Review on Lenovo L27M 28: 27-Inch FreeSync Monitor with USB Hub and Anti-Glare Coating - Perfect for Wall Mounting and Tilt Adjustment by Steven Webb

Quick Fact: Many people think that the monitor itself is only powered by a USB-C cable. That is not what is meant in the product description. It is designed to power CONNECTED DEVICES (phone or laptop with Thunderbolt port) via a USB-C cable. The monitor itself is powered by a standard power cord that plugs into the wall. A lot of people have asked questions about this, and I'm sorry to say, but there aren't any monitors that can get enough power just with USB-C. To start charging your laptop with your monitor, make sure that (1) your laptop has a Thunderbolt USB-C port (look for the Thunderbolt icon), (2) you purchase a Thunderbolt cable that supports the enough power to charge your particular laptop as this monitor does NOT come with a Thunderbolt cable but comes with standard USB-C. Cable and (3) go to the monitor settings and change the "Always on USB” setting to ON. I bought a Thunderbolt cable and couldn't charge my laptop so I returned it only to find the option existed. However, I haven't tested this feature since, as just using my laptop's AC adapter is enough for me, but check this setting before concluding that the charging feature isn't working. I'll leave an update if I try again at the end. The monitor doesn't have built-in speakers, but it does have an AUX port so you can plug in your own. You can also just play audio through the laptop's speakers when it's closed (make sure you change the laptop's settings so it doesn't go to sleep when it's closed). As for the monitor itself, it's great for my needs. There is a noticeable difference in response time when playing on my Nintendo Switch compared to my TV. The bezels are thin and the monitor and stand design is minimal. Pros: - VESA mount compatible - Screen can be tilted back and forth when on stand - You can charge your laptop and use it as a display with just one Thunderbolt cable (again, not personally confirmed by me, but others Reviewers have been able to) do) - Clean, minimalist design - Fast response time for gaming Cons: - First, I bought it refurbished, so this probably won't be an issue. To you. My monitor randomly disconnects from my laptop/Nintendo Switch for a few seconds, maybe every few hours. This causes the screen to go black in the middle of a game or YouTube video, which is a bit annoying. I thought it might be the USB-C cable, but my Nintendo Switch is connected via HDMI, so it's an issue with the FIXED monitor itself. It's not a big deal, but sometimes I find myself in the middle of a Smash match again and suddenly the screen goes black for 5 seconds. The product description states that the x2 USB ports on the monitor are USB 3.0. However, I plugged in a USB 3.0 extender and then plugged a USB 3.0 hub into it, but my capture card software said "This device requires USB 3.0". I tested the power strip and USB hub together, used my laptop's USB 3.0 port instead and everything worked fine, so the problem is definitely with the monitor, not the power cord or USB hub. This means I have to keep another cable plugged into my laptop, which only adds clutter to my desk. This could possibly be because my laptop is connected via USB-C. It's possible that the USB ports are actually USB 3.0, but it's possible that the attempt to transfer the signal from the capture card to the monitor's USB ports and then through the USB-C cable plugged into the laptop , causing problem. I haven't tested this with HDMI, Thunderbolt, or even any other USB-C cable plugged into my laptop (I still think it shouldn't matter), but it will still be an issue. If the ports are really USB 3.0, then there are no hurdles to overcome to get this functionality on the connected laptop/PC.