LG 27UP850-W vs Dell U2723QE: Best 4K USB-C Monitor for MacBook

Two 27-inch 4K monitors. Both have USB-C with power delivery. Both work beautifully with MacBooks. But one costs $170 more than the other. Let’s figure out if it’s worth it.

The $170 Question

The LG 27UP850-W sits around $300. The Dell UltraSharp U2723QE goes for about $470. Same size, same resolution, both charge your MacBook over USB-C. So what are you paying an extra $170 for?

Three things: the panel, the color accuracy, and the built-in USB hub.

Panel Technology: IPS vs IPS Black

This is the headline difference. The LG uses a standard IPS panel. The Dell uses LG’s IPS Black technology — yes, Dell’s monitor uses an LG panel. IPS Black delivers roughly 2,000:1 contrast ratio compared to standard IPS’s ~1,000:1.

In practice, this means dark scenes in movies actually look dark on the Dell, while the LG shows them as dark gray. Side by side, it’s immediately obvious. On its own, the LG looks perfectly fine — you won’t know what you’re missing until you see the Dell next to it.

For text, spreadsheets, browsing? You won’t notice the difference. For photo editing, video, or just watching movies at your desk? The Dell’s deeper blacks are worth seeing.

Color Accuracy

Metric	LG 27UP850-W	Dell U2723QE
DCI-P3	95%	98%
sRGB	99%	100%
Factory Calibration	No	Yes (Delta E < 2)
HDR	HDR400	HDR400

The Dell comes factory-calibrated with a Delta E under 2 — meaning colors are accurate enough for professional use right out of the box. The LG’s colors are good but not calibrated, so you might want to profile it if you do color-sensitive work.

For most people (web browsing, coding, documents), both look excellent. The difference only matters if you’re editing photos for print or grading video.

USB-C and Connectivity

LG 27UP850-W:

• USB-C with 96W PD (charges your MacBook)
• 2x HDMI
• 1x DisplayPort
• No USB hub

Dell U2723QE:

• USB-C with 90W PD (charges your MacBook)
• 1x HDMI
• 1x DisplayPort
• Built-in USB hub: 5x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x RJ45 Ethernet
• KVM switch for sharing peripherals between two computers

The Dell’s built-in USB hub is a genuine selling point. Connect a keyboard, mouse, webcam, and Ethernet to the monitor — then a single USB-C cable from the monitor to your MacBook connects everything. It’s basically a USB-C dock built into a monitor.

The LG gives you 6 more watts of charging (96W vs 90W). In practice, both charge a MacBook Air at full speed. Neither difference matters for the Air.

Build and Ergonomics

Both monitors offer height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustment. Both can rotate to portrait mode. Both have thin bezels and look professional on a desk.

The Dell has a slightly more premium feel in the stand — it’s heavier and more solid. The LG’s stand works fine but feels a bit plasticky in comparison.

Both are VESA compatible (100x100mm) if you want to mount them on an arm.

Who Should Buy What

Buy the LG 27UP850-W ($300) if:

• You want the best 4K USB-C monitor under $350
• Color accuracy is important but not mission-critical
• You already have a USB-C hub or dock
• Budget matters

Buy the Dell U2723QE ($470) if:

• You do color-sensitive work (photography, design, video)
• You want to eliminate a separate USB hub — the monitor IS your dock
• You appreciate deeper blacks and better contrast
• You plan to keep this monitor for 5+ years (the Dell’s quality justifies long-term ownership)

Our Verdict

The LG at $300 is a fantastic monitor. Genuinely. If someone asked us to recommend a single monitor for a MacBook without any other context, we’d say the LG. It does 90% of what the Dell does at 64% of the price.

The Dell at $470 is the better monitor. The IPS Black panel, factory calibration, and built-in hub make it objectively superior. Whether that’s worth $170 more depends on how much time you spend staring at it and whether you do work that demands accurate color.

Neither is a wrong choice. The LG is the smart buy. The Dell is the best buy.