We spent 38 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top choices for this wiki. It doesn’t matter if you’re working in design, crunching spreadsheets or simply gaming during your free time, without a quality monitor, your PC experience will leave a lot to be desired.
Whether you value a crystal clear picture, deep contrast, true colors or all of the above, you should be able to find a solution to satisfy your needs in one of these models. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to support our work.
Whether you value a crystal clear picture, deep contrast, true colors or all of the above, you should be able to find a solution to satisfy your needs in one of these models. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to support our work.
In recent years, computer monitors have undergone a series of rapid improvements. Gone are the days of massive vacuum tube monitors that weighed dozens of pounds and offered limited image clarity.
The 2-in-1 is a USB 2.0 hub, so you should expect slower speeds if you connect USB 3.0 devices, but if you don't have (or care) about USB 3.0, it's a great and affordable investment.
Today's monitors boast sharp detail, amazing color fidelity, and are much slimmer and lighter weight than older models. Monitors have also become relatively affordable these days. You can get a decent computer monitor measuring just under two feet in size (remember that screens are measured across the long angle bisecting their screens) for just a little more than one hundred dollars, for example. One the other hand, top of the line monitors can easily cost three or four times that much.
Yet for most consumers, a budget of two to three hundred dollars will be more than enough for a great external monitor. When considering the right monitor for your office, your gaming setup, or for any other use, first think of the ideal size. You should never but a monitor that is too large for the space it will occupy, whether this means a unit that will over crowd a desk or that will be too large for your easy viewing based on where you sit. Monitors between twenty four and thirty inches are the standard choice for most people. Next consider the image quality you want in a monitor; a unit featuring 1,920 pixels by 1,080 pixels is capable of high definition image display, and will be more than suitable for most people who primarily use their computer and monitor for work or for basic tasks. The gamer or movie lover, on the other hand, may look for pixel resolution closer to 1,140 by 2,560. At this resolution, even the will look crisp and lifelike.
For the serious gamer, monitor response time is an important issue. Look for a unit that offers response times of a single millisecond for the ultimate immersive experience and to make sure you are fully in the game, ready to react quickly whenever needed. 'Extras' Worth Your Consideration If you use your monitor for nothing more than basic word processing, browsing the web, sending emails, and other simple tasks, than your primary concerns when looking for a computer monitors should indeed be nothing more than a good price, decent image clarity, and a reliability rating that means rare replacement. Multiple inputs mean multiple devices can be connected at once and enjoyed when you wish without the need for juggling cords. For those people who use their computer for more specialized purposes, there are extra monitor features that are well worth consideration and might be worth their spending extra cash. Beyond the criteria covered above, the next thing to look for when considering a monitor is the amount and type of inputs it can accommodate. The more input types a monitor can handle, the more hardware you can connect; this can include computers linked via USB, Blu-ray players linked via, and gaming consoles, just to name a few items.
Multiple inputs mean multiple devices can be connected at once and enjoyed when you wish without the need for juggling cords. Most monitors don't feature built in speakers, but those that do can save you money on additional audio hardware or else can be a part of a great surround sound system, helping to fill the room with sound. Look for monitors with stereo speakers if listening is nearly as important as viewing to you. And finally consider the range of viewing angle a given monitor offers. While not usually a concern for the mentor's primary user, a wide viewing angle can help many people enjoy the content on the screen at the same time. Look for monitors with that allow for clarity at more than 170 degrees of angle.
A Few Words On Ergonomics Simply stated, the word ergonomics refers to the design and arrangement of the objects with which humans frequently interact. In practical terms, it means a conscientious approach to the development of furniture, furnishings, hardware, and even interior design that makes a workplace more productive, a home more comfortable, and generally makes life more efficient, safer, and more pleasurable. Simply stated, the word ergonomics refers to the design and arrangement of the objects with which humans frequently interact. The study of began in earnest in the years following World War II, though the concepts underpinning the field date back centuries earlier. With the foundation of The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors in the mid 1940s and a subsequent body of publications and studies conducted by this group and others, researchers and designers around the globe began to take an interest in this new and unique field of study.
In the daily life of anyone who routinely sits at a desk and uses a computer, there are three major factors to be considered in terms of ergonomics. These are the design, shape, and height of the person's office chair (assuming he or she has not opted for a standing desk), the type of computer keyboard and mouse, which can have a direct impact on issues like, and the placement of the person's computer monitor. This last factor alone can have a radical impact on both acute and chronic comfort. Monitor placement can have an effect on everything from neck and shoulder comfort to lower back pain reduction (or exacerbation) and can impact eyestrain, fatigue, headaches, and more. A monitor should be set up at approximately arm's length away from a person's eyes, and with the user's eyes level with the top of the screen when he or she is sitting upright. This allows for a comfortable, natural slight downward gaze.
A slight tilt upward can make reading the entire surface of the monitor more comfortable, and a reduction in the brightness of the monitor (and the lighting conditions of the entire room) can allow for more relaxed reading and viewing. Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking. For our full ranking methodology, please read about us, linked below. The Wiki is a participant in associate programs from Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, Target, and others, and may earn advertising fees when you use our links to these websites. These fees will not increase your purchase price, which will be the same as any direct visitor to the merchant’s website. If you believe that your product should be included in this review, you may contact us, but we cannot guarantee a response, even if you send us flowers.
The iPad is an incredible device in itself, but it can also offer Mac users a portable option for using a second display. Editor’s note, December 10, 2018: Starting with macOS 10.13.4, support for Duet Display was broken.
After macOS 10.14.2 was released, and it seems to have resolved the issue that made the app nearly unusable earlier this year. If you were having trouble using the app, make sure your Mac is up to date and download the latest Duet app (version 2.0.3.8 or above) to enjoy using your iPad as a lag-free external display! It’s certainly not practical to travel with an external monitor, but offers the best way to turn your iPad into an incredibly slim and portable second monitor for your Apple laptop of choice.
And, if you don’t have a case that can prop the iPad up, this from Amazon can allow you to position it at a great angle. While it doesn’t offer a wireless connection, I found that to be a sub-par experience in other apps. Paired with a lightning cable, simply cannot be beat.
Duet Display provides a solid way to have multiple displays wherever you are. What is this category? As much as I love iOS, there are certain tasks that I can accomplish faster with a Mac. At work, I have a 24” ViewSonic monitor that sits next to my 13” Retina MacBook Pro.
Although I am a fan of the retina screen, I still do a lot of work on my external monitor. When I am away from the office and need to catch up on work, I miss having a second display. Thanks to my iPad Pro, I don’t have to be totally down to one display. Duet Display allows me to use my tablet as a second monitor for my laptop.
At 9.7″, it’s not as big as my 24” display, but it’s big enough to get the job done. In short, these apps allow you to use your iPad as a second monitor for your laptop, whereas an app like allows you to access a Mac from your iPad. Criteria Ease of use When I want to use my dual display setup, I want to simply plug and play. I expect to need a Mac app running along with the iOS app, but other than that, it should be dead simple to use each time. Complexity of setup While the iOS app should be easy to install, how easy is it to set up on the Mac?
Is the installer simple, or does it require manual setup? Speed – is it laggy or buggy? With this category of apps, this is the single most important feature. If it’s laggy, then it won’t be usable. While it certainly won’t be a fast as an HDMI or VGA connection, it must be useable.
I doubt video editing would be possible on any of the apps, but it should be a good place to put an editing pallet or chat client. Is Wi-Fi required? Some of the apps I looked at use hard-wired connections (Lightning cable) while others use Wi-Fi. While Wi-Fi offers the convenience of cutting the cable, it does come with serious trade-offs. For this review, Wi-Fi is not a requirement, but is something we considered as a nice-to-have option. The Winner: Duet Display Among all the apps that I tested, was the clear winner.
It’s made by former Apple engineers, and it shows. Setup was an absolute breeze. I installed the OS X application, which added a display driver and menu bar icon. After installing the Mac app, I went through the restart, installed the iPad app, and was ready to go. Everything went off without a hitch. In practice, it’s really easy to use.
If the Mac goes to sleep, Duet Display’s iPad app simply returns to the main screen asking you to connect a Mac. If you wake the Mac up, Duet Display quickly returns to acting as a second display. From a technical perspective, it feels no different than the normal external monitor I use at work. What sets Duet Display apart is how fast it is. It operates with basically zero lag. This is thanks to the fact that Duet Display sends video to the iPad over a Lightning cable.
The hardware connection certainly beats other apps that rely on Wi-Fi to transmit data. In my testing, the convenience of a wireless connection don’t trump the solid speed of using the Lightning cable. Duet Display was one of the first apps to use the Lightning/USB connection as opposed to Wi-Fi only. While Apple originally didn’t allow apps to access the Lightning connection in this way, they in December of 2014.
There isn’t much to the app, and there shouldn’t be. It has one job to solve, and it does it very well. Runner Up: Air Display 3 is another well-known app for using your iPad as a second display for your Mac.
While Duet Display installs very easily, I had a little more trouble with Air Display’s Mac app. It took two hard reboots to get my Mac to start up normally post-install. Air Display’s customization for screen resolution was a little more confusing than that of Duet Display. Both offered plenty of options, but Duet Display did a better job of explaining each option. Air Display’s killer feature is that it also allows you to touch your Mac display. This is primarily used for a pen/stylus tool. This essentially allows you to use your iPad as a graphics tablet (like a ) for your Mac.
It’s a custom feature, so compatibily is only in certain apps and styli. These are the compatible apps:. These are the supported pens and styli:. and. (no palm rejection or eraser support) If you want these features, Air Display 3 will be the best app for you. Air Display 3 works over Wi-Fi in addition to connecting through a Lightning cable. Your experience will greatly depend on your Wi-Fi speed.
At home, I had zero lag issues. On the public Wi-Fi at Starbucks, it was so-so. Depending on how your corporate Wi-Fi network is configured, it might be a little more difficult to get it working as well.
![The Best Usb Travel Monitor For Mac The Best Usb Travel Monitor For Mac](/uploads/1/2/5/4/125482525/959717980.jpg)
I would look at Wi-Fi support as a bonus, but not a crucial feature, and would recommend using the Lightning cable whenever possible. Even when comparing the Lightning cable connection with Duet Display over Air Display 3, Duet Display still comes out on top for me (by a hair). This fact combined with an easier setup makes Duet Display the winner. Other Apps We Reviewed There are a bunch of other apps out there; here are several we looked at but don’t make the cut in our book: GoodDual Display is one of the cheaper apps we looked at. It retails for $4.99, but it often goes on sale for $0.99. It’s not as fast in my experience as Air Display 3 or Duet Display, but it’s functional if you only use this style of app occasionally. If you can catch it on sale, it’s almost a no-brainer option for $0.99 if you wouldn’t use Duet Display enough to warrant its purchase price (normally $15.99).
Wi-Fi Display from Splashtop is a well known remote access application for iOS, Mac, and PC. They also have an app for as a second monitor with a Mac or PC. While some of the menus look dated on the Mac and iOS, the bigger issue I found is that I simply couldn’t get it to work.
It only works over Wi-Fi, and it refused to connect at work or my home. I tried everything I could in order to make it connect. It just simply refused. This is the major reason why I wouldn’t count on Wi-Fi as a primary connection for this app category. It’s a nice-to-have in a pinch, but not something I’d count on working everywhere. IDisplay is on the top end of the pricing spectrum of the apps we reviewed. The installer was simple enough, but it gets a pass thanks to only working with Wi-Fi.
Does say that Lightning connection is coming soon, and it cannot come soon enough. Unlike Wi-Fi Display from Splashtop, it did work on my corporate network, but it proved to be laggy. With it costing near what Duet Display charges, but offering a worse experience, I just can’t recommend it. Conclusion This app category is unique in that the actual iPad app isn’t doing much more than becoming a really thin monitor.
This is incredible for Mac users who want a portable dual display setup. Regardless of where I am (coffee shop, home, hotel), I have all the benefits of using dual displays without carrying additional gear. After testing all the options I could find, is the best choice. It’s simple to set up, doesn’t have a lot of fiddly options to tinker with, and works consistently over the rock solid Lightning cable connection.