I examined low-cost displays for the workplace – this $80 MSI is without doubt one of the few I might really suggest

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As high-end displays attain for the celebrities with QD-OLED expertise and 1,040Hz refresh charges, merchandise on the other finish of the spectrum can provide higher baseline worth for lower than 100 bucks. 

Living proof: MSI’s Professional MP243W, a 24-inch monitor for simply $84. Funds displays in 2026 look a complete lot higher than they did a couple of years in the past, and after going hands-on with this one, I discovered it to be worth for college kids, youngsters, and budget-conscious customers who use their computer systems for on a regular basis duties. 

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That stated, there are definitely trade-offs with lower-end displays, they usually will not come as a shock: much less flexibility, much less connectivity, and, most significantly, a much less vibrant picture. With the best expectations, nonetheless, a lower-end show is usually a sensible purchase as an alternative of dropping a whole lot on one thing that is overkill.

Specs and construct

Bodily, the Professional MP243W has a minimal footprint and is slightly light-weight at 6.8 kilos. The bezels are skinny on all 4 sides, and the white plastic does not precisely scream premium, however it’s impartial and appears nice on a desktop. 

Sadly, it solely is available in stated white colorway, which may be extra of a deal-breaker than the technical specs for some. The monitor’s base is simply shy of 9 inches on the widest half, and the notch affords a handy place to prop up your cellphone, a contact that teenagers will respect.

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It encompasses a 23.8-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) matte LCD show with a 144Hz refresh fee and built-in audio system. It is nothing fancy, however it will get the job carried out. The quick refresh makes issues look clean, however it lacks the superior viewing angles of higher-end displays. That is the primary massive trade-off. 

Sitting instantly in entrance of the monitor will give the perfect viewing expertise, as shifting from one facet to the opposite will dim and obfuscate the other nook. Excessive-end displays are excellent at projecting an evenly illuminated, brilliant picture throughout the complete display, irrespective of the angle you are viewing from. Not the case, right here. 

The matte floor can be vulnerable to reflections when gentle comes from a single supply, resembling a brilliant window in entrance of the monitor. This, with the utmost 300 nits, means it isn’t the brightest monitor available on the market; the second massive trade-off. For that motive, I might suggest putting the monitor going through away from a window or gentle supply.

On the again, the show has a single HDMI port, a DisplayPort 1.2a port, a headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. It additionally options built-in audio system, however they’re low-quality, and I might solely suggest utilizing them when you’ve got no different possibility.

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The display itself can rotate as much as 20 levels, however can’t be raised or lowered. On the again of the best facet is the monitor’s navigation button, which brings up the onboard menu for visible settings and a spread of presets. 

Who’s it for?

I lately examined Apple’s new MacBook Neo, a $599 model of the MacBook with sensible trade-offs, and was so impressed by it that I purchased one for my mother. It is excellent for what she makes use of it for: checking electronic mail, informal internet searching, and iPhone integrations like FaceTime and Messages. The one factor she does not like, nonetheless, is that the display is a tad too small. 

My imaginative and prescient: pair it with MSI’s Professional MP243W. This 24-inch monitor may very well be an incredible companion for the Neo, doubling the Neo’s small 13-inch display for lower than $100 and making a dual-screen house workstation within the course of.

The 300 nits of brightness and FHD decision display does not precisely look higher than the Neo’s Liquid Retina show, however it’s larger, and affords a second show — one thing the Neo handles effortlessly. You may want a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter to do that. I like to recommend this Anker mannequin for $16.

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After all, you do not want a MacBook Neo particularly to have an reasonably priced workstation — any laptop computer will do; I simply point out this use case because it correlated with my current expertise. 

As talked about earlier than, one other potential use case for a monitor like that is for youths or teenagers. It is light-weight and reasonably priced sufficient to be moved round, and when you improve sooner or later, it might make for hand-me-down if there are a number of youngsters who need their very own workstation. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

MSI’s Professional MP243W is a stable 24-inch price range monitor that will get the job carried out for $84 — a value you’ll be able to’t argue with. It does not compete with high-end OLED shows, however that is not the purpose. It will serve nicely for youths, teenagers, seniors, or as a secondary machine in a visitor room or secondary workplace. I simply suggest putting it away from brilliant gentle sources, and needless to say you could want a monitor stand.