Philips 231P4QUPES
An unusual monitor that uses USB video connection rather than HDMI
£210 Manufacturer Philips, philips.co.uk Display 23-inch IPS panel Resolution 1920x1080 Video interface VGA/USB
Connectivity 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
On paper, the 231P4QUPES looks good for anyone that needs an affordable monitor for use with a Mac Mini or a MacBook.
Its 1920x1080 resolution isn’t in the same league as some of the 4K monitors now available, and the plastic casing does have a rather cheap feel to it. However, its 23-inch IPS panel produces a crisp, colourful image with wide viewing angles and will be more than adequate for office work or watching Netflix.
You can adjust the height of the screen and rotate it into the upright portrait position. However, the real selling point is the built-in USB hub. As well as providing three USB ports for connecting peripherals – ideal for the new MacBook with its single USB-C connector – you can send the video signal from your Mac to the display with the included USB cable.
Using the USB cable for video requires a special piece of software called DisplayLink, which is still in beta for Mac users. It’s not supported by Philips, so you won’t get any help from them if you encounter any problems. Apart from the USB connector, the 231P4QUPES is only equipped with an old VGA port, so it’d make more sense if the monitor had an up-to-date HDMI interface to provide a reliable alternative to DisplayLink. Cliff Joseph