Although 5k monitors aren't as common as their 4k counterparts, they're starting to grow in popularity, especially among those who crave sharp images. A 5k resolution is a broad term to refer to monitors with 5120 horizontal pixels, but they come in various shapes and with different vertical resolutions. A true 5k monitor has a 5120x2880 resolution and is ideal for macOS due to the higher pixel density. For this article, we also consider 5120x1440 and 5120x2160 (also known as 5k2k) because of their 5k horizontal resolution. A 5k resolution doesn't define a monitor's performance, as you still need good picture quality and color accuracy.
We've bought and tested more than 265 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors with a 5120 horizontal resolution that we've tested. See our recommendations for the best monitors for Mac Mini, the best monitors for photo and video editing, and if you don't mind the lower resolution, the best 4k monitors.
The best 5k monitor we've tested is the LG 40WP95C-W. It's a good overall monitor that's designed with content creators and those who want productivity features in mind. It has a 40-inch ultrawide screen with a 5120x2160 resolution, which is the equivalent of a 4k screen but with a wider aspect ratio, and it's still considered a 5k monitor because of its 5120 horizontal resolution. The text clarity is fantastic, thanks to this. It's also great for content creators because its sRGB mode comes factory calibrated, so the color accuracy is excellent, and it displays a wide range of colors in SDR. It also supports HDR, which is great if you're a video editor and work in HDR.
If you want something with a ton of productivity features, it has a USB hub with two USB-C ports that both support Thunderbolt 4. It's great as they deliver 96W of power, enough to charge even power-hungry laptops, and you can display an image from it simultaneously. It also has a Picture-by-Picture mode if you want to display images from two sources next to each other, which can improve your workflow.
If you have a Mac computer, like a MacBook or Mac Mini, and want a monitor to take full advantage of it, check out the Apple Studio Display. Instead of the ultrawide screen of the LG 40WP95C-W, the Studio Display has a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio. Combined with its extremely high native resolution of 5120x2880, the text clarity is simply remarkable. It has a few features you can only access with a Mac computer, and one of those is the sRGB mode, which results in exceptional color accuracy as you won't need to calibrate it.
It has other features most monitors don't have, like a built-in webcam and microphone, which are great for video calls. Like many Apple products, it's available in a wide range of variants, and you can choose which stand or screen finish you want. There's one variant with a standard stand that only offers tilt adjustment, but you can get another variant with a height-adjustable stand. Additionally, you can choose to get it without a stand altogether if you prefer mounting it instead. As for the screen finish, you can choose between glossy or matte screen coatings, and both have fantastic reflection handling.
If you want a 5k monitor for gaming, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is better than the LG 40WP95C-W and the Apple Studio Display for gaming. It's a different type of display because it features a super ultrawide screen with a 32:9 aspect ratio and a 5120x1440 resolution. It's the equivalent of placing two 27-inch, 1440p displays next to each other, and while it doesn't have the same remarkable image clarity as other 5k displays, it delivers an immersive gaming experience. Its screen also has a 1000R curve that brings the edges within your field of vision so that the image doesn't look washed out at the sides.
It's a great gaming monitor with a fast 240Hz native refresh rate that you can achieve through a DisplayPort connection. This results in a great response time with minimal motion blur, and it has a backlight-strobing feature that further improves the appearance of motion. It also has low input lag with most settings for a responsive feel. Besides its excellent gaming performance, it delivers great picture quality with deep blacks in dark rooms and a good Mini LED local dimming feature that further improves the picture quality in dark scenes.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors with a 5k resolution that are currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 5k monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.