What is a Portable Monitor?
A portable monitor is suited for workers who are on the move and working at their desks, in conference rooms, or in hotel rooms. It’s an innovation that makes it easier to work from any location. The advantage of portability extends beyond the fact that you can simply pull the screen off your laptop and plug it into your TV set. You can also use a portable monitor as a second monitor on top of your regular desktop model (perhaps to show a drawing/screenshot on your laptop-sized screen).
Portable monitors are an innovative tool for work or home. They are small and lightweight but also have enough power to keep you connected to any device in the world. Portable monitors come in a variety of sizes and shapes, depending on your needs. They range from 4K screens to super simple laptop-style displays that fold up into a stand for easy usage anywhere.
Why Should You Consider Buying a Portable Monitor?
Portable monitors are convenient and help save space. Not only that but they can also be easily carried by hand to different places. You can set up your workspace anywhere with this little device!
What are the Best Features to Look For in A Portable Monitor?
- Resolution.
- Refresh rate.
- Brightness.
- Buttons.
- Ports.
First, how to Evaluate the Screen? The resolution of a monitor is the most important feature to look for when purchasing a portable monitor, as this determines how many pixels your monitor can display. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image.
How Are Portable Monitors Powered and Connected? A port on the monitor allows you to plug and unplug an external device that has a video output, and you can use such an external device as a computer or laptop to display images from another source on your monitor. Some monitors come with speakers and some with USB ports, so there are options available depending on what you want.
Top 3 Portable Monitors To Look Out For In 2022
Portable Monitor – MNN
| Product Dimensions | 14.48 x 8.85 x 0.3 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.1 pounds |
| Manufacturer | MNN |
- １＊15.6″ Portable Monitor
- １＊Smart Cover
- １＊USB-C to USB-C Cable 1.2M
- １＊Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable 1.5M
- １＊USB-C to USB-A Cable(Power Supply)1.5M
- １＊5V/2.0A Power Adapter
- １＊User Manual.
Pros:
-Functions well, and the display looks good.
-The folding stand is nifty and looks neat and modern.
-Ports are labeled.
-The “OTG” port, ostensibly for a mouse or keyboard hookup, is actually just a standard USB-C and can be used for power if you prefer.
Cons:
-Included cables aren’t very long.
-Overwhelming to figure out which cables to use, but the manual does do a good job of explaining.
-Includes several cables, but not the one I needed (luckily, I already had an adapter that made it work). The manual says that customer support will actually send you a free adapter for several different ports on request, which is pretty great, but it’s an additional step I didn’t plan on doing when I bought the monitor.
Portable Monitor – KYY
| Product Dimensions | 14.48 x 8.85 x 0.35 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.7 pounds |
| Manufacturer | KYY |
- 1 x 15.6” Portable Monitor
- 1 x Smart Cover
- 1 x USB-C to USB-A Cable
- 1 x USB-C to USB-C Cable
- 1 x Mini-HDMI to HDMI Cable
- 1 x 5V 2.4A Power Adapter
- 1 x Friendly User Manual
Pros
Connections: The monitor comes with a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable that works great with a PS4. The USB-A to USB-C cable works great to power the monitor, even directly from a PS4 USB-A port (or via the included USB power block). The package also includes a USB-C to USB-C cable that works great with my MacBook Pro.
Quality: The monitor starts up as soon as it is powered with a quick KYY logo and then the video feed. If you are used to an iPad, you will be struck by how this looks and feels like a widescreen version of an iPad Pro. The 1080p image is bright and colorful, working well with the gameplay. The sound is crisp and full. It actually sounds better than our larger monitors! The magnetic monitor cover and stand remind me of an iPad cover. It has a nice texture and is completely removable via magnetic attachments. It took a few tries to figure out the right folding patterns to use as a stand, but the instruction booklet helped.
Cons
– The protective film has some bubbles in it, though that is probably just because I wasn’t very careful about putting it on correctly.
– Don’t purchase the speakers. As with every monitor that I’ve ever owned, the speakers are garbage. A pair of headphones or an actual speaker should be your next purchase if you don’t already own one.
– This monitor only comes with a USB type C/HDMI connection wire, so it can’t connect the iPhones.
ZSCMALLS – Portable Monitor
| Product Dimensions | 14 x 8.8 x 0.35 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.69 pounds |
| Manufacturer | ZSCMALLS |
It comes with an attached cover for when not in use, and three cords (power, PC cord, Mac cord)
Pros:
-Very easy to connect by using a USB-C cable.
-Perfect size.
-Screen is large enough, very lightweight, and instant setup.
-The display is clear and reduces blue light irritation.
Cons:
-The monitor must be plugged into the wall. It would have been charged & truly portable, but it’s not.
-The USB power cable provided is very short and would not reach a plugin, so you’ll probably need to buy a new one.
-No power button.
-Speakers are not very loud at all.
OUNSHLI – Portable Monitor
| Product Dimensions | 0.35 x 14 x 8.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 3.65 pounds |
| Manufacturer | OUNSHLI |
- 1 x 15.6 inch Portable Monitor
- 1 x Mini HDMI to HDMI Cable
- 1 x USB-C to USB-C Data Cable
- 1 x USB-A to USB-C Power Cable
- 1 x Wall Charger
- 1 x Portable Monitor Stand
- 1 x User Manual
Pros:
-The brightness and color are great. It’s a matte screen, so you don’t have to worry about reflections blinding you.
-The speakers are decent.
Cons:
-HDMI content randomly flickers
-It will not work on a desktop pc or desktop gaming computer at all.
Is It A Good Choice As A Portable Monitor for a Laptop?
Your best portable monitor is the one that meets all of your requirements and works with your setup. While shopping for a monitor, you should keep in mind what size, refresh rate, resolution, and connectivity will work best with your setup.
While it’s important to check reviews to see how other people have used the product, don’t let every negative comment sway you; do some research on-site and make an educated guess as to which screen size and resolution might be best for you at a specific price point. Also, keep mindful of the monitor’s power source – most portable monitors need to be plugged into an outlet.