Vertical Computer Monitors: Benefits and Setup

What if I told you landscape isn’t the only way to position a display? Flipping a monitor into portrait orientation unlocks many enticing benefits, from better ergonomics to enhanced productivity and a slick, space-saving stature.  

Ready to elevate your pixels to new heights? We’re covering the benefits, set-up process, and best-selling recommendations for a lofty vertical monitor.

Vertical Monitors Advantages

Vertical computer monitors boast numerous benefits, especially for workers dedicating long hours to a desk job.

Productivity

The primary plus is productivity. A portrait orientation squeezes extra vertical content onto the screen, letting you see more with less scrolling. This extra visibility makes for a seamless, interruption-free experience when reviewing documents or writing code.

Most people use a vertical monitor as a secondary display to complement their primary horizontal monitor. Like any twin-monitor set-up, multitasking becomes easier when one app is on each screen.

Ergonomics

A standard horizontal monitor can be a pain in the neck for people with poor posture or a not-so-ergonomic desk.

Vertical PC monitors can help as you won’t strain your neck looking down. Most content sits at eye level, minimising the need for regular head adjustments. This ergonomic design has a big impact over time.  

Space-saving design

Horizontal monitors hog loads of desk real estate. Vertical screens, however, use minimal room, which is super handy for confined workspaces.  

Slick aesthetics

Portrait computer monitors are still relatively uncommon. This uniqueness adds a novel aesthetic to your setup.

Who Should Use a Vertical Computer Monitor?

Programmers benefit from vertical displays that cram more code onto the screen. This additional visible content enhances productivity and makes working long hours less arduous.

Other tasks, such as writing Word documents, browsing websites, and tweaking spreadsheets, also benefit from a vertical display. Any app that loads in a portrait orientation works better on a vertical screen.

On the other hand, even the best vertical computer monitors aren’t great for tasks that require a horizontal layout, such as gaming, video editing, and watching movies. But you can always use your primary horizontal monitor for those specific tasks.

How to Set Up a Vertical Computer Monitor

You probably don’t need a new vertical monitor if you already own a horizontal one.

Many horizontal monitors have an adjustable stand to rotate the screen into portrait mode. If not, you can use a third-party wall mount or stand. However, vertical monitors only work well as a secondary display to a horizontal monitor. If you don’t already have a two-monitor setup, you’ll still need that second screen.

To set it up, elevate the vertical monitor so the top of the screen is just above eye level, and the display is at least 20cm away.

As you don’t want to tilt your head at a right angle, you’ll need to adjust the display orientation on your newly positioned vertical monitor.

On Windows 11, click Start Menu, Settings, Display, Display Orientation, then switch the drop-down menu from Landscape to Portrait or Portrait (flipped) if you rotated the screen counterclockwise. Windows will give you a 15-second preview—click revert if you made a mistake. If you can’t see your monitor, click Detect on the Display menu and make sure it’s plugged in properly. 

On MacOS, click the Apple menu, System Settings, and Display. Find your second monitor and select the Rotation drop-down menu, then change Standard to 90° or 270°.

Top Vertical Computer Monitors in 2024

Aside from a few unique exceptions, most vertical monitors are just horizontal monitors flipped over into vertical orientation. Nonetheless, some regular horizontal monitors moonlight as better vertical monitors than others. Here are a few great options.

Best budget: MSI PRO 23.8″ MP245V

A top option for budget-conscious consumers, the MSI PRO MP245V serves as a solid horizontal and vertical monitor. Just over a hundred bucks gets you a 23.8” FHD display with 300 NITS of brightness and a 100 Hz refresh rate. While its image quality won’t blow you away, it does the job for most folks.

• Size: 23.8”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
• Refresh rate: 100 Hz
• Response time: 1ms response time
• Ports: HDMI, VGA

Best mid-range: Philips 24” 24E1N1300A

Boasting top-notch performance at an affordable price, the Philips 24” 24E1N1300A is a brilliant entry-level option that does everything you need of a vertical monitor. Its adjustable stand makes switching between portrait and landscape a breeze, while a crisp FHD display affords superb clarity for documents and code.

• Size: 24”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
• Refresh rate: 100 Hz
• Response time: 1ms response time
• Ports: HDMI, USB

Best premium: Mobile Pixels Geminos T 24” Stacked Desktop Monitor 1001P02

With two high-quality monitors stacked on top of each other, the Mobile Pixels Geminos 1001P02 offers a unique vertical solution for editors and content creators. This foldable, fully flexible canvas lets the top monitor slide up and down, and the bottom pivot for an angled surface. Users get the best of both worlds—two horizontal monitors that form a seamless vertical monitor.

• Size: 2x 24” monitors stacked on top of each other
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
• Refresh rate: 60 Hz
• Response time: 1ms response time
• Ports: HDMI, USB

Lift Your Computing Life a Notch

A vertical computer screen can bolster productivity, enhance ergonomics, and make a stylish, space-saving addition to your workspace. Invest in a suitable vertical display or flip your existing horizontal monitor into portrait orientation to see for yourself.  Need help with computer repairs or other IT services? Contact Geeks2U. Our fully qualified technicians will deliver customised support straight to your door.

FAQ

• How do I set up a vertical computer monitor?

  Adjust the brackets behind the monitor to flip it into a portrait orientation, and then change the monitor orientation in your operating system display settings.

• Which tasks are best suited for a vertical computer monitor?

  Vertical monitors are great for coding and reviewing Word or Google Docs, but worse for gaming and viewing or editing video content.

• Can any monitor be used as a vertical monitor?

  Most—but not all—regular monitors can rotate into portrait mode. Few purpose-built vertical monitors exist.

• Do you have to use a vertical monitor as a second monitor?

  It’s possible to use a vertical monitor on its own but not recommended. Most people use a vertical monitor as a secondary display.

• Are vertical monitors good for gaming?

  Vertical monitors aren’t recommended for gaming, as most games are designed with a landscape orientation.