USB A hub
The availability of additional
USB A ports on the monitor case, to which various peripherals can be connected (provided that the monitor is connected to the computer's USB port with a special cable). This feature performs two useful functions. Firstly, the hub increases the number of ports available for connection. Secondly, these connectors are located in close proximity to the user, literally at arm's length. This is especially useful when working with classic PCs, where the system unit may be placed under the desk or in another hard-to-reach location, and reaching for it every time to find USB ports would be inconvenient.
As for the versions, monitors can use USB 2.0 (low speed, making it more relevant for connecting peripherals such as keyboards, mice, etc.),
5Gbps (3.2 gen1), 10Gbps (3.2 gen2) (high-speed ports for fast data transfer, optimal for flash drives and hard drives).
Portrait pivot
The screen is 90° rotatable on a stand, from landscape (horizontal) to portrait (vertical). The vertical orientation of the screen (
portrait mode) can be useful, for example, when working with large documents made in portrait orientation.
Height adjustment
The ability to move the monitor screen up and down relative to the base. This feature is very convenient for
adjusting the height of the screen — moving it on the mount is much easier than looking for a stand or resorting to other tricks.
Sound power
Rated power of the speakers installed in the monitor (see "Built-in speakers"). The higher the power, the louder the acoustics can sound, the easier it is to cover a vast space. However, in most cases, the user is directly in front of the monitor, and high volume is not required for normal hearing. So this parameter is critical mainly for plasma and LCD panels (see "Type").
Fast charge
Availability in the monitor USB port with function of
fast charging. This connector is used to charge batteries in various gadgets (smartphones, tablets, etc.). It differs from conventional USB ports in increased power supply; in addition, this connector may not support any other functions at all, except for charging.
Note that in modern technology various special technologies can be used to speed up the charging process. So before buying a monitor with this feature, it doesn't hurt to check if it supports any of these technologies and whether they will be compatible with devices that you plan to charge.
Power consumption
Rated power consumption of the monitor. Usually, this item indicates the maximum power that the device can consume during normal operation — that is, the energy consumption at maximum brightness, the highest volume of the built-in acoustics, etc. Actual power consumption can be noticeably lower, however, when choosing, it is still best to focus on the value stated in the specifications.
In general, the lower the power consumption, the more economical the device in terms of electricity consumption (ceteris paribus). In addition, this characteristic can be useful when selecting an uninterruptible power supply for a PC and in other specific situations when it is necessary to accurately determine the power consumption of equipment.
Energy class
The energy class characterizes how economically the monitor consumes electricity. Initially, the classes were denoted by simple Latin letters — A (the most economical), B, C. However, later improved classes “A +”, “A ++”, etc. appeared. (the more "pluses", the more economical the device).
The energy class will generally affect the price accordingly, but this difference will eventually pay off with lower electricity bills.
