So, you’ve bought, or are planning to buy, a new monitor during the Black Friday sales, now what? While most monitors are fairly simple to set up, if you want to personalize your monitor further, you’ll need a few extra addons.
I’m talking about things like a surge protector, screen cleaning kit, and USB hub. Getting the right cable for your monitor (HDMI or DisplayPort 1.4) is a big consideration too. A monitor arm is a worthwhile investment as well — it’s going to let you view your monitor at exactly the angle you want so that you don’t have to strain your neck.
You could buy these things later on or snap them up now, while they are top of mind, and while some or all of them are discounted for the holidays. If you decide to snap up a bargain, here’s a list of the top 10 items to go for.
- Surge protector: You’ll want a surge protector to divert excess voltage away from your monitor to prevent damage to its hardware. This SUPERDANNY Power Protector gives you 18 power outlets as well as 4 USB ports (2x USB-A and 2x USB-C), which is great value for what you pay. It’s just $27 on Amazon.
- Screen cleaning kit: Generic cleaners can damage a monitor’s sensitive screen but with a specialized screen cleaning kit you can clean your monitor’s screen without any nasty aftereffects. This 4-piece cleaning kit from Altura includes everything you need to maintain a clean monitor and as a bonus it comes with a gel to clean your keyboard. It’s currently 25 percent off on Amazon.
- USB hub: By leaving your monitor and peripherals plugged into a USB-C hub at the home or office, you can then choose when you want to plug in your laptop to turn it into your workstation. Anker’s 555 8-in-1 USB Hub has a great mix of ports to accommodate all your devices including an HDMI, USB-C and USB-A ports, Ethernet slot, SD card reader, and microSD card reader. Pick it up for $50 on Amazon.
- External speakers: Even if your monitor comes with inbuilt speakers, you’re likely going to get better sound quality with external speakers. The Creative Pebble V3 is a sure bet for clear, well-defined sound. Pick it up for $35 on Amazon.
- HDMI cable: If your monitor requires a premium high-speed HDMI cable, or you like the idea of outputting content at 1080p / 240Hz, 1440p /144Hz or 4K /60Hz, then you need a HDMI cable. The Monoprice HDMI comes with HDMI certification which not all HDMI cables have, which is a guarantee that it will work with all devices requiring an HDMI. Get it on Amazon for $18.
- DisplayPort 1.4 cable: One of these is recommended over a HDMI cable if you’re going to be using a monitor with a high refresh rate (over 144Hz). A Monoprice DisplayPort 1.4 cable can confidently handle data transfer at 32Gbps and at resolutions up to 8K@60Hz UHD with 30 bits/pixel RGB color and HDR or 4K@120Hz with 30 bits/pixel RGB color and HDR. A 6ft cable is $7.50 on Amazon.
- Monitor arm: Whether you’re looking to maintain maximum desk space, or you want more freedom of movement in your display, a monitor arm provides that. The Huanuo Single Monitor Mount is a great introduction to the concept, being both easy to install and eminently affordable. Get it on Amazon for $38.
- Webcam: If your monitor doesn’t have a built-in webcam, you’ll need an external webcam for video conferencing, live streaming, online meetings, or for recording videos. If you want a great quality 4K picture but your budget isn’t great, the EMMET C960 4K webcam which works with Zoom, Teams, Skype, and Google Meet is a great buy at $60. It’s available at Amazon.
- Privacy filter: A filter that covers your monitor screen can make it harder for people to see your sensitive data or personal information and therefore help protect your privacy. Sightpro privacy screens are highly rated and come in a range of different sizes to fit your monitor’s dimensions. Browse the range on Amazon.
- Cable management clips: Management clips keep your cables confined so that they don’t get tangled, don’t take up excess space or get in the way and cause a tripping hazard. These clips we found online are self-adhesive and come in three sizes: small, medium and large to accommodate your cables. A 60-piece pack costs just $7.50 on Amazon (with 25 percent off).
If you’re shopping for more tech bargains this Black Friday, be sure to check out our other helpful guides to accessorizing your laptop, desktop computer, smartphone, and tablet. Happy shopping!