For sustained laptop work, start by checking whether you can raise the screen while using a separate keyboard and mouse, as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises. Add a monitor if you need more display space; choose a hub or dock if you need to connect several devices regularly, but check your exact laptop’s display and port support first. Where an applicable individual display screen equipment (DSE) assessment identifies a different need, let that finding shape the setup.
If you work at home or split your time with an office, consider whether the screen and input devices can be positioned separately at each desk. HSE guidance on DSE assessments applies to workers who use a screen daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more, where the regulations apply.
If you regularly attach a display and peripherals, a hub or dock may reduce repeated connections. Check the exact laptop and intended display setup before choosing one: Apple and Microsoft both describe external-display support as dependent on the device and connection used.
Choose equipment for the task and desk you use; if an applicable DSE assessment identifies a particular workstation need, use it to guide the purchase.
Choose when: You work for sustained periods on the laptop screen and have room to position a raised laptop, keyboard and mouse independently.
Trade-off: It changes screen and input positioning but does not add display space or ports.
Choose when: Your work calls for a separate display and the laptop supports the connection you intend to use.
Trade-off: The screen needs desk space and a suitable position; a monitor does not replace separate input devices when the laptop is raised.
Choose when: You repeatedly connect a monitor and other desk devices to the same laptop.
Trade-off: Its display and charging functions depend on both the accessory and the exact laptop; a USB-C connector alone settles neither question.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input position | Can the screen be raised while a separate keyboard and mouse remain at suitable working positions? Will all three fit the desk? HSE recommends separate input devices when elevating a laptop screen for prolonged use. | I spend long stretches working on my laptop and need to position its screen without raising the keyboard I type on. |
| External display | Check the laptop model’s supported display count and connection method, then match its ports, cable and adapter to the intended monitor. Check the monitor’s ports and positioning adjustments too. | More screen space would help me work with documents or applications side by side, and I have room to place another display. |
| Desk connections | List the display, USB, network and charging connections you will use. Check the laptop’s video-capable port, the hub or dock’s display behaviour and any required charger; Anker’s published specifications show these capabilities can differ by model and laptop support. | I move my laptop between desks and would rather reconnect the devices I actually use through fewer connections. |
| Individual workstation needs | Consider the whole desk and how it is used, not just one accessory. Where a DSE assessment applies, check its findings for the home and office setups. | My desks or working pattern differ, so I want equipment that addresses the issue at each workstation rather than a generic bundle. |
| Remote meetings | Check whether you need a separate headset or webcam, its connection type and whether a suitable port remains available. | I take calls at this desk and may need meeting equipment, but it will not change where my laptop screen or keyboard sits. |
Raising the laptop screen also raises its built-in keyboard. HSE’s guidance pairs an elevated laptop screen with a separate keyboard and mouse.
Check that the riser and both input devices fit where you can use them independently.
Apple and Microsoft describe display support as device- and connection-dependent. Anker’s hub specifications also show that output and dual-display behaviour can vary with laptop support and operating system.
Match the exact laptop model, video-capable port, operating system, hub, cable and intended display count before ordering.
A monitor, stand or dock addresses a particular task; it may not address the workstation issue identified in an applicable DSE assessment.
Use the assessment findings to decide what needs changing, including when the workstation or the way it is used changes.
A display still needs a suitable connection and position. Likewise, a dock’s list of ports does not establish which display and charging functions your laptop can use.
Check monitor inputs and adjustments against your desk, and check every required dock connection against the laptop and accessory specifications.
These references help with different parts of the decision; a brand’s range or support guidance is not a substitute for checking the exact product and laptop.
Logitech’s UK range includes keyboard-and-mouse combinations, relevant when a raised laptop needs separate input devices. Its presence here does not indicate that a particular combination will fit every desk or device.
Anker’s hub specifications illustrate why display output must be checked model by model.
Apple’s Mac guidance is a starting point for checking a MacBook before selecting an external display or dock.
Microsoft’s Surface guidance is relevant when planning an external display connection for a Surface device.
These options cover external displays, hubs and docking connections, plus a headset for calls. Choose among them according to the desk task and your laptop’s connections; for sustained laptop work, also consider the separate keyboard-and-mouse arrangement described above.
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Consider this for a desk where you want to connect displays and other devices through a dock. Its name specifies dual HDMI 4K connections and 100W Power Delivery pass-through. Before choosing it, check your laptop’s video and display support, charging requirements and whether the required power adapter is included.
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This is a separate screen to consider if your home desk has room for a 31.5-inch monitor. The product name specifies a 2K IPS display and built-in speakers. Check your laptop’s supported output and the connection you will use, as well as whether the stand or a compatible mount provides the positioning you need.
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A portable second screen may suit a laptop that moves between home and office. This model’s name specifies a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a USB Type-C connection and anti-glare surface. Confirm that your laptop’s port provides the required video and power, and check how you will position the screen at each desk.
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Consider this hub if your desk needs several connection types from one laptop. The product name lists two HDMI outputs, USB data connections, RJ45, SD/TF and a USB-C PD input. Check that your laptop supports the required video connection and intended display arrangement, and confirm any charger you need.
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A separate headset is an option when your remote meetings call for one, rather than a way to change screen or keyboard position. This model’s name specifies an inline remote and noise-cancelling microphone. Check that your laptop or dock has a suitable USB-A connection, or whether you need an adapter.
No particular monitor, stand or dock is automatically needed. HSE guidance says to consider the individual home-working setup; where a DSE assessment applies, use its findings to decide what equipment or changes are appropriate.
Use an applicable assessment to guide equipment choices when it identifies a workstation need. HSE says employers must assess workers who use DSE daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more where the regulations apply, and that changes to a workstation or how it is used call for assessment. For hybrid work, consider both home and office setups.
For prolonged laptop use with the screen elevated, HSE advises a separate keyboard and mouse. Plan space for both input devices when choosing a riser, rather than treating the stand as the whole setup.
No; check the exact laptop, operating system, video-capable port, hub and cables for the display arrangement you want. Apple says Mac display support varies with the device and connections, while Anker states that its Nano dual-display hub mirrors content across external monitors on macOS but supports different content on Windows. That Anker behaviour is specific to the stated hub.
Confirm the laptop’s video output and charging requirements, then check which dock ports provide video, data and Power Delivery. Also check the required charger and box contents: a USB-C port on its own does not establish that it performs every function.