There's a category of monitors with 5,120 horizontal pixels, known as 5k displays. They come in various shapes and sizes with different vertical resolutions, and the market for each type is different. The most common has a 5120x2880 resolution, ideal for macOS due to its high pixel density. The recommendations below reflect that, as they all have this type of a 5k resolution. However, if you aren't a macOS user, you can also consider ultrawide 5120x1440 or 5k2k monitors, which are useful for both work and play, although these models are less common.
Choosing the right 5k monitor depends on your usage and budget. It's important to remember that most 5k monitors are costly, so you should be prepared to spend more than you would on a lower-resolution monitor. There are other factors you may want to consider, like the monitor's brightness if you want to use it in a well-lit room, or its color accuracy if you're a content creator and you don't want to spend extra on a full calibration. Some options even have gaming features with high refresh rates and fast response times for minimal motion blur.
We've bought and tested more than 400 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 5k monitors 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.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without 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, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
-
Best 5k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracyBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 2880The best 5k monitor we've tested is the Apple Studio Display XDR. It's a high-end 27-inch monitor with fantastic picture quality. It uses Mini LED backlighting with 2,304 dimming zones and a great local dimming feature. This helps it provide premium picture quality with deep blacks next to bright highlights and minimal haloing around bright objects against dark backgrounds. It also comes with an accurate sRGB mode that you'd only need to calibrate for perfect white balance. It includes picture modes for other color spaces as well, and displays a wide range of vivid colors. This makes it a fantastic choice if you edit content in SDR or HDR. Plus, images are sharp thanks to its high pixel density.
As this is an Apple product, it takes full advantage of Macs, like a Mac mini or a MacBook. It comes with Thunderbolt 5 support and 140W of power delivery, so it keeps a laptop fully charged while you're using it. You can also access its settings and most of its features with a macOS device, like its sRGB mode. You can even get it with different screen coatings, as you can choose between the standard glossy coating or the matte Nano-texture coating if you prefer less mirror-like reflections. Regardless, visibility isn't an issue as it gets bright enough to fight glare.
-
Best Mid-Range 5k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracyBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate330 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 2880You can save money and still get great performance with the LG 27GM950B-B. It's another 27-inch option with Mini LED backlighting, but there are some differences in performance. The Apple Studio Display XDR has the advantage in terms of overall picture quality because it gets much brighter, particularly in HDR. A downside of the LG is that its local dimming feature can't sustain its high brightness for long periods, as it dims after three minutes of use. At least this monitor also uses Mini LED backlighting with 2,304 dimming zones and shows less haloing around bright objects, but it doesn't achieve the same deep black levels as the Apple monitor.
The advantage of the LG is its superior gaming performance, making it the best 5k gaming monitor. It has a 165Hz refresh rate with 5k resolution, and a dual-mode feature that boosts it to 330Hz at 1440p, giving you versatility for playing different types of games. Plus, it has better motion handling than the Apple monitor, and it includes gaming features, like HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of the latest graphics cards. You can also check out the ASUS ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG if you want something cheaper with similar gaming features, but it lacks Mini LED backlighting, so it has worse picture quality.
-
Best Budget 5k Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracyBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution5120 x 2880Although entry-level 5k monitors aren't cheap, there are a handful that cost less than the LG 27GM950B-B, like the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV. It's another 5k, 27-inch model that has a few notable differences. Although it supports HDR, it's a big downgrade in picture quality as it has a limited local dimming feature and a low contrast ratio with blacks that look gray. It doesn't get nearly as bright, either, but it's still bright enough to fight some glare. Plus, it comes with a matte LuxPixel screen coating that effectively reduces glare really well, so it's fine to use in well-lit spaces. However, this coating has an aggressive finish, so text looks hazy.
Besides that, it's accurate before calibration, but there are some issues you may want to fix with a full calibration. It also displays a wide range of colors. Plus, it comes with a bigger USB hub than the LG that includes a KVM switch, making it easy to switch between devices and use the same devices on both. It supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and provides 85W of power, so it's easy to connect your laptop and charge it while you're working. Unfortunately, though, this monitor lacks many gaming features as it has a lower refresh rate and motion looks a lot blurrier than on the LG.
Notable Mentions
-
Apple Studio Display 2026:
The Apple Studio Display 2026 is a lower-end model than the Apple Studio Display XDR that costs less. It has many of the same features, including Thunderbolt 5, but one difference is that it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting. This means the Studio Display 2026 has worse picture quality.
See our review -
LG 39GX950B-B:
The LG 39GX950B-B is a high-end ultrawide OLED gaming monitor with a 5k2k resolution. It's something to consider over the Apple Studio Display XDR if you're a gamer. However, it has lower pixel density due to its larger screen, so images aren't as sharp, and it lacks many productivity features, like Thunderbolt.
See our review -
BenQ MA270S:
The BenQ MA270S is a monitor geared towards content creators thanks to its accurate colors. It has more work features than the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV as it supports Thunderbolt and daisy chaining. However, it costs more than the ASUS and isn't as bright.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 22, 2026:
We replaced the Apple Studio Display 2026 with the LG 27GM950B-B, which has better overall picture quality. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 45GX950A-B, and we added the LG 39GX950B-B, the BenQ MA270S, and the Studio Display 2026 to better reflect the current market.
Apr 27, 2026:
We removed the Dell U4025QW, the Apple Studio Display 2022, and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95, as they're hard to find. We added the Apple Studio Display XDR and the Apple Studio Display 2026 to their respective categories.
Feb 06, 2026:
We verified that all the monitors are available for purchase, and we updated the text for clarity throughout.
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.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we believe are the best 5k monitors currently available in the United States. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, feedback from visitors, and price. For example, two monitors may perform the same, but the cheaper one will be recommended. We also consider availability, as we don't recommend a monitor that's hard to find.
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.