The best monitor upgrades for your Mac from CES 2024

CES is known for its televisions, but monitors are also shown off at the trade show, too. These are some of the best launches that happened during the event.

Tech observers are familiar with the affinity CES has with screens, a core part of the technological landscape. Typically manifesting in large televisions, the trade show also is the venue for new monitors and displays, which can easily uplift your computing setup.

Here are a few of the many monitors that showed up for CES 2024, which you can potentially purchase and connect up to your Mac or MacBook in the future.

Alienware

The Dell gaming brand brought out two gaming monitors at CES 2024, each claiming to be world's first QD-OLED gaming monitors. They consist of the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor and the Alienware 27 360Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor.

The 32-inch model is claimed to be the first 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor with Dolby Vision HDR, which it has alongside VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification. With a 4K resolution, it has a 240Hz native refresh rate, and up to 1,000 nits of brightness.

For devices that can go up to 120Hz at maximum, there's HDMI 2.1 Fixed Rate Link, with standard variable refresh rate support, as well as Nvidia G-Sync and VESA AdaptiveSync support. There's even eARC compatibility so it can be used with Dolby Atmos speakers or any soundbars with an eARC port without needing any optical cables.

The 27-inch offers a sky-high native refresh rate of 360Hz, with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA AdaptiveSynbc technology also included. Operating at a QHD resolution, it has a 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time, and supports VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400.

It's supplied with an ergonomic stand, a minimalized hexagonal base, and 360-degree cooling vents for long gaming or editing sessions.

The Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor starts at $1,199.99 and is available in North America now. The Alienware 27 360Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor will cost $899.99, and will ship soon.

Acer

Acer's eye-catching launch is the Predator Z57, a large curved 57-inch monitor aimed at gamers. Its large size means it can offer a DUHD resolution of 7,680 by 2,160, with a 32:9 aspect ratio and a 1,000R curvature.

With a 120Hz refresh rate, it has a VESA DisplayHDR 1,000 certification, thanks to its 1,000 nits of brightness stemming from its Mini LED backlighting. That also mean it has high contrast levels and 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

There are a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports and DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting a Mac or other devices. There's USB Type-C available with 90W of power delivery too.

The screen also has a built-in KVM switch to aid productivity, as well as picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes for dividing the screen in two for different video sources.

Shipping in Q2 2024, the Predator Z57 will start from $2,499.99.

Samsung

Samsung's monitor refresh for CES 2024 is led by the Odyssey OLED G9, model G95SD, a 49-inch curved ultra-wide gaming monitor with a DQHD resolution of 5,120 by 1,440, and an aspect ratio of 32:9. Effectively replacing the previous OLED G9 that uses a VA panel, the new version is said by Samsung to have a number of upgraded features.

While light on specifics for the screen, Samsung did confirm it has a 240Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Connectivity extends to two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB hub for improved connectivity of peripherals.

The new model also gets Multi Control, which helps users transfer text and images from the Samsung monitor to other Samsung devices, including smartphones and notebooks. The G9 also has the SmartThings Hub for connecting to IoT devices with Matter support, and use Samsung's Smart TV platform and Gaming Hub for access to streaming and cloud services.

Pricing and availability wasn't revealed, other than a release sometime in the next year.

Asus

The Asus ZenScreen Fold OLED is, as the name implies, a display that you can fold. Able to be folded in half for easy transportation, it's a 17.3-inch display with a QHD+ 2,560 by 1,920 resolution that, when folded up, has the same sort of profile as a 12.5-inch portable display.

While portable, the OLED screen is high contrast, with 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification.

Sporting two USB Type-C ports for video and power, Asus includes an L-shaped connector to keep the cable from getting in the way. A mini HDMI port is also included, as well as a headphone jack.

While it has an integrated stand to prop the display up while on the move, there's also a standard tripod socket, meaning it can pair with other mounting methods. In one setup, Asus suggests using its ZenScreen Stand to put the display in a portrait orientation.

Asus has yet to announce pricing and availability for the ZenScreen Fold OLED.

Dell

The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor, model U4025QW, has a lot of elements in the name, and for good reason too.

Measuring 40 inches, it's a 5K ultrawide monitor with a resolution of 5,120 by 2,160. It's also a VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified display, with IPS Black Panel technology allowing for high color contrast.

Dell also made the display work at 120Hz, which is a step up from the usual 60Hz refresh rate of productivity-centered monitors. For eye health, it has TUV Rheinland five-star eye comfort certification, thanks to the refresh rate, an ambient light sensor for auto screen brightness changes, and a reduction in blue light.

Connecting over Thunderbolt 4, the monitor also acts as a hub for a MacBook Pro, with it delivering up to 140W of power for charging. It also has built-in connections for 2.5Gbps Ethernet, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB-C and USB-A ports.

The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor will be available from February 27, priced at $2,399.99.