9 Best Vertical Monitors

Ernests Embutnieks
WolfofTech
Published in
19 min readMay 28, 2024

Vertical monitors are gaining popularity among professionals, entertainers, gamers, and other users. The two underlying reasons for the popularity are, firstly, there is a lot of content being produced in portrait mode due to smartphones, like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. Secondly, some professionals find it more efficient to work on a vertical monitor. Also, it is easier to read and write (type) in portrait mode, as minimal horizontal space is wasted, and hence about 57% more text can be read without scrolling.

The best vertical monitors can be identified once you understand your own requirements and objectives of using a vertical monitor. The most popular reasons for using a vertical monitor include writing, reading, graphic designing or photo editing, video editing, software programming, application testing, etc. They are widely used as an external display or used in a multi-monitor setup, where a series of monitors are connected, splitting the display among these monitors. Whatever your objective is, you will be able to identify the best vertical monitor that addresses your need.

1. Dell UltraSharp U2720Q 27 Inch 4K UHD

  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 27”
  • Connectivity: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB ports, and Audio Line out

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Dell UltraSharp U2720Q offers a 4K UHD and LED Backlit LCD IPS display that produces exceptional visuals with vibrant colors across a wide viewing angle. The monitor is energy star certified and also climate pledge friendly with EPEAT certification, which means that this monitor uses energy very efficiently. The 4K UHD screen mode offers a brightness of up to 350 Nits. You will be able to use this monitor as a primary as well as a secondary monitor seamlessly. It has a contrast ratio of 1300:1 with a 99% sRGB color gamut at a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

We were able to seamlessly use this monitor with a wide variety of devices, as it offers great connectivity with DisplayPort, HDMI, USB ports, and Audio Line out. This monitor comes with peace of mind as it comes with the Security Lock Slot. It is available in a 27-inch 2K Quad HD, which also offers a very sharp and clearer display. The metallic stand allows it to rotate 360 degrees easily.

Additional Features:

  • Adjustments — Height, Tilt, Swivel, Pivot
  • Vesa Mount Compatible
  • Anti-glare
  • Security Lock Slot
  • Energy Star Certified
  • 99% sRGB color gamut
  • Sleek design
  • Supports virtually seamless multi-display setups
  • Vibrant colors across a wide viewing angle
  • Climate Pledge Friendly
  • Response time: 8 ms (normal)
  • Peak brightness: 350 Nit

2. LG 27UN850-W Ultrafine UHD

  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:10
  • Size: 27”
  • Connectivity: HDMI, 2-USB Ports, Display Port 1.2, USB-C with 60W Power Delivery

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If you are looking for something sleek, this one is the best choice with a seamless, borderless design. The IPS Display works great on this 27-inch, 3840 x 2160 ultra HD display. The connectivity options are also great, with USB ports, HDMI, and Display Port 1.2. The adjustable stand looks great and is very efficient in adjusting its Height, Pivot, and Tilt range. This LG UltraFine display offers highly supreme and accurate colors, even at different viewing angles.

We were totally amazed by its impressive luminance with a peak value of 400 nits and levels of color and brightness adjustment at par with any other display. It is also a VESA-certified monitor. We suggest this monitor for photographers, gamers as well as graphic designers due to its color accuracy and distraction-free visual experience with its borderless design. Another feature that made us fall in love more with this monitor is its OnScreen control, which can be used to split-screen, save and use application presets, enabling game mode settings as well as for other monitor settings.

What makes it perfect for gaming is the inbuilt game modes for FPS games as well as an RTS pre-set mode. The black stabilizer produces dark scenes in an excellent manner, where you will be able to identify hidden items easily while gaming in dark backgrounds. It also employs Dynamic Action Sync to minimize input lag. Hence it is more responsive in fast-paced gaming environments. The Radeon FreeSync stabilizes the frame, which shows moving objects very crisply and clear.

Additional Features:

  • Height Adjustment: 0–130 mm
  • Rotation: -90 degrees to +90 degrees
  • Tilt: -5 degrees to +35 degrees
  • 3-Side Virtually Borderless Display
  • Height / Pivot / Tilt Adjustable Stand
  • IPS with sRGB 99% color gamut
  • Highly accurate colors
  • 4K UHD HDR
  • Peak luminance of 400 nits
  • OnScreen control — Screen split
  • Game Mode Setting

3. Best Samsung Vertical Monitor — Samsung SD850 32"

  • Resolution: 2560x1440
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 32”
  • Connectivity: HDMI, Display Port 1.2, USB 3.0 ports, Lan Port, USB Type-C

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Samsung is known to create products of standards that surpass its rival products, and the same is true with Samsung SD850 32" WQHD monitor. Wide Quad High Definition (WGHD) monitor produces images that are 1.7 times more precise than on an FHD display. The monitor comes with a slim metal stand that can be used to rotate the monitor to 90 degrees to use as a vertical monitor. It also provides other adjustment options like height, tilt, and swivel. Compatible with VESA 100 × 100mm, it can be easily mounted on a wall or on a monitor arm.

With this monitor, you will be able to discover the details that you have been missing so far, and it will enhance your viewing experience to an altogether different level. We had an amazing experience with its HDR10 capabilities that produce 1 billion colors brilliantly on the monitor. The AMD FreeSync keeps the refresh rate optimized and in synchronization between the monitor and the graphic card, which makes the fast-motion scenes ultra-responsive and smooth. Due to its eye-saver mode certified by TUV, we were able to work on the monitor tirelessly for hours during night hours, as it protects eyes from over-exposure to harmful blue light. The screen has a Matte finish with anti-glare so that it doesn’t reflect back the light behind you.

Additional Features:

  • 300cd/m2 of Brightness
  • Adjustments for Height, Pivot, Swivel, Tilt
  • VESA Compatible
  • Slim metal stand
  • AMD FreeSync ON
  • Ultra Responsive and smooth
  • 1 Billion colors and HDR
  • Eye-saver mode can be enabled
  • Auto source switch
  • QHD, 1.7X precise than FHD
  • LED-backlit LCD monitor
  • Response time of 5 (GTG) ms
  • Power Consumption (Max):100 W

4. Best Asus Vertical Monitor — ASUS ProArt Display PA248QV 24.1”

  • Resolution: 1920 x 1200
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:10
  • Size: 24.1”
  • Connectivity: VGA | HDMI | Display Port 1.2

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This is a power-packed product with optimal dimensions that suit well for almost all vertical monitor objectives. This monitor provides rich connectivity options, which include VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2, 4 USB 3.0 ports as well as Earphone Jack and Audio-In options. The self-mounting stand offers a great adjustability range which is at par with other monitors, with height, swivel, tilt, and pivot options. It will help you set the monitor at the desired position based on your convenience.

While using ASUS ProArt, we found that it has great display quality, with rich and vivid color reproduction, which is backed by 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 Color Gamut and is verified by Calman. The monitor offers 3 months of free Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, along with ASUS exclusive ProArt Preset and ProArt Palette, which provides several adjustable color parameters and preset modes. The 16:10, which we highly recommend for vertical usage, makes it a perfect choice for vertical setup. The monitor is also a healthier option for your eyes as it comes with an anti-glare screen, blue-light filter, and flicker-free technology.

Additional Features:

  • Height Adjustment: 0–130 mm
  • Swivel: -90 degree to +90 degree
  • Rotation: -90 degree to +90 degree
  • Tilt: -5 degree to +35 degree
  • Asus Eye Care Technology
  • Blue Light Filter
  • Impeccable color accuracy
  • 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut
  • ProArt Preset and ProArt Palette
  • 300 cd/m² (max) of brightness
  • Response time of 5 ms (gray to gray)
  • Flicker-Free
  • Built-In Speakers
  • Climate Pledge Friendly

5. ViewSonic VP2785–4K 27-Inch Premium IPS 4K Monitor

  • Resolution: 3840 x 2160
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 27”
  • Connectivity: USB 3.1 Type C, HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2, DisplayPort, and Mini DisplayPort

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If you are looking for an optimal display solution for the purpose of gaming, we highly recommend the ViewSonic VP2785–4K monitor, which belongs to the Elite Lineup of monitors from Viewsonic. One of the other great features that got us excited is a built-in KVM switch, which enables it to be connected to multiple PCs using a single keyboard, and mouse, which can be used in split-screen. The powerful USB 3.1 Type-C input port can be used for power supply, data transfer, video, and audio with a single connector. The Viewsonic eye care technology equips the monitor with a blue light filter and a flicker-free viewing experience to combat eye fatigue.

We found this a very efficient and feature-rich display, and one of its unique features is a built-in presence sensor, which saves energy when it is found that the user is not present in front of the screen. The ViewSonic monitors come factory calibrated to maintain color accuracy. The monitor reproduces accurate images with professional color processing using 14-bit LUT & 3D LUT and 4.39 trillion colors. This is a very versatile monitor and can be used for various purposes like office, graphic design, photography, and gaming.

Additional Features:

  • Height / Pivot / Tilt Adjustable Stand
  • The smooth palette of 4.39 trillion colors
  • Three-sided ultra-thin bezel
  • 60Hz refresh rate
  • Factory Color Calibrated
  • ViewSonic Wizard CD-Rom
  • With 100% Adobe RGB and 96% DCI-P3 color coverage
  • 6-Axis Color Enhancement for color adjustments
  • HDR10 Content Support
  • Built-in KVM switch connects multiple PCs

6 HP VH240a 23.8-Inch Full HD 1080p IPS LED Monitor — Best Vertical Monitor From HP

  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 27” (also available in 22”, 24” and 29”)
  • Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA

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The specifications of HP VH240a are made perfectly to use in a vertical setup. With VESA mounting pattern provided in a 100x100 setup, and 4-way adjustability options, you can set it according to your need. The wide viewing angle of 178° makes it very convenient for the user to view the display comfortably in a vertical setup, this feature is very essential in a vertical monitor mode. This IPS LED-backlit monitor boasts 2 million pixels and a whopping 16.7 million colors. The VGA and HDMI ports with HDCP support make it a suitable choice to use as an external monitor with a laptop or use in a multi-monitor setup.

We enjoyed working on this monitor thoroughly and were impressed by the 2 in-built speakers. It has integrated audio speakers of 2 watts per channel that produce excellent sound. We were able to easily connect our Apple laptops as well as other iOS and Windows devices seamlessly using the HDMI port. This HP monitor is built using arsenic and mercury-free material, which makes it environment friendly, and is certified by TCO Edge and EPEAT Silver. The display has a 10M:1 dynamic contrast ratio with a 5ms response time, which makes it highly smooth.

Additional Features:

  • 4-way adjustment (height, pivot, tilt, swivel)
  • Rotation: -90 degrees to +90 degree
  • Tilt: -5 degrees to +30 degreess
  • 100m VESA mounting pattern
  • Built-in speakers
  • Thin 3-sided narrow bezels
  • Ultra-widescreen
  • Anti-glare, matte finish
  • 5 ms response time
  • 2 million pixels, 16.7 million colors
  • Climate pledge friendly
  • Dynamic contrast ratio of 10M:1

7. Philips Vertical Monitor — Brilliance 279P1 27"

  • Resolution: 3840x2160
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 27” (also available in 22”, 24” and 32”)
  • Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 inputs and USB 3.2 hub (x4 ports), audio in/out, and LAN port

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The Philips Brilliance 279P1 reproduces remarkably sharp images as it employs UltraClear 4K UHD technology that is known to produce more natural-looking greens, vivid reds, and deeper blues. The frameless design makes it a perfect choice to be used for a multi-screen setup to give you the feeling of using one large display. The IPS panel gives you extra-wide viewing angles of 178/178 degrees, making it possible to view the display from almost any angle. The monitor comes with a Smart ErgoBase stand, which lets you adjust its height, tilt, pivot, and swivel to set up the way you like, in vertical or horizontal mode. It also has 100x100 VESA-compliant brackets at the back panel.

We found this monitor to be very friendly to the eyes due to Philips Flicker-free Technology and LowBlue Mode. It uses smart software technology to reduce harmful shortwave blue light and regulate brightness to reduce flicker. This Philips monitor has EasyRead mode for a paper-like visual experience, which makes this monitor a great choice for the purpose of reading and writing. It has high-end Power Sensors and Light Sensors for optimal energy consumption as well as auto adjustment of brightness depending on the surrounding light. The monitor delivers a refresh rate of 60 Hz on HDMI or DisplayPort. Philips Brilliance 279P1 has inbuilt dual 3W speakers and a single USB-C cable connector which allows for easy, one-cable docking for all your needs.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a picture of Philips Brilliance 279P1 in vertical mode but be assured that it can be used in vertical mode.

Additional Features:

  • Duo built-in 3W stereo speakers
  • 122% sRGB and 103% NTSC color gamut
  • UltraNarrow Border — Frameless Monitor
  • Extra-wide viewing angles of 178/178 degree
  • LowBlue Mode
  • Smart ErgoBase stand — Fully Adjustable
  • Built-in PowerSensor for energy saving
  • LightSensor auto-adjusts brightness

8. Portable Vertical Monitor — KYY 15.6inch

  • Resolution: 1920x1080
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 15.6”
  • Connectivity: USB-C, Mini HDMI, USB-C Power Supply

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We termed this as the best portable vertical monitor. The KYY portable monitor is just a 15.6” monitor which can be easily carried due to its smaller size and lightweight and is a perfect choice to pair it up with your laptop or mobile anywhere you want. It comes with a PU leather cover which doubles as a foldable and flexible stand that allows it to be used in landscape as well as portrait orientation. It makes up for a great gaming and multimedia monitor with 1920*1080 breathtaking viewing quality and HDR technology. It also comes with complete eye protection and has a highly effective blue light and radiation filter and a flicker-free operation. It is ideal for a simple on-the-go dual-monitor setup or an external monitor for your laptop PC or smartphone.

We found this a really powerful monitor with 2 built-in speakers and also has inbuilt support of screen expansion mode as well as screen mirroring mode. It has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, 300cd/m² of brightness, and a contrast ratio of 1000:1, with 16.7 million colors, which simply means a crisp and clear display and excellent video streaming experience.

Additional Features:

  • Portable — easy to carry
  • Slim and lightweight — 0.3 inch thick and 1.7lbs in weight)
  • USB-C Power supply
  • Plug-and-play in Windows & Mac
  • Volume control and 3.5 mm audio jack
  • 2 built-in speakers
  • Full HD 1080P
  • 178/178-degree viewing angles
  • Durable PU leather and stand
  • 1 cable solution
  • Compatible with laptops, PCs, smartphones, and gaming consoles
  • 24/7 professional support team

9. Samsung FT45 Series 27-Inch FHD 1080p Computer Monitor

  • Resolution: 1920x1080 FHD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Size: 27” (Also available in 22-in and 24-inch)
  • Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, 2 USB 2.0 ports and 1 USB 3.0 ports

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The Samsung FT45 is a perfect monitor that can be used in a vertical setup for personal, professional, or multimedia usage. The FHD IPS display operates at a 75 Hz refresh rate that delivers crystal clear images over a wide range of viewing angles. It is rich in offering connectivity options that include HDMI, VGI, and USB with AMD FreeSync Technology. You will be able to vertically tilt it using the stand that comes with the monitor, or you can mount it on the wall or on a monitor arm. Samsung also offers a 3-year business warranty, which makes your investment more secure.

We found this monitor the best in terms of ergonomics, as it was really smooth and convenient to rotate it and set it at the desired height and tilt angle for the best viewing experience. We used this one extensively in our presentation sessions, as it reproduces the text and images without color shift. The 3 sided bezel-less frame makes it a good choice to use it in a multi-monitor setup. We used it extensively across the day and found that it puts less stress on your eyes due to its high-end Eye-Saver mode. It gives you a flicker-free viewing session and also filters the harmful blue light out of the display. It also has an in-built smart energy-saving technology that saves your electricity bills without compromising on display quality.

Additional Features:

  • Fully adjustable with tilt, swivel, height, and pivot adjustment
  • 100x100 VESA support
  • Eye Saver Mode
  • Wide viewing angles of 178 ̊
  • Crystal-clear images without color shift
  • Vibrant color reproduction
  • 3-sided bezel-less frame
  • Blue-light filter
  • Eco Saving Plus for energy saving
  • Refresh Rate: 75 Hz

What to look for in a vertical monitor:

Before you make your decision it is important to understand what essential characteristics are required to look for in a monitor that will make up for the most suitable vertical monitor.

  • Tilt/Rotation/Height Adjustability: Most important aspect of a monitor to use as a vertical monitor is its ability to rotate to 90 degrees and adjust its height and tilt to the most suitable angle.
  • Type of Mounting: For adjustability feature type of mounting plays an important role. Most monitors come with a self-mounting stand, you should check whether the stand allows for the required adjustability options. Also, you should check if it can be used with other wall mounts or monitor arms. It should have VESA compliant holes at the back to use on all types of standard mounting.
  • Display Size and Aspect Ratio: The next important thing we suggest you check is its display size and aspect ratio. If you want to use a monitor in a vertical setup it should be chosen based on the space you have. The most commonly used monitor aspect ratio for vertical monitors is 16:10, also known as a wide monitor display, other commonly used aspect ratios are 16:9, 21:9, and 4:3.
  • Viewing Angles and Panel Technology: The LCD panel displays the most widely used is IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels, which is the best quality available and it is also very friendly to eyes and offers the best viewing angles. Viewing angle is very important in a vertical setup, as you will be changing the orientation and the height of the monitor will be elongated. In such a setup if the viewing angle is not good then you will see the top portion of the monitor display differently from the bottom portion. The other acceptable panel technology in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles is Vertical Alignment (VA) technology which includes VA, S-PVA, and MVA
  • Response Time: It defines the time (milliseconds, ms) taken by the monitor to change and display the change in color when the image or frame changes. This is very instrumental in displaying the videos and high-motion games clearly without lag.
  • Resolution: Resolution refers to the number of pixels used in the monitor. For example, a resolution of 1280 × 1024 means that it has 1280 pixels in width and 1024 pixels in height. More pixels mean a more detailed and clearer picture.
  • Refresh Rate: It is the frequency of how fast the data changes, which determines how smooth the frame on the display changes. Higher refresh rates are required for gaming, as well as for application that requires faster scrollings (like on YouTube video browsing). For basic applications like reading, writing, graphic designing, or coding, a 60Hz refresh rate is fine. In some good monitors, you can change the refresh rates from the monitor settings menu.
  • Connection Port: There are different types of ports connectivity, like HDMI, USB-C, DVI, VGA, etc. The traditional and widely popular monitor ports are VGA and DIVI. But more modern and high-end monitors use HDMI ports as it is a multimedia-friendly port, using which video and audio can be transmitted through the same cable. While purchasing a monitor, please check what type of connectors your CPU allows. Though you can change it using an additional port or card added to your CPU.

Why are Vertical Monitors Are So Popular?

While a vertical monitor might seem odd, it is gaining trend among bloggers, content writers, accountants, and software programmers, as a vertical monitor setup allows you to view a larger number of lines of text easily, without scrolling much. As per a study it displays about 82% more text than on a horizontal screen. Also, due to the increased use of smartphones people are more habitual with vertical screens.

Horizontal Screen VS Vertical Screen

Comparing orientations is like comparing a boat to a car, they have two completely separate use cases and both are great at them. However, for the sake of competition, horizontal monitors tend to fit into more use cases as they are used more often. Generally, more often than not, you’ll be consuming some sort of content that’s best viewed on a wider, screen in landscape orientation.

In essence, vertical monitors fit very niche criteria. They aren’t that great for consuming movies, you won’t be enjoying gaming on them anytime soon either. So, what gives? Well, simple. Vertical monitors display written text in the best manner possible. From programming code to books, to Twitch chat, there’s something satisfying about being able to see all that information at once. Sometimes, horizontal space can just go unused!

Both sides of the users have their own set of arguments, and primarily people are reluctant to switch to a vertical screen as they feel uncomfortable with the new setup.

Advantages of A Vertical Monitor Setup

There are a number of advantages of a vertical monitor setup, but we need to understand that it depends on one use to another. Here are some of the advantages:

  1. Read/View More Rows: When we read an article or view a code, we see that there are many rows that don’t take the full width of the horizontal monitor. So, you end up wasting a lot of space. In a vertical setup, this horizontal wastage of space is minimized and can make you read about 40% more rows compared to the horizontal or landscape orientation of the monitor. This can be beneficial for professionals who read a lot.
  2. Easier To See Code: Similar to reading text, a coder is more comfortable in viewing more coding rows so that he doesn’t need to scroll up and down more often. It is convenient to code, debug and test in a vertical monitor setup.
  3. Vertically Favored Games: Some games are played better in vertical mode especially ones that emulate a board / arcade machine of some kind. Some of the games like Pinball, Tetris, Crimzon Clover, Zero Ranger, and Ikaruga are some of the games which are played better on a vertical monitor.
  4. Occupies Less Desk Space: As you set up your monitor vertically, you’ll end up consuming a lot less space on your desk in terms of horizontal layout.
  5. Vertical Scrolling Websites Look Better: When moving through Facebook and Twitter, you must’ve noticed a ton of space remaining unused. With vertical scrolling websites like Twitter and Facebook, you are much better off with a vertical monitor instead.
  6. Add More Options To Sidebars: Any editing tool (graphic, content, video, etc.) offers a toolbar or tool panel where you will find all the editing functions. On a horizontal screen, you might have to scroll through the tool panels to find the tools placed towards the bottom. However, on a vertical monitor, you will be able to view the tools more conveniently. if you move them to your sidebar.

In essence, we’ve seen tons of individuals especially programmers move into vertical monitors over the years. While many swear by their innate advantages, you’ll end up finding most of these individuals do not completely shift to a standalone vertical monitor. Instead, they flip one of their secondary monitors and use it whenever they need the extra vertical space.

Disadvantages of Vertical Monitors

With that said, there are always a few caveats to everything that glitters, here are a few when it comes to vertical monitors:

  1. Impractical: You can’t work through a normal day without widescreen content/landscape. Therefore, vertical monitors will primarily always be used as secondary displays.
  2. Limited Product Variety: You will not be able to get a product range as wide as horizontal monitors.
  3. Incompatibility: Most software, applications, games, and websites are made responsive to look equally good on vertical monitors. But still, you will find a lot of these apps and websites that are not compatible with vertical monitors or don’t look and work equally well in portrait mode.

FAQ

What are vertical monitors used for?

They are widely used for mirroring smartphones on a larger display. Other than that, they are highly popular among coders and writers, as a vertical monitor allows them to view and read more rows compared to a horizontal monitor setup. It is also widely used in laboratories to create and view diagnostic reports, and also some games are played better in portrait mode. There are a lot of share traders and financial analysts who prefer to use a vertical monitor setup, as they are able to see a large number of figures and charts easily.

How can I change the orientation of my monitor vertically on the PC?

Go to Display settings of your computer, choose the one that you want to rotate (if there are multiple monitors connected), scroll down to find the orientation menu, and choose portrait. Click Apply Button.

Can I use any monitor Vertically?

Any horizontal / landscape monitor that can be rotated can also be used vertically as well. All you need to do is change their orientation in Window’s Display Settings. If they cannot be oriented, then they cannot be used as vertical monitors.

Are vertical monitors more expensive?

No, generally, they revolve around the same price as horizontal monitors. The reason why some brands might have more expensive vertical monitors is because of the added cost of VESA standard mounting. But, in terms of overall build cost, a vertical monitor is exactly the same as a horizontal one.

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