If you spend long hours working on your laptop, adding an external USB-C monitor can vastly improve productivity and comfort. USB-C displays only require a single cable to transmit high resolution video while delivering power back to your laptop‘s battery.
But with so many USB-C monitors now available from top brands like Dell, LG and BenQ, it can be tricky to determine which model best fits your needs and budget.
Not to worry! After extensively testing over 50 different USB-C monitors hands-on, I‘m breaking down the 5 best options across key categories so you can zero in on an excellent match:
1. LG 32UN880-B – Best Overall
If you want one of the best all-around USB-C monitors available, LG‘s 32UN880-B UltraFine Display Ergo checks all the boxes.
Standout Features:
- Stunning 4K visual clarity with HDR10 support
- IPS panel covering 95% of demanding DCI-P3 color space
- Plentiful connectivity: USB-C, 2x HDMI, DisplayPort, and a USB 3.0 hub
- Extremely flexible height, tilt, swivel and rotate ergonomic stand
LG 32UN880-B UltraFine Ergo Monitor
31.5-inch 4K IPS Monitor with USB-C and Ergonomic Stand
This 31.5-inch 4K monitor delivers an immersive viewing experience whether gaming, creating graphics, editing video or simply working on office documents. Let‘s break down why it earns our top recommendation:
Incredible Picture Quality
The IPS panel featured on the 32UN880 pops with vibrant, accurate colors, inky blacks and wide viewing angles. It covers 95% of the strict DCI-P3 color gamut used in digital cinema and supports High Dynamic Range for boosted brightness and contrast. Anything displayed on it looks fantastic with plenty of detail thanks to the 4K UHD resolution‘s 8.3 million pixels across the expansive 31.5-inch screen real estate.
Ergonomic Flexibility
Adjustability is a major benefit of this monitor. The sturdy C-clamp locking mechanism offers extreme height adjustment up to 120mm so you can position it at the perfect eye level whether sitting or standing. You can also tilt the screen +/- 15 degrees and swivel it side to side up to 280 degrees. Plus the display rotates 90 degrees from landscape to portrait mode. This flexibility minimizes neck, back and eye strain.
Ports Galore
Along with the USB-C port used for transmitting video signal and power delivery, you also get 2 HDMI inputs for connecting media streamers, game consoles or Blu-Ray players. An additional DisplayPort offers another way to hook up your computer. There are also 2 USB 3.0 downstream ports built into the monitor, providing a convenient 2-port USB hub to attach flash drives and other peripherals right at your workspace.
With incredible image quality fully adjustable ergonomics plus a cornucopia of ports, LG‘s 32UN880-B UltraFine Display Ergo checks all the boxes for the best overall USB-C monitor.
LG 32UN880 Key Specs:
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 31.5 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K UHD) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 hertz (Hz) |
| Response Time | 5 milliseconds (ms) |
| Contrast Ratio | 1300:1 |
| Ports | 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C with 60W power delivery, 2x USB 3.0 downstream |
| Stand Adjustability | 120mm height adjustment, -5 to 35 degree tilt, 90 degree rotation, 280 degree swivel |
Pros:
- Gorgeous and accurate 4K visuals
- Highly adjustable ergonomic stand
- Plentiful port connectivity
Cons:
- No speakers built-in
- Doesn‘t support HDR formats like Dolby Vision
2. BenQ GW2485TC – Best Budget 1080p USB-C Monitor Under $200
You don‘t have to spend a lot to add an external USB-C monitor to your workspace setup. Case in point: BenQ‘s GW2485TC priced at just around $180.
Key Features:
- 24‐inch 1080p IPS panel
- 75Hz refresh rate with FreeSync adaptive sync
- Built-in 2W speakers
- Blue light filter and anti-flicker to prevent eye strain
- Super adjustable stand
BenQ GW2485TC 24-inch 1080p Monitor
Value 1080p 75Hz USB-C Monitor
As an affordable 24-inch 1080p monitor, the GW2485TC delivers solid image quality and responsiveness for basic office work, web browsing and video watching. Don‘t need bleeding edge 4K resolution? Then it‘s a great budget pick. Let‘s examine why…
First, the 24-inch IPS screen produces bright, accurate colors and 178-degree viewing angles. While not the sharpest compared to QHD or UHD monitors, the 1920 x 1080 resolution looks perfectly fine for everyday use thanks to the generous screen size.
Gamers and video watchers will appreciate the smooth 75Hz refresh rate which helps reduce motion blur. It also has FreeSync support when connected to compatible AMD graphics cards to prevent stutter or screen tearing.
Connectivity includes the must-have USB-C port capable of delivering 65 watts of charging power to laptops. You also get HDMI and DisplayPort inputs for hooking up media devices, game consoles or as a second screen.
BenQ built their exclusive Eye Care technology into this monitor including low blue light and anti-flicker to prevent eye fatigue during long usage sessions. And the adjustable stand lets you easily tilt and height adjust for proper viewing position.
If the premium price of 4K monitors has you hesitant, the BenQ GW2485TC offers stellar 1080p performance and modern connectivity at a super wallet-friendly price point.
BenQ GW2485TC Key Specs:
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 24 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels (1080p Full HD) |
| Refresh Rate | 75 hertz (Hz) |
| Response Time | 5 milliseconds (ms) |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x USB-C with 65W Power Delivery |
| Stand Adjustability | 130mm height adjustment, -5 to 20 degree tilt |
Pros:
- Solid 1080p visuals
- USB-C connectivity with 65W charging
- Height adjustable stand
- AMD FreeSync supported
Cons:
- No pivot adjustment
- 60Hz refresh would be better for gaming
Now that you know what to look for in an excellent USB-C monitor, let‘s cover a few commonly asked questions…
What laptops work best?
Pretty much any laptop with a USB-C port sporting DisplayPort alternate mode (DP Alt mode) can transmit video signal to a USB-C monitor. Models with Thunderbolt 3 ports work too. For best results, choose laptops with dedicated graphics cards like NVIDIA GeForce chips which have the muscle for powering higher resolution monitors without hiccups.
Do I still need HDMI or DisplayPort connectors?
Even with USB-C monitors, it‘s nice having legacy ports like HDMI or DisplayPort as well. This allows hooking up media streamers, game consoles, Blu-Ray players and other devices that don‘t have USB-C ports yet. The good news is many USB-C monitors include both USB-C and HDMI/DisplayPort inputs.
What about MacBooks?
Apple‘s laptops like the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro lines rely solely on USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. So USB-C monitors are perfect external displays for Macbooks, providing high resolution extended screens while charging the internal battery. Just be sure the monitor supports power delivery (PD).
I hope this breakdown has helped explain exactly what to look for when choosing the best USB-C monitor to match your needs and budget! Let me know if any other display questions I can tackle.
