Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Which monitor are you getting with your 15" 2015 MBP Touchbar?

I

iBrooker

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 20, 2016
416
214
UK
ARGH: Meant 2016 MBP duh!

I am looking at the LG 27UD88 (£480) and the new LG 5K Apple monitor (£884). Anyone think of the pros and cons and which would be better to get? Will primarily use it for the MBP but like the option of being able to plus in a PS4 etc (MBP specs: 2.9Ghz, 4GB GPU, 512GB SSD)

LG 27UD88 - £480 - Pros n Cons

Has two HDMI inputs so can use PS4Pro, BluRay etc
Has two USB 3 outs
Is 4K (so less pixels to power)
Con: Is not 5k
Con: does not have speakers, camera, etc (but personally not bothered by this)

LG 5K Monitor - £884 - Pros n Cons

5K
New Model
1 USB-C in
3 USB-C outs
Con: no other inputs (or outputs - so you'll need dongle adapters. Edit: this is incorrect on the input side of things - you can't use anything else - even with dongles, as the monitor can only accept a thunderbolt 3 input via the USB-C connection)
Con: Being 5 K uses more resources (but how much?)

Currently I'm thinking that if the LG5K had Hdmi inputs (and ability to scale content) and a a couple of normal usb outs it would have been a no brainer.

What do you all think?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jimthing
I'm pretty sure I'll get the LG 5k display, since I want the wider color gamut as well as the conveniences in having a built in camera and being able to turn the brightness up and down from the keyboard. I really wish it was OLED for the brighter colors and deeper blacks, but I bet that will be available in a few years from now :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: jimthing and iBrooker
cjrulli said:
I'm probably going with either the LG or the Acer H7. Losing a bit of "HUB" functionality with the Acer though.

Acer H77HU - $460

27" IPS WQHD Widescreen with 2560 x 1440 resolution
Signal Inputs: 1 x HDMI (v2.0) & 1 x Display Port
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C port

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-H277HU-...e=UTF8&qid=1479668770&sr=8-1&keywords=acer+h7
Click to expand...

Why the Acer? (It is only 2560 x 1440)

MadDane said:
I really wish it was OLED for the brighter colors and deeper blacks, but I bet that will be available in a few years from now :)
Click to expand...

Oh, can you do that? That's neat!
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Would you guys use an external keyboard with those monitors? My laptop mostly spends its time in clamshell mode but then the touch bar and touchid seem a useless thing to have (paid for).
 
  • Like
Reactions: iBrooker
Hyloba said:
Would you guys use an external keyboard with those monitors? My laptop mostly spends its time in clamshell mode but then the touch bar and touchid seem a useless thing to have (paid for).
Click to expand...
I will mainly be using mine with and external keyboard and mouse. And yes, the Touch Bar and TouchID will be useless most of the time for me. But who knows, I might change the way I use my laptop if those two features proves useful enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iBrooker
80% of the time I will use in clamshell mode, but like MadDane, might review that in the coming months.

It's only a matter of time before there is a wireless keyboard with toucbar I guess.
 
I've had this in my amazon wishlist for a while now, because many people say its one of the best 4k monitors for the Mac. Dell P2715Q
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PC9HFO...olid=27MJBJAWDKG3O&coliid=IR7RQNWAD6HET&psc=1

Since that was months ago.. before I buy i need to go looking again for any new options/suggestions.

I guess some monitors don't shut off when they are supposed to when using the MBP in Clamshell mode etc. Is there a list of 4k monitors (preferably 27"+) that work flawlessly as a MBP external monitor? Power off when they should, wake when they should etc.
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Like
Reactions: iBrooker
TheBacklash said:
I've had this in my amazon wishlist for a while now, because many people say its one of the best 4k monitors for the Mac. Dell P2715Q
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PC9HFO...olid=27MJBJAWDKG3O&coliid=IR7RQNWAD6HET&psc=1

Since that was months ago.. before I buy i need to go looking again for any new options/suggestions.

I guess some monitors don't shut off when they are supposed to when using the MBP in Clamshell mode etc. Is there a list of 4k monitors (preferably 27"+) that work flawlessly as a MBP external monitor? Power off when they should, wake when they should etc.
Click to expand...

That does look nice, and I have always been impressed by Dell monitors (and from what I remb you can get 5 year warranties when you buy directly from them too).

Only prob with that monitor is it is not a USB-C input so you'd need a dongle and can't use it as a hub.
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
iBrooker said:
...
Click to expand...
If you don't have old video outputs you need to cater LG UltraFine 5K is a no brainer for me - it's future proof, it's best resolution, it's best colour etc. Without current "discount" it was kind of expensive but with it it's a good bargain IMHO.

For example I also had to cater iMac 5K and had to get Dell P2715Q instead of LG UltraFine 5K for this reason.

But be careful. It's not "USB-C in" in a sense you might be thinking in the initial post, it's "Thunderbolt 3 in" so you won't be able to connect it to anything which is USB-C but not Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C is port format, USB 3.1 gen 1, USB 3.1 gen 2 and Thunderbolt 3 are the interfaces that share this port format, Thunderbolt 3 can emulate USB 3.1 gen 1-2 but not vice versa; rMB has USB 3.1 gen 1 via USB-C, rMBP2016 has Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Macintosh IIcx, jimthing and iBrooker
urbZZ said:
This begs the question: Will it ever be possible to connect the LG 5k to something different than the mac?
I am thinking of ps4, or general hdmi enabled latops?
Click to expand...
No.
The same situation as with Apple Thunderbolt Display.
It's highly unlikely that TB3 becomes THAT widespread for it to appear in Xboxes, PSes, videoboxes etc. All these devices would likely incorporate USB 3.1 gen 2 via USB-C for DisplayPort alternate mode in the nearest 2 to 3 years at most.
IMHO, of course.
 
  • Like
Reactions: urbZZ, iBrooker and jimthing
MadDane said:
I will mainly be using mine with and external keyboard and mouse. And yes, the Touch Bar and TouchID will be useless most of the time for me. But who knows, I might change the way I use my laptop if those two features proves useful enough.
Click to expand...

This will still be useful because if Apple gives us a wireless magic keyboard with TouchID then it'll most likely only be compatible with Macs that already have the T1/secure element inside.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MadDane and iBrooker
tryrtryrtryrt said:
If you don't have old video outputs you need to cater LG UltraFine 5K is a no brainer for me - it's future proof, it's best resolution, it's best colour etc. Without current "discount" it was kind of expensive but with it it's a good bargain IMHO.

For example I also had to cater iMac 5K and had to get Dell P2715Q instead of LG UltraFine 5K for this reason.

But be careful. It's not "USB-C in" in a sense you might be thinking in the initial post, it's "Thunderbolt 3 in" so you won't be able to connect it to anything which is USB-C but not Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C is port format, USB 3.1 gen 1, USB 3.1 gen 2 and Thunderbolt 3 are the interfaces that share this port format, Thunderbolt 3 can emulate USB 3.1 gen 1-2 but not vice versa; rMB has USB 3.1 gen 1 via USB-C, rMBP2016 has Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C).
Click to expand...

Oh I didn't know that - I've added it to the first post as an edit. So basically, this display is only good for a Mac (and one that can output a TB3 signal via usb-c). :(
 
  • Like
Reactions: jimthing
I'm going for 2x LG 5K's, as they are reasonably future proof.

They have great colour gamut (inc. so called 'Deep Colour' at billions of colours, rather than 'True Colour' at millions, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth), Tbolt 3 connection in (unlikely to be surpassed for next few years by anything else), and speakers+camera (though will be annoying if it's not at least 1080p; they haven't released the full specs on it yet unfortunately, which may mean suffering 720p like the Macs, but can live with it or use a separate cam if desired).

EDIT: the only negative is that DP 1.3 will come next year, and perhaps that'd mean something for what was offered on both 2017 MBP's and displays then (anyone have a guess on that?).

I also plan on getting an updated Mac Mini which will of course have Tbolt 3 (well, Apple could do anything, but one can presume they'll likely do the logical thing putting 4+ Tbolt 3 ports it as well, given its a desktop machine!), and use that as my main storage device server (with external storage devices).

EDIT: knowing Apple, they'll still gimp the machine to remain at 2 vs. 4 core, then getting an iMac instead may have to be done!

Then (finally!) I'd love a screen adapter to be able to switch between Mini and MBP on the fly to the two LG 5K's.
AFAIK, there's no way of doing this last thing currently (if one currently was using two new 15" MBPs, for example), and somehow I think it's only a 50/50 chance a manufacturer will have the foresight in future to realise it's a problem in need of a solution and actually make something to solve it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: iBrooker
iBrooker said:
That does look nice, and I have always been impressed by Dell monitors (and from what I remb you can get 5 year warranties when you buy directly from them too).

Only prob with that monitor is it is not a USB-C input so you'd need a dongle and can't use it as a hub.
Click to expand...
Honestly do not care if it's usb c or not. Display port or HDMI is all i'll be using, nor do I care for it being a hub.

Currently have a 2015 MBP and decided to not get a 2016 until probably the next refresh.
Also started looking at this one as well from LG
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CH9ZTI...TF8&colid=27MJBJAWDKG3O&coliid=I3BDYZDSWHNFRP
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Like
Reactions: iBrooker
iBrooker said:
Oh I didn't know that - I've added it to the first post as an edit. So basically, this display is only good for a Mac (and one that can output a TB3 signal via usb-c). :(
Click to expand...
Presumably it should also work with all the future TB3 devices which are not Macs as TB3 is pretty much a non-Apple standard which is supported by Windows and Linux as well. However there is still a grey zone in that LG 5K does not have physical buttons to set it up (brightness, contrast etc), instead its settings are injected into Mac software stack - and this might complicate things for non-Macs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jimthing and iBrooker
I'm planning on buying the LG 5k when it comes out, but will miss the aesthetics of my Thunderbolt display housing (IMHO, the LG 5k isn't the best looking, ignoring the actual display, of course).

As with may others, I use my laptops in clamshell mode with an external keyboard and mouse, which negates any benefits of the Touch Bar. It seems like such a waste, which is why I was seriously considering an iMac instead (I have a 12" MB that I use out of the office). Perhaps I'll revisit how I use it, but the only thing that I can imagine right now is getting a stand and setting up the MBP next to the display with the lid open, yet still using an external keyboard/mouse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iBrooker
38UC99 for my nTB.
medium01.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: kinster and iBrooker
TheBacklash said:
Honestly do not care if it's usb c or not. Display port or HDMI is all i'll be using, nor do I care for it being a hub.
Click to expand...

I really would like the hub as I want to connect an extra 512gb ssd and stick it on the back of the monitor with some velcro :D ...hence my two options seem to be the two LGs in the first post. (Unless the Dell can be used in this way too?)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back