ASRock’s new OLED monitors have built-in Wi-Fi antennas

There are now so many OLED monitors on the market that new ones need to be notably cheap in order to attract attention. But ASRock is trying a different approach with its newest models: the ability to boost your PC motherboard’s Wi-Fi signal. Intriguing.

To be clear, these new ASRock monitors do not have onboard Wi-Fi, and they don’t have any smart TV features for standalone streaming apps. That was my first thought, but nope. Instead, the monitors function as a gigantic extension for the little barrel ports on the back of your Wi-Fi-equipped motherboard, the kind that usually lead to a cheap plastic antenna included in the box.

As a desktop guy who obsesses over cable management, I can see the appeal. According to the spec sheet, the antennas in the monitors are compatible with Wi-Fi versions 4 through 7.

On top of that interesting little tidbit, the new Phantom Gaming displays pack a variety of specs and options at (presumably) different price points.

There are five different models with the Wi-Fi antenna feature, the flagship one being the 32-inch 4K PGO32UFS, which comes with USB-C video, dual refresh rates at 240Hz (4K) or 480Hz (1080p), and an integrated KVM switch. The monitor’s base includes a tiny secondary screen that can show a logo and not much else, which is dumb. Seriously, it’s a dumb idea, stop doing that, please.

There’s also a 27-inch 1440p OLED with the same antenna and teeny-tiny secondary screen features, though it’s missing the KVM. If you really like that Wi-Fi extension feature, you can also get it with a more conventional VA gaming panel in 34-inch and 27-inch form factors. Exact pricing, and which markets will get which models, are not available as of yet.