Good and cheap (second) monitors for the home office

Have you gone to the home office or even had to move there with your work, you need a good monitor for it. If you were able to take the monitor or screen with you from the office, you might now want a second monitor for the home office - because that is particularly efficient! Why do I come to that? Because the top posts on this blog currently have instructions on how to use the Apple iMac as a monitor is high up. Since the instructions are only of use to people who have such an expensive Apple computer standing around anyway, and because cheaper models are also good for Windows PCs, there is a selection of useful products below;)

The monitor bestsellers from Amazon for the home office

Below I have summarized the Amazon bestsellers for 22-inch, 24-inch and 27-inch monitors for the home office. The self-updated lists not only show those models that offer a good price, but have also been rated as good to very good by users. I will link the first three current places on the Amazon bestseller lists above if you are reading this post in the reader view. Then the lists may not be displayed; depending on the browser, they are shown as a simple table;)

The best 22 inch monitors for the home office

A 22-inch screen has a screen diagonal of around 56 cm. This is enough to read e-mails, work with documents and forms, do word processing and image editing and so on. For more extensive programs with many modules, buttons and so on, I would recommend a larger screen for the home office. The first three of the best 22-inch monitor models are: BenQ GW2270H, Philips 223V5LHSB2 & Samsung S24F356F.

#	Preview	Product	Rating	Price
1		KOORUI 22 Inch Business Computer Monitor, Desktop Gaming Monitor, FHD 1080p, 75hz, Eye Comfort,...	Currently no reviews	91,99 EUR 88,42 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
2		KOORUI 22 Inch Business Computer Monitor, Desktop Gaming Monitor, FHD 1080p, 75hz, Eye Comfort,...	Currently no reviews	89,99 EUR 78,99 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
3		AOC 22B2H - 22 inch FHD monitor (1920x1080, 60 Hz, VGA, HDMI) black	Currently no reviews	83,03 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
4		HP V22ve G5 FHD Monitor 54,5 cm (22 inch), 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9), 75 Hz, Full HD, AMD...	Currently no reviews	119,00 EUR 89,00 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
5		Philips Monitors 221V8A/00 FHD PC screen (resolution 1920x1080, 75Hz, VA, 4ms, MegaInfinity...	Currently no reviews	119,00 EUR 107,28 EUR	Buy it at Amazon

The best 24 inch monitors for the home office

The screen diagonal of a 24-inch monitor is about 61 cm. It's a bit bigger and offers more space for programs, web browsers, folders, documents and everything else that you have to use in the home office. Comprehensive software is displayed larger here and everything is not so compressed. The three best 24-inch monitor models currently on Amazon are: BenQ GL2580H, Samsung C24F396FHU & Samsung S24F356F.

#	Preview	Product	Rating	Price
1		Samsung S36C Essential Monitor S24C364EAU, Curved, 24 inch, VA panel, Full HD resolution, Eco...	Currently no reviews	149,00 EUR 134,12 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
2		Philips 241V8L - 24 inch FHD monitor, AdaptiveSync (1920x1080, 75 Hz, VGA, HDMI) black	Currently no reviews	104,90 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
3		Samsung Monitor F24T352FHR, 24 inch, IPS panel, Full HD resolution, AMD FreeSync, response time 5...	Currently no reviews	159,00 EUR 124,13 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
4		KOORUI monitor 24 inch, full HD frameless screen 16:9 IPS panel (75Hz, 5ms, eye care, 1920 x ...	Currently no reviews	115,98 EUR 98,58 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
5		Acer EK240YC Monitor, Black, 23,8 inch (60 cm screen) Full HD, 75Hz, 5ms (G2G), HDMI 1.4,...	Currently no reviews	144,99 EUR 99,99 EUR	Buy it at Amazon

The best 27 inch monitors for the home office

A 27-inch screen has a screen diagonal of 68,6 cm. This is pretty big, but it can help when you're creating and editing graphics, editing and trimming videos, or doing other creative work. If you are also looking for a monitor for playing video games or a second TV because several people have to stay at home, then the large monitor is the perfect hybrid solution;) The current "Top 3" are: Samsung S27F354F, BenQ GW2780 & Samsung C27F396F.

#	Preview	Product	Rating	Price
1		Samsung S31C Essential Monitor S27C314EAU, 27 inch, IPS panel, Full HD resolution, Eco Saving...	Currently no reviews	159,00 EUR 135,00 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
2		ASUS Eye Care VA27EHE | 27 inch full HD monitor | Frameless, TÜV certified, blue light filter,...	Currently no reviews	134,90 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
3		BenQ GW2780 68.58 cm (27 inch) LED monitor (Full HD, Eye Care, IPS panel technology, HDMI, DP,...	Currently no reviews	159,00 EUR 155,00 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
4		HP V27ie G5 FHD Monitor 68,6 cm (27 inch), 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9), 75 Hz, Full HD, AMD...	Currently no reviews	179,00 EUR 159,00 EUR	Buy it at Amazon
5		ASUS Eye Care VA279HAE | 27 inch full HD monitor | TÜV certified, blue light filter | 60Hz,...	Currently no reviews	124,90 EUR 118,90 EUR	Buy it at Amazon

Experience with multi-monitor work

From my own experience, I can say that working with multiple monitors is not only useful in many situations, but also significantly better for the workflow. Especially if you use a MacBook, whose display size is limited, sometimes dividing it into two halves is no longer enough. If you have two browser windows open for research, fetch data from the settings of an app, write the information obtained in a text file or an email and edit a picture to match - then you will surely come very quickly with just one screen into swimming.

Sure, Apple has built good options in macOS to clearly display the open apps or app windows by pressing a button or a gesture on the trackpad. There are also minimized windows in the dock. But if you don't want to be distracted by clicks or gestures between two windows, only a second or third screen will help. This also applies to typing or translating text content. The source can be shown on one display while the text to be created is being written on the other display. Personally, I don't want to be without the multi-monitor setup or the ability to use it. 

Work ergonomically: Monitor and iMac stands are a good start

There are different ways to make the workplace particularly ergonomic. An exercise ball as seating furniture or a good office chair - these are, for example, tips that you get over and over again. With the increased volume of office work in the home office, the range of ergonomic work at home is also increasing. Standing desks are offered for standing up with a laptop (which makes the use of multiple monitors impossible), as well as desks equipped with motors whose work surfaces can be moved up and down. The use for standing work makes more sense here, as all elements are raised at the same time.

The disadvantage of such extensive purchases: the price. If this is not a problem for you, can be found for example with this link a good desk. Otherwise, monitor stands and iMac stands, which ensure that you sit upright at your desk, are also recommended. They bring monitors and the iMac at eye level, so you don't have to look down or sit hunched over in front of the computer all the time. Many models are so well thought out that they even come with USB ports and charging ports for smartphones. Some even have a Qi charging surface for wireless charging of iPhone, AirPods and Co. Here is a selection: Ideal for the home office - iMac and monitor stand with USB hub and Qi charger.

Flexible use: Use Apple iPad as a second monitor

If you have an Apple iPad, you can also use it as a second screen. Of course, it's not as big as the monitors above, but if you already have it there, it's sure to be a quick and easy fix. Especially if your Mac and iPad are compatible with Sidecar, using the tablet as a second screen is quick. You can find out which Macs and iPads are compatible with Sidecar with the guide linked here. In addition to the models named therein, the Apple devices that have appeared since then can of course also be used; the article is from 2019 and has not yet been updated (as of May 11, 2021).

By the way, I know from friends with Windows PC and iPad that this device combination also works and that you can use the iPad on the PC either via WiFi or a USB cable connection. In addition to being used as a second screen, it can also be used as a webcam replacement. Without the PC, it can then be used as a fast, comprehensive tablet. There are many advantages to using the iPad as a second monitor in the home office - whether on an Apple Mac or on a PC with Microsoft Windows.

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Tips and tricks for taking a Corona break at home

Here are a few blog posts with tips and tricks for Corona isolation, for home office and for keeping the children busy. Maybe there is one or the other helpful text for you:

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Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.

The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de