10 Hidden Monitors Features You Didn’t Know

Selecting a monitor often proves to be a thrilling experience, yet sometimes it causes a lot of confusion. We are all used to the key parameters: the area of the screen, the number of colors, the frequency of updating the image, and so on.

But there are a number of built-in features in computer monitors that you may never have realized you needed. Finding out these perks makes your viewing experience better and makes your monitor far more useful.

Keep reading to discover 10 functionalities that you likely had no idea were even present in your monitor. 

1. Blue Light Filter to Minimize the Harm Done to the Eyes

Sitting in front of a computer, especially a laptop monitor for a long time can really take a toll on your eyes. The blue light-emitting units can cause digital eye strain over a period of time and manifest symptoms like headaches, blurry vision, sleeplessness, etc. 

Fortunately, numerous desktop monitors of today’s generation already have an in-built blue light filter to address this issue. This setting manages to alter the colour balance of the monitor and reduce the HEV blue light. It warms the colours to reduce the impact of eye strain and fatigue while having no negative effect on the images. 

2. Multiple Video Input Options

The video inputs that may be situated at the back of the monitor in question might not appear much at first glance but they offer flexibility that one would not expect. Most computer monitors come with input types such as HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA connections in the list of input choices. 

It also allows you to extend the compatibility with different devices, such as laptops, game consoles, Blu-ray players, cameras, and many others. Accepting both digital and analog inputs makes it possible to connect almost any kind of device. It allows users to quickly switch between inputs to bring other feeds on a single screen as well. 

3. Height-Adjustable Stand

This is contrary to TVs that are affixed on the wall and are only observed at a distance, unlike monitors that are used up close for extended durations. This makes ergonomics very essential in correctly positioning the work place in order to reduce on the angles of vision. 

An adjustable stand allows for the extension and tilting of the screen for the most preferable position. Screen position flexibility reduces neck straining because this part of the body does not have to bend up or down.

4. Built-In USB Ports

It can be important to know that most of the time, desktop monitors already include USB ports in them. This enables the user to plug flash drives and other accessories on the monitor without the need for extra wires. USB ports, which are usually incorporated into the body of the laptop, make it easier to transfer files than trying to plug in a cable on a tower’s hard-to-reach ports. These ports are also useful when you have peripherals that you detach and reattach, such as drawing tablets.

5. Screen Splitting/PIP (Picture-in-Picture)

This feature enables you to view two input sources side by side with both feeds taking equal space, or one feed can be nested within the other. It means that you can arrange it and size it depending on the location where it is to be placed. Split screen is the best because it makes multitasking an incredibly easy task. 

Now you can actually refer to the notes and the website or video without having to switch from one tab to the other. It may be done by accessing guides and wikis when the game is in progress.

6. Crosshair Overlay for Precision

Here is another incredibly useful feature which is actually designed to be used primarily by gamers. The crosshair overlay function is very common in gaming monitors today. This shows the specific crosshair graphics on the arena to be turned on for better targeting. The markers help, especially in various shooting games such as first-person shooter, hunting, and archery games, in aligning the targets. While crosshairs implemented as software can consume a lot of CPU power, these tools on the computer monitor do not affect the actual framerate or responsiveness of a game. 

7. Automatic Brightness Control Sensors: For Illumination Intensity Sensors

Gazing at displays that are excessively luminous or too low in intensity is similarly tiring for the eyes. However, toggling between the two extremes is annoying when one has to adjust brightness settings repeatedly. This is made possible by the ambient light sensors, which change the screen brightness in accordance with the lighting in the room. They track and respond to changes in the level of external light.

8. 60+ fps and Input Lag for Enhanced Gaming and Video Experience

In simple terms, input lag is a measure of the time lag that exists between an action, such as pressing a key on a keyboard or moving a mouse, and the action being reflected on the screen of the device. High latency is an issue that, within a short time, turns into a problem in complicated gaming, video editing, and graphic work. The desktop monitors used for gaming and media creation have fixed features designed to reduce input lag. These displays function at a faster rate and portray motion more vividly. 

9. Black Stabilization for Enhancing the Visibility of Players in Dark Games

Here is another gaming-centered monitor bonus that offers a severe visual benefit—literally. Black stabilization is that particular technique in games that enhances the darker zones while maintaining the brightness of the remaining scene. This makes it easier to detect enemies behind dark corners or in the dark alleys of the game scene, etc.

10. The New Flicker-Free Backlight to Reduce Eye Strain

Another excellent, but not as obvious, component is monitor backlight flicker. Most standard LED-backlit monitors employ pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming to adjust screen brightness. The LEDs turn on and off almost in an instant, and they blink invisibly. 

Hence, perceivable flickering becomes a significant problem for the comfort of the eyes after hours of use. Some of the unfavorable effects include headaches and nausea. Flicker-free desktop monitors do not pulse and work when steady direct current (DC) dimming is utilized on the same plane. It just has a more polished and less abrasive look and feel to it that can be appreciated throughout the use of the system.

Conclusion

There are countless handy yet hidden settings in desktop monitors that go beyond the concept of display resolution and refresh rates. Features like blue light filtering, ergonomic controls, USB input, picture-in-picture mode, light detection, response delay, black boost, and flicker control make monitors much more versatile and pleasant to use. These capabilities further contribute to convenience, accuracy, flexibility, illumination, quickness, and eye health. These gems of information provide knowledge about which hidden monitor models are suitable for your applications and settings.