This article is for everyone who is looking for a monitor that only uses a USB-C connection to use with your computer (usually a laptop, but desktops are also very common). Using only a single cable to connect the monitor and the computer will help you have a neater workspace, when it needs to be removed and attached, it is also convenient and faster instead of having to use 1 power cable + 1 fiber. image cable + 1 data cable like a traditional monitor.
A little theoretical summary
USB-C ports on modern devices, whether laptops, desktops or tablets and smartphones, can transfer data, this is the default and always true.
However, not all devices with a USB-C port can output images to an external monitor. In order to output images, that USB-C port needs to support the transmission of signals (and possibly audio) over the DisplayPort (DP) protocol. This feature is not required, depending on the manufacturer can choose to support DisplayPort or not to save costs.
Similarly, not every USB-C port on a laptop can be used for charging. There are laptops that do not support USB-C charging, you still have to use the manufacturer's own charger. Laptops that support USB-C charging will use a configuration called USB Power Delivery (USB PD).
And yet, there are devices that support charging via the USB-C port, but that port cannot output images, and vice versa.
In addition, your machine may have a USB-C port, but it is also attached to the Thunderbolt logo or has the words Thunderbolt 3, then this port of course supports charging + image output (besides data transfer with large bandwidth).
Does your computer support the full functionality of USB-C?
This is an important thing you have to check first, because if you bring a really good monitor back but it can't play your computer's USB-C port, it turns out to be a waste.
You need to check and make sure that the USB-C port on your computer supports both of the following:
Support charging via USB-C port (USB Power Delivery, USB PD)
Supports image output via USB-C port
Or if your computer has Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 ports, by default it already has the above 2 features.
To check the 2 features of image transfer and charging via USB-C port, the easiest way is to Google, search by the syntax "<brand name / model name of your device> USB C Display Function". I have found some example links, please refer. Otherwise, you can look at the logo, I have it in the picture above.
Asus' guide to the USB-C port's symbol, name and image output support
HP's guide to USB-C port, image output, and chargeable
Dell's guide to checking if your machine's USB-C port can output images
I can't find Acer's instructions, if you have a link, please give it to me
Instructions and symbols of MSI laptops about USB-C port
Lenovo does not have a general site, they have a manual page for each model, for example this is the website for the ThinkPad X1 series
With MacBook and iMac, Mac Mini: MacBook from 2015 and later, with a USB-C port, it supports both charging and exporting images and data, you don't have to think much. As for Mac Mini and iMac, although there is a USB-C port, you still have to plug in a separate power source, the USB-C cable is only used for data and images.
Notes when choosing a USB-C . monitor
The monitor must support image output + data + charging via USB-C
To know if the monitor supports "full combo", the easiest way is to see the configuration of the monitor or ask the manufacturer, ask the place of sale for more information. But also a little warning to you, monitors that support this full combo are usually more expensive than normal monitors. It must be fully supported to play in the style of a single wire, otherwise you still have to plug in many wires.
What is the charging capacity of the USB-C port on the monitor?
This parameter is also often listed on the company's website, you can look up easily. This parameter is important because it will affect the charging speed of your laptop, as well as the performance of the machine.
For example, my MacBook Pro 16" 2019 needs 93W charging current while my LG USB-C monitor only supports 60W charging, so when it comes to charging, it's not as fast as charging with Apple's included charger. In addition, when running heavily, the USB-C fiber may not be enough to power the device to run stably, so the performance may be lower than when using a separate source (most noticeable when exporting heavy 4K videos, or when building). app in Xcode). With normal tasks, no worries, no noticeable difference.
Another example, MacBook Pro 13 "uses 60W charging current, if used with my LG 60W screen, it will supply enough power so there will be no performance loss.
Find a monitor with the closest charging capacity to your laptop.