Getting the best laptop for multiple monitors will increase your productivity and make using your laptop feel as comfortable as a desktop. The best of both worlds! In this article, I will outline what a laptop needs to run multiple monitors and show you some of the best laptops for multiple monitors at an affordable price.
However, not all laptops are capable of running multiple monitors.
What are you going to need to run multiple monitors?
- Multiple video outputs or a docking station.
- I am going to choose laptops with either DisplayPort, USB 3.2, or Thunderbolt for video output. I prefer not to use HDMI output as it is difficult to adapt to a different type of video port should you be trying to connect to a monitor that does not have an HDMI port.
- Docking stations are great but also they are not cheap. They give you the ability to quickly connect all of your peripheral devices to the dock so when you want to take your laptop with you, you only need to unplug one cable from the laptop. Docking stations also give you more ports, and you can still use the ports on your laptop if you need more than the dock has.
- Dedicated Graphics Card.
What is the best laptop for multiple monitors?
That depends on how many monitors and what resolution the monitors are. If you are using 2 monitors that are 1080P then any modern laptop will do. But if you are running more than 2 1080P monitors or are running higher-definition monitors, you will need to get a laptop that has a dedicated graphics card.
Here are the best laptops with 2 display ports and onboard graphics.
1. Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
Key Features
- 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports (Need USB-C to Display Port Cables)
- 1 Thunderbolt Port (Need Thunderbolt to DisplayPort Cable)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060, 6 GB GDDR6 Graphics Card
- 12th Generation Intel Core™ i7-12700H
- 16″ 3K Anti-Glare Display
- Hard drive: 1 TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD
- Memory: 16GB, 2x8GB, DDR5 RAM
Dell is known for durable, trouble-free laptops and this Inspiron 16 Plus is powerful enough to run 2 high-res gaming monitors plus its own 3K display. The onboard NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 graphics card is capable of playing today’s modern video games, although not at the highest frame rates (this is a moderately priced laptop, not a high-end gaming PC).
Laptops with dedicated graphics cards typically are somewhat thicker and make more fan noise than laptops with onboard graphics which is what I like about this Dell. It is slimmer and runs quieter than a gaming laptop.
Pros
- Dedicated Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports
- Powerful Processor: 12th Gen Intell i7 with 14 cores.
- Fast Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM
- Large High-Resolution Display: 16″ 3K (3072×1920)
Cons
- Not cheap: This build is $1860
- Relatively Heavy: 4.5 lbs which is not ideal for travel
2. Lenovo Legion 5
Key Features
- 6 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports (Need USB-C to Display Port Cables)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060, 6 GB GDDR6 Graphics Card
- AMD Ryzen™ 7 6800H Processor
- 512 GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC
- 16 GB DDR5-4800MHz
The Lenovo Legion 5 has some impressive features that make this laptop a great choice for someone who wants to run multiple high-resolution monitors from their laptop at a great price.
It has a fast AMD Ryzen 7 processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card, which means it can handle demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. The laptop also has a high-quality Full HD IPS display, a backlit keyboard, and a durable aluminum casing.
Pros
- Dedicated Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti.
- 6 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports.
- Powerful Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H.
- Durable aluminum build ensures the laptop is sturdy.
- Affordable at $1140.
Cons
- Only 8B of RAM which may limit your ability to heavily multitask.
- Relatively Heavy: 5.8 lbs makes it less portable than a typical laptop.
- The 4-cell battery may last long enough for heavy users.
3. Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED
Key Features
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050
- Intel®Core™ i7-12650H Processor 2.3 GHz
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Power Delivery
- 512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED (K6502) is a powerful and versatile laptop that’s great for creative professionals, gamers, and anyone who needs a high-performance machine.
With its powerful dedicated graphics and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and the Thunderbolt 4 port, this laptop will easily power multiple displays without compromising on performance.
Pros
- High-End Dedicated Graphics:: dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX™ 3050 Laptop GPU with 4GB GDDR6,
- Multiple High-Performance Video Outputs: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 and 1 Thunderbolt 4
- Fast Storage: M.2 NVME
- Great Price: $1999
Cons
- The laptop’s 50WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion battery may not last very long under heavy use.
Best MacBook for multiple monitors
MacBook Pro
Key Features
- 3 Thunderbolt 4 Ports
- 19-Core GPU
- M2 Pro 12-Core CPU
- 16GB Unified Memory
- Liquid Retina XDR Display
- ! TB SSD Storage
The MacBook Pro with M2 Pro chip is a powerful and efficient laptop designed for professional use. It boasts exceptional performance, whether it’s plugged in or not, and has a longer battery life than previous models. Macbook must have the M2 Pro chip to be able to run a dual monitor setup.
The MacBook Pro is available in 14- and 16-inch models,
Pros
- 19-Core GPU
- High Performance: Powerful processor, fast storage, and ample memory.
- Small and Lightweight: 4.02 Lbs
- 22-Hour Battery Life
Cons
- More Pricey: The model with the specs I’ve listed is $2500
- Limited Upgradability: The hardware in this laptop is not easily user-upgradeable.
Best Laptop to use with a docking station
Tips for running multiple monitors on a laptop
- Make sure it is plugged in. The extra power your graphics card uses will drain your battery quickly. Also, if your laptop is probably set to “conserve power” when not plugged in, which will throttle resources.
- Make sure the air intake and exhaust vents are unblocked.
- Open your display settings to set up the monitors to your liking. Make sure the right one is on the right, etc. Also in display settings, you can set which one is primary, which will put your start menu on that monitor. You can also set your resolution in display settings.
Conclusion
As someone who worked in IT and is now a pro blogger, and spends a lot of time on the computer I highly recommend investing in a laptop that can not only handle multiple monitors, but can have plenty of power left over. Multiple monitors are a must for productivity and letting your laptop double as your desktop saves time, hassle, and money.
Choosing the best laptop for multiple monitors depends on your specific needs, but these laptops are all reliable and capable of handling demanding tasks. Whether you’re, a creative professional, or a business professional, having the ability to use your laptop with multiple monitors will make your work experience more comfortable.