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!

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.

About The Monitor

The Samsung CJ791 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 C34J791 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 125% sRGB color gamut size, resulting in vibrant colors. There’s no sRGB emulation mode, so if you need 100% sRGB color space without over-saturation, you’ll need to use AMD’s or NVIDIA’s gamut clamps or your own colorimeter and profile.

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 300-nits, the Samsung CJ791 is certainly not the brightest display, but it can get more than bright enough under normal lighting conditions.

Features

The Samsung C34J791 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 CJ791 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.

Note that the Samsung CJ791 uses PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) to regulate brightness below 100% – this introduces flickering, but at a very high frequency (over 1000Hz), which shouldn’t bother most users sensitive to flicker.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers height adjustment up to 100mm, tilt by -20°/15° and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. The screen has a matte anti-glare coating against reflections and a moderate 1500R curvature for added immersion.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, Thunderbolt 3 input (with 85W PD), Thunderbolt 3 output (with 15W PD), a headphone jack, dual integrated speakers and two downstream USB 2.0 ports.

The Thunderbolt 3 output port is used to daisy-chain another display.

So, if you have a Thunderbolt 3 laptop, you can connect it to the Thunderbolt 3 input port of the monitor, which will charge it with 85W. If you have another display, you can simply connect it to the Thunderbolt 3 output of the CJ791 monitor.

Alternatives

Samsung offers a newer 34″ 3440×1440 100Hz model with a steeper 1000R screen curvature, the ViewFinity S6 (S65TC) with Thunderbolt 4 (90W + daisy-chaining) and built-in KVM, but it is more expensive at $580 – $800, whereas the CJ790 can be found for ~$450.

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.

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

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

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.

About The Monitor

Want a 32″ 4K monitor with Thunderbolt 3 that’s great for office-related work, everyday use, content consumption and basic content creation? The Samsung TU872 is for you!

Image Quality

Just like the Samsung CJ791, the F32TU87 uses a VA panel with a high 2,500:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks. The peak brightness is a bit lower at 250-nits, which is fine under normal lighting conditions, but if you’re in a particularly bright room without curtains/blinders, it might be too dim for you.

You also get a wide 92% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage for more rich and saturated colors, but there’s no sRGB emulation mode.

The 4K UHD resolution looks incredibly sharp even on 32″ sized screens with 140 PPI. Some users might prefer 125% scaling, some will opt for the native image (no scaling); either way, you get crystal-clear details and text with a lot of screen real estate.

Keep in mind that 4K UHD is quite demanding when it comes to gaming and video rendering, so make sure your PC will be able to handle it.

Features

The Samsung F32TU872 also supports HDR10, but due to its limited brightness and lack of local dimming, don’t expect a noteworthy HDR viewing experience.

Other, more useful features include PiP and PbP support.

Sadly, AMD FreeSync is not supported, while the specified 8ms GtG pixel response time speed is sufficient to keep up with the 60Hz refresh rate. Some ghosting will be noticeable in certain scenes, but it’s fine for casual gaming.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 135mm height adjustment, 90° pivot, +/- 45° swivel, -7°/13° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options are abundant and include Thunderbolt 3 input (92W) and output (15W PD, daisy chain support), DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, two downstream USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack and an Ethernet port.

Alternatives

If you don’t need the full Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth and features, you can find a similar 32″ 4K VA monitor, the Samsung M70B, with a USB-C port (65W PD) and integrated smart features for basically half the price – or the LG 32UP83A with an IPS panel and 60W PD for ~$450.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

About The Monitor

In case you want a 32″ 4K IPS Thunderbolt 3 monitor for color-critical work, Lenovo offers another excellent model.

Image Quality

The IPS panel of the monitor delivers a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a 300-nit peak brightness, so it can’t get quite as bright as the 27″ sized model.

For most users, the 300-nit peak brightness will be more than enough and a lot of editors prefer the screen size and pixel density of 32″ 4K monitors.

It has a wide color gamut with 100% sRGB, 99.5% Adobe RGB and 98.2% DCI-P3 coverage with Delta E

Other features include PiP/PbP and a built-in KVM switch.

Thanks to its quick response time speed and imperceptible input lag, the monitor is also suited for casual gaming though you are limited to a fixed 60Hz refresh rate.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is well-built and versatile with up to 110mm height adjustment, -5°/22° tilt, +/- 45° swivel, +/- 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 3 input (45W PD), Thunderbolt 3 output (15W PD, daisy chain), two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2, one upstream and three downstream USB 3.0 ports and a headphone jack.

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.