Best monitors for the MacBook Air (M2)

Want to add a second monitor to your MacBook Air? Here are some great options you can choose from if you need more space to work.

Apple’s latest MacBook Air is a fantastic laptop, featuring an all-new design, an upgraded M2 processor, and other welcome improvements. There’s also a new 15-inch model Apple announced at WWDC 2023, which is that much better for productivity and multitasking thanks to the larger screen. Even then, though, having a second screen can go a long way in making you more productive. We’re here to help with that, and we’ve rounded up some of the best monitors you can buy for the 2022 MacBook Air across a few different price points.

We should mention that the MacBook Air doesn’t let you connect more than one external display at a time, regardless of the resolution. This is a limitation of the Apple M2 processor, just as it was with the M1. It can hinder productivity in some cases, but a single external display already helps a lot, so it’s worth looking at the options you have. Let’s get into it.

ASUS ProArt PA278CV 27-inch WQHD Monitor

Editor’s Choice
Apple Studio Display

Premium Pick
Samsung Smart Monitor M70B

More than a screen
Sceptre E248W-19203R

Best Value

ASUS ProArt PA278CV 27-inch WQHD Monitor

Editor’s Choice

ASUS’ ProArt PA278CV is one of the best value for money monitors you can buy. It comes in Quad HD resolution, it covers 100% of Rec. 709 and sRGB, it has Delta E
Apple Studio Display

Premium Pick

Apple’s official Studio Display is another premium expensive option with a lot to offer. It’s a 5K panel with 600 nits of brightness, P3 Wide Color (with multiple color profiles available), and it includes things like a 12MP camera and a powerful six-speaker setup.
Samsung Smart Monitor M70B

More than a screen

This Samsung monitor is very unique because not only is it a solid 4K screen for getting work done, it has Samsung’s smart TV UI, meaning you can use apps like Netflix, Apple TV, and so on even when you don’t have MacBook Air connected to it.
Sceptre E248W-19203R

Best Value

If you want a true budget option, this model from Sceptre is solid, featuring Full HD resolution and a 75Hz refresh rate. One great thing about it is it also has built-in speakers, which is very rare for this price point. You’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter, though.
Acer SB220Q

Extra cheap

If you want to pass on the built-in speakers, the Acer SB220Q is an even cheaper monitor that still has Full HD resolution and a 75Hz refresh rate. It’s a little smaller, too, and just like the previous one, you’ll need an adapter to output to HDMI from the MacBook Air.
Apple Pro Display XDR

For the most demanding users

There are good monitors out there, but not many can compare to the Apple Pro Display XDR. This 32-inch monitor comes in a whopping 6K resolution and it uses mini LEDs to provide what Apple calls XDR. With 1600 nits of peak brightness, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and P3 Wide Color, this is an incredible monitor. Of course, it costs nearly $6,000, so that’s what you’d expect.
Samsung S65UA Ultra WQHD Monitor

Expansive workspace

Only being able to connect one display makes it a little harder to multitask, but you can work around it by using an ultra-wide monitor. This one from Samsung has a very sharp WQHD resolution and a 100Hz refresh rate, plus it connects using a single USB-C cable and it can even charge your laptop at the same time. It’s curved, too, so it’s more comfortable to use.
Source: Arzopa

Arzopa Portable Monitor

Work from anywhere

Want to live the dual-screen life away from home? This Arzopa portable monitor is very similar in size and resolution to the MacBook Air (plus a 1,000:1 contrast ratio that’s rare for a portable monitor), making it the perfect pair for on-the-go productivity. It connects with a single USB-C cable that also powers the display, so it’s easy to set up and use wherever you need to.

And those are some of the best monitors we recommend if you need something to go with your new MacBook Air. Obviously, the more expensive ones tend to be technically better, but the different price ranges here let you choose what fulfills your needs the best without having to spend too much. Personally speaking, the Samsung Smart Monitor M7 (M70B) would be a very tempting option for its sharp resolution and everything it can do without a laptop connected to it.

Whether you have the 13-inch MacBook Air or the 15-inch model, both powered by the M2 processor, these monitors are a great companion for your laptop. They also work with the 2020 MacBook Air if you still have one of those. If you don’t have one of these laptops, you can buy them below.

MacBook Air (M2)

The latest MacBook Air model is powered by the fast and efficient M2 processor, in addition to having a great display. It comes in both 13-inch and 15-inch models, both of which are sharp and vibrant.