If you’ve been waiting to buy a cheapest USB-C monitor, we have a range of products below. Shop for the best USB-C Monitors for MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Having a USB-C monitor connected to a compatible device allows you to simultaneously transfer video, audio, data and charge that device with just one cable.
However, not all monitors with a USB-C port can charge a power-hungry device such as a laptop – only those that support USB PD (Power Delivery) with proper wattage can!
That’s why, for your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of the best cheap USB-C monitors that support at least 60W USB PD.
Note that USB Type-C monitors with PD differ in their maximum power supply capacity. So check your laptop’s power consumption to make sure you’re getting a monitor that can power it properly.
Keep in mind that your laptop itself must support USB power and to get a video signal your laptop must support either Thunderbolt 3 or DisplayPort Alternate Mode instead of USB-C.
Finally, you will need a suitable USB-C to USB-C cable that supports DisplayPort Alt mode if the USB-C cable that came with your laptop or monitor does not support it.
If so, look for USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (originally USB 3.0 SuperSpeed - 5 Gbps), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (originally USB 3.1 – 10 Gbps), or Thunderbolt 3 ( 40 Gbps) depending on the bandwidth / resolution you need.
3A USB-C cables can power a device up to 60W while for more than 60W and up to 100W you will need a 5A cable.
If you’re looking for a USB powered portable monitor, you can check out our guide to the best portable monitors.
Initially, USB-C was only available in high-end devices. Today, there are also some affordable USB-C monitors!
Cheapest USB-C Monitors
Below are our top recommendation for the cheap monitors with usb-c type port in 2021.
- Dell P2419HC: Lowest Cost 1080p USB-C Monitor
- Philips 258B6QUEB: Affordable 1440p USB-C Monitor
- HP 345495 Business Z27n G2 27″ LED LCD Monitor
- Philips 272P7VUBNB: Affordable 4K USB-C Monitor
- LG 27UL850-W: Best all-rounder USB-C 4K monitor
1. Dell P2419HC: Lowest Cost 1080p USB-C Monitor
The Dell P2419HC is the cheapest USB-C monitor, capable of delivering 60W of power.
It features a 23.8 ″ IPS panel with 8-bit dithering color depth (6-bit + 2-bit FRC ), 1920 × 1080 resolution, 60Hz standard refresh rate, peak brightness of 250 bits, a static contrast ratio of 1000: 1 and a response time of 5 ms.
Today, we find these specifications on cheaper monitors, less than 200 dollars, but the Dell P2419HC has other advantages up its sleeve, apart from the USB-C!
The Dell P2419HC USB-C Monitor is rugged and versatile in design, with full ergonomic support (height, tilt, swivel, swivel, and VESA mount compatibility) adjustment.
In addition, it has an integrated quad-USB- C hub (2x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 3.0 with 5V / 2A fast charging), USB-C 3.1 (DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode), HDMI 1.4, ‘a headphone jack, a DisplayPort 1.2, and even a DisplayPort Out port for MST daisy-chaining.
On Amazon you will also find the 22 ″ and 27 ″ models, the Dell P2219HC and the Dell P2719HC, but we recommend the 24 ″ model because it offers the best value for money as well as the optimal pixel density (pixel to inch ratio).
2. Philips 258B6QUEB: Affordable 1440p USB-C Monitor
The Philips 258B6QUEB is only slightly more expensive than the Dell P2419HC but it offers a screen resolution of 2560 × 1440 which will allow you to have much more space and detail on your screen.
It is based on an IPS panel with true 8-bit color depth and wider gamut (~ 109% sRGB) as well as a slightly higher peak brightness of 350-bit. Other features of the panel include a 5ms response time and a 60Hz refresh rate.
Although the Philips 258B6QUEB does not have a DisplayPort port, it is equipped with a plethora of connectivity options such as VGA, DVI-D, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, USB-C 3.1 (DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode, 60W PD), three USB 3.1 downstream ports (including one fast-charging), a headphone jack, built-in 2x2W speakers, and an Ethernet port.
The design is excellent, with ergonomic height, swivel, swivel and tilt capabilities, as well as compatibility with VESA mounts.
3. HP 345495 Business Z27n G2 27″ LED LCD Monitor
This 27-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution display offers excellent color accuracy, thin bezels, and adjustable stand, but its contrast ratio is poor.
Anyone whose computer does not support 4K, or anyone who uses applications that do not scale properly. That said, at a time when our choices of 4K displays often cost the same (if not less) than a 2560 x 1440 display of the same size, most users will be better off with the higher resolution option.
The HP Z27n G2 has a 27-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution display with fairly good color accuracy, although we recommend setting them to “neutral” since the sRGB default setting is serious image quality problems. This model has one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, one DVI port, three USB 3.0 Type A ports and two USB-C ports. Its stand tilts, turns, swivels and adjusts to different heights. The Z27n G2 comes with the same three-year warranty and the same dead pixel policy as the Z27.
On our test unit the default sRGB color preset showed a grainy appearance and significant ghosting issues – inconspicuous afterimages appeared on the screen when we left a window open for more than a few minutes. It looked like a burn-in , even though the afterimages eventually disappeared and didn’t appear to have caused any permanent damage. Note: we did not encounter this problem when we configured in “neutral” mode.
4. Philips 272P7VUBNB: Affordable 4K USB-C Monitor
The Philips 272P7VUBNB is the cheapest 4K monitor with USB-C and PD up to 65W.
4K Ultra HD resolution delivers stunning picture quality on this 27 ″ monitor. With a density of 163 PPI (pixels per inch), you get plenty of screen space and incredible clarity of detail.
Other specs related to the panel include a 1000: 1 contrast ratio, 350-bit maximum brightness, and 10-bit color depth (8-bit + 2-bit FRC, 1.07 billion colors) with a 122% wide sRGB color gamut.
The monitor is factory calibrated to Delta E <2 for accurate color reproduction and comes with an sRGB profile. In addition, it is equipped with a light and power sensor that decreases the brightness of the monitor when it detects that no one is in front of the screen.
Design and connectivity
In addition to USB-C 3.1 (DisplayPort 1.2 Alternate Mode, PD up to 65W), you get HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, a headphone jack, an Ethernet port and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports downstream (including one fast loading).
You are not going to see HDMI 2.1 monitor or 8K monitors in this price range.
Note that due to the limited bandwidth, the speed of the USB ports will be limited to USB 2.0 (480Mbps) if you want to get 60Hz to 4K UHD. If you select USB 3.2 speed from the OSD menu, you will be limited to 30Hz at 4K.
This is the case with all 4K monitors with USB-C in this price range.
The screen of the Philips 272P7VUBNB monitor can be raised up to 150mm, rotated 90 °, rotated +/- 175 °, tilted -5 ° / 30 ° or VESA mounted via the 100x100mm model.
Alternatives
Other 4K monitors with USB-C include the LG 27UL850 , LG 27UK850, and ASUS MX27UC .
These 4K models are more popular, but they are significantly more expensive (over $ 100) while still providing the same picture quality as the Philips 272P7 monitor.
LG models offer HDR (High Dynamic Range) support , but this is only software emulation, which means they can just accept HDR10 signal, you will not get a better experience of HDR viewing.
They also support AMD FreeSync over HDMI and DisplayPort. If you have a compatible graphics card or an Xbox Series X console and PlayStation 5, then you can use FreeSync to eliminate screen tears in video games. Note that the MX27UC does not support FreeSync over HDMI, only over DisplayPort – so you will not be able to use FreeSync with the Xbox One.
Prices between these three 4K USB-C monitors fluctuate often, so be sure to check them all out. To help you choose the best 4K USB-C monitor for you, feel free to leave a comment below. In general, the Philips 272P7VUBNB offers the best bang for the buck here, unless you intend to use the monitor for gaming as well.
5. LG 27UL850-W: Best all-rounder USB-C 4K monitor
The 27UL850-W belongs to the 2019 product series from LG and, as an external monitor for the MacBook Pro / Air and Windows laptops, currently offers the best price-performance ratio in terms of equipment and technical data. For currently under $500, the device offers everything your heart desires and is the almost optimal 4K monitor for the MacBook Pro.
Using a single USB-C cable, the MacBook (Pro) can be quickly and easily connected to the LG display. At the same time, the MacBook is supplied with power (60 watts) and charged. External devices such as keyboards, mice, hard drives, loudspeakers and the like can be connected directly to the screen and are simultaneously coupled to the MacBook. With just one cable from the laptop to the screen, the desk looks tidy.
The narrow frame with a matt finish looks high-quality and minimalist at the same time. This way, the clean look at the desk can be preserved. Connections for 1 x USB-C 3.0, 2 x USB A, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0 and 1 x headphones can be found on the back. HDCP 2.2 support enables you to watch copy-protected 4K footage (Netflix, Amazon Video, U-HD Blu-Ray). The 2 x 5 watt loudspeakers do not trigger any enthusiasm, but are fine for watching films. AMD FreeSync is interesting for Windows and Xbox users.
The 27 inch viewing angle stable 60Hz IPS panel with 10 bit (8bit + FRC) and high resolution 4K resolution is clearly aimed at semi-professional photographers and ambitious video editing experts. The sRGB color space is covered to 99%. This guarantees accurate colors. The pivot function is interesting for programmers.
A nice bonus is the HDR10 support . With a luminance of up to 400 cd / m², the LG is also suitable for brighter rooms. True HDR requires 1000 cd / m2, but there are differences to a monitor without HDR10 support.
Summary
current technology, good equipment, problem-free communication between laptop, screen and connected devices and decent workmanship
In terms of price-performance, it is certainly one of the best that the USB-C monitor market currently has to offer.
Conclusion
Have you decided which USB-C monitor is right for you? All in all, if you’re on a budget, the Dell P2419HC and Philips 272P7VUBNB give you everything you need at a reasonable price.
If you want something better, we recommend the DELL U3219Q because of its excellent value for money or one of the ultra-wide screens depending on your preference.
For gamers, the Philips346B1C offers by far the best gaming experience while giving you all the benefits and convenience of USB-C.
If you want something extravagant, one of the USB-C monitors in our premium category will definitely meet your needs.
Best USB-C Monitors Black Friday Deals 2021
We have created a list of the most discounted cheap and best USB-C Monitors Black Friday deals and USB-C Monitors Cyber Monday deals for this year’s holiday season 2021.
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