LG UltraFine 5K IPS LED Monitor for MacBook Pro, Black, 27" (Renewed)

I paid $950 (refurbished) for the $1,750 LG UltraFine 5K monitor (27MD5KA) (I missed the $650 refurbished sale by a few weeks). Everything looks brand new. Included was the monitor, height adjustable stand, VESA mounting adaptor, Thunderbolt 3 cable, power cord, and instructions/information booklets. Mastertronics, Inc did a great job repackaging the monitor in its original box, foam, and screen protecting wrap. I'm using the LG monitor as a second display for my 27" 5K iMac and both sit on a FlexiSpot 47" Standing Desk (smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MSZQLML/), which is very sturdy. The stand for the LG monitor is not sturdy and typing too quickly or with too much force causes it to shake. My iMac is not bothered by typing. The audio quality of the LG's speakers is not as good as the iMac but I was able to run both monitors as a stereo pair and it sounds pretty good (instructions: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3134715). The LG monitor's built-in camera and mic seem to be identical to those of the iMac (I tested only with FaceTime). With its single Thunderbolt 3 connection to the iMac, I gained three USB-C ports, one of which I'm using to charge my 12.9" iPad Pro. The LG monitor is not close in appearance or build quality to the iMac but the screen appears to be identical and that's what I was looking for. I tried other monitors first. All were 27" (except for a 32" BenQ PD3200U), all were 4K, and all functioned well enough with the iMac, but all had matte screens and the color/brightness was so far off from the iMac that I disliked using them. I'd prefer the LG to have slimmer bezels — it's 0.5 inch sides and bottom and 1 inch top bezels look chunky next to the iMac — but the screen/color/brightness is what I was after. So far, I've very happy with the purchase and I've recommended Mastertronics Inc. to friends who were concerned about buying refurbished.

I've bought many things that are "renewed" (Amazon) or "refurbished" (Apple). This one has been terrible. It looks great externally. All I want this to do is work. At first, it would connect, but only at 2560x1440 (half resolution). Now it won't recognize it as a display at all. I've tried it on an M1 MBA, a 2018 Mac Mini, and an iPad Pro. All of them support this monitor in different ways. I've even tried it with an Apple-branded Thunderbolt cable. Nada.I am hopeful they will exchange this for a working one. Because this stinks.

I wanted the best possible monitor for my late-model 15" MacBook Pro: one with the best possible resolution, most accurate color, and compatibility with the computer's USB-C connections—along with the top recommendation from Apple. (This is the one they use in the stores to show off some of their products.)It more than fills the bill. Set-up was quick and easy, everything works perfectly, and it is flat-out beautiful.I could have saved money and gone for a 4K at half the price but with only one USB-C connection (instead of the four here) — or none (in the case of HDMI-only monitors). But the difference is profound. If you do a lot of photographic work (as I do), I don't think it's hard to beat this thing; it's impossible. (Unless you want to spend $5k and up on the new Apple Pro Display XDR 6K monitor, whenever that one comes out.)Of course, the thing is less than a day old for me, so far. If something bad happens, I'll be back to update this review. Until then, the title stands.

If you work with graphics like me, and you have 2017+ macbook pro, this monitor is dope af. It's crip, bright, color perfect, and it's cheaper than what you get on the mac store, with no cuts in the quality. Got mine refurb — bugs all worked out — and it works like a dream. Sure, it's expensive, but you get way you pay for, and if your livelihood is in making sick graphics, spend the extra coin and get the kit that supports your craft. If you're a student, or looking for something that supports gaming, don't do it. This is graphic-pro-only kit.

The resolution and color of this monitor is excellent; evenly lit and a nice clean design. Unfortunately is had a small cluster of dead pixels, a wobbly stand, and pretty bad image retention. For $900 it should not have those issues, so it is being returned. I ordered another to see if it is a one-off issue.

Could be just my experience, but it seems like there's a pattern where these units are still defective when buying them as renewed versions.Based on me experience alone, I would have to say this monitor is an amazing piece of equipment. I used mine for work purposes running Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. It was amazing, it hooked into my older 2014 5k iMac as well as my work 2019 MacBook Pro. I was able to switch back and forth without a problem and it rendered everything beautifully.My biggest disappointment came when I went to use it the other day and the screen stopped working. I tried a bunch of things from restarting my computer; unplugging the monitor and plugging it back in; switching between sources, ie., my iMac and MacBook Pro and plugging and unplugging all of the usb cables. However, nothing worked. I also noticed that the bezel around the screen had a hairline crack in it. So the quality assurance is not so great on these renewed models.I would suggest getting this as brand new unit online, or from a nearby Apple store or local electronics store that sells these (BestBuy or something similar), so you can just bring it back rather than getting involved in the whole shipping process and waiting a week or two for a refund.One final thing that I didn’t like was that the monitor felt wobbly on the stand, which is a huge no no for an $1100+ monitor. The construction of the actual monitor felt a bit cheap. Though the actual screen resolution is great.