I’ve been an ultrawide cheerleader for years, but I’m also a fan of multiple displays. And the line between them starts to blur when they get really big. The new HP Series 5 Pro Conferencing monitor isn’t interested in gaming or video. This 49-inch monster wants to do work, and a lot of it. Just look at that pop-up webcam if you’re in any doubt.
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HP Series 5 Pro 49” Conferencing Monitor
The mega-super-ultrawide 49-inch format isn’t new, but it’s getting more popular as a central, singular display, and this one leans into the fact that its 5120×1440 resolution is basically two 1440p displays squished together. HP’s integrated tech lets you treat the display as two different virtual monitors — which is excellent for sharing over video conferences, where a 32:9 image isn’t easy to parse — or several other combinations. I particularly like the 21:9 split, which gives you a primary display that’s equivalent to a semi-standard 34-incher with some extra workspace on the side.
Michael Crider/Foundry
All of these can combine with multi-device input, including DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-C with up to 140 watts of power output. Extra handy connections include two more USB-C, both front and bottom, three USB-A ports for older devices, and a gigabit Ethernet port. You get a built-in KVM switch and down-firing speakers that are at least a little better than the usual junk that comes built-in…but I’d still use dedicated speakers or headphones.
But I teased you with a webcam. HP has been integrating these into office-focused monitors for a while now, along with other brands. The 5-megapixel sensor on this one isn’t amazing, but it’ll be better than most budget or laptop options, and it includes an IR sensor for Windows Hello suipport. You get dual microphones with noise cancelling, and again, that’s better than nothing, but I’d go with a dedicated mic if you’re going to be teleconferencing a lot.
Michael Crider/Foundry
It’s a sleek package if you’ve got the desk space for it, and despite being a chunky bit of hardware, it offers up to 150mm of height adjustment (a little less than six inches) or a standard 100mm VESA mount. You’ll want a hefty monitor arm to hold it. There are a couple of downsides, though. The first is that curved panel, which uses a VA-LCD. VA is fine for office work, but anyone hoping to do more color-accurate graphics work might want to look elsewhere. It is 165hz, which is nice for some extra smoothness.
The second downside is the price. An HP representative told me the company is “targeting” $1300 when it releases. I was told they’re aiming for later this year, though it’s not nailed down in the press materials. And given how unpredictable the consumer electronics market is, especially if you happen to live in the U.S., I wouldn’t count on the price being predictable either.
HP Series 5 Pro 14” Portable Monitor
Michael Crider/Foundry
HP was also showing off a sleek little portable monitor, confusingly also called the Series 5 Pro 14-inch portable monitor. This is a lightweight travel monitor that’s still a pretty serious size — that 14-inch IPS panel uses a 16:10 aspect ratio, stretching out to 2560×1600 resolution with 400 nits of brightness and an anti-glare coating for working on the go. It’s shockingly light in the hand, and comes with a sleek integrated kickstand that’s much better than the usual case-cover combo. Oh, it comes with a cover too, which doubles as a mousepad.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Two USB-C ports handily positioned on either side can work with almost anything that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, and it can deliver up to 65 watts of power to a device if a charger is inserted on the opposite side. It’s a nice package, and at $300, it’s not too unreasonable compared to Lenovo’s similar ThinkVision offerings. (Though again, I wouldn’t get too attached to that MSRP if I were you.) It should be out very soon.