USB-C ports on monitors are useful for connecting laptops that support USB-C to your display. Unlike other video connection types, most USB-C monitors also deliver power to the source, so you can charge your laptop and display an image using a single cable. However, it's important to remember that not all monitors deliver the same amount of power, as some are limited to even 15W, which isn't enough to charge a laptop, so you'll still need an external power source. USB-C can also serve as an upstream port, meaning you can connect your hard drive or other USB devices to the monitor and transfer data to your computer. You can read more about USB-C here.
When looking for a monitor with USB-C, you'll want to look for something with high power delivery to charge your laptop. Besides its USB-C features, you should consider your budget and what you need the monitor for. Getting a high-resolution display with sharp text clarity is useful for office work, and one with great image accuracy is beneficial for content creation.
We've bought and tested over 295 monitors, and below, you'll find our picks for the best USB-C monitors available for purchase. You can also check our recommendations for the best monitors for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, the best office monitors, and the best 4k monitors.
The best monitor with USB-C that we've tested is the Dell U2723QE. It's an impressive monitor for productivity purposes with a massive USB hub as it has three USB-C ports, each serving a different purpose. One supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, which is the port you connect your laptop to if you want to display an image and charge it simultaneously. Another USB-C slot is a downstream port with 15W of power delivery, so you can use it to charge your phone or other small devices. The third USB-C port is an upstream port for the KVM switch, which allows you to control different devices with a single keyboard and mouse connected to one of the five USB-A ports.
Besides the features you get with the USB hub, it also has a high resolution, making it the best 4k USB-C monitor we've tested. This results in high pixel density with sharp text clarity, which is ideal for office use. With a 27-inch screen, you can easily open two windows side-by-side, but you can also get the Dell U3223QE if you want a larger 32-inch screen. It has the same set of USB-C features, but it costs more for minimal difference in performance.
While most USB-C monitors support DisplayPort Alt Mode, some support Thunderbolt, which is what Mac computers and some Intel-based laptops support. It has a few advantages over DisplayPort Alt Mode, like higher power delivery and bandwidth, but it isn't available on as many monitors. Regardless, if you're looking for a monitor with Thunderbolt support, check out the LG 40WP95C-W. It has a smaller USB hub than the Dell U2723QE, but both its USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4. This allows for 96W of power delivery, and it has an incredible 40Gbps USB-C rated speed, much more than the 10Gbps on the Dell.
This monitor has useful extra features like a Picture-by-Picture mode, which is great if you want to view images from two sources side-by-side. It offers enough space to multitask as it has a massive 40-inch screen with a 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio and 5120x2160 resolution, and it produces sharp text. If you don't like the ultrawide format, consider the 27-inch Apple Studio Display, a monitor designed for macOS devices that supports Thunderbolt 3 instead.
If you don't need Thunderbolt support like on the LG 40WP95C-W and find the Dell U2723QE too expensive, consider a cheaper monitor like the Dell S2722QC, which often goes on sale too. It's a lower-end model compared to the U2723QE, so it has a smaller USB hub, and instead of the five USB-A ports and three USB-C ports like on the U2723QE, it has two USB-A ports and a single USB-C port. It supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and power delivery of up to 65W, which is still enough power to charge smaller laptops but isn't enough to charge power-hungry laptops.
Another difference is that it doesn't have a KVM switch, but it still has Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes, great if you want to connect two sources. It's also a great choice if you need to use it in a well-lit office space, as it has even better reflection handling than the U2723QE and is bright enough to overcome glare. Lastly, it has wide viewing angles and excellent ergonomics, so you can easily adjust the screen to an ideal viewing position and show content to someone next to you.
While you can find the Dell S2722QC at a budget-friendly price when it goes on sale, the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is another good option if you're on a budget and find the Dell slightly out of your price range. The main trade-off is that it has a lower 1440p resolution than the Dell, but while it has lower pixel density, the text clarity is still decent. Luckily, its USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery, so you can easily connect a smaller laptop to display an image and charge it using a single cable.
Despite its low cost, it still has a few extra features, like its outstanding ergonomics that make it easy to adjust and a dedicated sRGB mode. This results in exceptional accuracy before calibration, as colors are accurate, and you won't notice any issues. Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR, which is disappointing if you need that for video editing. If that's important to you, the Gigabyte M27Q P is another budget option that supports HDR, but its USB-C port is limited to 18W of power delivery, which isn't enough to charge laptops.
Oct 12, 2023: Removed the Apple Studio Display as 'Best Monitor For Mac' because it doesn't fit into the scope of the article; renamed the Dell S2722QC to 'Best Mid-Range' to better reflect its market position; added the Gigabyte M32U to Notable Mentions.
Aug 16, 2023: Added the Apple Studio Display as 'Best USB-C Monitor For Mac' to reflect how people are searching for USB-C monitors; added the Gigabyte M34WQ to Notable Mentions.
Jun 21, 2023: Restructured the article to reflect how people are looking for USB-C monitors; renamed the Dell U2723QE and the LG 40WP95C-W to the 'Best USB-C Monitor' and 'Best Thunderbolt Monitor' respectively; removed the Apple Studio Display, and added the INNOCN 27M2V to Notable Mentions.
Apr 21, 2023: Replaced the Gigabyte M27Q with the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV because it has higher power delivery.
Feb 21, 2023: Updated the text throughout for clarity and added the LG 38WN95C-W to Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors with a USB-C input 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 USB-C 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.