Mac to sleep, the display will light up every few seconds, disconnected/reconnecting usb peripherals whenever it lights up. Have you ever seen this kind of issue before?

 

[funman895]

I am currently using the u3818dw monitor with 2017 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt3 ports. However, when the Mac is connected to the monitor via a single usbc cable (tried different usb3.1 and thunderbolt3 cables including the original one), the Mac cannot sleep successfully. When ever I put the Mac to sleep, the display will light up every few seconds, disconnected/reconnecting usb peripherals whenever it lights up. Have you ever seen this kind of issue before?

I typically use the monitor with the lid closed using a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard. When I’m done I lock the screen with a key combo (I think ctrl-shift-eject), which turns off the monitor without sleeping the computer.

 

[iatbo]

I typically use the monitor with the lid closed using a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard. When I’m done I lock the screen with a key combo (I think ctrl-shift-eject), which turns off the monitor without sleeping the computer.

That's basically what I am doing as well. I am just a little concerned that the lifespan and stability of the Mac will be reduced if I leave it running all the time. Have you ever tried putting it to sleep with the lid closed and connected to the monitor?

 

[qdn745]

I am currently using the u3818dw monitor with 2017 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt3 ports. However, when the Mac is connected to the monitor via a single usbc cable (tried different usb3.1 and thunderbolt3 cables including the original one), the Mac cannot sleep successfully. When ever I put the Mac to sleep, the display will light up every few seconds, disconnected/reconnecting usb peripherals whenever it lights up. Have you ever seen this kind of issue before?

I typically use the monitor with the lid closed using a Bluetooth mouse/keyboard. When I’m done I lock the screen with a key combo (I think ctrl-shift-eject), which turns off the monitor without sleeping the computer.

That's basically what I am doing as well. I am just a little concerned that the lifespan and stability of the Mac will be reduced if I leave it running all the time. Have you ever tried putting it to sleep with the lid closed and connected to the monitor?

I have a 2018 MBP was thinking of also going with the Dell U3818DW. Have you had any developments to these sleep/wake issues?