Home The Best Portable Laptop Monitors
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Your laptop’s screen is already likely reasonably impressive. Even the Google Chromebook screens have come a long way since their humble inception, making it easier than ever to enjoy quality viewing on the go. But even the best laptop screens aren’t that large, and many of us need a bit more screen size regardless of whether we’re traveling for work or play. Whether you’re looking to add another twelve inches to your viewing experience in order to balance spreadsheets or play your favorite game, it rarely hurts to have an external monitor. Of course, laptops are so popular because of their compact size, which allows you to toss them in your bag at a moment’s notice—meaning larger monitors are an impractical choice for almost all types of travel. You might’ve assumed that external monitors are only for home use because of how large they are, but more and more companies are releasing portable laptop monitors that let you double your screen size without weighing down your luggage. Whether you want the sharpest, clearest image or a budget display that enables you to expand your workstation, these are the best portable laptop monitors you can buy right now.
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If you have a laptop with a smaller 13 or 14-inch screen, you will benefit from a portable external monitor on the larger side. The Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE is an excellent option for those who need a reliable monitor suitable for working and gaming. It features a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display and a built-in adjustable kickstand that allows you to make the display stand up in a landscape or portrait orientation. This monitor feels like a tablet, so you won’t have issues bringing it around with you to wherever you go within the day. It’s ideal for gaming because of its 144 Hz refresh rate, 3 ms response time, and NVIDIA G-SYNC support. Since the laptop is portable, it has a built-in 7800 mAh battery. You get around 3 hours of usage when it’s set to 144 Hz, but its Quick Charge Technology gets you 2 hours of juice for a quick one-hour charge. If you plan to work at a cafe or office, leaving the monitor plugged in might be best, so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery life. The Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE has built-in front-facing stereo speakers, so you can enjoy your games and videos even when you don’t have your earphones. The monitor has two USB Type-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a micro HDMI port. Customers will receive a free micro HDMI to HDMI cable, USB Type-C cable, USB Type C to A adapter, and power adapter upon purchase.
Large 15.6-inch display144 Hz refresh rateNVIDIA G-SYNC supportQuick Charge TechnologyBuilt-in front-facing stereo speakers
Battery life could be betterTilt angles are limited due to the built-in kickstandExpensive
Another fantastic portable monitor from Asus is the ZenScreen MB16AC, and it’s ideal for those who will mainly use it for work or browsing. It’s 0.3 inches thin and weighs around 1.7 pounds, so there’s no doubt that it’s portable. It has a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with a hybrid-signal solution. You can connect it to laptops that support a USB Type-C or Type-A connection. The single USB connection isn’t only for extending your laptop’s screen to the monitor because it also provides power for it. This means you will most likely need to plug your laptop into an outlet since the monitor will also get its power from it. The monitor only has a 60 Hz refresh rate, so it isn’t the best option for those who plan to do heavy gaming. Users have the freedom to make the monitor stand in a portrait or landscape orientation, and its DisplayWidget software can automatically detect the orientation and adjust the contents of your display. Spending several hours in front of your laptop and another monitor can take a toll on your eyes, but you can trust that the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC will be safe for you because it comes with Low Blue Light and Flicker-free technology, which will help reduce eyestrain and headaches. The monitor comes with a ZenScreen pen, and you can easily store it inside the smart pen hole in its smart cover. You will also get a USB Type-C cable and USB Type-C to A adapter.
Slim and lightweight designHigh-quality displayHybrid-signal solutionLow Blue Light and Flicker-free technologyFree smart cover and ZenScreen penBuilt-in accelerometer
60 Hz refresh rateBrightness needs improvements
The Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV is a suitable portable external monitor for creative professionals. Its 14-inch Full HD IPS display isn’t like standard monitors on the market because it’s a multi-touch panel. This monitor is ideal for graphic designs, editors, photographers, etc., because its 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut offers the most vivid colors possible. Users can rest assured that they get accurate colors because the display achieves an ∆E < 2 color accuracy, and it gets delivered to you already Calman Verified and factory calibrated. The monitor comes with the ProArt Palette, so you get convenient controls for adjusting its gamma, temperature, and color hue. You can always pick from the different pre-installed ProArt Presets when you are unsure how to play around with its color settings. The display has a physical dial at the back of the display that is compatible with Microsoft Surface and Adobe software dial controls. The Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV has a built-in adjustable metal kickstand, so you won’t have trouble setting it up when you’re working on the go. The monitor comes with Flicker-Free and Ultra-Low Blue Light technology, which keeps your eyes safe and comfortable even after a long day of work. In terms of connectivity, you get two USB-C ports and a micro HDMI port. It also has a tripod socket for those who want to mount the display to a tripod. The monitor comes with a USB-C cable, HDMI to micro HDMI cable, USB-C to USB-A adaptor, and USB-C to USB-A cable.
Multi-touch display100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut∆E < 2 color accuracyProArt Palette and ProArt PresetsAdjustable metal kickstandFlicker-Free and Ultra-Low Blue Light technology
Dial could be betterNot the best contrast ratioPricey
Some might feel like a 15.6-inch external monitor is still not big enough for them, so this is when a 17-inch option like the ViewSonic VX1755 should be your top choice. It has a 17.2-inch display, to be exact, and the monitor is 0.6-inch thick and weighs 2 pounds. The monitor features a Full HD resolution, and it’s a superb choice for gamers because of its 144 Hz refresh rate. You can expect smooth gameplay free from tearing since it has AMD FreeSync Premium technology. It has a mini HDMI and USB Type-C port, so aside from connecting your laptops, you can also connect it to your gaming consoles. Users can even connect the display to their mobile devices that use a USB Type-C connection. The monitor’s USB Type-C has two-way power, so you can either use your laptop to power the monitor or connect the monitor to a power outlet or power bank for it to power your laptop. You don’t need to purchase a tripod for the display because it already has a built-in metal kickstand. Users won’t have to worry about eye fatigue when looking at this display for an extended period since it features a Blue Light Filter and Flicker-Free technology. The freebies included with the ViewSonic VX1755 are a protective cover, mini HDMI to HDMI cable, USB Type-C cable, and USB Type-C to Type-A 3.2 Gen1 cable.
17.2-inch display144 Hz refresh rateAMD FreeSync Premium technologyFree high-quality protective cover
Not the best color accuracy and brightness
Lenovo has many monitors for sale, so it’s only fitting that they also have their fair share of portable monitors. Their ThinkVision M14 portable monitor features a 14-inch Full HD IPS display. It only has a 60 Hz refresh rate and 6ms response time, so it won’t be the best choice for gaming. The monitor can display up to 16.7 million colors and has a 300-nit brightness. It has better ergonomics than its rivals because you can tilt the display and adjust its height. The ThinkVision M14 comes with two USB-C ports you can use for video and power. Since it has pass-through power capabilities, you can charge your laptop and monitor using only one adapter. Unfortunately, the monitor doesn’t have mini HDMI or USB Type-A ports. You can expect less eyestrain from the monitor because of its Low Blue Light technology, but it doesn’t come with Flicker-Free technology. If you’re worried that the monitor can get damaged or scratched when you store it in your bag, you will love that it already comes with a protective sleeve. Customers will receive a free 1m USB Type-C cable upon purchase.
Excellent ergonomics compared to rivalsLightweight designDecent brightness and color fidelityLow Blue Light technologyFree USB Type-C cable and protective sleeve
USB Type-C ports onlyCould use more display customization options
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