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Will be working from home 2-3 days per week and need a monitor. Want it at least 28”
Are all monitors ‘cheap’ ok these days?
Other though is to get wifi and apps built in so it can be used as a tv. Without a laptop needing to be attached.
Whats good and ‘cheap’
Thanks
I have an Iiyama screen from Amazon, it works fine for spreadsheets and occasional YouTube. No idea if I'm missing something by not having spent more, but it works.
I would be looking for a 32" 4k monitor that supports USB-C. That means you only need one cable from your laptop to the screen for both power and data. If it has a USB hub built in so that you can attach peripherals like webcams, keyboards etc. that is good too.
If you want built in streaming apps as well as the above the Samsung at the link below would be a good option.
Dell Ultrasharp
As above a Dell Ultrasharp is usually a pretty safe bet. If you really want at least a 28" screen, you're just going to miss out on a wide range of 27" screens, so you're jumping up a price bracket for the sake of an extra inch.
As for using it as a TV, plug a firestick / Chromecast into a spare HDMI port and stream from your phone? You may need to look for a monitor with speakers and / or something that has a separate audio output, though.
I would be looking for a 32" 4k monitor that supports USB-C.
Be a bit careful here, there are lots of different standards that use the physical connector of USB-C with different quality / numbers of connections. If you've 4k video and a low spec connection, you can end up with just a single USB2 speed connection for everything else (assuming your keyboard, mouse, network and possibly some thumb drives are plugged into the monitor). Someone on here linked to this when I asked about a montior with an all-in-one connection, I ended up dropping the requirement for a 4k display in the end. A techie read:
https://www.stderr.nl/Blog/Hardware/Thunderbolt/TechnologyOverview.html
As above, Dell Ultrasharp are a good bang for buck choice. Go to the Dell site and tick the appropriate boxes (eg. 32", 4K, USB-C) and see what model number it spits out, then have a quick Google to see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere. I have a 27" Ultrasharp (U2723QE), having a quick look, it seems there is a big jump in price to go to 32", so make sure you actually need it!
Re. USB-C connections I have used my Phillips monitor which was bought in 2023 with a number of different laptops including an Intel Macbook Pro, M3 Macbook Air, Asus Windows 11 and Lenovo Windows 10 and the connections have worked well apart from the built in Ethernet port not working with the Lenovo.
I never got to the bottom of that as was able to use wireless but overall USB-C has been great as I only need one cable to both power and do display/peripherals.
Not having to use a separate power supply for the laptop saves a lot of faff as does not having to specifically plug in the web cam that sits on the monitor - you will probably want one of those if working from home rather than using the laptops built in camera when using the external screen.
I never got to the bottom of that as was able to use wireless but overall USB-C has been great as I only need one cable to both power and do display/peripherals.
On the Dells there is a setting to either prioritise data or video over USB-C, I seem to remember I had to select data to get all connected USB peripherals running nicely. With data prioritised, I think you can run a max of 60Hz at 4k, which is fine as my work POS HP Elitebook laptop can only seem to manage a max of 30Hz at 4k anyway!
The ultrasharp range is more for more for professional editing and such, and has a price tag to match...
From the Dell range this is more suitable: https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/computer-monitors/ar/8605/30-34-inch?sortBy=price-ascending&appliedRefinements=43287&_gl=1*1np8ypt*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTIxMDU0MTU0OS4xNzUyNzU4NjYz*_ga_1234567890*czE3NTI3NTg2NjEkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTI3NTg2NjEkajYwJGwwJGgxNjgwNzcyOTU5
This might be a better buy : https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lg-32-32gs85q-b-2560x1440-nano-ips-180hz-1ms-a-sync-widescreen-gaming-moni-mon-lgc-03334.html
If you want apps onboard though you need a smart TV, or a monitor and a firestick (or similar), not just a monitor.
I'd second a 32" ultrawide 4K from Samsung. In fact I'm typing this on the picture-in-picture window of my own laptop, with work on the remainder of the screen. Full USB-C hub means I don't have to plug my work laptop into anything else. It has speakers but I use a DAC/Amp/Hi-fi speakers on my desk instead.
You spend a LOT of time looking at the screen. Get a decent one.
You touched Ona good point there.. Ultra wide vs standard..
It's really a matter of personal taste but I don't like ultra wide as they don't have enough vertical height in this kind of size.
So it really depends on what resolution you are after.
For example watching films on it would look like this..
Fair point. I watch films on a projector 😀 . But working on an ultrawide is a step change.
Dell and Samsung 4K 27” are what my children have. I forget the models but they were only a few £100s. IPS panels in both I believe.
I previously had a fancy BENQ 4K calibrated etc. didn’t last as long as my children’s monitors have. I now have an Apple Studio Display which is excellent. As it should be for its eye-watering price.
Thanks for the input
My work laptop is a Microsoft thing with next to no ports.
I was hoping (dreaming) that these ‘smart’ monitors for £200-£300 would be good, but they get very mixed reviews. I guess they compromise on everything to get them multifunctional
Looks like Dell is the ‘safe’ option. USB-c with a few extra ports on the back for USB keyboard and mouse / webcam
We actually have a Dell Inspiron 5490 all in one thing that I have currently managed to link to using a cheap USB c / usb adapter thing I use for Rouvy etc in the garage. I’ve managed to switch it to act as a monitor, but it’s clear not switched off the processor element of the Inspiron as the fans are going nuts !
I had been looking at this. Some reviews are good some not so good !
32 Inch M70F UHD Smart Monitor | Samsung UK
I've got one of these: Dell 27 Plus QHD USB-C Monitor - S2722DC | Dell UK
I find that looking at a larger screen at desk distances is awkward, and for the same reason (and scaling issues) i didn't want 4k either.
The plus point of this one is in conjunction with a USB port all I have to do is plug a single usb-c cable into either of my laptops and in provides power to the laptop and drives the monitor. Simplest set up I've had.
I had been looking at this. Some reviews are good some not so good !
Fills a gap in the market I guess, but the specs aren't very impressive.. Slow g2g, VA panel (blerugh)
only 60hz refresh rate..
It wouldn't be on my shopping list.
Also people are obsessed with 4k.. I think it's pointless on screens smaller than 42".. A higher spec 1440p (2k if you will) monitor will give you a much better experience overall.
I do have two LG 4k oled tellies a 42" and a bigger one, I can't remember what size it is and they are fantastic but way to big to use as a monitor on a desk.
27" or 32" inch is probably the sweet spot...
My current monitor is 27" but I'm eying up some 32's..any bigger would just be silly for a desk though.
I think it's pointless on screens smaller than 42"
I'd be interested to know what OS you are using. Any modern OS should be able scale things to take advantage of high res screens to make everything beautifully sharp without making GUI items too small. My Mac is perfect in this respect, and even my work Win10 machine makes a reasonable stab at it. TVs are a completely different matter as there is no sub-pixel rending going on - so can see why you would say that for them.
I think it's pointless on screens smaller than 42"
I'd be interested to know what OS you are using. Any modern OS should be able scale things to take advantage of high res screens to make everything beautifully sharp without making GUI items too small. My Mac is perfect in this respect, and even my work Win10 machine makes a reasonable stab at it. TVs are a completely different matter as there is no sub-pixel rending going on - so can see why you would say that for them.
I use windows or some flavour of Linux depending on which PC I'm using, but that's besides the point.
The point is the pixel density (PPI or pixels per inch) on a 'small' 4k screen is so great it stops making a difference, so you are better off getting a high spec 1440 screen at 32" or under, rather than a 'pound shop special' 4k screen just becouse it's 4k.
Even on my big ass LG OLED screen that I have plugged in a a second monitor/living room telly, I game at 1440p as it scales down perfectly, which is great if you don't want to spend a grand on a graphics card to run demanding games on high settings at a reasonable frame rate.
I have one of those Samsung smart monitors and really like it for my WFH setup. My work is mostly in a glorified text editor plus the web browser and I can happily fit them side by side plus have email & slack in smaller windows below them all on one screen. It also has the benefit of powering the work laptop through the USB-C connection and I can easily swap to my personal devices connected via HDMI. This replaced a dual monitor (2x 24" decent dell HD monitors) and I find the single screen much better as all my focus is on that screen, with the laptop alongside for supplementary information and for video calls etc. The 4K means I fit more in on one screen, and I'm not doing any serious visual work (photo/video editing etc) so I don't think I'd benefit from an Apple Studio Display or similar.
I originally bought one for my son when he went to Uni as it seemed a good way compromise for watching Netflix etc plus playstation and laptop in the limited space of student accommodation. I used it for a month or two before he went (as I'd picked up in a sale in early summer), then really missed it when I reverted to the old setup, so kept an eye out and picked one up through a staff discount scheme at a price much lower than a 27" usb-c monitor.
It is a compromise device but it packs a lot into a relatively small form factor with the convenience of a single screen and modern connectivity, They are regularly on sale too, so a bit of patience/googling and you should find one for a relatively modest price.