TL;DR: The Duex Float is a portable monitor that attaches to the top of your laptop, and it’s on sale now for $180.

Second monitors for laptops aren’t uncommon, but most of them suffer from the same design flaw: they’re uncomfortable. Instead of constantly turning your head to see half your workspace, the Duex Float Portable Stacked Monitor gives you another option. This second monitor stacks on top of your laptop, so you can keep your work at eye level, and it’s on sale now for $179.99 (reg. $399.99).

The Duex Float is a 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen that sits above your laptop screen instead of off to the side. That stacked setup helps you keep both displays in front of you, which is easier on your neck and back during long work days. You can adjust the color and brightness to help reduce eye strain during late nights or extra-long sessions.

There are three main ways to use it. Dual screen mode lets you extend or mirror your laptop display. Presentation mode flips the screen so you can show content to someone across the table. Desktop mode turns it into a standalone monitor for gaming, content work, or reading. It works with macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, Nintendo Switch, and select Android phones over USB-C or mini HDMI, including Samsung DeX and M series iPad Stage Manager.

At about 4 pounds with a slim profile, the Duex Float is great for travel. A built-in kickstand means you can use it by itself or attach it magnetically to almost any laptop size.

In the box, you get the monitor, USB-C and mini HDMI cables, a metal adhesive plate, and a quick guide, plus a one-year warranty from Mobile Pixels.

Right now, it’s only $179.99 to get a Duex Float Portable Stacked Monitor.

Duex Float Portable Stacked 2nd Monitor for LaptopsSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Duex Float is a portable monitor that attaches to the top of your laptop, and it’s on sale now for $180.

Second monitors for laptops aren’t uncommon, but most of them suffer from the same design flaw: they’re uncomfortable. Instead of constantly turning your head to see half your workspace, the Duex Float Portable Stacked Monitor gives you another option. This second monitor stacks on top of your laptop, so you can keep your work at eye level, and it’s on sale now for $179.99 (reg. $399.99).

The Duex Float is a 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen that sits above your laptop screen instead of off to the side. That stacked setup helps you keep both displays in front of you, which is easier on your neck and back during long work days. You can adjust the color and brightness to help reduce eye strain during late nights or extra-long sessions.

There are three main ways to use it. Dual screen mode lets you extend or mirror your laptop display. Presentation mode flips the screen so you can show content to someone across the table. Desktop mode turns it into a standalone monitor for gaming, content work, or reading. It works with macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, Nintendo Switch, and select Android phones over USB-C or mini HDMI, including Samsung DeX and M series iPad Stage Manager.

At about 4 pounds with a slim profile, the Duex Float is great for travel. A built-in kickstand means you can use it by itself or attach it magnetically to almost any laptop size.

In the box, you get the monitor, USB-C and mini HDMI cables, a metal adhesive plate, and a quick guide, plus a one-year warranty from Mobile Pixels.

Right now, it’s only $179.99 to get a Duex Float Portable Stacked Monitor.

Duex Float Portable Stacked 2nd Monitor for LaptopsSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple’s 27-inch Studio Display is an excellent monitor, but it doesn’t have an excellent price. But this 27-inch LG UltraFine at Amazon does. Normally $280, it’s down to $220 for Black Friday, the absolute best price this model’s ever been.

You won’t get a camera or spatial audio, but this LG UltraFine will deliver crisp and clear 3480x2160p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. Alongside that 5ms response time, this monitor is better suited for handling your daily workload and watching YouTube than it is for gaming, but if you’re hooking it up to a Mac, you probably don’t mind. You can adjust this monitor exactly how you want it, tilting and pivoting it, and adjusting its height at just the right spot so your neck and back stop complaining as much. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that it looks absolutely gorgeous and will fit right in with all your sleek Apple gear.

Just note it connects via HDMI, so if you have a MacBook Air, you’ll need an HDMI-to-USB-C adapter to connect it to your Mac’s DisplayPort. Otherwise, the LG UltraFine 4K IPS display is the monitor your office needs, especially now that it’s more affordable than ever at its Black Friday $220 price point.

A 4K monitor for $220? Yes, please!

TL;DR: Get a portable Glance Monitor for $128.

Desktops aren’t the only ones that get a second monitor. The Glance Portable 16″ Monitor gives you the flexibility of a second screen with portability that can match any laptop, and it’s even on sale. Today only, you can pick up one of these portable monitors for $127.49 (reg. $249.99).

This slim, lightweight display connects in seconds through USB-C or HDMI, with no drivers or setup needed. The 1080p full HD resolution looks sharp and bright, and the 16-inch screen gives you enough space for side-by-side multitasking, presentations, or streaming. Built-in dual speakers handle video calls and background music, and a headphone jack is available when you need private listening.

The display can rotate between landscape and portrait modes, making it useful for spreadsheets, documents, or vertical layouts. It works with Windows, macOS, Android (Samsung DeX), ChromeOS, and even Nintendo Switch, so it easily fits into whatever setup you already use.

At just over two pounds, the Glance is easy to pack and carry, making it a great tool for travelers, students, and anyone who wants a portable workspace that feels as capable as a desktop.

Right now, it’s only $127.49 to get a Portable 16-inch Glance Monitor.

Sale ends November 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Glance: Portable 16″ Monitor with 1080P FHD DisplaySee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

At a glance

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Great image quality
• Nano Glass Panel provides vibrant images
• Height-adjustable stand

Cons

• 60Hz refresh rate may discourage gamers
• No webcam
• May run into glare issues with environmental lighting

Our Verdict

The BenQ MA270UP is a glossy alternative to the excellent MA270U. Like that display, the MA270UP offers image quality that makes it suitable for production work.

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In December 2024, I reviewed the BenQ MA270U, an excellent 27-inch, 4K display that’s designed for use with the Mac. The MA270U, however, has a matte display–it’s a great-looking matte display, but some people, especially Mac people, prefer a glossy screen.

Fortunately, BenQ has a new display, the MA270UP, and it’s the same as the MA270U, except that it features a glossy front. Now you have a choice, glossy or matte, and best of all, you get a great display (with the same on-screen controls, specifications, software, etc.) and an attractive price.

Specifications

BenQ MA270UP: Design and build

The MA270UP is almost a twin of the MA270U in its design and aesthetics. It nicely complements a Mac Studio or a MacBook sitting next to it. And like the MA270U, the MA270UP has a plastic body and stand that are sturdy and solid. As with the matte version, the MA270UP has similarly thin bezels as Apple Studio’s Display, but with a far greater range of motion. The MA270UP includes a stand that offers 5 to 20 degrees of tilt, left or right swivel 15 degrees, and 115 mm of height. It can also pivot 90 degrees.

Foundry

The glossy display is the only difference between the MA270UP and the MA270U. The main reason why a user would prefer glossy over matte is that there’s a preference for the image vividness naturally produced by a glossy display. Blacks appear deeper, whites are brighter, and everything in between has more pop. Matte, on the other hand, dampens that effect.

Like the Studio Display, the main drawback to a glossy display is that it’s more reflective of the lighting in the room, so it can be disruptive, and you need to find a proper place for the display to avoid this. While testing, I didn’t have any reflection issues in an office with overhead fluorescent lights. Direct sunlight does shine through the office windows in the morning, but my desk doesn’t line up with the window, so I didn’t have to be concerned with that.

Foundry

Another issue that can be a problem with glossy displays is eye fatigue. Because the picture is more vivid, your eyes can get tired after a prolonged period of time. I never experienced eye fatigue while using the MA270UP (or any glossy display, for that matter), but if that’s an issue you experience, matte is probably the better option for you.

Foundry

BenQ MA270UP: Ports

The MA70UP includes the following ports:

• Two HDMI 2.0 ports
• Two USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5Gbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C (90W Power Delivery)
• One USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5Gbps, 15W)
• 3.5mm headphone jack

If you connect a MacBook to the display via USB-C, you plug into the 90W Power Delivery port so the MacBook charges. You do need to connect via USB-C if you want to use the display as a hub. The Mac can connect to HDMI, as well. You can connect two devices via HDMI and switch between them using the controls at the bottom of the display.

Foundry

BenQ MA270UP: Image quality

The matte MA270U produces excellent images and clean text. The same goes for the MA270UP, except the glossy front does have an effect. I tested the MA270UP with a MacBook Pro that is equipped with a Nano-texture (Apple’s branding for matte) display, and the MA270UP is more vibrant, black is darker, and white seems more on point. As a result, images are much closer to the Studio Display.

The MA270UP has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is fine for most users. Some production houses and gamers prefer a faster rate, which you won’t get here. But for everyone else, 60Hz does the job.

Foundry

BenQ MA270UP: Price

The MA270UP is $549, and it includes a stand, a USB-C cable, an HDMI cable, and a power cable. You’ll need to buy an additional HDMI cable if you want to connect two HDMI devices. The display will be available in the U.K. in January for £499.

Should you buy the BenQ MA270UP?

The BenQ MA270UP is a glossy alternative to the excellent MA270U. Like that display, the MA270UP offers image quality that makes it suitable for production work. You can find other 27-inch 4K displays that are a bit cheaper, but they won’t match the image quality of the MA270UP. If you’re considering a Studio Display, you’ll get very similar image quality with this BenQ monitor for a lot less. (Though you won’t get a webcam or Spatial Audio speakers.)

The MA270UP is available for pre-order, with shipments starting in November 2025. See how this monitor compares to others in our round-up of the best displays and monitors for Mac users.

Apple currently sells two monitors: the $1,599 Studio Display and the $4,999 Pro Display XDR. In most respects, unsurprisingly, the latter is a far better-specced product. But the Studio Display has one curious advantage: it has a 12MP Center Stage webcam, whereas the XDR has no webcam at all.

That disparity will soon be corrected, if the latest leak can be believed. Eagle-eyed reporters at 9to5Mac noticed that macOS 26.1 Tahoe beta 3 contains code references that point, fairly unmistakably, to the XDR getting a webcam in an upcoming refresh.

One reference mentions “Pro Display XDR Camera,” while another mentions “Pro Display XDR Desk View Camera.” The latter phrasing suggests that the camera will support Apple’s popular Center Stage feature.

Code references like this sometimes point to hardware releases months in advance, but in this case, we probably won’t have long to wait. Apple is expected to launch a flurry of new products in the remainder of this fall, headlined by a new iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro, but likely also including the AirTag 2, the HomePod mini 3, a new Apple TV… and two new monitors.

The new products could start arriving as early as this week. Keep an eye on Macworld for all the latest announcements.

If you’re looking for a monitor for your Mac, you don’t need to drop $1,599 on a Studio Display. In fact, we’ve got a deal on a great one that’ll save you over a thousand dollars: Samsung’s gorgeous ultrawide 34-inch Odyssey G5 monitor is on sale for a ridiculous $260 today, a savings of 35 percent off its $400 MSRP and the best price we’ve ever seen.

At 34 inches, this curved monitor will make your gaming sessions more immersive and your favorite movies more enticing. The 1000R curvature makes all those long hours spent in front of the computer a bit less taxing on your eyes, which is always great to have. The resolution on this monitor is nothing to turn your nose up at, either, with the 3440×1440 pixels making everything look crystal clear.

This Samsung monitor is perfectly ready for anything you need to do, including gaming. With its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, everything will run smoothly, with no stuttering or tearing during those action-packed moments. This monitor is a great pick if for the Mac mini, for instance, especially when the latest M4 model is $100 off.

So go grab this 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 for $260 while this deal’s still around.

Get this 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5

If you’re looking for a monitor for your Mac, you don’t need to drop $1,599 on a Studio Display. In fact, we’ve got a deal on a great one that’ll save you over a thousand dollars: Samsung’s gorgeous ultrawide 34-inch Odyssey G5 monitor is on sale for a ridiculous $260 today, a savings of 35 percent off its $400 MSRP and the best price we’ve ever seen.

At 34 inches, this curved monitor will make your gaming sessions more immersive and your favorite movies more enticing. The 1000R curvature makes all those long hours spent in front of the computer a bit less taxing on your eyes, which is always great to have. The resolution on this monitor is nothing to turn your nose up at, either, with the 3440×1440 pixels making everything look crystal clear.

This Samsung monitor is perfectly ready for anything you need to do, including gaming. With its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, everything will run smoothly, with no stuttering or tearing during those action-packed moments. This monitor is a great pick if for the Mac mini, for instance, especially when the latest M4 model is $100 off.

So go grab this 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 for $260 while this deal’s still around.

Get this 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5

It’s been more than three years since Apple announced the Studio Display, a cheaper alternative to the Pro Display XDR for Mac users looking for a great external monitor with Retina quality. Even with rumors suggesting that Apple will launch an updated monitor next year with better technologies, I couldn’t help myself and bought a Studio Display a while ago.

Why on earth did I buy one now? That’s exactly what I asked myself right before buying it. But after using it for several months, I’m happy to say that I don’t regret it. At the same time, I know it may not be the right choice for everyone. If you’re torn between buying the current Studio Display now or waiting for a potential refresh, here’s what you should know.

The experience still feels premium

If you’ve been following the news, you know that the current Studio Display lacks some key technologies. It doesn’t have HDR or ProMotion, so you’re limited to SDR content and a 60Hz refresh rate. Also, the Studio Display has a traditional LCD panel that is a little lacking compared to the rich contrast of mini-LED displays, such as those on the MacBook Pro.

Apple Studio Display

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Despite all that, it’s still an exceptional monitor for most people. The 27-inch 5K Retina panel offers a native 218ppi pixel density, which means macOS can scale the interface perfectly at 2x, just like on a Retina MacBook or iMac. That’s a big deal. Most 4K monitors don’t scale cleanly at this size, forcing you to choose between too-large UI elements or blurry text. With the Studio Display, everything looks exactly as Apple intends.

Filipe Esposito/Foundry

Colors also look great on the Studio Display, with support for the P3 wide gamut and up to 600 nits of brightness. Again, it’s not HDR, but it’s still much better than many other options on the market. And the 5K resolution gives you a lot of space to work with multiple windows or to edit content in high definition, which matters a lot to me since I use Final Cut Pro every day.

But it’s not just about sharpness and color accuracy either, though both are excellent. When you consider all the little things, the current Studio Display is still a great option with almost no competition.

The little things make Studio Display better

I’ve tried some other 4K and 5K monitors before, such as Samsung’s ViewFinity S9 (which has very similar specifications to Apple’s). But none of them beats Studio Display when it comes to build quality and integration.

One of the biggest advantages of the Studio Display is how it looks and feels like an Apple product. Most of the monitors I’ve tried are made of plastic. Studio Display, on the other hand, is made entirely of aluminum and has a glossy glass panel (which I prefer). Its premium design is not only a pleasure to look at, but also makes the monitor much more stable on the desk.

Filipe Esposito/Foundry

The sound system is genuinely impressive. With six internal speakers and Spatial Audio support, the Studio Display blows away every other monitor I’ve tested in this category. I’ve even stopped using the HomePod mini in my office–the sound is loud enough and has decent bass. It’s great for watching videos, editing, or listening to music.

There’s also the fact that Studio Display connects to your Mac via a single Thunderbolt connector, which can also recharge your Mac. In addition, it functions as a full hub with three additional USB-C ports, a built-in webcam, and a microphone (which aren’t amazing, but get the job done).

Isn’t a new Apple display coming soon?

I’ve said a lot of great things about Studio Display. What’s the catch?

As I mentioned earlier, multiple reports suggest that Apple is planning to introduce a new Studio Display soon. Not exactly this year, but sometime in 2026. Given that Studio Display costs $1,599, some customers may not be sure whether to buy the current one or wait for a new version.

Filipe Esposito/Foundry

According to rumors, the next-generation Studio Display is expected to feature a mini-LED panel, providing deeper blacks and improved contrast. There’s also a sketchy rumor about it supporting a higher refresh rate of up to 90Hz. Although these are more than welcome upgrades, most users would be fine with the current version.

Should you buy a Studio Display right now?

If you’re not in a hurry to buy a new external monitor, I suggest waiting until next year–we’re talking about a high-priced investment. But if you’re already frustrated with your current monitor and really need something better to improve your workflow, the current Studio Display still holds up remarkably well in 2025. Especially when you can find it on sale, it becomes an even more compelling option.

Would I like a better panel with a higher refresh rate? Of course. But the lack of it doesn’t bother me at the moment. The Studio Display is still an excellent, elegant monitor that integrates seamlessly with the Mac. For me, that was worth more than the rumored upgrades when I decided to buy one in the middle of its life cycle.

Apple’s Studio Display, which came out almost three and a half years ago, may finally get a refresh early next year. That’s if the latest accidental code leak is to be believed.

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered references to the unreleased product in code “that Apple didn’t mean to publish,” the site explains. The code mentioned “J427” multiple times, which is presumed to be a codename for the Studio Display 2. Previous rumors suggested it could come out in early 2026, so it makes sense for the device to exist in a pre-release testing form at this stage.

Interestingly, the code also contains references to something else: J527. We don’t know for sure what product that codename has been assigned to, but back in March the Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claimed it was a second monitor… which makes sense given how close it is to J427.

Gurman proposed two theories. The first, most likely, theory is that J527 is a new version of the Pro Display XDR. Apple’s high-end production monitor starts at $4,999 (with another $999 for a stand) and launched in 2019. As it’s nearly six years old, it’s missing several features common to high-end monitors, including Thunderbolt 5, 120Hz refresh, and OLED. However, there are still very few options for 6K displays.

The codename could also refer to a second version of the Studio Display 2 “with a different screen size or set of specifications,” Gurman reports. Apple could release both Studio Displays (it would make sense to have Studio Displays in both 27 and 32 inches, for example), but there is speculation that the company wants to keep its options open until closer to launch, then release whichever performs best in testing, market research, and so on. Both would therefore be created as prototypes and pop up here and there in software code.

The Studio Display and Pro Display XDR are Apple’s only standalone monitors. The former is intended to be a more affordable option, but it still costs $1,599 (with standard rather than nano-texture glass). However, you should be able to get a better deal if you shop around.