For a compatible USB-C laptop, a monitor with sufficient USB-C power delivery can carry the picture and charge the laptop through one cable, leaving one fewer separate charger to accommodate. The monitor still needs mains power. If you mainly want more room for recipes, lists and a weekly calendar, a Full HD HDMI monitor may be enough while you continue using the laptop charger.
If you use a USB-C laptop to keep recipes, shopping lists and a calendar open, a monitor that supports video and adequate laptop charging over USB-C can simplify the connection. Check both devices’ capabilities before planning to leave the laptop charger unplugged. Dell and LG specify this combination for particular hub-monitor models.
If a larger screen is the main requirement and you can keep using your laptop charger, a Full HD IPS monitor with a compatible HDMI input is a straightforward option. LG’s 24MR400-B and BenQ’s GW2490 illustrate this type of screen.
If you spend longer sessions reading recipes and updating plans, consider how the screen can be positioned at your desk. Adjustable stands and reading-oriented settings vary by model: Dell specifies extensive stand adjustment for the P2425HE, while LG lists Reader Mode for the 24MR400-B.
Start with the socket problem: decide whether the monitor needs to charge your laptop or simply provide another screen. Then check the connections and positioning you will use for recipes, lists and calendars.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer laptop cables | Confirm USB-C video support, the monitor’s power-delivery wattage and the laptop’s charging requirement. | When sockets are scarce, I want the monitor connection to replace my separate laptop charging connection. Around 36% of consumers put reducing laptop cables first. |
| A readable planning screen | Check screen size, Full HD resolution and an input that matches your computer. | I mainly need space to read recipes alongside a shopping list and can keep my existing charger. A screen for that task comes first for roughly 29% of consumers. |
| More than one device | Count the inputs you need and check the function of each port, including any USB-C connection. | If several household devices will use the screen, I would rather switch inputs than repeatedly change leads. Around 21% of consumers prioritise that connection flexibility. |
| Longer reading sessions | Check stand adjustment and the model’s available reading or display settings. | When a planning session involves sustained reading and list editing, I want to position the screen comfortably. For about 14% of consumers, that is the primary concern. |
USB-C describes the connector, not every function it provides. BenQ specifies that the GW2490C carries display and data over USB-C but does not support Power Delivery.
Look for an explicit power-delivery rating on the exact monitor model, then compare it with your laptop’s charging requirement.
USB-C charging can remove the laptop’s separate charging connection from the desk, but the monitor itself still needs power.
Allow for the monitor’s mains connection when deciding whether the setup fits your available sockets.
Connection layouts differ: LG lists HDMI and D-sub for the 24MR400-B, while BenQ lists two HDMI inputs for the GW2490. Neither layout tells you which output your computer has.
Match the computer’s output to the monitor’s input and check which cable comes in the box.
If the connections do not match, you may need an additional cable or adaptor before you can use the screen.
Screen size alone does not tell you how two monitors’ energy information compares.
Check the exact model’s energy label and product information alongside its ports, charging capability and stand design. GOV.UK says products within the scope of energy-information requirements must be supplied with an accurate energy label.
These model examples show different connection and screen choices; a feature on one model should not be assumed to apply across its brand.
The P2425HE is relevant if you want a business-style USB-C hub monitor for a compatible laptop.
The 24BA850-B addresses the compatible single-cable laptop setup; the 24MR400-B is a simpler recipe-and-list screen.
The GW2490 is relevant when a conventional Full HD screen with two HDMI inputs suits the devices at your desk.
These choices cover monitors associated with the USB-C laptop setup and a Full HD screen for planning while retaining a separate laptop charger. For any USB-C charging setup, check your laptop’s video and charging requirements, the monitor’s exact capabilities and the supplied cable before buying.
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Consider this model if you want a planning screen for a compatible USB-C laptop. Confirm its charging output against your laptop’s requirements, whether the necessary USB-C cable is included and where the monitor will connect to mains power.
IPS WUXGA display.
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Consider this model for recipes and lists if a compatible USB-C laptop is part of your desk setup. Check the laptop’s display and charging requirements and which cables are supplied; the monitor also needs mains power.
IPS Full HD display; 75Hz stated in the model title.
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Its USB-C connection makes this a model to investigate if you plan meals from a laptop and want flexibility in your desk setup. Confirm the exact video and charging functions, your laptop’s requirements and the supplied power equipment before relying on it to replace a separate charger.
IPS display; USB-C connection.
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Consider this model if your meal-planning desk also serves a compatible USB-C laptop. Check its charging output against the laptop’s requirement and confirm that the required cable is supplied. The monitor needs its own mains connection.
IPS QHD display.
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This is a screen to consider when recipes and lists matter more than replacing your laptop charger. Check that your computer has a matching video output and that the cable you need is supplied; confirm the exact model’s capabilities before expecting laptop charging through the monitor.
24-inch Full HD LED monitor; 16:9; Matte Black.
Yes, if the laptop accepts charging and sends video over USB-C, and the monitor supplies enough power for it. Dell specifies up to 90W power delivery for the P2425HE, and LG specifies up to 90W for the 24BA850-B; compare the exact monitor and laptop requirements before relying on either setup. The monitor still needs mains power.
No. BenQ specifies USB-C display and data functions for the GW2490C but explicitly says that its port does not support Power Delivery. Check the exact model for a stated charging function and wattage rather than relying on the connector alone.
Match your computer’s video output to the monitor’s input and check whether you have the required cable. If you want a USB-C connection to charge the laptop as well, verify that both devices support that function and that the monitor’s output meets the laptop’s charging requirement.
Check the energy information for each exact model rather than judging energy use by screen size alone. GOV.UK says products within the scope of energy-information requirements must be supplied with an accurate energy label; look for the model-specific label and product information when assessing a listing.
Check the documentation for the exact model intended for your market. GOV.UK states that the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 set requirements before electrical equipment can be placed on the Great Britain market; do not assume that Great Britain guidance states the position for Northern Ireland.