Still have that large, heavy, and ugly monitor in your office? It might be time for something new.
Your office space represents a significant part of you. It’s here that you make a living and represent your best. Considering how much time you spend there, it’s worth arranging your office in a way that feels more comfortable.
A thin and lightweight monitor not only gives you additional space on your desk, it looks amazing while offering a more ergonomic transition between your eyes and the rest of your office. In 2018, we’ve seen more manufacturers place an emphasis on this than ever and with little-added cost.
So, if you’re looking for a monitor that looks great, has the right picture, and doesn’t cost a fortune here are monitors we’d recommend.
Our Top 5 Lightweight and Nearly Frameless Monitors for 2018
Dell S2718D
We featured the Dell S2718D on our review on monitors for the MacBook Pro because of its USB Type-C port as well as its sleek design, high viewing angles, IPS display, and high-quality feel. The 45W Type-C port is enough to charge or maintain many smaller laptops (such as the 12″ MacBook) while slowing the down the battery drain of larger ones. That being said, Mac users certainly aren’t the only ones who can benefit from it.
The 1440p resolution along with HDR color make it a brilliant monitor to work with and the IPS panel is certainly accurate enough for many editors (although not all of them). The response time for it is 6ms which is good for an IPS panel although along with a 60Hz refresh rate it may be lacking for some gamers. Yet, I find myself preferring the IPS picture and standard refresh rate to many gaming monitors I’ve used. For those using it for gaming, you’ll find that you get better responsiveness out of it with HDR off.
In addition to the Type-C Port, it also has 2 USB 3.0 ports that work at full speed, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm jack.
One thing that wasn’t great about this monitor was the panel on the stand used to adjust the monitor itself. It’s not as intuitive to have it lined up from the base to work on it from the top. In addition, HDR works only over the HDMI version of the connection. So, if you’re looking to just use the single cable solution, you might be a bit disappointed.
Overall, you pay up a bit for the S2718D for having the amazing looks and the USB Type-C one port solution and compared to other USB Type-C solutions it’s very reasonable. Plus it has HDR, which you won’t find readily available elsewhere as of the time of writing this article. However, there are other less expensive solutions with similar pictures that don’t include USB Type-C and HDR. Still, for the working professional, the S2718D is a brilliant monitor that looks fantastic on your desk and has a large area of viewing that pushes the boundaries of newer technology.
Asus Designo Frameless Monitor
The next monitor on our list is a maintains a fantastic look while sporting an affordable price. The Asus Designo monitor offers a thin design super-thin bezel in various sizes including 23, 25, 27, 29 and 34 inches.
While they all have slim designs and similar naming schemes, these are all very different monitors. The original 23 and 25-inch monitors offer an affordable 1080p solution with a sleek design. They use the typical HDMI and VGA connectors and now a few years old.
The 27-inch version of this display has been updated and is available in 1080p, 1440p, or 4k designs. The 4k design includes a USB Type-C port. The 29-inch and 34-inch versions of this monitor are also available as an UltraWide option. Confused yet? Don’t worry. Basically, all of these monitors have an IPS panel with wide viewing angle, a sundial design for the base, and a slim bezel. And unless you’re looking for color accuracy or a highly adjustable stand, you’ll likely find something you’re looking for in the series. Pricing comes in as low as $170 and checks out at around $600 for the most feature-rich options.
Connectivity options vary by monitor in this series; however, it is notable to point out that the 27-inch 4k version of this monitor uses USB type-C. So, if you’re a Mac user or simply want a one cord solution, you can find it here.
Overall, the Design series is definitely one to check out if you’re looking for something sleek and chic.
Samsung SF351 Series Slim Design Monitor
The Samsung SF351 is great for those looking for an extremely large monitor with a fantastic look to it. With a high glossy white finish on the bezel and base, it looks great in any office or home environment. All of this has one caveat to it, the monitor is 1080p.
So, if you’re looking for a higher resolution, you won’t find it here. However, what you do find is an extremely affordable $230 price tag and a good looking IPS panel with wide viewing angle.
In addition, the SF351 is amazingly slim at just .4 inch thick. This makes it especially useful for hanging on your wall.
It’s also worth pointing out that this monitor incorporates AMD’s FreeSync. So, with a 4ms response time and reduced motion blur, the SF351 doubles as a good gaming monitor as well. In addition, connectivity includes dual HDMI ports. For an alternative, we’ve also reviewed several options with G-Sync.
Overall this is a great 1080p IPS 32″ monitor for the price you pay. This isn’t an old monitor, rather it’s an updated one with a 1080p panel and FreeSync options. For those that prefer a curved version of this monitor, check out the Samsung CF391.
Dell UltraSharp U2515Hx 25″
While the next option I’m mentioning isn’t a super-slim option, it does have a thin bezel as well as an amazing picture. Whether you’re a professional designer or editor who wants color accuracy at a budget price, or someone looking for a monitor for work, the Dell UltraSharp series is a great option. This particular series comes in a 24″ and 27″ designs as well; however, I’m covering the one that I have the most experience with, the U2515Hx.
To start, the U2515Hx comes with a 1440p resolution. This gives you a bit more to work with in terms of editing and just makes everything a bit sharper. Honestly, 1440p is my preference for gaming right now even though 4k is pushing the envelope. It’s easy to drive and still looks brilliant. It’s also a color accurate option that offers a budget price for photo editing.
For design, the UltraSharp comes with an ultra-thin bezel that makes it ideal for using with a multi-monitor configuration. And it’s easy to position with its tilt, pivot, swivel and even height adjustment. In addition, this series can be purchased with single or dual monitor mounts for additional adjustment.
In terms of color accuracy, the 2515HX comes with 99% sRGB and a Delta of <3 out of the box. So, you’ll likely be good to go. For those who live or die by color accuracy, the U2515Hx does get slightly better with a bit of calibration.
Connectivity options are generous with 2 x HDMI MHL ports, a DisplayPort, mini-DisplayPort, and five USB 3.0 ports. a 16:10 1920 x 1200 resolution option can be found in the U2415, 1440p in its U2715H, and if you’re willing to pay up a bit 4k in its P2715Q model.
Acer H277HU and H257HU
Available in 2527-inch inch sizes these monitors sport an extremely small bezel along with an amazing looking 1440p display. The 27-inch version features a Type-C USB port which will be attractive to many and is available in 1080p IPS and 1440p WQHD IPS options.
While $500 may seem like a lot for the 27-inch version, the USB 3.1 port, along with the brilliant WQHD display makes it a very fair price in its category.
For design, the Acer features a slim bezel design with a sundial adjustment base.
If you’re a MacBook user and looking for an alternative to the Apple Thunderbolt Display, this is a good option. You get a lot of what you’re looking for in a large screen a with 1440p resolution without the high price tag of the sponsored options from LG.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we think it’s well worth it to spend a little bit more on a monitor that you likely stare at more than just about anything else. We still really like the accuracy and price tag of the UltraSharp series while other less expensive options may be ideal for those on a budget or who don’t need to worry about color depth and accuracy.