Last Updated: October 21, 2026
The best monitor for a Surface Pro is the one whose inputs match what your tablet can output, so a screen with DisplayPort or USB-C usually fits better than one that offers only HDMI and VGA. Among these six listings, the Anyuse portable is the simplest plug-in for travel, the Dell Pro 24 is the most flexible desk screen because it lists DisplayPort next to HDMI, and the Dell 24 Plus is the most complete for a desk that needs speakers and a stand that pivots. All judgments here come from the listing titles, so check your own Surface generation’s video options before buying.
📄 In This Review
The six listings side by side
Dell 24 Monitor - SE2426H - 23.8-inch FHD (1920x1080) 144Hz 1ms Display, in-Plane Switching (IPS) Technology, AMD FreeSync™, TÜV 3-Star 2X HDMI, Tilt
Included for 'Best Monitor for Surface Pro: Six Listings Sorted by Cable Path, Size and Desk Fit' as a representative home product in this roundup; selection reflects the product set returned for this topic.
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Anyuse 15.6" FHD IPS USB-C HDMI Portable Monitor | 1080P 60Hz FHD, IPS, Ultra-Slim ,USB-C/HDMI, Second External Monitor, for PC/Mac/Phone/PS/Xbox/Switch
Included for 'Best Monitor for Surface Pro: Six Listings Sorted by Cable Path, Size and Desk Fit' as a representative home product in this roundup; selection reflects the product set returned for this topic.
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Dell Pro 24 24" IPS Monitor, 5ms Response Time, Anti-Glare | 100Hz Refresh Rate, 250 nits Brightness, VESA Mount, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, Black (E2425HM)
Included for 'Best Monitor for Surface Pro: Six Listings Sorted by Cable Path, Size and Desk Fit' as a representative home product in this roundup; selection reflects the product set returned for this topic.
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Dell 24 Plus Monitor - S2425HSM - 23.8-inch FHD (1920x1080) 144Hz 1ms Display, 2 x 3W Speakers, HDMI Connectivity, Height/Tilt/Pivot/Swivel Adjustability, AMD FreeSync - Ash White
Included for 'Best Monitor for Surface Pro: Six Listings Sorted by Cable Path, Size and Desk Fit' as a representative home product in this roundup; selection reflects the product set returned for this topic.
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Sceptre 24-inch Prime Monitor Thin 1080p LED Monitor 99% sRGB 2X HDMI VGA Build-in Speakers, Machine Black (E248W-19203R 2025 Series)
Included for 'Best Monitor for Surface Pro: Six Listings Sorted by Cable Path, Size and Desk Fit' as a representative home product in this roundup; selection reflects the product set returned for this topic.
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Acer 27in FHD 1920x1080 IPS 120Hz Gaming Monitor | Office KB272 G0bi | 1ms, AdaptiveSync, sRGB 99%, HDMI, VGA, VESA Mountable, Bluelight Filter
Included for 'Best Monitor for Surface Pro: Six Listings Sorted by Cable Path, Size and Desk Fit' as a representative home product in this roundup; selection reflects the product set returned for this topic.
View on Amazon| Model | Key point from title | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell SE2426H | 23.8 inch IPS, 1080p, 2x HDMI, tilt | Budget | Docked desk with an adapter |
| Anyuse 15.6 inch portable | USB-C and HDMI, 1080p 60Hz IPS | Budget | Travel and a tidy second screen |
| Dell Pro 24 E2425HM | 24 inch IPS, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, VESA | Mid-range | Office desk with mixed cables |
| Dell 24 Plus S2425HSM | 23.8 inch, speakers, height/pivot stand | Premium | Everyday desk setup with sound |
| Sceptre 24 inch E248W | Thin 1080p LED, 99% sRGB, 2x HDMI, speakers | Budget | Light work on a tight budget |
| Acer KB272 G0bi | 27 inch IPS, 120Hz, HDMI, VGA, VESA | Mid-range | A larger canvas for documents |
Dell SE2426H: the budget desk screen with two HDMI inputs
The title lists a 23.8 inch IPS panel at 1920×1080, a 144Hz and 1ms claim, AMD FreeSync, TÜV 3-Star certification, two HDMI ports and a tilt-only stand. For a Surface Pro the pair of HDMI inputs matters more than the refresh figure. You will need a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter or a dock, and a basic adapter often limits the signal to 60Hz, so view 144Hz as headroom you may never reach from a tablet. By our arithmetic from the title, the pixel density is about 93 pixels per inch. The IPS label points to wide viewing angles, which helps when the screen sits slightly off-axis from the Surface’s own display.
- Pros: IPS panel in the budget tier; two HDMI inputs let a second device share the screen.
- Cons: No USB-C or DisplayPort listed; tilt-only stand, so height depends on a riser.
Who it’s for: a docked Surface owner who wants a plain IPS desk screen and will use an adapter.
Anyuse 15.6 inch portable: the one built around USB-C
This is the only listing in the set that names USB-C as a video connection, alongside HDMI, with a 1080p 60Hz IPS panel and an ultra-slim body. That makes it the closest to a one-cable setup, and at 15.6 inches it fits a bag next to the tablet. The title does not say whether the USB-C port can accept power pass-through, and a screen drawing power from the tablet will drain its battery faster. Check the listing for a separate power input, and for what the seller includes in the box.
- Pros: USB-C and HDMI on a thin IPS panel; easy to carry; about 141 pixels per inch from the title figures.
- Cons: Small canvas for long spreadsheets; stand and power details are not in the title.
Who it’s for: anyone who carries the Surface between rooms and wants a second screen without a dock.
Dell Pro 24 E2425HM: the input-rich office screen
Its title lists a 24 inch IPS panel, 100Hz, 5ms, 250 nits, anti-glare coating, a VESA mount and three inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. DisplayPort is the useful addition here, because a USB-C-to-DisplayPort cable can often drive it directly from a Surface without a conversion step, subject to your model. The 250 nits figure is modest, so a desk beside a bright window could wash the image out. The VESA mount lets you move the screen onto an arm and free up desk depth. VGA is a legacy input, so ignore it unless you have an old projector or dock to support.
- Pros: DisplayPort plus HDMI; anti-glare coating and VESA mount; mid-range tier.
- Cons: 250 nits is on the dim side; 5ms response suggests an office design rather than a fast panel.
Who it’s for: an office or home desk that may be shared by a Surface and a second device.
Dell 24 Plus S2425HSM: the stand-and-speakers pick
This 23.8 inch model claims 144Hz and 1ms, includes two 3W speakers, supports FreeSync and adjusts for height, tilt, pivot and swivel. Surface speakers are small, so built-in audio is a practical convenience for calls. It is the only 24 inch listing here with a full-motion stand, which helps when the tablet and screen share a shallow desk. HDMI is the only connection in the title, so plan on an adapter or dock, and the seller’s high refresh claim is again headroom more than a promise. White cabinets also show fewer dust marks, but that is cosmetic; the title’s wording is all we have to go on.
- Pros: Height, pivot and swivel stand; built-in speakers; premium tier within this set.
- Cons: HDMI listed as the only input; the 3W speakers are basic.
Who it’s for: a daily-driver desk where adjustability and sound matter more than a cable-free setup.
Sceptre 24 inch E248W: thin and unfussy
The title calls it a thin 1080p LED monitor with 99% sRGB, two HDMI ports, VGA and built-in speakers. It does not name the panel type, so check the listing before you assume IPS viewing angles. It also has no height adjustment in the title, so confirm the stand. The two HDMI inputs and speakers suit a Surface used for email, browsing and video calls on a budget, though anything involving careful colour work is better served by a panel with a named IPS type. The title also carries a model-series tag, which is a reminder to match the exact listing before ordering.
- Pros: Budget tier; sRGB coverage claim; two HDMI inputs plus VGA for older sources.
- Cons: Panel type not stated; stand adjustments unclear from the title.
Who it’s for: a cost-conscious buyer who needs a basic second display.
Acer KB272 G0bi: the largest canvas in the group
Acer lists a 27 inch 1080p IPS panel at 120Hz with 1ms, AdaptiveSync, 99% sRGB, HDMI, VGA, VESA support and a blue-light filter. At 1080p the density works out to roughly 82 pixels per inch, so text looks coarser than on a 24 inch screen. It is better for windows side by side from a farther seat than for close-up reading. As with the others, HDMI-only means a Surface needs an adapter or dock, and 120Hz may not be available through it.
- Pros: 27 inch IPS at a mid-range tier; VESA mount for an arm; large space for two windows.
- Cons: Lower pixel density than the 24 inch options; no DisplayPort or USB-C in the title.
Who it’s for: someone who sits farther back and wants two documents open at once.
How we picked these
See also: Best Monitor for POS: Eight Touchscreen Listings Compared by Size, Resolution and Ports • Best Monitor With Speakers: Eight Built-in Audio Listings Compared by Panel Size, Ports and Speaker Claims
We compared the six listings in this group using the published titles, manufacturer documentation and buyer reviews, then sorted them by how each would connect to a Surface Pro and how much desk space it needs. Nobody on the team used or measured these units. Specifications like 1ms response and 144Hz are seller claims, and anything beyond a title is labelled as an estimate with its assumptions. We also cross-checked each product’s class against the keyword, so a portable screen is described as one.
Choosing a screen for a tablet: what changes
Start with the cable path
List every port your Surface generation offers, then trace it to the monitor. USB-C to USB-C is easiest if the screen supports video over USB-C. USB-C to DisplayPort works with a plain cable on many screens. HDMI-only monitors require an adapter or dock, and cheap adapters may cap the refresh rate or resolution, so buy one that states its limits.
Handle scaling before you buy
Recent Surface screens are very dense, so Windows runs them at a high scale factor, while a 1080p desktop panel uses a low one. Dragging windows across mixed scales can resize them and blur some older apps. Plan for a short learning curve, and set the external display’s scale first, so you know what feels comfortable before judging the screen. A 24 inch 1080p panel is often comfortable at 100%, while the tablet sits at a much higher scale, and that gap is what causes the resizing.
Match size to seating distance
A common rule of thumb says the eye resolves detail near one arcminute. Our estimate, assuming 1080p panels: the pixel pitch of a 23.8 inch screen is about 0.27mm, so it looks smooth beyond roughly 0.9m. The pitch of a 27 inch screen is about 0.31mm, pushing that to about 1.1m. If you sit at 60cm, you will see pixel structure on both; the 24 inch hides it better. These are estimates, not measurements.
Check power and mounts
A portable display drawing power from the tablet shortens battery life, so look for a separate power input. On desk screens, a VESA mount lets you move the monitor to an arm, but confirm the screen’s weight and the arm’s rating before hanging it.
A five-line pre-purchase check
- Write down which video-out port your Surface has.
- Pick the cable or dock that converts it to the monitor’s input.
- Confirm that cable’s maximum resolution and refresh rate.
- Decide on 24 or 27 inches from your seating distance, using the pitch figures above.
- Check the stand’s adjustments, or plan for an arm.
If a step fails, change the cable first; changing the monitor is the costly fix.
Mistakes that make a second screen annoying
The first is buying for the refresh figure. A 144Hz or 120Hz claim is wasted if the tablet, cable or adapter cannot deliver it, and for office work it hardly matters. The second is ignoring the cable path: an HDMI-only screen is fine with a good adapter but a poor choice if you want a single-cable desk. Third, people compare sizes without density. Moving from 24 to 27 inches at 1080p makes everything larger but softer. Fourth, they forget the stand. A tilt-only base can leave a screen too low. Finally, many buyers overlook that cheap adapters often skip power pass-through, which leaves the tablet running on battery while it drives the screen. A good rule is to buy the cable and the monitor together, and to keep the return window open until the whole chain has worked for a full day.
Which one to pick
For travel, take the Anyuse portable, after confirming how it is powered. For a flexible office desk, the Dell Pro 24 offers the best input mix, and the Dell 24 Plus is the choice if you want speakers and a stand that pivots. For a lower spend, the Dell SE2426H or Sceptre will do for basic work, and the Acer KB272 suits a larger canvas. If none of these fit your desk, our guides to the best 24 inch monitors and best 1080p monitors widen the pool.
Questions Surface Pro owners ask
Can any monitor work with a Surface Pro?
Almost any monitor can work, provided the tablet can reach one of its inputs. Recent Surface Pro models send video over USB-C, so a USB-C-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-DisplayPort cable or a dock usually bridges the gap. Older generations used different video outputs. Because this varies by model, check Microsoft’s specification page for your exact generation before choosing a screen that has only HDMI or VGA.
Will a 144Hz monitor run at 144Hz from a Surface Pro?
Not necessarily. The refresh rate you get depends on the tablet’s graphics output, the cable or adapter and the monitor’s input. Many basic adapters top out at 60Hz at 1080p, and 144Hz is often a gaming feature the tablet may not need. Treat high refresh figures in these titles as seller claims and as headroom, not as something the Surface will deliver.
Is a portable monitor enough as a second screen for a Surface Pro?
For email, chat panels and reference documents, a 15.6 inch portable screen is a reasonable companion, and it is easy to carry. It is small for long spreadsheet sessions. Also check whether the USB-C port can carry both video and power, because a screen powered from the tablet will shorten battery life, and a dedicated wall adapter avoids that.
Should I buy a 24 inch or a 27 inch monitor for a Surface Pro?
At 1080p, a 24 inch screen has a finer pixel density, around 92 pixels per inch, than a 27 inch panel at roughly 82. If your desk lets you sit about an arm and a half from the screen, 24 inch looks cleaner. A 27 inch 1080p panel suits a farther seat or a shared presentation, and you can raise text scaling.
Do I need a dock, or is a single cable enough?
A single USB-C video cable is enough if your monitor accepts it and you only need one display. A dock earns its place when you also want power input, a keyboard, a mouse, wired Ethernet and storage on one connection. With the HDMI-only monitors in this group, a small adapter or dock is the practical route, and a dock can charge the tablet in the same step.
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