When you’re the use of a laptop computer or traveling and want greater screen actual estate, a portable monitor can supply you with a twin monitor experience even when you’re away from your desk setup. The best portable monitors supply new versatility and stable picture first-rate in an easily portable shape factor.
Plus, laptops, tablets, and smartphones grant convenience and mobility, however, these small screens can cause headaches, blurry eyes, and fatigue. Digital eye strain is already an automatic negative byproduct of the use of digital devices, and attempting to crowd a lot of facts on such a small screen solely exacerbates the problem especially if you’re the usage of the computer devices for several hours a day.
However, a portable monitor can provide a great deal higher working and viewing experience. And in view that we’re nevertheless living in the age of COVID-19, it can additionally provide a whole lot safer way to share your screen with colleagues, clients, and classmates, so they won’t have to stand or sit so close to you.
Picking the proper one for you will depend on several factors, however, we’ve performed the legwork to pick out and highlight some of the best selections currently on the market.
How we picked the best portable monitors
Screen size
Portable monitors tend to mirror the sizes of laptop displays, coming in sizes from 14 inches to 15.6 inches to 17 inches. Since you’re always moving portable displays around, picking a screen size comes down to personal preference. A larger screen looks great and makes things easier to see, but keep in mind that a larger screen will take up more space on your desk or table, as well as in your laptop bag or suitcase.
Connectivity
Most portable monitors connect to devices via USB-C and/or mini-HDMI cables (such as this inexpensive AmazonBasics option). While an increasingly wide array of phones, tablets, PCs, and other devices support USB-C, you may need a USB-C hub, adapters, or a USB-A to USB-C cable. Likewise, you may need to purchase an HDMI to mini-HDMI adapter for mini-HDMI-based screens. Make sure that the monitor you select has the ports you need to pair it wherever you plan to use it, including your laptop, smartphone, tablet, camera, and game consoles.
Resolution
Your portable monitor’s resolution will determine the sharpness and clarity of its picture. As you can see based on our selections, most portable monitors support 1080p resolution, (often referred to as Full HD). That puts it on par with most basic and mid-range desktop monitors. There are high-resolution models, including some portable 4K monitors. And, just like when shopping, say, for desktop monitors for Macs, they cost quite a bit more.
Refresh rate
Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), refers to how many times your monitor can redraw an image each second. A higher refresh rate opens the door for a higher frame rate in games and smoother movement in menus and other software. All of the monitors on this list feature a 60Hz refresh rate, which means the screen updates 60 times a second. That’s lower than we’d recommend for a standard monitor but it is standard among portable monitors. That said, there is a 144Hz display, which stands out as an especially good choice for gaming and drawing.
All IPS, all the time
While desktop monitor panels come in a few flavors, all of the portable monitors on our list are In-Plane Switching (IPS) displays. This technology ensures color accuracy and better views from wider angles (for example, even if someone is standing on the far-left side of the monitor, the view should be good. However, it’s debatable if an IPS display panel makes that much of a difference in a portable monitor.
Audio
Some portable monitors include built-in speakers (and headphone jacks), which may or may not be important in certain situations. If you’re connecting your monitor to a computer or phone, you may already have the audio covered through the device. In general, the speakers on these monitors aren’t especially impressive, so external desktop speakers or over-ear headphones are usually the way to go. That said if you think that monitor audio will be useful, be sure to check for that feature.
The best portable monitors Reviews
Best portable monitor: Asus ROG Strix (XG16AHPE)
ASUS
Why it made the cut: The Asus ROG Strix has a high refresh rate and lots of great features, making it the best choice for most people.
Specs
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 1.98 lbs
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Type: LED
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Inputs: HDMI, USB, Audio jack
- Battery life: 7,800 mAh
Pros
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Landscape and portrait modes, plus a universal tripod
- Nvidia G-Sync compatible
- Battery-powered option
Cons
- Expensive
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best portable monitor is made for gaming. The Asus ROG Strix 15.6-inch portable monitor is one of only a handful of models with a 144Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth animation in and out of games.
Even if you don’t play much though, it has some very useful bells and whistles. Its kickstand rotates, so you can easily switch between traditional landscape or vertically minded portrait mode. It also has stereo speakers, in case you forget your headset at home.
In addition to a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable, a USB Type-C cable and a USB Type-C to A adapter are also included. One usual feature is the universal tripod socket—a hole with a ¼” thread—which makes it convenient to use the portable monitor with a tripod stand. However, a sleeve, which can be used as a stand, is also included.
If you really want to max out your portable gaming setup, Asus also makes an even bigger 17.3-inch version of the Strix portable monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. Most people, even gamers, don’t really need a 240Hz display, which is why we recommend the less expensive model. If you want to carry around a zero-compromises esports display, though, it may be worth the extra cash.
Best budget portable monitor: Lepow Z1-Gamut
Lepow
Why it made the cut: The economically priced Lepow Z1-Gamut is loaded with features.
Specs
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 1.7 lbs
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Inputs: HDMI, USB, 3.5mm audio
- Battery life: N/A
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Landscape/portrait mode
- A variety of cables included
- Dual speakers
Cons
- The screen could be brighter
Lepow consistently produces high-quality portable monitors at an affordable price, but we’re especially taken with the Lepow Z1-Gamut, which offers everything that most people would want from a portable monitor for $100 less than our top pick. The Z1-Gamut works in either landscape or portrait mode. It can connect to devices via mini-HDMI or USB-C. The dual speakers and headphone jack allow you to choose how you want to handle audio. In addition, its 178-degree visible angle means you can see the screen well no matter where to place it. Simply put, it’s a great value for a solid portable monitor.
Best portable monitor for laptops: Lenovo ThinkVision M14
Lenovo
Why it made the cut: The Lenovo ThinkVision M14 is more limber than a gymnast.
Specs
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Inputs: 2 USB Ports
- Battery life: N/A
Pros
- Compact size
- Tilts liberally
Cons
- Can’t rotate for landscape/portrait mode
- No integrated speaker
If you’re looking for something to pair with a smaller laptop, the 14-inch Lenovo ThinkVision M14 delivers strong performance in a more space-conscious form factor. Trimming 1.5 inches may not seem like much of a difference, but when you’re trying to fit a portable monitor into a laptop bag, that 1.5 inches makes a world of difference. Plus, it’s the perfect companion size for 13.3-inch MacBook Air and Pro laptops, as well as smaller designs from Lenovo, HP, and Dell. The monitor also tilts from -5 degrees to 90 degrees, making it ideal for school and work environments where you need to mirror your display to show your classmates and colleagues.
Best 4K portable monitor: Innocn 15.6-inch OLED Portable Monitor (PU15 PRE)
INNOCN
Why it made the cut: The Innocn PU15 PRE is expensive, but its 4K OLED display is incomparable among portable displays.
Specs
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 2.07 lbs
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Inputs: USB and HDMI
- Battery life: 5,000 mAh
Pros
- 4K resolution
- OLED panel
- Touch screen
- Portrait and landscape modes
Cons
- Very expensive
Innocent’s top OLED portable monitor is the most expensive pick on our list, and for good reason. Among desktop monitors and laptops, 4K OLED touchscreens don’t come cheap (and we won’t even talk about the best OLED TVs prices). Among portable monitors, they are virtually unheard of. Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays feature self-emitting backlit pixels that can independently turn on and off when an image calls for it, producing incredible contrast and a more vivid picture. Combine that with 4K resolution and, well, it’s very pretty.
Meanwhile, the touchscreen feature allows you to use the portable monitor like a drawing tablet. It has stereo speakers, in case you need them, and it can be used in both portrait and landscape mode. At $799.99, it is considerably more expensive than the rest of our picks, but it also delivers a higher class of pictures.
Best portable touchscreen monitor: Asus ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT
ASUS
Why it made the cut: The ASUS Zenscreen Touch’s portable touchscreen is responsive and easy to use. You can even draw on it.
Specs:
- Screen size: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 1.98 pounds
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Type: LCD
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Inputs: 2 Micro USB
- Battery life: 7,800 mAh
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Built-in speakers
- Compatible with Thunderbolt 3
Cons
- Have to download driver for USB Type-A connection
The ASUS ZenScreen Touch’s 10-point 1080p touchscreen won us over with its intuitive fingertip control, which makes it incredibly easy to make changes to documents, play games, and draw on slides. It comes with many of the basic features we look for, including stereo speakers and a smart case kickstand. Having a portable monitor with a touchscreen is especially helpful for traveling workers getting things done on a phone. You can use the ZenScreen Touch app to control your Android phone, making it a perfect pairing for a powerful flagship like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. There’s even a smartpen holder for your stylus to ensure you don’t lose it when not in use.
