The bezel is about 3/8 of an inch on three sides, but features a bottom chin that’s much closer to an inch in size. In other words, don’t expect a ThunderBolt display-level of build quality to be found here. Everything, from the bezel, to the stand, to the rear of the display, is plastic. That said, this display is primarily built with plastic. It features a modern design with a stellar looking ArcLine curved stand that doesn’t just look nice, but serves to add additional stability as well. Similar to LG’s 34″ 21:9 monitor that I reviewed last month, LG’s 27″ 4K effort looks good to the eyes. The limitation on data transfer wasn’t a huge problem for me in most circumstances, but if you need constant access to an external drive via the monitor’s USB hub, it’s something that you’ll want to seriously think about. It’s nice to be able to retain some form of data transfer and power connectivity, but it results in a less than ideal data transfer experience due to the usage of the slower USB 2.0. Regardless of the amount of lanes used, USB 2.0 and power are always available, which is obviously a good thing. The MacBook connection, as it turns out, utilizes all four lanes, causing data connectivity to fall back to USB 2.0 speeds. USB 3 utilizes 4 lanes in pairs (2up/2down), and the DisplayPort connection can assume operation of some or all of these lanes. Alternate Mode lets a USB-C connector carry native DisplayPort 1.2 signals across the cable.

That’s a far cry from SuperSpeed USB speeds, but as it turns out, there’s a reason for that.Īlthough it seems simple on the surface, there’s a lot more to USB-C than one may think. Display output is accomplished via DisplayPort Alternate Mode through USB-C. When connecting an external drive to either USB port, the read and write speeds seemed to be capped at around ~312Mbps. This monitor serves as a USB hub, meaning that when you connect to it via USB-C, your MacBook gains access to whatever peripherals are connected to the two USB ports. There’s two HDMI inputs, a single DisplayPort, a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack, and a pair of USB 3.0 ports - one with the ability to employ Quick Charge rapid charging for compatible devices connected.

The LG 27UD88-W’s main selling point for MacBook owners is its USB-C port, but there are several other ports to be found here. 4K monitors provide users with additional screen real estate while maintaining the sharpness of a Retina display. In a past post, I highlighted the benefits of using a 4K monitor, especially for those of you who are used to working on Retina displays. As a MacBook owner, the best you’re going to be able to experience is 4K at 30 Hz, unless you take advantage of the 4K 60 Hz patch. LG’s 27″ monitor is capable of displaying 4K (3840-by-2160) at 60 Hz. If you’re a MacBook owner, should you consider purchasing one? Have a look inside for the details.

Its USB-C port allows MacBook owners to connect a single cable to drive the display, charge the machine, and facilitate data transfer.Īs I alluded to in my recent 2016 MacBook post, the 27UD88-W isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the only games in town if you desire a 4K monitor with USB-C connectivity in tow. LG’s 27UD88-W is a 27″ USB-C-enabled display. It seems that LG is one of the few display makers that has such a monitor available for sale. If you’re looking for a 4K display that can be paired with your 12″ MacBook via a single USB-C cable, then your options are fairly limited.

Monitor for macbook usb c