Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 24, 2025: With this update, we have removed the Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE, Best Portable Monitor for Gaming and Media Watching, as it has been discontinued; we elevated the NexiGo NG17FGQ in its place. Our other recommendations have been vetted for currency and availability. We currently have two portable monitors in PC Labs for evaluation, from AOC and HP.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
-
Touch-sensitive panel responds to fingers or included stylus
-
Full sRGB color coverage and good color accuracy
-
High-resolution 16:10 display
-
Great contrast
-
High pixel density
-
Sturdy, hinged stand
-
Small screen
-
Limited to USB-C connectivity
Why We Picked It
A touch-enabled portable monitor with a sturdy hinged stand, Lenovo’s ThinkVision M14t packs a high-resolution IPS panel with great contrast and excellent color coverage. Its 16:10 aspect ratio gives you more vertical screen space than 16:9 widescreen panels do. The M14t Gen2 also comes in at a modest price for its capabilities.
Who It’s For
Traveling content creators: The M14t is light and portable, and works well as a secondary or travel monitor for content creators, especially those with laptops with screens around 14 inches. Its full sRGB coverage and impressive color accuracy for a portable monitor make it great for processing images for display on the web, and its excellent contrast ratio attests to its ability to display detail in dark areas. Plus, the panel provides easy touch-screen functionality.
Work-from-home and hybrid employees: The Lenovo M14t’s 16:10 aspect ratio gives workers extra vertical screen space for viewing spreadsheets and text documents, editing photos, and viewing web content. Its slim, featherweight design makes it easy to transport to and from the office, too.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
14 inches
Native Resolution
2240 by 1400
Aspect Ratio
16:10
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
300 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1500:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
USB-C (2)
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
1
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
9.3 by 12.4 by 3.8 inches
Weight
1.5 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2 Review
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Pros & Cons
-
Five-way mini-joystick controller
-
Fully realized OSD
-
Built-in stand allows for easy tilt
-
Bright, with solid contrast ratio
-
Good value for money
-
Some colors dull in photos and video
Why We Picked It
The ViewSonic VG1655 offers some uncommon features for a budget portable monitor. A built-in, fold-out stand offers a wide tilt range. A five-way mini-joystick controller lets you access a full-fledged, sophisticated onscreen display (OSD) menu system. And you’ll also find two USB-C ports—one for power and one for data/video transfer—plus a mini HDMI connector, and a pair of built-in speakers. The relatively low sRGB color-gamut coverage of its 15.6-inch 1080p IPS panel makes it best for typical business tasks rather than color-sensitive workflows, but it shines brighter than most mobile panels.
Who It’s For
Office and hybrid workers: The VG1655 is a good choice as a secondary monitor for basic office work, offering features such as a mini joystick, adjustable built-in stand, and HDMI as well as USB-C connectivity at a modest price.
Budget-savvy buyers: The VG1655 offers more than many budget portable monitors, including a sturdy, tiltable stand, a mini-joystick controller, and multiple connectivity choices. It’s also light and compact enough to bring with you on a trip to the coffee shop or on vacation.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
15.6 inches
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
250 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
800:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
USB-C, mini HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
1
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
8.8 by 14.0 by 0.6 inches
Weight
1.8 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
ViewSonic VG1655 Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
-
Very bright IPS screen
-
Excellent contrast
-
Covers the full sRGB color space
-
Sturdy yet flexible hinged stand
-
No OSD menus, and minimal control options
-
Limited to USB-C connectivity
Why We Picked It
The Dell Pro 14 Plus Portable Monitor (P1425) is an excellent choice as a secondary productivity display, particularly for workers whose tasks include preparing art for the web. The P1425 is easily the brightest non-OLED portable display we’ve tested, and its superb contrast and color accuracy cement its excellence. It doesn’t have quite the resolution of the Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2, and it lacks that Editors’ Choice panel’s touch screen, but the P1425 comes in at a somewhat lower price.
Who It’s For
Web designers and artists: The Dell P1425’s ideal role is as a portable display for workers involved in online art prep. It packs in a lot of goodness: a brilliant IPS screen with excellent contrast and full and accurate sRGB color coverage. Its 14-inch 16:10 aspect-ratio panel is taller for its screen size than widescreen models, giving you a couple of extra vertical inches to work with for photo editing or spreadsheets.
Travelers: This pint-sized powerhouse is easy to lug on long or short trips. It gets strong marks for performance, with the brightest non-OLED screen we have seen in a portable monitor, superior contrast for an IPS display, full sRGB color coverage, and excellent color accuracy. It does justice to your media viewing, whether you want to watch a video in your hotel room or peruse the latest photos you’ve transferred to your laptop.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
14 inches
Native Resolution
1920 by 1200
Aspect Ratio
16:10
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1500:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
1
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
8.8 by 12.4 by 6 inches
Weight
1.4 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Dell Pro 14 Plus Portable Monitor (P1425) Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
-
OLED screen with superb brightness, contrast, color coverage
-
High pixel density makes for sharp images
-
Sturdy hinged stand enables screen tilt
-
Two USB-C ports, each with 60-watt power delivery
-
A bit pricey
-
Joystick and ports inconvenient to access
Why We Picked It
The ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED is perhaps the most impressive portable monitor we have encountered, thanks to its 15.6-inch UHD (4K) OLED panel, which shines with phenomenal brightness, contrast, and color coverage. The only major downside is the price, which is commensurate with its elite performance and ultra-high resolution. It is particularly good for creative work, with a pixel density that easily exceeds Apple’s Retina displays. It’s also a fine choice for movie watching and light-duty gaming.
Who It’s For
Creative pros: The VX1655-4K-OLED features a brilliant, high-contrast screen with excellent coverage in all three color spaces in which we test. Whether you use it offsite or in a studio, this gorgeous monitor helps you stay on top of your workflow.
Entertainment junkies: The VX1655-4K-OLED provides a super-bright screen with exceptional contrast and great color coverage. This puts it in good stead for well-heeled movie watchers and casual gamers. Although this display lacks adaptive sync and has a refresh rate of only 60Hz, its gorgeous visuals make it a great choice for exploring immersive worlds.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
15.6 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
OLED
Rated Screen Luminance
400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
100000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
mini HDMI, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
2
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
8.8 by 13.9 by 0.6 inches
Weight
1.5 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED Review
(Credit: Kyle Cobian)
(Credit: Kyle Cobian)
Pros & Cons
-
High refresh rate
-
Low measured input lag
-
Impressive color accuracy
-
Includes cover, carrying case, and cords for additional connections
-
Flimsy build
-
No internal battery
-
Pricey
Why We Picked It
The NexiGo NG17FGQ 17.3-Inch 300Hz Portable Monitor is a standout option, appealing to hardcore gamers seeking a high-refresh-rate panel that can accompany their gaming laptops. Boasting AMD FreeSync support and surprisingly good color accuracy, as well as a sky-high 300Hz peak refresh rate, the IPS panel performs admirably whether paired with lower-end hardware, such as the Nintendo Switch, or a cutting-edge console like the PlayStation 5, or as an extra display for a home desktop or laptop. The premium price and lightweight construction may give you some pause, but this panel still gives an overall impressive showing.
Who It’s For
Esports gamers: The NexiGo 300Hz is a strong companion for esports gamers seeking peak refresh rates on the go. The 17.3-inch NexiGo delivers on its promises of full HD with HDR coupled with an ultra-high refresh rate and minimal compromises. Just make sure that your video source can actually push frame rates in the hundreds per second before diving in.
Casual gamers who want a big, but still portable, screen: Most portable monitors are 14-inch or 15.6-inch models. This roomy 17-incher provides the near-experience of a desktop panel, but one that you can take with you. For those folks, the 300Hz refresh rate may be overkill, but the panel size won’t be.
Video watchers: The NG17FGQ’s large, bright screen with excellent color coverage and color accuracy makes it a good choice for video watching when you need a break from gaming. Its dual front-facing speakers provide decent, if not overly loud, audio.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
17.3 inches
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
300 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
300 Hz
Adaptive Sync
AMD FreeSync
Video Inputs
HDMI, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
1
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
9.8 by 15.4 by 0.43 inches
Weight
2.2 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year
Learn More
NexiGo NG17FGQ 17.3-Inch 300Hz Portable Monitor Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
-
Good color range
-
Excellent color accuracy
-
Supports finger and stylus touch inputs
-
Versatile cover/stand included
-
Stylus included
-
No headphone jack
-
Stylus and sound quality could use improvement
Why We Picked It
The TD1656-2K is an impressive portable monitor. This touch-enabled IPS display has a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio. At 16 inches measured diagonally, it is the perfect size to serve as an additional screen for those who own a large-screen laptop. Plus, the handy included cover and excellent color range make it one of ViewSonic’s best portable offerings.
Who It’s For
Owners of larger laptops: The ViewSonic TD1656-2K is a good fit for buyers who have larger laptops (in the 15-to-17-inch range), particularly ones that match this panel’s 16:10 aspect ratio. It provides extra vertical space for working with spreadsheets, text documents, and photos, as well as viewing web pages.
Remote workers: This monitor is a good choice for road warriors who prefer touch input (either with their fingers or the included stylus) and are seeking a second screen for working away from the office. Its folding cover provides protection while traveling and transforms into an adjustable stand. Its full sRGB coverage and superb color accuracy make it a great choice for prepping photos for the web.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
16 inches
Native Resolution
2560 by 1600
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,500:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Video Inputs
USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
2
Dimensions (HWD)
9.3 by 14 by 0.4 inches
Weight
2.3 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
ViewSonic TD1656-2K Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
-
Innovative dual-screen design
-
Excellent color range
-
Lightweight and slim
-
Glossy finish catches glare easily
-
Stand could be sturdier
-
Expensive
Why We Picked It
The Asus ZenScreen Duo OLED’s signature feature is its pair of 16:10 full HD 14-inch OLED screens stacked atop one another. This lightweight, portable monitor is bright, offers impressive color coverage, and provides exquisite OLED contrast. It’s not perfect—its stand is a little too flimsy, and the glossy finish picks up some distracting glare—but it is a good choice for power users who need lots of extra screen spread but don’t have desk space to spare.
Who It’s For
Mobile power users: The ZenScreen Duo OLED is an exquisite, lightweight portable monitor that’s best for people who need a pair of extra displays they can take practically anywhere. It comes at a price that makes it primarily for proficient power users with plenty of cash to spare. If you’re already used to having three displays arrayed on your desk, perhaps with some of them oriented in portrait mode, using the ZenScreen Duo will feel second nature, but the additional functionality might be overkill for on-the-go use for more casual users.
Space-strapped creative types: For photographers, videographers, and graphic artists who have more money than space, the ZenScreen Duo OLED gives you an extra pair of vertically stacked OLED screens that can fit where ultrawide displays or dual-monitor setups fear to tread. Its twin 14-inch OLED panels provide good brightness, magnificent contrast, and near-complete coverage of the three color spaces we measure. Each screen’s 1,920-by-1,200-pixel resolution may seem modest, but it still provides a 137ppi pixel density, which is more than enough for working with images. Plus, you can fold the two screens together and take the Duo on the road with you.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
14 inches
Native Resolution
1920 by 1200
Aspect Ratio
16:10
Screen Technology
OLED
Rated Screen Luminance
400 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1,000,000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
USB-C, mini HDMI
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
2
VESA DisplayHDR Level
DisplayHDR True Black 400
Dimensions (HWD)
8.35 by 12.56 by 0.59 inches
Weight
2.36 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Asus ZenScreen Duo OLED (MQ149CD) Review
(Credit: Molly Flores)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Pros & Cons
-
OLED panel
-
Wi-Fi and screen-casting ability
-
10-point touch screen
-
Built-in battery
-
Pricey
-
No ports other than USB-C
Why We Picked It
Ricoh didn’t bother dipping a toe into the water before entering the portable monitor market—it plunged straight into the deep end. Its Portable Monitor 150BW features the high-end capabilities you would expect from a panel in its rarified price range: a 15.6-inch OLED screen, touch sensitivity, Wi-Fi connectivity, and even a built-in battery. The screen’s image quality is high, with good color coverage and the ultra-high contrast ratio typical of OLEDs. The 150BW is a tour de force of mobile display technology. But unless you really need all its features—especially the full wireless capability—you can get well-equipped portable displays for considerably less money.
Who It’s For
Well-heeled power users: If you’re looking for the full portable-monitor monty in one go, and you’re able to afford it, this could be your panel. Ricoh’s first foray into the mobile monitor arena doesn’t come cheap, but it’s an awesome piece of kit. (Four features stand out: its wireless connectivity, support for 10-point touch input, the built-in battery, and the dreamy OLED panel.)
Creative types: With good brightness, the magnificent contrast typical of OLED panels, plus full sRGB color coverage, excellent DCI-P3 coverage, and nearly as good Adobe RGB coverage, the 150BW makes a droolworthy screen for photographers, videographers, and graphic artists who spend time on the road. Its image quality, along with its elite features, doesn’t come cheap, though; its price is out of the range of many creatives.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
15.6 inches
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
OLED
Rated Screen Luminance
300 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
100000:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
N/A
Video Inputs
USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
8.7 by 14 by 0.4 inches
Weight
1.6 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Ricoh Portable Monitor 150BW Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
-
Bright UHD panel with strong contrast
-
Supports glasses-free 3D viewing
-
Nearly full sRGB color coverage
-
Built-in battery
-
Pricey
-
Uneven 3D performance
Why We Picked It
The Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B can display images, videos, models, and games in three dimensions without 3D glasses, in addition to having some atypical elements such as a built-in battery and an SD card slot. The ASV15-1B works perfectly well as a traditional portable monitor, thanks to its bright UHD screen with excellent contrast and near-complete sRGB color coverage, but its real forte is glasses-free 3D. It works best with content such as games with built-in 3D elements, but finding the sweet spot for 3D viewing by centering yourself in front of the screen and remaining relatively still can be cumbersome. Still, the SpatialLabs View is worth consideration by gamers who have money to spare for trying out 3D.
Who It’s For
Adventurous gamers: If you have a relatively recent gaming laptop and a little over a grand to spare, you can add another dimension to your viewing experience with the Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B, and throw out those old 3D glasses while you’re at it. Imperfect as it is, the Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B is a viable system for viewing three-dimensional content, such as the games that the SpatialLabs TrueGame app supports.
3D modelers: Engineers and scientists will appreciate the ASV15-1B’s rendering capabilities. The SpatialLabs Model Viewer lets you import and convert files from CAD and CGI 3D software and view them in full geometric 3D without the need for 3D glasses.
Specs & Configurations
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner)
15.6 inches
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Screen Technology
IPS
Rated Screen Luminance
380 nits
Rated Contrast Ratio
1200:1
Pixel Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Adaptive Sync
NA
Video Inputs
HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C
USB Ports (Excluding Upstream)
1
VESA DisplayHDR Level
NA
Dimensions (HWD)
9.6 by 14.9 by 1 inches
Weight
3.3 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
3 years
Learn More
Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B Review
Get Our Best Stories!
All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts
Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
The Best Portable Monitors for 2025
Compare Specs
Buying Guide: The Best Portable Monitors for 2025
You could lug around some smaller desktop displays on the road in a pinch, but “true” portable monitors are those specifically sold as such. Even those range quite a bit in size: from 3.5 inches to 22 inches. Portable displays run the gamut from personal, business, and general-purpose models to panels for artists and gamers.
The sweet spot for use with a laptop, though, and our focus here, is screens between 12 and 17 inches. Many users match their portable display with the screen size of their laptop. But you’ll also see a handful of models on the market at 10 inches (primarily for use with gaming consoles) and at 7 inches (for use with the Raspberry Pi).
Many portable displays, especially toward the budget end, use a stand consisting of a thin but stiff plastic board, with several grooves or creases on which it folds. At one end is a magnetic strip, which adheres to the back of the monitor at its top. Folding the sheet in the middle, with the angle pointing away from the user, props up the monitor. The bottom of the monitor inserts into a groove, securing it and tilting the device upward. (Some portable displays have several grooves, and you can alter the monitor’s tilt angle by placing the base in a different one.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
These foldable stands, often referred to as origami-style stands, can double as protective covers for the display when it’s not in use. Some protect just the front of the monitor, while others are larger wraparound covers that sandwich the entire monitor.
Another common stand design, particularly on higher-end models, consists of a rigid, flat base, containing the ports, to which the screen is attached via hinges. You can set the screen at any angle you like simply by tilting it. Also, a few designs use the laptop itself as the support, fastening to its back or its side and sliding or swinging out for use.
Although most mobile monitors lack the height, pivot, or swivel adjustability of their desktop counterparts, they are small and light enough that they are easy to adjust manually. Some monitors can be pivoted by hand, though not all stands can support a monitor in portrait mode. In those cases, you could always prop the monitor against a wall or other surface. Most portable monitors can automatically correct the image so it is always right side up, whether you’re in landscape or portrait mode. (Even in those without such automatic image rotation, you can change the orientation in Windows display settings.)
The Best Portable Monitor for a Laptop: How to Evaluate the Screen
When we evaluate mobile monitor panels, the main factors we consider are the screen size and aspect ratio, the native resolution, the brightness range, the technology the panel uses, and the maker’s claims for color-gamut coverage.
Many users prefer to use a mobile monitor that has the same screen size and native resolution as the laptop screen they are using it with. That said, I have found these panels to be forgiving and have had no trouble running portable displays that are slightly larger than my laptop’s own screen. As long as you don’t mismatch the mobile monitor’s and laptop’s screen aspect ratio (which, until the last few years, was almost always a 16:9 widescreen ratio but is now increasingly often 16:10), you are unlikely to experience much trouble in matching them up.
The native resolution on panels suitable for use with a laptop ranges from 1,366 by 768 pixels (too coarse for modern laptops) up to 3,840 by 2,160 pixels (UHD, aka 4K). Most recent laptop-appropriate screens sport a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (aka 1080p, or “full HD”), but a few go higher.
Mobile monitors tend to be dimmer, at their maximum brightness levels, than their desktop counterparts. What is commonly called brightness is actually luminance, or brightness per unit area. Portable monitors tend to cluster around 180 nits (also expressed as “candelas per meter squared”) in our testing, even though many are rated between 230 and 300 nits, which is acceptable for typical use. The recent arrival of portable OLED panels has given a huge boost to monitor luminance, with the brightest we have tested measuring more than 550 nits.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Monitors that make use of in-plane switching (IPS) technology are generally preferred for general use over vertical alignment (VA) and twisted-nematic (TN) panels due to their wider off-axis viewing angles and good color accuracy. Many recent mobile monitors are IPS, but there’s a catch, especially if such displays were made before 2022. When we test a panel for its color gamut, we first test the sRGB color space, the default color space for the web and many other applications. This color space comprises essentially all the colors that can be made by mixing red, green, and blue. Most desktop monitors cover at least 95% of sRGB, and we have seen portable monitors attain similar coverage.
However, until a few years ago, most mobile IPS monitors we reviewed showed much more limited overall color coverage (60% to 72% of sRGB) and very similar color profiles—indicating poor red and purple coverage and slightly enhanced blue-greens. Because of their nearly identical “color signatures,” these core panels likely came from the same or similar sources, although they are on monitors made by various manufacturers.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
These measured results were borne out in our experiential testing, where red and purple areas tended to look dull and washed out in photos and videos. Although screens with this issue are fine for most business and productivity use, they are subpar for videophiles or photo enthusiasts. In our monitor reviews, we include a chromaticity chart that maps our readings against the ideal readings for the color space being tested, and we provide an analysis of the panel’s color coverage. Most recent portable IPS monitors have shown much better color-gamut coverage, but we occasionally review one with the same poor color profile.
The few portable OLED panels we’ve reviewed have extraordinarily high contrast due to their ability to display true blacks by turning off groups of pixels. They have contrast ratios in the neighborhood of 100,000:1, while VA panels have contrast ratios of about 3,000:1, IPS Black screens 2,000:1, and standard IPS around 1,000:1. Even those lower ratios are still fine for many artists and gamers, however.
What Ports Should I Look for in a Portable Monitor?
As I alluded to earlier, the mobile-monitor world is undergoing a convergence of power and connectivity thanks to USB Type-C connectivity. Many USB-C ports support both DisplayPort over USB and USB power delivery, letting both data/video and power flow through the port from a computer over a single USB cable. Most new mobile monitors have at least one USB-C port, and some connect solely via USB-C. While this simplicity has appeal, be sure your laptop’s USB-C port supports data, video, and power transfer, because some early-generation USB-C ports don’t. (Thunderbolt ports should also work fine; their functionality encompasses all that of USB-C.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
A few mobile monitors use traditional power adapters. This is particularly true of models that work with sketch pens and are intended for artists; they are, in effect, interactive monitors. In a common configuration with older panels that don’t support DisplayPort over USB and USB power delivery, the display draws power through an adapter, while two cables connect to the computer. One is HDMI, to transfer the image to be displayed on the device from the PC, and the other is USB (through a USB-A port), to record the user’s pen motions when drawing on the interactive display. HDMI (usually in the form of mini-HDMI) is also a common port (the most common other than USB-C) on more conventional portable displays.
A few older portable display models draw their power from a laptop over a separate USB 3.0 connection, but USB-C has made this kind of connection passé.
Portable Monitor Software and the On-Screen Display
Nearly all portable displays are plug-and-play and require no software to operate. Any utilities offered will be for specific functions, such as enabling the screen image to remain upright when you switch between landscape and portrait orientation. Sometimes, the display may have a utility that lets you change monitor settings from your computer screen rather than through the secondary panel’s on-screen display (OSD) controls.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The OSD is the monitor’s menu system, governing user-controllable settings such as brightness, contrast, color levels, picture mode, and aspect ratio. It is often arranged in several submenus. Although a few models include several buttons to navigate the OSD, a single button or switch to control it is more common.
In general, audio is not a consideration with mobile monitors, as these devices tend to lack built-in speakers or audio jacks. The few portable displays (often gaming models) that do include speakers, in our experience, have weak ones and are most valuable when paired with a portable gaming console or a smartphone. When the monitor is connected to a laptop, you can always switch from the display’s speakers to your laptop’s speakers by clicking (in Windows) the speaker icon in the taskbar and changing to your laptop’s audio.
Ready to Buy the Right Portable Monitor for You?
Whatever your needs or budget, there’s a model out there that fits; the key thing is to consider the primary display panel you’ll be using alongside it, and that the two match up well. Check out our product picks above, as well as our detailed spec list, for the best current portable displays we’ve tested. We update this story regularly, but for the latest monitor reviews we’ve posted, also see our overall best monitor guide.
