The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is still a fantastic device. It’s incredibly convenient and ideal for getting work done, as well as for leisure. But one area where it’s inferior to a laptop or desktop computer is the size of the screen. The Surface is only small, which makes it very portable, but not perfect for extended office use.
Fixing the issue is simple. You can buy an external monitor and connect it to the Surface Pro 4 using a cable. In this guide, we’ll be helping you to find the best monitor for the Surface Pro 4. All of these screens are stellar, but some are better than others and might be better for certain conditions or uses.
The Surface is a very practical device. As a result, you could be wanting to play video games, watch movies or work on a spreadsheet. Depending on what you’ll be doing, one type of monitor might be better than another. However, we’re going to try to recommend monitors that work great for everything, as well as some more niche options.
How We Rate And Rank Products
Rating electronic devices are very challenging. Not only does everyone have a unique point of view, but because they are expensive, it’s critical that we help you to make the right decision. To do this, we do extensive amounts of research. We start with a huge list of products and narrow it down to only a handful which we believe are worth spending money on.
Part of our research involves learning more about the electronic. In this case, we got to grips at a technical level with computer monitors. The result is that we can recommend more confidently a device that we believe will be ideal for your circumstances.
We also read as many reviews as possible. By crowdsourcing reviews, we can get a broader range of experiences than just a single person could. The result is a more balanced, unbiased recommendation based in statistics, not feel. Therefore, we can easily rank and rate even complex products to help you to make a more informed purchase.
The 7 Best Monitors for the Surface Pro 4
We believe that, for most people, the Acer R240HY is the best monitor. Not only is it very affordable, but it also offers excellent value for money. It’s also available in a variety of sizes and can come with built-in speakers if you want. Therefore, we recommend it highly for all Surface Pro 4 users who are looking for an all-around, quality monitor for a variety of uses.
The standard size for this monitor is 23.8 inches. You can also get it as small as 21.5 or as large as 27 too. In our opinion, most people would be best suited to the standard size. Unless you are doing a lot of video work or playing games, most people won’t benefit significantly from a huge screen.
What they are likely to benefit greatly from is the 60Hz refresh rate. While not perfect for video games, it will ensure a smooth feel to HD and 4k movies. Again, if you plan to play video games extensively, this monitor might not be the best for you. But most Surface users don’t game on them regularly, and therefore we didn’t weigh this issue heavily.
You’ll also notice that the screen has practically no bezel or border. This bezel gives it a more attractive look, with a sleek finish. But it also means that it’s physically smaller and therefore can fit comfortably on smaller desks and in cubicles.
On the hardware side, the monitor takes HDMI, DVI, and VGA. Given that the Surface Pro 4 has none of these ports, we would highly recommend that you get a USB-C to HDMI converter and use this to attach to the monitor. This adaptor will give you the highest quality signal and will also transmit audio if you buy the screen with built-in speakers.
For most people, these speakers are incredibly valuable. Having to buy and fit another device on your desk is a pain. The audio from the monitor is fantastic and well worth the extra money, even just for the convenience.
If this first monitor didn’t do it for you, perhaps this one will. It’s also by Acer, one of the premier mid-range brands in the industry. While they create laptops and desktop computers, they are most known for their quality monitors.
This device comes in at 21.5 inches, a little smaller than the last. However, it’s entirely HD, with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The refresh rate is also slightly higher at 75Hz, which will mean a smoother picture if you’re playing games or watching high FPS footage.
The device itself uses AMD Radeon FreeSync technology. This technology ensures a perfectly synced and flawless picture that refreshes regularly and accurately. For streaming movies or playing games, this is incredibly beneficial.
This monitor sells itself as zero-frame. While that’s not technically true, it does has a small bezel and is ultra-thin. This size ensures that it looks gorgeous and can fit into even the most cramped offices and homes.
The screen has a 4ms response time. This time is the amount it will take for you to see movement on the screen after it occurs. For day-to-day tasks, this is fantastic. But for hardcore gamers, you’ll want a screen that’s down to 2ms or even 1ms delay. Again, we’re trying to recommend monitors that are ideal for the average Surface Pro user.
No matter who you are, you’ll have heard of HP. They are arguably the most recognizable brand in the entire PC world. Known for their quality hardware, they are a brand that is trusted by some of the largest corporations in the world for their mission-critical devices.
This monitor is a classic. The Pavilion has been around for years and has improved over time. Today, it’s an incredibly affordable Full HD option that is around a hundred bucks. As a budget option, it’s a fantastic choice. For a little more, you can even get a dual-monitor setup with a stand.
The screen itself has 2 million pixels. While that might sound like a lot, it’s not incredible and will give you a fairly standard picture. Similarly, it only has a 7ms response time. Therefore, we’d primarily recommend this monitor for those looking for a sturdy workhorse for office work. For movies, it will be okay, but not fantastic.
However, you’ll notice that for a monitor of this cost, the colors are incredibly vibrant. The density of color is excellent. Therefore, for photo work and even video editing, this could be a fantastic budget option for creators.
In general, the main reason why people buy the HP Pavilion is that of its reliability. Thin modern monitors are finicky. The Pavilion is sturdy and is likely to last you for years to come because of the reliability and toughness of the components.
We would highly recommend this monitor to users looking for an additional screen for work and leisure. If you browse the web, work on the computer or use social media, this monitor is a cheap option with plenty of benefits. But, it’s not a stunning display that’s for watching long movies or playing games.
The reason why we wanted to include this monitor on the list is that of its size. Some Surface users love a huge monitor, and this is a great choice. If you need a lot of screen space for multiple applications, or if your eyesight isn’t great, a large monitor like this can be very beneficial.
It’s not every day that you find one this size, particularly at a reasonable price. Dell is a brand that you can trust because they create quality products and have done so for decades. With a Full HD, 1920 by 1080 screen, you’ll get high-resolution images with crisp details. Plus, with Dell’s screen technology, you’re guaranteed to get vibrant and deep colors.
Having a screen this size is a real luxury, but you won’t have to break the bank to get this monitor. At under $$, it’s very affordable for these screen dimensions. However, being so big you won’t get as crisp an image as you would at the same resolution on the previous Acer monitors that we listed.
For this reason, we would only recommend this to people who value size over everything else. As a large monitor, which is useful for many people, it’s a bargain. But if you don’t mind a smaller alternative, the Acer monitors will give you superior performance, albeit scaled down.
You don’t need to look closely to see that this isn’t your standard monitor. Not only is it UltraWide, at 21:9 dimensions, it’s also curved. With a curved screen, you get a very different viewing experience, which can be ideal for using multiple applications side by side.
The screen itself is 34 inches wide, making it huge. It has a 3840 x 1440 resolution, which means that even on such a big screen, you’ll get ridiculously crisp images and video. If you plan to have multiple monitors side by side, having a curved screen is fantastic because it gives you a flawless look.
It’s worth noting, all of these benefits come at a cost. We’d only recommend this monitor to power users. If you don’t need a vast curved display, go for the Acer. However, a small niche group of people can benefit from this type of screen and therefore should find this review helpful.
We love this monitor. But the reason why it’s not ranked higher is that it doesn’t offer anything significantly different to far cheaper alternatives like those from Acer and HP. Regardless, if you want a curved screen, but at a small size, this is the ideal option.
At 24-inch, it’s small for a curved monitor. At 60Hz refresh rate and 4ms, it could easily be for video games, especially for those gamers who aren’t hardcore. But where this screen shines is in the picture quality. With a 3000:1 contrast ratio, you’ll notice that blacks and bright whites are incredibly vivid, making movies and games look incredible!
At 27 inches and with 1080p Full HD, this is a fantastic monitor. The reason why it’s not ranked higher is that ViewSonic, the brand that makes this monitor, isn’t particularly well-known. While not a huge issue, it does mean that it’s difficult for us to know how reliable the customer service will be going forward.
We tend to prefer to buy expensive electronics from quality companies that have a proven track record. But that’s not to say that we won’t give new things a chance. Plus, with an industry-leading 3-year coverage and warranty, you’ll be more protected with this monitor than you would be with name-brand alternatives.
We tend to prefer to buy expensive electronics from quality companies that have a proven track record. But that’s not to say that we won’t give new things a chance. Plus, with an industry-leading 3-year coverage and warranty, you’ll be more protected with this monitor than you would be with name-brand alternatives.
Buyers Guide: Find The Best Monitor For Surface Pro 4
When you’re thinking about a monitor, you have a lot to consider. The most obvious difference between screens is the size. The size of monitors is typically measured in inches, diagonally from corner to corner. They can range from 18” up to 50” and even larger. Most people will need a screen between 18” and 24” for day-to-day tasks.
However, for video games or movies you might want to go even larger. The next consideration should be the frame rate. Monitors often go up to 144Hz. Hz is a measure of the number of times the screen refreshes the image per second. A faster pace means a smoother picture. But a monitor above 60Hz is only needed for video editing and playing games.
Cost is also a huge consideration. As with most tech goods, the price can differ significantly. Pick a number in your head and stick to it to prevent yourself from overspending.
It’s worth noting that the Surface Pro 4 only has a USB-C and a Mini-Displayport. Most modern monitors require Displayport or HDMI, and therefore you’ll need to purchase an adaptor to utilize these premium monitors. Adaptors typically are relatively cheap and buying a quality cable should reduce any possible signal loss or disruption. To summarize:
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