Head down, back hunched, screen too close to the eyes: even after two years of pandemic, too many teleworkers still spend their days in front of a poorly ergonomic laptop. Several studies confirm this, the rise of telework has also been accompanied by a significant increase in back and neck pain among those who have adopted this formula.
However, there are ways to improve your installation. For example, you could elevate your computer to eye level with a stand designed for that purpose (or by piling up your old dictionaries gathering dust in your bookshelf), and use an external keyboard and mouse.
Another solution is to equip yourself with a monitor, which will have the advantage of being larger than the integrated screen of your computer. You will not only be able to install it at the right height, but also keep it away from your eyes. As a bonus, the possibility of displaying several windows at the same time thanks to the large format of the monitor could even increase your productivity by 5% to 30% approximately (a percentage which changes according to the studies and the tasks carried out).
However, the models on the market vary a lot. Depending on the size and specs of the new device you’re looking for, you’ll have to pay, for example, from $150 (for a generic 21.5-inch model) to over $2,000 (the price of Apple’s new Studio Display ).
Here’s how to find your way through the technical sheets of these monitors in order to find the one you need.
Cut
Monitors on the market generally range from 21.5″ to 49″. Go for a 21.5” model if you want to spend as little money as possible (about $150 to $200). You will improve your posture, but not your productivity. The screen may be bigger than your laptop, but it’s placed farther back, which reduces the advantage. The 21.5-inch monitors, however, appeal to those who use two screens, for example to work on one and display their messaging software on the other.
To see a good difference, it is necessary to turn to a model of at least 27 in. From this size, the choice of options (display, resolution, refresh, design, etc.) generally increases. In recent years, even larger formats, such as 34” models, have started to gain popularity. Samsung even offers larger monitors, 49 inches. The price, the space you have and the features you need should guide your choice.
Resolution
The resolution (usually 1080p, QHD or 4K) determines the clarity of images and text on the screen. Avoid overly large monitors with low resolution (like a 27” model with 1080p resolution), as text may appear pixelated. Monitors with high resolution (4K and above) are especially advantageous for those who work with photos, videos or 3D documents. If this is not your case, you lose nothing by buying such a screen, but you will pay too much for your needs.
Format
The vast majority of monitors on the market feature a rectangular 16:9 aspect ratio, the same as televisions. For larger models, however, wider formats are gaining in popularity, such as 21:9 « ultrawide » screens, which have the advantage of allowing two large windows to be displayed simultaneously, for example to take notes during a video conference.
Refresh rate
The number of images per second (often indicated in hertz) that a screen can display is especially sought after by video game enthusiasts, but a high refresh rate (120 Hz and more) also allows teleworkers to scroll text more fluid. The characteristic is not essential, but it is appreciated by many.
Ports
Some monitors can be connected to a computer with a USB-C cable rather than an HDMI cable as has been the case for several years. If you have a recent computer, this could allow you to avoid having to use an adapter (since HDMI ports are becoming increasingly rare).
Note that some monitors can also serve as a USB docking station. You can then plug in your keyboard and mouse permanently, rather than having to remove them from your laptop whenever you want to transport it. Either way, these are nice, but non-essential features.
Colors and other display technologies
Various display technologies significantly vary the price of a monitor, but not all users will be able to benefit from them. This is particularly the case for color management, which can be presented in different ways by manufacturers. The greater the percentage of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, for example, the more different colors you will be able to discern and the higher the price will be. If you don’t know what DCI-P3 is, this is an expense you can do without. Technologies such as high dynamic range (HDR) imaging can be interesting if you plan to watch movies on this screen, but they will not improve your experience on Excel, for example.
Speakers, webcam and microphone
If you close your laptop while you work, to use only the external monitor, you’ll probably need speakers, a webcam, and a microphone. Screens equipped with these components are quite rare. And the few models with built-in speakers only offer good sound quality in a minority of cases. Consider purchasing these accessories separately, or use your laptop screen when you need a webcam and microphone for video conferencing.
Ergonomics
Opt for a monitor whose height and tilt you can adjust. The top of the screen should be at eye level, and angled slightly upward. Some models can also be rotated from left to right, which can be practical for temporarily working in pairs, for example, but which is less useful in a teleworking context.
Don’t forget the accessories
You’ll also need an external keyboard and mouse (approximately $50 to $250 for a set, depending on quality) to use your external monitor with a laptop computer. To connect and disconnect the computer easily and to keep a clean desk, you can also plug all the accessories into a docking station. Depending on the number of ports and their transfer speed, as well as other device specs (like charging power), expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $350.
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