Best Work & Learn from Home Setup 2020: Monitors, Mice, Keyboards and More

When working and learning from home, few things are more important than having the proper work at home electronics setup. The right combination of tech can enhance your productivity, health, and comfort while giving you the capacity to enjoy the task at hand.

When deciding on the best work from home technology for you, you need to start with the basics to go with your computer, including a computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and then add in other essentials, including a docking station and headset. In this guide, we'll provide you with ideas for the best devices available now from HP^® so you can tackle your next project with ease.

Best work from home computer monitor and keyboard

Without a good computer monitor and keyboard, it's difficult to keep up with your work and school priorities and to stay on top of your health. An ergonomic display and keyboard will reduce eye, wrist, and hand strain, which is crucial if you spend a lot of time on your computer. It will also help you be more precise and productive at work, reducing the likelihood of mistakes and helping you enjoy the work that you do.

1. HP EliteDisplay E243 23.8-inch monitor

If you're looking for a monitor with a superior display that also will be visibly pleasing in your home, consider the HP EliteDisplay E243 23.8-inch monitor. Its Full High Definition (FHD) resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate lets you display a large amount of data in crisp detail, so you can work more easily throughout the day. This HP EliteDisplay also has a lot of connectivity options, including VGA, DisplayPort™, and HDMI 1.4, so you can connect virtually any device, including a second monitor.

Additional features:

• Anti-glare BrightView Panel
• Ports: VGA, HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort
• In-plane switching
• LED backlights

2. HP Z27 27-inch 4K UHD monitor

For precise colour and stunning 4K resolution, you can't beat the HP Z27 27-inch 4K UHD monitor. This is one of the best work from home monitors for anyone who needs a reliable visual solution, especially for graphic design and coding. With an incredible colour range of sRGB and BT.709 colours, you'll see your visuals with the best possible accuracy. This display has great connectivity options as well, including 1 USB Type-C™ port and 3 USB 3.0 downstream ports.

Additional features:

• Tilt -5 degrees to +23 degrees
• Swivel 90 degrees
• Pivot rotation 90 degrees
• In-plane switching with LED backlights
• 8 ms gray to gray

3. HP Wireless Elite v2 keyboard

When you need an ergonomic, modern keyboard for your setup, you can't go wrong with the HP Wireless Elite v2 keyboard. Along with wireless functionality that allows you to use the keyboard up to 10 metres away from a connected device, it also includes fast-access hot keys, versatile function keys, and a handy built-in number pad. With all that convenience and functionality, this keyboard is definitely in the upper echelon of work from home accessories.

Additional features:

• 2.4 GHz USB wireless nano receiver
• Fast-access hot keys
• Versatile function keys
• Built-in number pad

4. HP K3500 wireless collaboration keyboard

The HP K3500 wireless collaboration keyboard is a great business keyboard that is true to its name. This handy device is designed for collaboration and boasts dedicated volume controls, hot keys, and common video conferencing functions such as muting, screen-sharing, and webcam usage. These features make it the best work from home keyboard for anyone who regularly makes video calls to customers and coworkers.

Plus, this keyboard is spill-resistant and has a slim ergonomic design, which will save you the headache of having to replace the keyboard for years to come even if you knock your cup of coffee over it.

Additional features:

• 2.4 GHz USB wireless nano receiver
• Fast-access hot keys
• Volume, mute, and sleep mode keys
• Built-in number pad

Best work from home mice and docking stations

You have the right display and keyboard, but what about your other needs? Anyone who works or learns from home will want to invest in a high-quality mouse, too. Look for a device that offers increased performance and ergonomics to save yourself wrist pain down the road. And if you primarily work or learn from home on a laptop, consider buying a docking station so you can convert your laptop into a desktop setup when you connect an external keyboard, mouse, headset, speakers, and more.

1. HP Z5000 Dark Ash Silver wireless mouse

The HP Z5000 Dark Ash wireless mouse is an excellent ergonomic mouse with Bluetooth capabilities. And with its glossy cover and a contoured grip built for comfort, this work from home mouse is the perfect blend of style and substance. It also has an incredible battery life rarely seen in mice of this calibre; it can last up to 24 months before you need to recharge it.

Additional features:

• Bluetooth wireless connection
• 3 buttons and 1 scroll wheel
• LED battery indicator

2. HP comfort grip wireless mouse

If you're looking for a mouse that embodies comfort, you simply can't go wrong with the HP Comfort Grip wireless mouse. With a grip that fits your hand like a glove, along with unparalleled integration with HP business notebooks, this mouse is made for your home workspace.

It also boasts 30 months of battery life and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, which works up to 10 metres from its paired device. Use it with the HP Wireless Elite v2 keyboard, and you could even work from across the room without worrying about latency issues.

Additional features:

• 2.4 GHz wireless connection
• Uses HP 5-link technology through 1 nano receiver
• 3 buttons and 1 scroll wheel
• LED connection indicator

3. HP USB-C/A universal dock G2

The HP USB-C/A universal dock is designed with universal compatibility in mind. It boasts full backward compatibility with USB notebooks and lets you connect up to three accessories and three 4K displays. This dock is a great way to futureproof your suite of connected devices thanks to full compatibility with USB-A, USB-C™, and Thunderbolt™ enabled laptops. You can also enable it to automatically push firmware updates to your connected devices, saving you time from manually updating each one.

Additional features:

• Front/side ports: 1 USB Type-C, 1 USB 3.0 (charging)
• Back ports: 3 USB 3.0 back (charging), 2 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI 2.0
• Sound ports: 1 headphone/microphone combo, 1 RJ-45

4. HP USB-C mini dock

The HP USB-C mini dock is focused on USB-C compatibility. However, what it lacks in broader compatibility, it more than makes up for with a large list of advanced network manageability features. These include XE Boot, LAN/WLAN switching, and WoL and MAC Address Pass-Through in all power states.

If you know that your notebook works best with USB-C ports, then this docking station's advanced features will definitely help to make sure your home office setup is fully integrated with your existing tech.

Additional features:

• Front ports: 1 USB Type-C, 1 USB 3.0 (charging)
• Back ports: 3 USB 3.0 back (charging), 2 DisplayPort, 1 HDMI 2.0
• Sound ports: 1 headphone/microphone combo, 1 RJ-45

Best work from home headsets

You cannot overlook a quality headset for your workspace. It's an incredibly important piece of tech for work (and play, for that matter), particularly if you're frequently dialling into conference calls. A headset built for both quality and comfort will go a long way for both you and your collaborators because your voice will sound crisp and clear and you won't have to worry about headaches or overheating.

1. HP Stereo USB headset

With an excellent balance between comfort and compatibility, and a price point you'll love, the HP Stereo USB headset is an excellent choice for conference calls and listening to media while you work. It comes with a USB-A connector, so you'll be able to connect to virtually any desktop or laptop.

This work from home headset boasts excellent sound and mic quality, too, with a built-in 20 Hz speaker and a 20 kHz microphone. The headband is also completely adjustable, and you can rotate the microphone boom if you're simply listening and don't want any visual distraction.

Additional features:

• Speaker: 20 Hz
• Microphone: 20 kHz
• USB-A connector

2. HP OMEN Headset 800

Gamers tend to gravitate toward the best tech, and the HP OMEN Headset 800 is no exception. It may be geared toward gaming, but this headset boasts a number of notable working/learning features.

It includes multi-dimensional audio, a lightweight suspension headband that evenly distributes its weight, built-in volume and mute controls, and cushioned synthetic leather noise-reducing earcups.

With all of these features, you'll conquer conference calls, client meetings, and more all with the sound quality and comfort to match. Plus, if you enjoy gaming after hours, there's no better way to communicate with your squad than with this HP OMEN headset.

Additional features:

• Built-in volume and mute controls
• Retractable microphone
• Suspension headband
• 3.5 mm adapter, 4-pole plug

Conclusion

Creating the best work from home setup for your needs is crucial, and it's also easier than it may seem at first. With a quality monitor, keyboard, mouse, docking station, and headset like those in our guide, you can put home office tech maladies behind you for the best work from home experience. By upgrading your space, you're not just investing in your professional career; you're investing in your health as well.

About the Author: Daniel Horowitz is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Daniel is a New York-based author and has written for publications such as USA Today, Digital Trends, Unwinnable Magazine, and many other media outlets.