The Best Thunderbolt 3 Monitors (2024 Reviews)

Looking for a monitor with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4? Check out the best models available, as well as everything else you need to know!

Got a powerful Thunderbolt 3 laptop or a PCIe card and want a monitor that will take full advantage of it? You’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, you’ll find the best Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 monitors currently available, as well as everything you need to know about them in order to ensure you’re getting the model that’s most suited for you!

MonitorSizeResolutionRefresh RatePanelPower DeliveryDaisy-chainSamsung C34J791
34”3440x1440100HzVA90WYes
27”2560x1440120HzIPS Black90WYes
27”3840x216060HzIPS100WYes
27”5120x288060HzIPS90WYes
32”3840x216060HzIPS Black85WYes
34”3440x1440120HzIPS Black90WYes
38”3840x1600144HzIPS94WNo
40”5120x216075HzIPS96WYes
40”5120x2160120HzIPS Black140WYes
49”5120x144060HzIPS Black100WYes
best value

Dell U2724DE

Dell U2724DE
  • 27″ 1440p 120Hz IPS Black
  • 98% DCI-P3 color gamut
  • Thunderbolt 4
best overall

LG 38WN95C

lg 38wn95c monitor
  • 38″ 3840×1600 IPS
  • 98% DCI-P3
  • 144Hz & 1ms GtG
premium pick

LG 40WP95C

LG 40WP95C
  • 40″ 5120×2160 IPS
  • 98% DCI-P3
  • Thunderbolt 4

These are our best Thunderbolt 3 monitor picks. In the review summaries below, we’ll go over their most important features in detail.

We’ll also mention some other popular Thunderbolt 3 monitors and clarity why our picks are better. You’ll also find cheaper alternatives that use USB-C with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery in case you don’t need some Thunderbolt 3 features.

Make sure you’re using a proper cable for the Thunderbolt 3 connection. Generic USB-C cables supplied with monitors or laptops often don’t support the full 40 Gbps transfer data, 100W power delivery and/or DisplayPort Alternate Mode.

If you want to view our changelogs for this particular buying guide, you can do so at the end of this article.

The Pros:

  • High contrast ratio
  • Good pixel density
  • Wide color gamut
  • FreeSync up to 100Hz
  • PiP/PbP, KVM

The Cons:

  • Minor ghosting, mainly in dark scenes
  • Not as wide viewing angles as that of IPS technology

About The Monitor

The Samsung S65TC is one of the cheapest Thunderbolt 3 monitors available yet it’s a great pick for both gaming and work!

Image Quality

Based on a VA panel, the Samsung ViewFinity S6 boasts a high 3,000:1 static contrast ratio, which provides you with excellent detail visibility in dark scenes with deep blacks.

Further, it has a wide 115% sRGB color gamut size, resulting in vibrant colors.

The viewing angles are also not as good as that of IPS technology, so the monitor is not recommended for professional color-critical work. However, you can do basic content creation and office-related work without any issues.

Moving on, the monitor’s ultrawide aspect ratio offers extra horizontal screen space that’s very useful when it comes to productivity work and audio/video editing. Compatible games and videos also provide a more immersive and cinematic viewing experience.

The 3440×1440 screen resolution is not very demanding to drive (at least in comparison to 4K UHD) and on a 34″ sized screen, you get a decent pixel density of 110 PPI (pixels per inch), resulting in crisp text and plenty of screen space.

With a peak brightness of 350-nits, the Samsung S65TC is certainly not the brightest display, but it can get more than bright enough under normal lighting conditions.

Features

amd freesync logo

The Samsung S65TC has a maximum refresh rate of 100Hz for a smooth gaming experience. Even scrolling or moving your cursor and windows around the desktop will feel more fluid.

Although most gaming monitors nowadays have at least 144Hz, 100Hz still provides you with a significant jump in motion clarity in comparison to 60Hz.

AMD FreeSync is also supported for tear-free gameplay up to 100FPS if you have a compatible AMD or NVIDIA GPU.

The main weakness of the S65TC is the mediocre pixel response time speed, so you will be able to notice some trailing artifacts behind fast-moving objects.

However, it’s mainly noticeable in dark scenes and won’t bother most users; input lag performance, on the other hand, is top-notch, so you won’t be able to feel any delays between your actions and the result on the screen.

Other useful features include Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture, which allow you to display two PCs on the screen at once.

Design & Connectivity

Samsung S65TC ViewFinity S6 Design

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 120mm, tilt by -5°/23°, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. The screen has a matte anti-glare coating against reflections and a steep 1000R curvature for added immersion.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, Thunderbolt 4 input (with 90W PD), Thunderbolt 4 output (with 15W PD), USB-B, USB for service, a headphone jack, RJ45, dual integrated speakers, two downstream USB 3.0 ports and integrated KVM functionality.

The Thunderbolt 4 output port is used to daisy-chain another display.

So, if you have a Thunderbolt 4 laptop, you can connect it to the Thunderbolt 3 input port of the monitor, which will charge it with 90W. If you have another display, you can simply connect it to the Thunderbolt 4 output of the S65TC monitor.

Alternatives

Samsung also offers the older Samsung CJ791 model with Thunderbolt, which can be found on sale for $450, whereas the S65TC goes on sale for $550.

If you don’t need the full Thunderbolt 3 or 4 bandwidth and features, you can save some money by going with the LG 34WR55QC. It offers similar image quality, performance and features, but it doesn’t have a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C output port for daisy chain and it has a lower 65W charging capacity.

The Pros:

  • Wide color gamut (with sRGB mode)
  • Delta E < 2 factory calibration
  • High contrast ratio and good pixel density
  • Plenty of features, including VRR up to 120Hz
  • Fully ergonomic design and rich connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4 (90W PD) and KVM

The Cons:

  • IPS glow (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

If you want an affordable Thunderbolt monitor with the standard 16:9 aspect ratio, the Dell U2724DE is an excellent option!

Image Quality

The Dell UltraSharp U2724DE is based on an IPS Black panel with a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, so you’ll get noticeably deeper blacks than that of regular IPS displays.

Additionally, it has a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant colors, 178° wide viewing angles and Delta E < 2 factory calibration for both sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, which makes the monitor suitable for color-critical work right out of the box.

Next, the monitor has a high 120Hz refresh rate, which provides you with a big boost in motion clarity as opposed to the standard 60-75Hz displays – and this doesn’t just apply to games since just scrolling through webpages and moving your cursor around is a lot smoother as well.

Finally, the Dell U2724DE has a 2560×1440 QHD resolution, resulting in a decent pixel density of roughly 110 PPI (pixels per inch) for sharp text and details, plenty of screen real estate and no necessary scaling.

Check out our Dell UltraSharp U2724DE review for more details.

Design & Connectivity

Dell UltraSharp U2724DE Design

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers full ergonomic support with up to 150mm height adjustment, +/- 45° swivel, +/- 90° pivot, -5°/21° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are abundant and include DisplayPort 1.4, DP 1.4 output for daisy-chaining, HDMI 2.1, upstream Thunderbolt 4 with 90W Power Delivery and DP Alt Mode and downstream Thunderbolt 4 for daisy-chaining and 15W PD.

Other ports include upstream 10 Gbps USB-C, downstream 10 Gbps USB-C with 15W PD, four 10 Gbps USB-A ports, a headphone jack and RJ45.

The Dell U2724DE also has a built-in KVM functionality, which allows you to control two PCs via one set of keyboard/mouse.

Alternatives

If you don’t need the full Thunderbolt bandwidth and features, check out the cheaper Acer SH242YE and Acer SH272UE USB-C monitors with 65W and 100Hz refresh rate.

The Pros:

  • Wide Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors with Delta < 1 factory calibration
  • High pixel density
  • High peak brightness
  • Built-in KVM function

The Cons:

  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

Need a Thunderbolt 3 / 4 monitor with an IPS panel for color-critical work? You won’t find a better model than the Lenovo P27u-20 for the money.

Image Quality

Thanks to its IPS panel, the Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20 delivers 178° wide viewing angles, ensuring that the colors are accurate and consistent regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen.

It boasts an impressive color gamut with 99.1% DCI-P3, 99.5% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB/Rec.709 and 83.7% Rec.2020 color space coverage. You also get dedicated color modes for each color space and professional-grade Delta E < 1 calibration out of the box!

The 4K UHD resolution looks even sharper on 27″ monitors with a high pixel density of 163 PPI. You will have to apply some scaling to make tiny text readable, resulting in a bit less screen real estate, but even crispier details.

Further, the Lenovo P27u-20 has an excellent peak brightness of 450-nits, so you can comfortably use it even in well-lit rooms. The main disadvantage of IPS technology is the mediocre contrast ratio of 1,000:1, so blacks won’t be quite as black as that of VA panels. There’s also IPS glow, which can be characterized as visible glowing around the corners of the screen, but it can be mitigated.

Features

The monitor also has VESA’s entry-level DisplayHDR 400 certification, but due to the limited contrast ratio and lack of local dimming, you’re not getting the true HDR viewing experience.

It’s also a decent monitor for gaming thanks to its low input lag and quick response time speed that prevents ghosting, but you’re limited to 60Hz without variable refresh rate technology.

There’s an integrated sensor that can automatically adjust the screen’s brightness according to ambient lighting.

Design & Connectivity

Lenovo P27u 20 Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 135mm height adjustment, -5°/35° tilt, +/- 45° swivel, +/- 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 4 input (96W PD), Thunderbolt 4 output (27W PD, daisy chain), DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, an additional USB-C port with 27W PD, one upstream and three downstream USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, a headphone jack and dual 3W integrated speakers.

The monitor also has an integrated KVM switch, allowing you to control two PCs connected to the screen via the same keyboard and mouse.

Alternatives

The Lenovo P27u-20 truly offers amazing value for the money, it’s actually better than some more expensive Thunderbolt 3 models with fewer features and not as good color gamut, such as the BenQ PD2725U.

If you don’t need full Thunderbolt 3 features and wide Adobe RGB color gamut but want a 27″ 4K display, check out the Acer CB272K with 90W PD, Delta E < 1 and 100% sRGB color gamut for ~$250 or the Samsung S27A800UN with a wider color gamut for ~$350.

For gaming, we recommend the MSI G274QPX 1440p 240Hz and the MSI MAG274UPF 4K 144Hz models – both with USB-C 65W PD.

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage
  • Delta E < 2 factory calibration
  • Very high pixel density
  • High peak brightness
  • Built-in smart features, webcam

The Cons:

  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
  • Expensive

About The Monitor

If you want an even higher resolution display, check out the Samsung ViewFinity S9!

Image Quality

The Samsung ViewFinity S9 boasts 5K resolution with 5120×2880 pixels, resulting in a very high pixel density of 218 PPI for incredibly sharp details and text.

Moreover, the monitor has a wide 99% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant colors and a stellar 600-nit peak brightness, meaning that it can get more than bright enough even in well-lit rooms.

Sadly, there’s no full-array local dimming and you get the common drawbacks of IPS technology, including IPS glow and a low 1000:1 contrast ratio, so you won’t get particularly deep blacks or proper HDR support – but that’s not the monitor’s main selling point anyway.

The Samsung ViewFinity S9 also has built-in smart features, such as Samsung TV Plus, built-in voice assistance, MultiView, Dex, Apple AirPlay, Microsoft 365, gaming and video streaming apps, etc.

Design & Connectivity

Samsung ViewFinity S9 Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor has full ergonomic support with up to 120mm height adjustment, -4°/17° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility, while the screen has a matte anti-glare coating that prevents reflections without making the image too grainy.

Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 4 with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, three USB-C ports, a mini-DisplayPort input, a 4K UHD built-in webcam, and dual 5W integrated speakers. You also get a remote controller, WiFi and Bluetooth support.

Alternatives

You might also be interested in Apple’s Studio Display or LG’s 27″ 5K and 24″ 4K UltraFine models with Thunderbolt 3.

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors with Delta < 2 factory calibration
  • High pixel density, high contrast ratio
  • PiP/PbP, built-in KVM function

The Cons:

  • IPS glow (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

Want a 32″ 4K monitor with a high power delivery? We recommend the BenQ PD3225U!

Image Quality

The BenQ PD3225U has a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and features dedicated presets for sRGB, Rec.709, Display P3 and DCI-P3 color spaces.

Additionally, it offers BenQ Unfiromity Technology for impressive brightness uniformity at a minimal cost of contrast ratio.

Other specifications include a 400-nit peak brightness, a 2,000:1 static contrast ratio and 10-bit color depth support. It doesn’t support variable refresh rate, but the pixel response time and input lag performance are good enough for casual gaming.

Design & Connectivity

BenQ PD3225U Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor is quite sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 150mm, 90° clockwise pivot, +/- 30° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 3 input (85W PD), Thunderbolt 3 output (daisy chain), USB-C (data transfer only), DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack, dual 2.5W speakers and a USB 3.0 hub (1 upstream + 3 downstream). It also comes with a hotkey puck for easier OSD controls.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for a more affordable 32″ 4K IPS monitor and don’t need full Thunderbolt 3 features, check out the LG 32UP83A with a 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, FreeSync and USB-C with 60W PD for ~$550.

For gaming, we recommend the MSI MAG323UPF 32″ 4K 160Hz model with 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, HDMI 2.1, KVM and USB-C with 90W PD.

  • ASUS ProArt PA32UCG – 32″ 4K 120Hz monitor with Thunderbolt 3, Adobe RGB color gamut, DisplayHDR 1400 and an 1152-zone mini LED backlight, but it goes for ~$5,000.
  • BenQ PD3220U – the previous version of this monitor with a regular IPS panel and 95% DCI-P3 color gamut for ~$100 less

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors with Delta < 2 factory calibration
  • Good pixel density, 120Hz
  • High contrast ratio
  • PiP/PbP, built-in KVM function

The Cons:

  • IPS glow (as expected from this panel technology)
  • No VRR support for gaming

About The Monitor

Looking for a better Thunderbolt 3 ultrawide monitor than the S65TC? The Dell U3425WE provides you with more accurate and rich colors, as well as a higher refresh rate and faster response time for gaming!

Image Quality

The Dell U3425WE is a 34″ 3440×1440 curved (subtle 1900R) ultrawide monitor with a high 120Hz refresh rate for smoother motion and an IPS Black panel with a high 2,000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks.

Additionally, it has excellent Delta E < 2 factory calibration, dedicated sRGB, Rec.709, Display P3 and DCI-P3 color modes, a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and a decent 300-nit peak brightness. Sadly, VRR is not supported.

Design & Connectivity

Dell U3425WE Design

The Dell UltraSharp U3425WE has a robust design with up to 150mm height adjustment, -5°/21° tilt, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are abundant and include DP 1.4, HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4 with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, Thunderbolt 4 for daisy-chaining, RJ45 (2.5 Gbps), dual 5W built-in speakers, a headphone jack and a plethora of USB ports (one type C upstream, two type C downstream and five type A downstream).

The monitor also has a subtle 1900R screen curvature, an integrated ambient light sensor (can adjust both brightness and color temperature) and built-in KVM functionality.

Alternatives

If you don’t need the full Thunderbolt 3 or 4 capabilities, check out our best USB-C and USB-C Gaming buyer’s guides for more ultrawide options.

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors
  • Good pixel density
  • High peak brightness
  • PiP/PbP, built-in KVM function
  • FreeSync up to 144Hz

The Cons:

  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)

About The Monitor

If you want a larger ultrawide monitor with Thunderbolt connectivity, check out the LG 38WN95C!

Image Quality

Based on LG’s Nano IPS panel, the LG 38WN95C has a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, but its Adobe RGB coverage falls short at ~85%. Still, you get vibrant colors, great factory calibration and an sRGB emulation mode.

It also has a strong peak brightness of 450-nits, which gets a boost up to 600-nits for HDR content. While it has a high peak brightness and a wide color gamut, its mediocre contrast ratio of 1,000:1 delivers an underwhelming HDR image quality.

There are 12 dimming zones that can improve the viewing experience a bit, but their effectiveness will vary from scene to scene.

The 38″ screen has a screen resolution of 3840×1600 pixels, so you get a high pixel density of 110 PPI (pixels per inch), resulting in plenty of screen space and sharp details without any scaling necessary.

Features

Thanks to its high 144Hz refresh rate and rapid 1ms GtG pixel response time speed, the gaming experience is buttery-smooth with no noticeable ghosting in fast-paced games, while FreeSync ensures there’s no screen tearing up to 144FPS.

You’ll also find LG’s standard feature set in the OSD menu, including Black Stabilizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), crosshair overlays, various picture presets and advanced image adjustment tools (four gamma presets, 6-axis hue/saturation, sharpness and color temperature fine-tuning).

There’s also an integrated sensor that can automatically adjust screen brightness according to ambient lighting.

Picture by Picture is available as well, and you can use LG’s Dual Controller application as a KVM switch for PCs connected to the same network.

Design & Connectivity

LG 38WN95C Monitor Design

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 100mm height adjustment, +/- 20° swivel, -3°/15° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility, while the screen has a subtle 2300R curvature for added immersion and a light matte anti-glare coating against reflections.

Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 3 with 94W PD, DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports limited to 75Hz, a headphone jack, two downstream USB 3.0 ports and dual 5W integrated speakers. There’s no Thunderbolt output for daisy-chaining.

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors
  • High pixel density
  • PiP/PbP, built-in KVM function
  • FreeSync up to 72Hz

The Cons:

  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
  • Expensive
  • Mediocre peak brightness

About The Monitor

In case you don’t care much about gaming and would rather have a better ultrawide monitor for office-related work and content creation, check out the LG 40WP95C!

Image Quality

In comparison to the LG 38WN95C, this monitor has a slightly larger 40″ screen backed by a significantly higher 5120×2160 screen resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 140 PPI – equivalent to that of a 32″ 4K display!

So, you get more screen real estate with sharper text and details; scaling is optional at this point as some users prefer 125% scaling and others do not at all.

The color gamut is identical with 98% DCI-P3 coverage and a provided sRGB emulation mode. However, the 40WP95C doesn’t get nearly as bright with a 300-nit peak brightness and no local dimming support for HDR; the contrast ratio is the same at 1,000:1.

Features

The monitor supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-72Hz VRR range, so at least you get a small but noticeable boost in motion clarity in comparison to 60Hz models.

Other features include PiP/PbP, KVM function via Dual Controller, Black Stabilizer, brightness sensor and hardware calibration support.

Design & Connectivity

LG 40WP95C Monitor Design

The stand is sturdy and offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 110mm height adjustment, +/- 15° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility, while the screen has a subtle 2500R curvature and light matte anti-glare coating.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports limited to 30Hz at 5120×2160, Thunderbolt 4 input with 96W PD and output for daisy-chaining, a headphone jack, dual 10W integrated speakers and two downstream USB 3.0 ports.

Alternatives

Lenovo, Dell and HP all offer models based on the same 40″ IPS panel as the 40WP95C. They offer basically identical image quality and similar performance, but different features; here’s a summary of the most important differences. Visit our full LG 40WP95C review for more information.

 LG 40WP95CLenovo P40W-20Dell U4021QWHP Z40C
Refresh Rate72Hz75Hz60Hz60Hz
FreeSyncYes (48-72Hz)N/AN/AN/A
Thunderbolt 41x Input 96W PD
1x Output (daisy-chain)
1x Input 96W PD
1x Output (daisy-chain)
N/AN/A
Thunderbolt 3N/AN/A1x Input 90W PD2x Input up to 100W
(165W PD total max)
Display Inputs1x DisplayPort 1.4
2x HDMI 2.0  
1x DisplayPort 1.4
1x HDMI 2.0

1x DisplayPort 1.4
2x HDMI 2.0
1x DisplayPort 1.4
1x HDMI 2.0
USB Ports2x USB-A4x USB-A
1x USB-B
1x USB-C (27W PD)
4x USB-A
1x USB-B
1x USB-C (15W PD)
4x USB-A
Other1x Headphone Jack
2x 10W Speakers
1x Headphone Jack
1x RJ45
1x Headphone Jack
1x RJ45
2x 9W Speakers
1x RJ45
2x 5W Speakers
1x Built-in Webcam
KVMLG Dual ControllerKVM Switch,
Lenovo eKVM7
KVM SwitchHP Device Bridge
PriceLG 40WP95CLenovo P40W-20Dell U4021QWHP Z40C

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors
  • High pixel density
  • High contrast ratio
  • PiP/PbP, built-in KVM function
  • VRR up to 120Hz

The Cons:

  • IPS glow (as expected from this panel technology)
  • Expensive

About The Monitor

Want an even better 40″ 5K2K ultrawide display? Check out the Dell U4025QW!

Image Quality

The Dell UltraSharp U4025QW is very similar to the LG 40WP95C – the main difference is that it has an IPS Black panel with a higher 2000:1 contrast ratio and a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Moreover, it has a higher 450-nit peak brightness (600-nits for HDR) and a wider 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage with Delta E < 2 factory calibration and dedicated color modes for DCI-P3, sRGB, Display P3 and Rec.709 color spaces.

While the U4025QW goes for $1900, the LG 40WP95C can be found on sale for as low as $1300, so you’ll have to pick between the two based on the sale price, your budget and your preference.

Check out our full U4025QW review for more information.

Design & Connectivity

Dell UltraSharp U4025QW Review

The Dell U4025QW has a robust design with a good range of ergonomics, including up to 150mm height adjustment, -5°/21° tilt, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DP 1.4, HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4 with 140W PD and DP Alt Mode, Thunderbolt 4 for daisy-chaining, a headphone jack, dual 9W integrated speakers, RJ45 (2.5 Gbps), five type A USB ports and three type C USB ports. The monitor also has integrated KVM functionality and an ambient light sensor.

The Pros:

  • Wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage, consistent colors, Delta E < 2
  • Good pixel density
  • High contrast ratio
  • PiP/PbP, built-in KVM function

The Cons:

  • IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
  • Expensive

About The Monitor

If you want something a bit different, check out the Lenovo P49w-30 with a 32:9 super-ultrawide format!

Image Quality

The Lenovo P49w-30 is a 49″ 5120×1440 ultrawide monitor, which is basically equivalent to two 27″ 2560×1440 put side by side without the bezels in between.

The 32:9 format is especially useful when it comes to audio/video editing due to all the extra horizontal screen space, but it’s also great for productivity work and gaming thanks to the wider field of view.

Based on an IPS Black panel, the monitor has a high 2000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks, as well as 178° wide viewing angles, a wide 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage with excellent Delta E < 2 factory calibration and a decent 350-nit peak brightness.

It’s limited to 60Hz and doesn’t support VRR, so it will not appeal to most gamers.

Design & Connectivity

Lenovo P49w 30 Design

The stand of the monitor is robust and offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 155mm height adjustment, +/- 45° swivel, -5°/24° tilt and 100x100mm (and 200x100mm) VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are abundant and include two HDMI 2.1 ports, DP 1.4, Thunderbolt 4 with DP Alt Mode and 100W PD, Thunderbolt 4 output for daisy-chaining, six USB ports (one type B upstream, one type C, four type A), RJ45, a headphone jack and dual 5W built-in speakers.

The monitor also has integrated KVM functionality and supports PiP/PbP.

Alternatives

If you don’t need Thunderbolt 3/4, check out the Dell U4924DW based on the same panel with USB-C (90W PD, DP Alt Mode). For gaming, consider the LG 45GR75DC, the ASUS XG49WCR and the LG 49WQ95C – all with 90W PD over USB-C.

Conclusion

Did you find the best Thunderbolt 3 monitor for you? Feel free to leave us a comment below if you need further help!

Overall, for both gaming and work, we recommend the LG 38WN95C, while the Samsung S65TC is a decent cheaper alternative if you’re not sensitive to ghosting and don’t need professional-grade color accuracy.

For color-critical work, the Dell U2724DE and the BenQ PD3225U both offer excellent value for the money, but the LG 38WN95C is also worth considering here!

Finally, the LG 40WP95C offers a lot, but it’s also quite expensive, so we only recommend it if you can really put all of its features to good use.

Be sure to check out our best USB-C monitor buyer’s guide too. It only includes USB-C monitors that have DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery of at least 65W. We also have a dedicated USB-C monitor list where you can find all models available, and filter them by power delivery, resolution, refresh rate, etc.

Updates +

  • November 12, 2024:
    – Replaced the Samsung CJ791 with the Samsung S65TC.
    – Removed the Samsung F32TU872 and the Lenovo P32u-10.
  • April 3, 2024:
    – Added review summaries for the Dell U2724DE, the Samsung ViewFinity S9, the Dell U3425WE, the Dell U4025QW and the Lenovo P49w-30.
    – Replaced the BenQ PD3220U with the PD3225U.
  • November 20, 2023:
    – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
  • December 2, 2022:
    – Added a review summary for the BenQ PD3220U.
  • November 22, 2022:
    – Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.

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Rob Shafer

Rob is a software engineer with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. He now works full-time managing DisplayNinja while coding his own projects on the side.