Ideally, however, you'll want something higher, like 2,560-by-1,440. You'll also want to keep the high-resolution goodness, so look for displays that offer at least 1,920-by-1,080 resolution, which will give you full HD 1080p quality. The options don't stop there, either, as Thunderbolt is directly compatible with Mini DisplayPort, and with an adapter, you can take just about any standard monitor connection (VGA, DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort) into the Thunderbolt port. The MacBook Pro is equipped with both Thunderbolt and HDMI connections, so you don't always need to spring for the more expensive model just because it says 'for Mac' on the box.

What these alternatives don't offer, however, is the Apple Dock capability (which includes connectivity for peripherals like keyboard, mice, and drives) which the Apple Thunderbolt Display offers thanks to the data capability of its Thunderbolt port. If you're looking for a larger display for your MacBook Pro, there are several options. Thankfully, there are several monitors that offer this same high-resolution appeal, and you can enjoy these larger displays even without a Retina-equipped MacBook.Īpple offers its own Thunderbolt Display, but while it will give you a high-resolution display and a sleek design reminiscent of the iMac, it's far from the only game in town. If a MacBook Pro (or even the more portable MacBook Air) offers all of the processing and graphics power you need, then a larger display is much more versatile solution, and it will likely save you some cash.

If you've ever coveted the Apple iMac 27-Inch (Late 2012) due to its larger 27-inch display, stop and consider whether you really need everything else that goes with it. It's great if you want to do some video work on the road, letting you edit 1080p video at full resolution without giving up your palettes and toolbars, but when you're back in your editing room or office, you want something larger.

But while the Retina Display may be beautiful, at 13 or 15 inches it's still fairly small. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security SoftwareĪpple has appealed to graphics and video professionals for a long time, but the announcement last year of the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Retina Display) solidified it for many.

The best monitors for macbook pro