No More Guessing at the Ports on Your Laptop
Most people have had the experience of not knowing which port to use when connecting a monitor or plugging in an ethernet cable. Knowing each port's shape and purpose in advance makes it much easier to check compatibility when buying a new monitor or peripheral.
Why Older Ports Are Disappearing
As device designs get thinner, ports with bulky connectors or limited capability β like VGA β are increasingly being phased out in favor of compact, multi-purpose options like USB-C and HDMI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use HDMI or DisplayPort?
Either is fine for typical use, but if you want to get the most out of a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor, DisplayPort is often the better choice.
Why don't newer laptops have a VGA port anymore?
VGA is analog, which limits image quality, and its bulky connector doesn't fit well with thin laptop designs β most newer laptops have replaced it with HDMI or USB-C.