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

I am going to wait till the kabylake refresh and by that time there would be plenty of more third party options for I/O. It has to last me at least 5 years with mainly 4K video editing so the safe bet is to be as current as possible, and it will happen in a few months anyways so I don't see myself losing out on anything yet.
 
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lol, love the webcam, mic, speakers, ports, charging.. all that.. However, I want the LG UltraFine 5K, but not at 5k, at 2.5k. 😀

I like all it's features, but I want a 2580x1440.. because.. it will run much smoother for what I use it for. I don't NEED 5k, I'd rather have 2.5k and get better frame rates in apps and games.

So, if LG can come out with same 27" with lower rez screen, I'm all in.
 
I love the 4K LG monitor - hooked it up last night to my 13". I've got it on an arm (an AmazonBasic one) and it's wonderful to be able to move the monitor anywhere on my desk that I need. And since the MBP gets power from it that's one less power cable to set up.

Speakers in it were surprisingly good - I hadn't even realized it *had* speakers until I was setting up iTunes lol.

On an arm, since you don't have that thick base, I don't really notice the bezels. Would it have been nice to have thinner bezels? Sure. But its not a distraction to me. Course I'm easily pleased, coming from a 2009 iMac.
 
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And that right there is why I'm getting the 5K display. That 25% off until January is too good to pass up. Say what you will about the bezels, but they're not that obnoxious, and it fully charges a 15" MBP, transfers data at 3.1 speed for external devices, is brighter, that color is going to look awesome if the MBP screen is any indication, and it has speakers and a camera. Do I wish the design was better? Obviously. Is it hideous? Only if you're looking for something to complain about, because that is really the only thing that isn't top notch that I have seen. Even the price is reasonable at 25%, which is a miracle for something Apple is promoting.
 
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EIZO FlexScan EV2780
http://www.eizoglobal.com/products/flexscan/ev2780/index.html
Inputs: USB Type-C x 1 (with HDCP), DisplayPort x 1 (with HDCP), HDMI x1 (with HDCP)
27", 2560 x 1440 (16:9 aspect ratio)
Comes in white or black.
EV2780_pr.jpg
 
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Porco said:
I don't understand the attraction of curved TVs, curved computer displays even less so. It reminds me of the geometry settings you used to have to use to eliminate as undesirable on CRT displays.
Click to expand...

I'm using an LG 34UC98-W at work right now. (It's Thunderbolt as well, which is nice because I chained Ethernet through it which let me get rid of my Thunderbolt dock.) I don't know that I would love the curve from a distance with a TV, but on a monitor up kinda close, it's actually pretty cool. It's odd at first, but after like 15 minutes it's really, really nice. It helps with peripheral vision and seems to go well with the bit of head-turning required to use a monitor so wide.

I think I'm going to go with the 5K as soon as it's available. Although I like the width on this screen, clarity wins out (especially since my laptop acts as a second monitor anyway). I was using Apple's pre-Thunderbolt 27" LED Cinema display before that and have found 27" to be about the perfect monitor size for me. (I actually used Apple's 30" screen before that but honestly, it was actually a bit TOO big for my tastes.)

The only two bummers for the 5K are:

1. I think it's pretty boring looking which is a shame because the 34UC98-W is a pretty nice looking monitor.

2. I really, really dislike that there's not Thunderbolt 3 out. I'm probably being overly picky, but I'd prefer attaching Thunderbolt Ethernet rather than USB-C. That's pretty minor though.
 
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TigerWoodsIV said:
And that right there is why I'm getting the 5K display. That 25% off until January is too good to pass up. Say what you will about the bezels, but they're not that obnoxious, and it fully charges a 15" MBP, transfers data at 3.1 speed for external devices, is brighter, that color is going to look awesome if the MBP screen is any indication, and it has speakers and a camera. Do I wish the design was better? Obviously. Is it hideous? Only if you're looking for something to complain about, because that is really the only thing that isn't top notch that I have seen. Even the price is reasonable at 25%, which is a miracle for something Apple is promoting.
Click to expand...

I agree. The Ultrafine 5K is the best of the bunch. I would get one, but I don't have a laptop that can drive it.
 
I've got to say these LG displays look more appealing than the 5K display that Apple showed off with the MacBook Pro at launch. I'm just wondering whether my Late 2011 MacBook Pro has enough GPU juice to power one of these (that's if the external display doesn't fry my GPU again...)
 
"Hey! Just blew $3k on an overpriced laptop that you can't natively charge your overpriced iPhone from without another dongle!?! Well, have I got a deal for you! How about dropping another $1500 on a monitor!"

Who can afford this stuff?
 
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27 inches is not large enough for 4K. 32 inches would be much better, but it can take as much as 40 inches (especially in 5k) before fonts become blotchy. It blows my mind that not a single display maker has gone >27 inches.
 
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I was debating between 5k iMac + MacBook or 15" MBP + 5k display. Based on what's available it seems like the LG is the best option. DCI-P3 wide color gamut and built in camera (I use that fairly often) are things I like.

If only it had been 32"...
 
cult hero said:
I'm using an LG 34UC98-W at work right now. (It's Thunderbolt as well, which is nice because I chained Ethernet through it which let me get rid of my Thunderbolt dock.) I don't know that I would love the curve from a distance with a TV, but on a monitor up kinda close, it's actually pretty cool. It's odd at first, but after like 15 minutes it's really, really nice. It helps with peripheral vision and seems to go well with the bit of head-turning required to use a monitor so wide.
Click to expand...

I guess that makes sense, good answer! I'm glad the choice is there anyway.
 
The biggest problem of the two thunderbolt LG displays is the same one that never even made my consider the Apple Displays: the single input.
 
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Porco said:
I don't understand the attraction of curved TVs, curved computer displays even less so. It reminds me of the geometry settings you used to have to use to eliminate as undesirable on CRT displays.
Click to expand...
To me curved monitors make much more sense than TV's because it's curved for one person sitting in the same spot all the time. TV's usually have many people sitting all around the room. I think with very wide/large monitors it helps reduce the color shift from viewing angle differences.
 
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