What USB-C wattage do I need to charge my laptop through a monitor?

MacBook Air (USB-C): 30-45W minimum. MacBook Pro 14-inch: 67W minimum for full-speed charging, 30-45W for slow charging. MacBook Pro 16-inch: 96-140W for fast charging. Most Windows ultrabooks: 45-65W. The Dell U2723QE provides 90W USB-C PD — sufficient for all MacBooks except the 16-inch at full speed. The LG 32UN880 provides 60W.

Is 4K necessary for a home office monitor?

At 27-32 inches, 4K makes a meaningful difference for text sharpness. At 27 inches, 4K produces extremely crisp text without scaling. At 32 inches, 4K is recommended — 1440p looks slightly soft at this size. If you work with spreadsheets, code, or documents all day, the text clarity improvement from 4K justifies the price premium. For purely video call and email use, 1440p is adequate.

What is the difference between Dell UltraSharp and Dell S-series monitors?

Dell UltraSharp monitors are professional-grade: factory color calibration, IPS Black or IPS panels with wider color gamut, better ergonomic stands, more USB-A/C hub ports, and higher USB-C power delivery. Dell S-series monitors are consumer-grade: lower price, less precise color calibration, fewer ports, and simpler stands. For home office professional use, the UltraSharp's factory calibration and port selection justify the premium.

Do I need a monitor with built-in speakers for a home office?

It depends. Most monitor speakers are mediocre — acceptable for video calls but lacking for music or media. If you need good audio quality, invest in separate desktop speakers or a USB DAC with headphones. For pure work use where you primarily need to hear meeting audio, built-in speakers at 3-5W are adequate. The Dell S2722QC and Samsung M7 include speakers; the Dell UltraSharp and BenQ professional monitors do not.

What is the Samsung Smart Monitor M7 and is it useful?

The Samsung Smart Monitor M7 has Samsung's Smart TV operating system built in — you can watch Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and use Samsung Gaming Hub without connecting a computer. It functions as both a standalone smart TV and a standard USB-C computer monitor. It's excellent for users who want a single screen for both PC work and entertainment without a separate TV. The downside is the smart TV interface can be slow and the Samsung Tizen apps are more limited than full Android.

Best Home Office Monitors of 2026: 4K USB-C