Work From Home Essentials: 10 Things Worth Buying, 5 to Skip

Worth Buying: A Proper Monitor (Not a TV)

A 24–27" monitor at 1080p or 1440p with accurate color is the single biggest productivity upgrade for most home workers. The text is sharper, the ergonomics are better (no craning to read a laptop screen), and your eyes will thank you after a full day.

The Dell S-series and LG UltraGear are consistent value picks. Look for factory-calibrated IPS panels — the color accuracy difference from TN is obvious when you spend all day on documents and spreadsheets.

Worth Buying: A Webcam That Makes You Look Presentable

Your built-in laptop webcam was designed to check a box, not to make you look good on Zoom. A Logitech C920 ($70) or Brio 300 ($100) genuinely improves how you appear on video calls — better low-light, autofocus that works, and a field of view that doesn't distort your face.

Skip: Expensive "4K" webcams. Most platforms cap at 1080p, and the difference is negligible. The mic on a Brio 300 is also fine for most calls — you don't need a separate USB mic unless you're recording content.

Worth Buying: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

If you share your home with other people, noise-cancelling headphones aren't a luxury — they're how you get into deep work. The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort 45 are the benchmarks. Both have best-in-class ANC and comfortable wear for 6+ hour sessions.

Budget option: The Anker Soundcore Q45 at $60 is shockingly good ANC for the price. The Sony is still better, but the gap is not 3× better.

• ✓Over-ear beats on-ear for all-day comfort, every time
• ✓Multipoint Bluetooth (connect to phone + laptop simultaneously) saves daily friction

Skip: Fancy Standing Desk Converters

Desk converters (the risers that sit on top of your existing desk) are the worst of both worlds: they're bulky, wobble under keyboard use, and limit your workspace. If you want to stand, invest in a proper standing desk. If budget is the constraint, a standing desk starts at $300 during Flexispot sales.

Also skip: Most "ergonomic" accessories that don't fit your specific setup. A $50 keyboard tray won't help if the rest of your posture is wrong. Fix the chair and monitor height first.