Best Portable Monitors
Multiple monitors are essential when you want to multitask at home or the office. Your work will be well spread out without the necessity of switching between tabs.
Small tablets and laptops come in handy when you are on the go, although things will not be as well laid out.
Portable monitors are the latest advancement towards making people more productive.
They are lightweight and functional, and brands like ASUS, Acer, and AOC have joined the market with some impressive models, including:
1. Acer T272HL
The Acer T272HL sports a stylish design. A single glass sheet protects the 27-inch panel and provides enough room for swiping. The display is bordered by black bezels which are also under glass.
The picture frame-type stand is silver, and it accommodates up to 60° of backward tilt. There are four VESA mounting holes to mount the monitor on the wall.
The LCD screen is equipped with 10-touch points, making it impressively responsive when browsing and playing games. Gestures like pinching, zooming, and swiping are executed with no lag.
With a resolution of 1920×1080, you can be assured of High-Definition content. Color quality and accuracy are outstanding when watching content.
The monitor features six buttons, including three USB 3.0 ports on its left and a power button on its right. On the rear side are the VGA, DVI, and HDMI ports, a power jack, a USB 3.0 upstream port, and an audio port. These ports will let you extend content from your tablet or smartphone.
The menu system is easy to navigate, and pressing a button reveals on-screen labels. The picture settings are however limited. The presents given are graphics, standard, movie, and eco. The speakers do not get loud, and it could certainly use a bass boost.
The Acer T282HL is a solid selection as a big-screen monitor, although it is a bit pricey.
2. ASUS MB169B+
The first noticeable attribute of the ASUS MB169B+ is its slim design at 14.9×9.26×0.26 inches. It is also incredibly light at 1.6lbs. The monitor has a carrying case that folds over for mounting.
Its metallic-colored back may be plastic but it looks premium. The sides and front are a matte plastic. The left side accommodates a brightness rocker, a micro USB 3.0 port.
ASUS packages a CD-ROM with the company’s EZlink and Multiframe software which links to your Windows. Users can access optical drives on support.asus.com. Simply link the monitor to your computer’s USB port to start. You can then adjust any settings on the monitor.
The ASUS MB169B+ relies on In-Plane panel Switching technology to deliver wide viewing angles. The screen does not fall victim to reflection thanks to its matte panel.
HD movies will unravel well, thanks to a 1920×1080 native resolution. You can additionally play high-frame footage at 100p. The resolution is also ideal when working with apps like Microsoft Excel. It provides stunning images and adequate screen real estate.
Travelers will especially love the features on the ASUS MB169B+. You get stunning color in a portable and lightweight device. It is easily among the best portable monitors available.
3. AOC I1659FWUX
The AOC I1659FWUX has a piano-black glossy finish. Its design is sleek and premium. Its picture-frame stand is silver, and it can rotate to let you view in Landscape and Portrait Mode. It measures 9.1×14.6×1.4 inches. At 2.6 inches, the monitor is decently light to travel with.
It has a 1920×1080 resolution to accommodate high-definition and vivid color quality. The 700:1 contrast ratio serves to deliver detailed and crisp imagery.
An IPS panel is responsible for 160/160-degree display angles while remaining consistent in quality delivery at all angles. The panels contain true 8-bit color depth for superb displays.
The screen favors a matte anti-glare coating to prevent smudges and fingerprints from forming. IPS is ideal for activities like video and photo editing and graphic designing. You will hardly notice any loss of luminance or shift in color when you view the display from the bottom, top, or sides.
The AOC I1659FWUX has a well-performing display, thanks to an array of advanced features. The colors are relatively accurate with wide viewing angles. It has a single USB 3.0 port. The AOC I1659FWUX will especially appeal to travelers due to its lightweight.
4. HP Business S14
HP clearly understands just how much portable monitors need to be, well, portable. It weighs 2.2 pounds with its dimensions measuring 12.9 ×8.2×0.34 inches. It is favorably compact to be carried in a laptop bag without a lot of bulk. A thin bezel covers the three sides of the monitor.
It is packaged with a magnetic cover that functions as a stand. The cover protects only the screen, however, and not the entire monitor. It holds onto the screen quite snugly to minimize the chances of it sliding off.
The monitor is favorable portable and lightweight, but it might not be the ideal selection for people desiring maximum screen real estate in a monitor.
The 14-inch display features an LED backlight and an IPS display panel. You will get accurate colors with the S14. If you are using it against a high-performing laptop, you will notice the quality difference, although not by much. The monitor’s brightness is also not the best out there.
The monitor relies on a USB-C port for delivering power as well as the video signal. The six-foot USB-C cable offers a lot in the way of usability. You may need a shorter cable to handle a Starbucks table. The S14 does not have an extra cord for power. The monitor will however drain a lot of battery from your laptop.
The S14 does not function in a vertical orientation. The display image will not rotate tablet- or smartphone-style, which cuts on flexibility. You will get a portable monitor with the S14, which means that the picture will not exactly stand out, but the device will be light enough to carry around comfortably.
5. GeChic 1503E
The GeChic 1503E is only 779g in weight and 1.1cm in thickness. It is insanely light-weight, making it a perfect portable monitor. It is packaged with a smart cover stand also designed to protect the screen. The monitor relies on its ultra HD 1080p AAS depth for vivid colors.
The monitor supports 262,144 colors depth as well as 220 nit brightness. Game lovers will love the picture when they set up their Xbox or PS4 with the monitor. The screen supports both horizontal and vertical modes.
The versatility of the Multi-Mount Kit boosts the usability of the monitor. The kit can be secured with a monitor arm, wall mount, and a camera tripod.
It further enables three viewing angles via various screw holes for assembly. The monitor can also be linked to a variety of devices, including a TV stick, smartphone, PC, or laptop.
6. ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC
The ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is ultra-slim at 0.3 inches and lightweight at 1.7 pounds. Its dimensions are 8.9×0.3×14.2 inches. There is little bezel covering the viewing area, which only adds to the screen real-estate.
Three buttons are fitted on the bottom to navigate through menus, power the monitor, and adjust the light level of the backlight.
The cover also acts as the stand, and there are three methods you can use to fold it if you follow the manual. It has a hole big enough to fit a pen on its bottom.
The monitor is equipped with one USB-C port, which helps to maintain its neat design. The 15.6-inch 1080p screen on the monitor is decently usable as a second screen. The screen automatically adjusts between portrait and landscape modes.
IPS technology gives the screen wide viewing angles and increases the monitor’s flexibility. It further accommodates ASUS Flicker-free technology to minimize flicker and reduce eye-fatigue. The technology will favor individuals who spend endless hours on the screen.
7. Eviciv 15.6ʺ
The Eviciv 15.6ʺ computer monitor features 4K resolution, thanks to a 3840×2160 IPS panel and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. The monitor’s aspect ratio is 16:9.
The display will be stunning, whether you have linked it to a camera, play station, computer, phone, laptop, or microscope. It supports a single cable for data transmission and power.
The AMD FreeSync ensures a 1m response time and significantly reduces stutter and image tearing during gaming. There is also a copymode to enhance movie-watching. The extended mode is ideal for work meetings. The Evicic 15.6ʺ is a game, office, home, and industrial device.
How to Choose a Portable Monitor?
Portable monitor models differ from brand to brand, and you can use the guide below to select the right fit:
– Display and Resolution
You can expect low-quality videos and photos from monitors with low resolutions. Most affordable monitors will offer 720 pixels, and while this is not impressive, it is sufficient for a second screen.
HD resolution delivers those crisp details that are attractive to work with. Monitors are also either High Definition (HD) or Full High Resolution (FHR). Resolutions like 1366×768 pixels will typically cost more.
– Size and Design
Portable monitors promise ultra-portability, and they generally sport slim designs and a few pounds in weight. Most of them are either 15.6 inches or inches. The design comes down to personal preference. Models from ASUS feature premium designs at competitive prices. It is no use, however, to have a good design at mediocre performance.
Lighter and slimmer designs will generally be easier to carry since they will need less space. Portable monitors are appreciated by travelers for their lightweight.
– Compatibility and Connectivity
The first step in purchasing a portable monitor is getting a model for your requirements. ASUS is, for example, a master at creating devices for travel and office uses. HORI dominates the gaming market when it comes to portable monitors.
Next, ensure that your choice works seamlessly with other devices like tablets, phones, cameras, and play station. Evaluate the connectivity ports and get any cables that are needed. Some have either the USB or the HDMI ports, while some have both.
Get one with VGA if you need it. Your portable monitor should be configured to do exactly what you bought it for, and it includes compatibility with specific operating systems.
– Prices
You will need to measure up your specifications with your budget. For a budget model, you will have to compromise on some features like the kind of resolution you will get. Thankfully, there are tons of affordable portable monitors that function impressively.
– Speakers
Audio quality depends on the use you intend for the monitor. Most of the models are packaged with low-quality speakers, which are just enough to hear the sound. You can, however, utilize external speakers.
Benefits of Using a Portable Monitor
There are many benefits of using a portable monitor. Here are some of the main benefits:
– Make your Laptop a Desktop
Once you link your laptop to another screen, it basically becomes a desktop. You get a bigger screen to work on. You also just require a single cable to link the two devices. When leaving the house with the laptop, your files will come with you on a mobile device.
– Extra Screen Space
A second screen will let you use Photoshop, edit Office documents, and watch movies. A laptop can be pretty limiting when you need to read long reports or theses. A second screen titled in portrait mode will eliminate this strain. You can easily read the text at a glance as you simultaneously use the laptop.
– Wider Image
Laptops commonly fall between 13 to 15 inches. Office documents, including Spreadsheets, are tricky to read because they are not always clear. A monitor screen will easily display an entire spreadsheet and improve your productivity in the process since you will pinpoint the details you want more quickly.
– Better Movie Viewing
You do not have to switch tabs between working or studying to catch up on movies. If you end up with a screen with an insane resolution, you will appreciate the vivid picture-quality that comes with such monitors.
Conclusion
Portable monitors are jewels of technology. You get a lightweight and compact monitor that can easily be set up to link your computer. Brands like ASUS, Acer, HP, and AOC have impressive lineups when it comes to portable monitors.
Some of the models in the market have outstanding resolution and boast seamless performance. Choosing one will, therefore, be a bit challenging. Focus on your requirements, however, that is if you intend the monitor for gaming, movies, or office work.
