A second monitor is worth considering if you regularly need documents, coursework, meetings or other applications visible alongside your main task. Start with your laptop’s external-display capability, then choose a fixed desktop monitor, a compatible USB-C monitor or a screen you can pack away according to your desk space and connection needs; a separate dock is another option when the display alone cannot provide the connections you need.
If you regularly keep research, documents, calls or coursework open together, a second display gives you a place to keep one task visible while working on another. Which? includes home-office, study and second-screen use in its monitor guidance.
A compatible USB-C connection may carry video and, with a suitable monitor, provide charging or peripheral connections. Check the functions of your exact laptop port before choosing this arrangement; a USB-C connector alone does not establish them.
At a shallow, shared or temporary desk, the stand footprint, screen position and ease of packing away may matter more than choosing a larger panel.
Decide whether you need a screen that stays on the desk or moves with you. Then check how your laptop will connect and whether the complete setup fits your working position.
Choose when: You have a mainly fixed desk and can match the laptop’s video output to the monitor’s input.
Allow for: You may still need a separate laptop charger or an adapter.
Choose when: Your laptop supports video through the intended port and you want a display connection that may also handle charging or peripherals.
Allow for: Video, charging and hub functions depend on the laptop, monitor and cable.
Choose when: You need to move the second screen or pack it away after use.
Allow for: Check its power connection and whether its stand reaches a workable viewing position.
Choose when: Your preferred monitor and laptop need a connection between them, or you need additional compatible peripheral connections.
Allow for: The dock or adapter adds another item to accommodate and check for compatibility.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Room for simultaneous tasks | Check the laptop’s supported external-display setup and whether you want an extended rather than duplicated desktop. | If I need coursework or reference material visible while I work, avoiding repeated window switching is my priority. Around 31% of consumers considering a laptop second screen put additional workspace first. |
| Connection and cable simplicity | Match the laptop’s video output to the monitor input; for USB-C charging, check the port, cable and power requirements. | When I connect my laptop at a home desk, I want the intended video connection to work without an awkward arrangement of cables. Around 31% of consumers put connection simplicity first. |
| Desk fit and screen position | Measure usable desk width and depth, then check the stand footprint and adjustment or mounting requirements. | On a shallow or shared desk, I need space for my laptop and keyboard as well as a screen I can position comfortably. For around 23% of consumers, desk fit and placement are the primary concern. |
| Moving or storing the screen | Check packed size, the supplied stand arrangement and how the display receives video and power. | If I cannot leave a second display set up, being able to move or store it matters most. Around 15% of consumers prioritise that flexibility. |
USB-C describes the connector, not every function available through it. VESA describes DisplayPort Alt Mode for video over USB-C, while charging is a separate compatibility question.
Check your exact laptop model, port functions, intended cable and the monitor’s stated video and power connections.
An adapter, replacement cable, dock or separate charger may still be needed.
A screen can crowd a shallow desk if its base leaves too little room for the laptop or keyboard.
Measure the usable surface and compare the stand footprint and adjustment range. If you plan to use an arm, check the monitor’s VESA mounting pattern and the desk-clamp requirements.
A different stand or monitor arm may be needed to make the arrangement workable.
Power-delivery ratings vary by monitor, and a laptop must both accept charging through the intended port and receive suitable power.
Compare the monitor’s stated output with the laptop maker’s charging specification and check the cable before relying on the monitor as your charger.
You may need to keep using the laptop’s original charger.
Being able to store a screen does not establish that its stand will hold it at a useful height during a long session.
Choose portability when moving or packing away the screen matters; otherwise compare its viewing position with an adjustable desktop monitor or a compatible mount.
These ranges offer different fixed-desk, USB-C and movable-screen options. Connection and adjustment features vary by model.
Dell’s monitor range includes conventional displays and USB-C or hub-oriented models for fixed desks.
LG’s UltraFine and Ergo lines include options for USB-C charging or an adjustable clamp-based stand.
Lenovo ThinkVision includes USB-C and docking monitors for compatible laptop connections.
ASUS offers ZenScreen options for movable setups as well as business monitors for fixed desks.
These options include fixed-desk monitors and a ZenScreen model to consider for a workspace that needs to change or pack away. Match any screen to your laptop’s output and your available desk space before choosing.
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Consider this ZenScreen for a desk where moving or storing the second display matters. Its name identifies an IPS screen and USB-C connection; check your laptop’s video output and charging needs before planning a single-cable arrangement.
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Consider this fixed-desk display if its inputs match your laptop’s video output. The product name specifies a 24-inch 1920 × 1080 IPS screen, 100 Hz refresh rate, and HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA and USB-C connections. Check the USB-C functions before relying on that port for video or charging.
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Consider this fixed-desk model if you want a 31.5-inch second screen and have measured room for it. The product name specifies 4K UHD, IPS and USB-C; check the exact USB-C video and charging arrangement against your laptop before relying on one cable.
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Consider this 31.5-inch fixed-desk screen if its size suits your measured workspace. The product name identifies an IPS panel and built-in speakers; check the inputs, stand footprint and available adjustments against the setup you intend to use.
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Consider this fixed-desk option if a 24.5-inch curved screen fits your space and intended connection. The product name specifies HDMI, built-in speakers and a 75 × 75 mm VESA mounting pattern; check the stand footprint or a proposed mount before purchase.
Check the exact laptop model’s documentation for video output through the port you intend to use, then match it to the monitor input and cable. VESA describes DisplayPort Alt Mode as a way to carry video over USB-C; the connector’s shape alone does not establish that your laptop supports it.
You may need one when the laptop’s available video output does not connect directly to your chosen monitor input, or when you want additional compatible peripheral connections. Check the laptop, dock or adapter, cable and monitor as a complete connection path; Apple advises using the appropriate cables and adapters for an external display.
It can do so only if your laptop accepts charging through that port and the monitor and cable provide suitable power. Compare the monitor’s power-delivery rating with the charging requirement specified by your laptop maker before setting aside its charger.
Check the monitor’s mounting pattern against the arm, the arm’s supported screen size and weight, and whether your desk suits its clamp or other fitting. VESA identifies its Flat Display Mounting Interface as a mounting standard, but that alone does not establish compatibility between a particular monitor, arm and desk.