5k monitors are a set of niche monitors with 5120 horizontal pixels, and aren't very common. However, they come in various shapes and sizes with different vertical resolutions, and the market for each type of 5k monitor is different. One type of a 5k monitor is a screen with a 5120x2880 resolution, which is ideal for macOS because the operating system is optimized for displays with such high pixel density of around 220 PPI.
However, if you aren't a macOS user, you can also consider super-ultrawide 5120x1440 monitors that are useful for playing atmospheric games, as you get a ton of screen space. 5k2k ultrawide monitors are yet another type that offer sharp image and text clarity, and usually have big screens, so these can help with productivity. Choosing which type of 5k monitor is right for you depends on your usage and budget, but it's important to remember that most 5k monitors are costly, so you won't find any budget-friendly models with this resolution. There are other factors you may want to consider, like the monitor's brightness, color accuracy, and reflection handling, if you want good performance.
We've bought and tested more than 370 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 video editing, the best monitors for photo editing, and the best work monitors.
Quick Look
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, with units that we buy completely on our own, without any cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized and custom tools to measure various aspects with objective data-based results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance against the competition, and whether or not it's easy to find.
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Best 5k Monitor
Office8.1Editing8.0SDR Picture7.5HDR Picture6.2Color Accuracy8.9Brightness7.7Response Time3.9PC Gaming6.3Size40"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 2160The best 5k monitor we've tested is the Dell U4025QW. It has a 5120x2160 resolution, otherwise known as 5k2k, making it an ultrawide display. The 21:9 aspect ratio is extremely useful if you need a lot of screen space while working, like if you have multiple windows open. It delivers very sharp text, making documents and data clear and easy to read. Its 120Hz refresh rate also makes it more responsive than most office monitors when scrolling through long webpages or documents. It also boasts superb accuracy before calibration in SDR, making it a great choice for editing photos or videos.
Though its main feature is its size, it also has several perks to enhance productivity. This includes a KVM switch, allowing you to switch between sources and use the same keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor. It also features Thunderbolt 4 support with 140W of power delivery, allowing you to easily connect your laptop to the monitor and charge it with a single cable. However, it's also very expensive, so if you want a cheaper 5k2k monitor, consider the LG 40WP95C-W. It performs similarly, but it has fewer features, like a smaller USB hub.
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Best 5k Monitor For Mac
Office8.3Editing7.4SDR Picture7.0HDR Picture2.4Color Accuracy9.4Brightness3.5Response Time4.5PC Gaming5.1Size27"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 2880While the Dell U4025QW is an ultrawide, there's another class of 5k monitors that aren't ultrawide, featuring a higher 5120x2880 resolution that macOS is optimized for. If that interests you and you want to complete your Apple ecosystem, check out the Apple Studio Display. It's a 27-inch monitor with features you can only use with macOS, like its exceptionally accurate sRGB picture mode. It also supports Thunderbolt 3 on one port, making it easy to connect your computer; however, it doesn't support Thunderbolt 4, unlike the Dell. It has other features that most monitors don't have, such as a built-in webcam and microphone, which are useful for video calls.
It's available in different variants, allowing you to choose the stand or screen finish that suits your preference. There's one variant with a stand that only offers tilt adjustment, but you can get another variant with a height-adjustable stand. Additionally, you can purchase it without a stand if you prefer to mount it. As for the screen finish, you can choose between glossy or matte screen coatings, and it gets bright enough to fight glare in any environment.
Check out the best monitors for Mac Mini and the best monitors for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
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Best Affordable 5k Monitor
Office9.0Editing7.8SDR Picture6.7HDR Picture6.2Color Accuracy8.6Brightness8.0Response Time4.7PC Gaming6.1Size27"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 2880The Apple Studio Display is an expensive monitor, so if you're looking for a more affordable option with a 5120x2880 resolution, consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV. Although it's not cheap, it's much cheaper than the Apple monitor, and you still get the same 218 PPI that's ideal for macOS. There are some clear trade-offs compared to the Apple monitor, though, as it's less accurate before calibration and lacks a webcam and built-in microphone, unlike the Apple monitor. It also has a much more aggressive matte coating that makes text and images look blurrier than the glossy coating of the Apple monitor.
However, this matte coating absorbs light really well, so there are no distracting reflections in a sunny room, and it even gets very bright. It also features a larger USB hub than the Apple monitor, with three USB-A ports and two USB-C ports to connect various devices, including laptops. While it doesn't support Thunderbolt like the Apple monitor or the Dell U4025QW, it still supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 85W of power delivery, which is sufficient to charge most laptops while in use.
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Best Super Ultrawide 5k Monitor
Office6.9Editing8.9SDR Picture10HDR Picture9.5Color Accuracy8.7Brightness6.8Response Time9.8PC Gaming9.1Size49"Pixel TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 1440If you find that the 27-inch screen of the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV isn't big enough and you want something wider than the Dell U4025QW, there's a class of 5k monitors with a 5120x1440 resolution known as super ultrawide, offering more screen space. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95 has a massive 49-inch screen and a 32:9 aspect ratio, equivalent to placing two 27-inch monitors side by side. It also has an aggressive curve that makes it easier to see the entire screen, as the edges are brought closer to your field of vision.
It differs from the monitors recommended above because it's mainly designed as a gaming monitor with a higher 240Hz refresh rate, VRR support, and incredible motion handling. It also has much better picture quality, as its QD-OLED panel displays deep, inky blacks in dark rooms, along with bright highlights and vivid colors, which is great for watching content. However, it has lower pixel density, and text isn't as sharp, so it's not as good for productivity. Additionally, QD-OLEDs like this are prone to burn-in, which is problematic if you need something only for office work, but it isn't so much of a concern if you vary your usage.
Notable Mentions
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LG 45GX950A-B:
The LG 45GX950A-B is a 5k2k monitor like the Dell U4025QW, with the main difference being that it offers more gaming features. It has a 165Hz refresh rate with a Dual-Mode that switches it to a 2560x1080 resolution and a 330Hz refresh rate. Combined with its OLED panel's near-instantaneous response time, it's a fantastic gaming monitor. However, it has fewer productivity features than the Dell and usually costs more.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 14, 2025:
We moved the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV from the Notable Mentions section to a new 'Best Affordable 5k Monitor' category to give another option.
May 30, 2025:
We replaced the ViewFinity S90PC S27C900P with the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV and the LG 45GX950A-B in the Notable Mentions to better reflect the current 5k monitor market.
Feb 19, 2025:
We introduced a new format to the article and updated the text to reflect these changes.
Dec 04, 2024:
We removed the Apple Pro Display XDR from the Notable Mentions because it has a 6k resolution and is outside the scope of the recommendation.
Sep 17, 2024: We removed the 'Best For Multimedia' category because it doesn't fit into the article's scope, and we replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9/G95NA S49AG95 with the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95 in the 'Best 5k Super Ultrawide' category because the S49AG95 is becoming hard to find. In Notable Mentions, we removed the Samsung Odyssey G9 and LG 40WP95C-W and added the Samsung ViewFinity S9/S90PC S27C900P.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we believe are the best monitors with a 5k resolution currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's 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.