The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the demand for all computer equipment. It is easy to understand why that happened – people spent more time at home, where they played games and worked. It may be possible to talk about the end of the pandemic, but monitor sales are unlikely to fall to the pre-pandemic levels. What can you expect from the new wave of home and office monitors?
The pandemic has caused a huge jump in sales in the computer monitor market. This is not surprising, because millions of people had to prepare to work from home and substituted their going out and parties with gaming. However, in this article we will focus on trends that will shape the office monitor market – we will leave gaming aside for a bit.
We recently took part in an AOC/ MMD press event and this is what we’ve learned.
Growing selection
As people are coming back to the offices, companies are looking into upgrading their workstations. Thats why manufacturers are getting ready to offer a wider selection of different monitors. AOC brand nowadays is very well-known for gamers, but is now preparing a larger range of products for both home and corporate offices. Meanwhile, Philips will expand in the other direction – into the gaming market.
A lot of news can be expected as these brands try to catch the top of the wave of monitor demand. For example, 27-inch Philips V8 or AOC B3 with the new VA QHD panel will be more than enough for most people. These 1440p 75Hz home-office monitors have a solid modern design and simple stands. Those who want a better stand with adjustable height will choose slightly more expensive Philips E5000 or AOC V5 series monitors. New 34-inch monitors are already on the market – AOC V5 and Philips E2 will offer more room for productivity and a smooth viewing experience thanks to 100 Hz panels.
By the way, 60 Hz monitors seem to be leaving us little by little – these kinds of numbers in the specifications of new monitors are now relatively rare.
Connectivity
A monitor can be not only a visual information output device, but also a central hub for all your peripherals.
Many people these days don’t even have a regular desktop computer and use a laptop for everything. A mobile device is, of course, very practical, but large monitors, a dedicated (mechanical) keyboard and a mouse create a much more ergonomic workspace. Modern monitors with USB-C or even Thunderbolt 4 connections create a very flexible modular workplace. AOC/Philips will update and expand their USB-C monitor range in the near future. Thunderbolt 4 is a relatively young (and expensive) protocol and will need more time to become widespread, but it is definitely the next direction for product development.
Philips calls it Pro-docking – the monitor becomes a USB-C dock. Peripheral devices – such as keyboards, mice, and audio equipment – can be plugged into the monitor. This, of course, helps to avoid a rat nest of cables on your desk, but is especially convenient for laptop users. You can connect to your workstation through a single cable, through which the computer will not only communicate with the monitor and peripherals connected to it, but will also receive power to charge the battery.
The new AOC P3 line for offices will feature a wide variety of links. The monitor has not only an integrated USB-C hub, but also an RJ45 connection for the network. It will also deliver 65 W of charge to your laptop.
The Thunderbolt 4 protocol will take USB-C capabilities to an even higher level. It is a protocol introduced in 2020 and now it is gradually coming to monitors. Thunderbolt 4 offers many advantages in terms of speed, security, stability, and compatibility. In addition, Thunderbolt 4 allows you to daisy chain two 4K monitors.
The Thunderbolt 4 standard is still relatively new, but the new Mac Studio and MacBook Pro computers support such connections. For example, the new 27-inch Philips Brilliance 7000 monitor will feature Thunderbolt 4. The monitor itself will have two HDMI ports, an RJ45 for the network, four USB A, and a couple of Thunderbolt 4 ports. This is a professional monitor with MiniLED technology, which guarantees better contrast and brightness – something very important for graphic designers, who predominantly use Apple systems.
Ultrawide for work
Ultrawide and SuperWide monitors are more often seen of as gaming equipment, but in-home or company offices they are actually very practical. A larger usable space on the screen can greatly improve productivity. One ultrawide can replace two monitors, bringing the user more flexibility, energy efficiency and extra space on the table (because two monitor stands are replaced by one).
Philips will offer businesses a pair of curved monitors – the 40-inch has a 21:9 aspect ratio screen, while the 44.5-inch device will be 32:9. Of course, those who don’t want a curved monitor will be able to choose a flat ultrawide 40-inch model. This size is still quite rare in the monitor market.
Meetings on screen
Finally, it is also worth mentioning that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world that many meetings, classes and conferences can be moved to virtual space. Even if the pandemic eventually ends, this arrangement will not be forgotten, as video calls help save time and connect people who work from home or even in different parts of the world.
How will these trends affect the monitor market? Built-in webcams are nothing new, but manufacturers will be focusing more on this area. AOC and Philips also have monitors with 2 MP and 5 MP cameras in their ranges. It should be emphasized that we are talking about devices for work. These cameras do not offer particularly good image quality, but they are good for calls. This, by the way, is why gaming monitors never have built-in cameras.
The new Philips E monitor line-up has a 5 MP camera with Windows Hello for smooth login into the system. Built-in webcams always have privacy shutters for those who are cautious of being spied on. In addition, there is a pair of noise-cancelling microphones next to the camera. Of course, most monitors now also have 3-5 W speakers. This means that the monitor becomes the center of video calls without any additional devices.