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While we haven’t reviewed it here at TechRadar just yet, one of our Computing editors has already put this display through its paces, and it truly does deserve to be on every top portable monitors list. To start, it comes with a built-in battery that can last up to three and a half hours on a single charge. That alone is pretty impressive. But, it also comes with wireless connectivity, though it only functions through screen mirroring.
And, while it doesn’t come with a carrying case – you’ll have to get one separately to keep the monitor from getting scratched up – it is well built and comes with a magnetically attached support foot that solves the problem that we find with a lot of portable screens by keeping it steady on its feet. We also appreciated the inclusion of both USB-C and Mini HDMI connectivity. How to choose the best portable monitor for you The magnetic folio case (which covers the screen and a portion of the rear when closed) doubles as a stand that can be angled at either 105° or 120°. This monitor can also be propped either horizontally or vertically, although you’ll need to install the LG OnScreen Control app to access vertical orientation mode. Graphic designers and videographers may want to look elsewhere. But, for everyone else interested in a portable OLED monitor and on a budget, the Innocn 15A1F should be in the running. Like many portable monitors, the Acer PM161Q isn’t much to look at, but this one happens to deliver where it counts. It connects to your devices via USB-C and has a micro-USB port for additional power delivery if you’re connecting to an older phone. Both cables are included in the box alongside a USB-A power adapter.
Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE
The Asus MB16ACE connects to your laptop via USB-C or HDMI (both cables and a mains adapter are supplied in the box) and comes with a case that props it up at various angles, a bit like an iPad case. 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. When we test a panel for its color gamut, we first test the sRGB color space, which is 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," we assumed that these panels came from the same or similar sources, although they are on monitors made by a variety of manufacturers. (Credit: Molly Flores) 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, almost always, is a normal 16:9 widescreen ratio), you are unlikely to experience much trouble in matching them up.
Ports: Most modern portable monitors use USB-C for power and video transmission, so if your laptop, PC, smartphone or tablet relies on other forms of connector, you’ll have to take that into account. If not USB-C, the monitor may have microUSB or even mini-HDMI ports for video and power transmission. Battery or no battery is another critical question. You can get portable screens both with and without. Screens without a battery are cheaper and lighter. However, if you’re using a mobile screen away from the mains, they will drain your laptop’s battery pretty fast. 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 at between 230 and 300 nits, which is fine for typical use. The highest we have measured at this writing is 280 nits.
AOC I1601FWUX USB-C Portable Monitor
Sometimes double the screen real estate is not enough, and that’s where the Oiiwak Triple portable monitor comes in. The name is confusing, as it doesn’t actually have three screens – it just gives you two more for that triple-display setup. Offering two 14-inch 16:10 screens attached to an aluminum alloy tray, it is the perfect companion to anyone who just can’t get enough space for their digital workflow. Portable displays that you pair with a laptop aren't a new phenomenon, but in the past couple of years, they have come into their own. Most monitor manufacturers now have at least one in their repertoire, and new models appear more regularly than ever. Whether you want to add a second screen for giving presentations to small groups, view two programs open full-screen at once, enhance your portable gaming system, or touch up your designs with a stylus, mobile monitors of different sizes, styles, and paradigms are ready to serve. All the models use the same 15.6in 60Hz 1080p IPS panel, too, so you’re not missing out on image quality. Peak brightness isn’t amazing, but you don’t really need a lot of brightness on an office screen. It has excellent viewing angles and the anti-glare coating means reflections are kept to an absolute minimum. It even comes with an orientation sensor so you can use it in portrait mode as well as landscape. The LG Gram line is known for its super-lightweight nature, and you can expect the same from this portable monitor, sitting at only 1.45 pounds for a 16-inch display. It’s, in fact, lighter than many of the smaller options on this list. Naturally, it works beautifully with the MacBooks, especially with its two USB-C ports. And while its color accuracy isn’t anything to write home about, it does offer DCI-P3 99% color gamut, which is a nice concession. The native resolution on panels suitable for use with a laptop ranges from 1,366 by 768 pixels up to 3,200 by 1,800 pixels (QHD+). Most of the 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. (Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Speaking of bandwidth and resolution, most portable monitors are 15.6-inch panels with a 1080p resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. But more compact models with 11-inch screens are available. Key specs – Screen size: 15.6in; Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Screen technology: IPS; Video inputs: Mini-HDMI, USB-C; Refresh rate: 60Hz; Weight (with case): 800g As with the Asus, don’t expect professional-grade colour accuracy here. The screen only covers 52.9% of the sRGB colour gamut and peak brightness is a mere 203cd/m². However, images look punchy and crisp and it does the job in an unfussy way.
The best portable monitors you can buy in 2023
For most mainstream Windows PCs, that should be fine. For everything else, it could be more problematic. Running over USB-A can also limit resolution and color fidelity due to lower bandwidth. That said, some portable monitors support micro HDMI and even VGA. It does come at a price as you would expect when there are twice as many panels as usual. And the port locations aren’t ideal if your laptop has all its own ports on one side. After all, you have to connect each screen separately. This, however, does mean that you can use one screen for one device and the other for another.
This 17.3-inch 4K model from Intehill is a bit of a unicorn as there just aren’t a lot of portable monitors at this size with this resolution. Thankfully, it’s also a good looking one. Just be aware that you’ll have to spend a hefty sum for this larger display as well as buy a PSU separately, that is unless you have a Thunderbolt port which can fully power it. A few older portable-display models draw their power from a laptop over a separate USB 3.0 connection, but USB-C is well on its way to making this kind of connection passé. When we're looking at the panels for mobile monitors, the main factors we evaluate are the screen size, the native resolution, the brightness range, the technology the panel uses, and the maker's claims for color-gamut coverage.Portable monitors are usually 14in-17in in size (that’s measured diagonally across the screen). You might want to match the screen size to that of your laptop/tablet, if you’re using one, but otherwise it’s just a question of budget and requirements. Even 17in is small enough to work on the go, however. What other specifications should I look out for? Key specs – Screen size: 15.6in; Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Screen technology: IPS; Video inputs: USB-C; Refresh rate: 60Hz; Weight: 824g The panel itself is an older TFT IPS number but it’s pretty good, delivering decent colours and colour accuracy when tested. It’s bright enough for most use cases but might struggle with direct sunlight. On the whole, though, using the PM161Q was a perfectly pleasant experience, and given the mid-range price tag and the feature set, it’s hard to ignore. When considering one of these portable monitors, that grab-and-go quality that sets it apart from the best computer monitors is key. If it’s too big or heavy, then that defeats the purpose. Even if you’re not a road warrior but have limited desk space, it’s worth using one of these displays for your workflow. Choosing portable monitor hinges on your use case and to what device you are connecting. The very concept of a portable monitor makes the most sense with a USB-C-equipped laptop.
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