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Best Buy Portable Monitor
Best Portable USB Monitor
Best Portable Gaming Monitor
Best Portable Monitor For Laptop
Portable monitors can be reliable devices to use for multiple applications including when you need to travel. They are usually smaller than standard monitors and with the rising popularity of fast USB connectivity, they are now more affordable and easy to use than ever. These monitors can be carried with ease everywhere and they can be great for your gaming sessions or if you want to enhance your productivity. A portable monitor can be a nice solution if you plan on extending your workspace, for example, you can have an extra screen to use with your laptop. Whatever your reasons, if you consider purchasing one, there are definitely some aspects that you need to keep in mind. You might also be interested in our articles about the best portable projectors and the best portable printers.
1. Resolution
As with other screens, the higher the resolution, the better the clarity and the overall experience is more comfortable. It depends on the type of activity you plan on using the portable monitor. Although Full HD resolutions are more suitable for entertainment purposes, lower resolutions can work just as well for things like web browsing. A good rule of thumb is to try to get a monitor with the highest resolution that your budget permits.
2. Connectivity
A USB 3.0 connector should be found on all the portable monitors out there because that’s usually the way they get their power. If you want to be more prepared for the way the technology evolves in the future, is highly recommended to consider getting a model which comes equipped with a USB Type-C port as well. An HDMI port would be a nice extra if you plan to connect a gaming console.
3. Stand
Without a stand, using a portable monitor can be too difficult. You don’t need to buy one as most monitors have a built-in stand and its quality can also be an important factor to consider. Look for monitors with solid stands that can keep the screen firmly in an upright position. It could be worth it to spend a little extra just for a more high-quality stand, especially if you plan on using the monitor for extended periods of time.
The market can be saturated with so many products, many portable monitors of dubious quality, so to make things easier for you, let’s take a look at the following list. It contains the best portable monitors for the money, only those models which manage to capture the right balance between features and performance for their cost.
Best Buy Portable Monitor
1. GeChic 1303i 13.3″ 1080p Portable Monitor
Packed with great features including 1080p resolution, multiple inputs, dual built-in speakers, and a compact design, this 13.3-inch portable monitor from GeChic looks like a very attractive choice. With so many solid potential uses, including for connecting it to a smartphone, mini PC, or a camera, this unit appears to be a winner on the market for portable monitors.
The full HD IPS panel of this monitor delivers in terms of color depth and brightness. It can be a perfect component in the toolbox of any photographer or designer as it offers uncompromising picture quality. The screen is fairly light and compact, so it makes an excellent choice for those concerned about portability.
Setting it up at your workstation is fairly straightforward as the monitor provides driver-free installation and can be connected on a plug-and-play basis. The flat-back design means that the screen is also easy to place on a table and to use it for writing or designing. There’s a ten-finger multi-touch system implemented to facilitate the operation.
There’s support for both HDMI and VGA input so you should have no issues in connecting this portable monitor with a decent range of devices including minicomputers, Intel NCU, Raspberry Pi, and many others. An interesting use for a monitor like this one is transforming it into a digital signature if you need to have a product video displayed.
One thing to consider if you use this USB-powered monitor is that from certain devices such as gaming consoles it will need a separate source of power such as an AC adapter or a power bank. The monitor is certified by Windows and it’s fully compatible with all the recent versions.
Although it’s a bit expensive, the GeChic 1303i is worth the investment if you need a portable monitor that’s really easy to use and one that offers a lot of visual entertainment. The touchscreen works well for many purposes and the image quality is definitely one of its standout features. Highly recommended.
Product Highlights:
- 10-point Multi-Touch Capacitive Touchscreen
- Plug and play operation
- 1080p resolution
- True Color
- HDMI Mini Display VGA input
Best Portable USB Monitor
2. ViewSonic TD2430 24″ 1080p Portable Monitor
The ViewSonic TD2430 is a portable monitor that boasts a decent set of features for its cost. It comes with a full HD resolution and a generous size of 24 inches. A stable stand which can be easily adjusted is supplied and the connections for this unit are very flexible. Let’s see if it’s truly worth the money.
As opposed to the clunky plastic frames of conventional monitors, this portable screen comes with a frameless design with a slim bezel which makes for a much more pleasant visual impression. The performance is also on par with its elegant design.
The monitor boasts the SuperClear MVA Panel technology which promises the most accurate and vivid colors possible. It also ensures the correct level of brightness accommodating from any vantage point. Whether you’re looking at it from above or below or from the side and the front, the image quality will remain the same.
This monitor has a capable 10-point multi-touch touchscreen to ensure the highest level of accuracy and responsiveness. It will be able to detect a maximum of 10 points of contact at the same time. This makes it an ideal solution for office work, education or commercial use, but it’s also a solid product for home entertainment.
The touch display comes with a protective glass faceplate for enhanced durability. It can resist any scratches and is specially designed for delivering consistent results even in heavy usage settings such as a public environment where you might have the monitor used as a kiosk that the customers interact with via touchscreen. Connectivity is also quite versatile thanks to the multiple inputs such as HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA.
With such an excellent value per price ratio, the ViewSonic TD2430 is a great portable monitor to have. It offers reliable color reproduction, accurate touch operation, and a flexible VESA mount. As a bonus, there are also some decent built-in speakers included. All in all, this model can be a solid investment for anyone who wants increased productivity or extra entertainment on-the-go.
Product Highlights:
- 24-Inch Full HD 1080p
- Freestanding tablet design
- 10-point multi-touch screen
- Two Built-In Speakers
- Adjustable stand
Best Portable Gaming Monitor
3. GeChic 1503H 15.6″ IPS Portable Monitor
Another powerful portable monitor from GeChic, this time a 15.6-inch model, the 1503H offers a low weight, built-in speakers, and a beautiful IPS panel. It comes with multiple connectors like HDMI and VGA and it displays anything with pleasant full HD clarity. There’s some great gaming potential in it too.
The 15.6-inch size is identical to the popular size of a laptop screen so it will work very nice in conjunction with it if that’s your intended use. The compact and sleek look could be a nice match for other devices too, including gaming consoles or mini PC sticks. The FHD resolution brings out some extra clarity and details from the picture.
When it comes to connectors, this portable monitor offers a smartly designed HDMI port besides the usual ones. What makes it stand out is how neatly this rear port has been placed to allow for discreet hiding of the cables behind the monitor so you can enjoy a clean working space. Some nice connectivity accessories included in the package are an HDMI video cable, a USB-A to USB-C power cable, and a 5V-2A adapter.
This unit is part of a series of portable monitors designed for compatibility with the VESA100 industrial standard. There are multiple ways to secure it. You can use a monitor arm or opt for a wall mount but you could also try fastening it with the help of a camera tripod that has a 1/4” screw hole. As a bonus, the Multi-Mount kit feature of this monitor allows for different viewing angles when assembling it thanks to the various screw holes.
The GeChic 1503H is a great portable monitor considering all the functionality and the overall value for the cost. It doesn’t have a touchscreen so if you need that you should look over to the 1503I model that’s been also reviewed on this list. For its class, this monitor can offer a lot in terms of both image quality and design.
Product Highlights:
- 1080p resolution
- IPS wide viewing panel
- Anti-glare monitor
- Built-in speakers
- HDMI, VGA connections
Best Portable Monitor For Laptop
4. ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC IPS Portable Monitor
One of the best travel companions for laptops is the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC, a very performant portable monitor which promises a lot for its cost. The 15.6-inch display provides an innovative hybrid signal solution as it can handle both USB Type-C and Type-A sources. Now it’s time to find out if this model is worth the cost.
To be able to maintain a consistent level of productivity, this monitor only requires a single USB connector cable for compatibility with virtually any laptop. The innovative hybrid-signal solution comes with support for USB Type-C connections and after a proper driver install it will be fully compatible with USB Type-A connectors as well.
By far one of the most attractive aspects of this portable monitor is the design. It’s incredibly thin and lightweight fitting with ease in a travel bag. The only downside is that it’s a bit fragile so you need to take some measures to ensure its safety when transporting.
In terms of performance, the full HD IPS panel doesn’t disappoint as it can deliver a stunning level of details and color reproduction. Having an IPS screen can really make a difference when working as the viewing angles are much wider so you can keep working even from more extreme viewing positions without sacrificing the colors and the contrast.
For a more comfortable viewing experience, this model offers automatic screen orientation just like a normal smartphone. This makes it ideal for things such as presentations or Excel sheets. You will need the DisplayWidget software installed and this function is only compatible with Windows systems.
Considering everything about this portable monitor, it can be said that Asus did a good job with the ZenScreen MB16AC. It’s a bit fragile so that’s something which could be improved but it makes up for it in design and performance. The image quality is superb and just for this alone, this monitor is worth the expense.
Product Highlights:
- 15.6” IPS USB Type-C & Type-A monitor
- 1920X1080 pixels resolution
- Ultra-portable design
- Allows for both landscape and portrait orientations
- ASUS Eye Care technology
5. Elecrow 11.6 Inch Portable Monitor
For those who want to sacrifice some screen size for even more portability, the Elecrow 11.6-inch monitor is an excellent solution for on-the-go users. Designed with aluminum and boasting solid full HD IPS performance, this screen could be a nice choice for a wide range of applications including using it with a Raspberry Pi.
Connecting this model is pretty simple thanks to its HDMI and VGA inputs. It’s nice for everyday use but it can also do a solid job as medical or industrial equipment. The image quality is decent. The resolution could be considered the primary factor that helps with the clarity but the brightness of 350 cd/m2 is also on par with the cost.
Other factors that contribute to the overall screen performance are the contrast which is fairly good – 800:1 and the viewing angle which at 170 degrees is reasonably wide. The screen size has its advantages and disadvantages but if you prefer a more portable unit, this works very well. There’s an included stand in the package although is a bit flimsy. Still, it does its job so no complaints there.
While this makes for a nice screen to be used with a Raspberry Pi, there are other great uses too. It’s compatible with gaming consoles if you use a power source and if you properly mount on the headrest in the car, it can be an entertaining choice for road trips. The VESA mount holes of 75mm are standard in size meaning that the monitor can be mounted with ease anywhere. The screen is compact and versatile and with a bit of imagination, the possibilities are unlimited.
When you consider the resolution, the HDMI connection, the aluminum construction and its overall flexibility, this portable screen by Elecrow is actually an amazing choice. It’s hard to find this kind of portable monitor with this size so if it looks like something that covers your needs, you’ll be glad to go for it.
Product Highlights:
- Full HD resolution
- IPS LED display type
- Aluminum construction
- Works with Raspberry Pi models
- HDMI connectivity
6. GeChic On-Lap 1503I 15.6-Inch
GeChic’s 1503I is a very portable touchscreen monitor that’s clear enough to handle a large variety of applications. The anti-glare screen offers a nice visual impression but under the hood, you can also discover some nice goodies like the HDMI and VGA connections or the built-in speakers.
Thanks to the Full HD resolution, you can definitely expect a solid image quality. There’s also plenty of brightness and a good amount of saturation. The color accuracy is on point too. To connect it to your devices, you can use either the HDMI or VGA connectors. Like the 1503H model, it also comes with the rear port connector which conveniently keeps wires out of view.
In terms of touchscreen performance, this unit has you covered. The touch capability is very good making navigation with a capacitive stylus a breeze. You can effortlessly do markups or annotations, though drawing and note taking is a bit more complicated.
The stand provided for this screen is detachable and can be set for both horizontal or vertical placement of the display. There’s a good variation in angles to obtain the right viewing experience, including 72°, 62°, and 52°. A protective cover is supplied in the package to serve you during travels.
Thanks to the proprietary Multi-Mount Kit, this model can be mounted in various ways almost anywhere you need it. With the help of the VESA100 industrial standard, you can secure it with a wall mount, use a compatible camera tripod or choose a monitor arm. As the kit comes with different screw holes, when assembling it you can work with three viewing angles.
Taking into account the decent full HD image quality, the capable touch and the surprisingly protective cover that’s included, the GeChic On-Lap 1503I is worth a shot if you’re in the market for getting a portable monitor. The setup could be a bit difficult initially to get the touch signal working correctly but it pays off in the end. It has everything you need to use on the road and it’s really solidly built.
Product Highlights:
- 1080p resolution
- Anti-glare monitor
- IPS Wide Viewing Panel
- HDMI, VGA connections
- Built-in Speakers
7. ViewSonic VA2452SM_H2 24″ Dual Pack
Geared towards corporate users who wish to get their hands on performant displays that can be easily deployed and mounted, this dual pack of 24-inch portable monitors from ViewSonic represents a great investment. It doesn’t have included stands but it provides convenient VESA compatible mounting.
The full HD resolution delivers the kind of performance you’d expect at this price. You can view everything in more details no matter your activity as this makes for a good entertainment and productivity screen. Connectivity-wise, the screens are quite flexible, offering DVI, VGA, and DisplayPort connectors though there’s no HDMI port, unfortunately.
Some great technologies incorporated in these monitors, to provide a better viewing comfort, are the Flicker-Free and Blue Light Filter ones. They help reducing or to eliminate altogether the eye strain caused by the prolonged usage of the monitor. To enjoy the best color reproduction possible, ViewSonic integrated a powerful panel technology called SuperClear MVA which provides consistent brightness levels from any viewing angle.
Customization of the visual details is important, and these monitors come with various special modes including Game, Text, Movie, and Web presets. These allow for enhanced color temperature and contrast and improves the gamma curve for creating just the right viewing experience to accommodate various applications.
There are no stands included in the package but this is intentional because the two monitors have VESA compatible mounting to make installing a simple process. As they’re both packed in a single box it also reduces the environmental footprint which is a nice extra.
For anyone who needs a great set of two portable screens, the ViewSonic VA2452SM_H2 should be among the top considerations. It boasts some good value for the money with many customizable options and excellent image quality. The speakers are the only weakness as they’re mediocre sounding but the rest of the features are the ones that really matter.
Product Highlights:
- Full HD resolution
- Simple dual-screen installation
- Flexible connectivity
- Flicker-Free technology
- SuperClear MVA Panel Technology
8. EleDuino Portable Touchscreen Monitor 13.3-inch
The 13.3-inch screen size could be a sweet spot for many and this portable touchscreen monitor from EleDuino could be a very affordable option to consider. Despite the relatively low cost, it comes with a decent TFT panel, full HD resolution, and a stylish design due to its aluminum case and overall thinness.
The image quality on this little portable monitor is pretty decent. Even at 50% brightness it still leaves off a bright impression. The color settings don’t really improve the quality but it’s not even necessary to tweak too many things as the picture quality is solid enough already. For things like a Raspberry Pi project, it should be a satisfying solution.
As it comes with True Color it delivers in terms of color precision and the full HD resolution makes the small screen a pleasure to look at even though it’s not an IPS panel. It can be powered either via USB or using a power bank in case you use it with a device from which it’s not able to draw power, like a gaming console for example.
The touchscreen works very well on this device and if you plan on using it for gaming, it’s worth noting that it has a reasonable response. Setting this unit up will not take very long and you will be probably very impressed by the overall construction quality.
Despite being so lightweight, it doesn’t feel cheap and flimsy which is a great thing. It has an aluminum case and the overall thinness of just 9.7 mm makes it incredibly handy to carry. The built-in speakers could be considered a weakness but you can’t really expect high-quality audio at this size and price.
In conclusion, the EleDuino portable monitor is very well made and lightweight. The control button on its back is a bit too easily actuated when you lay the screen down but that’s not a huge flaw, just a small issue. The picture quality is great for its cost and using it is incredibly easy for most compatible devices.
Product Highlights:
- 1920X1080 resolution
- Sleek and thin design
- Aluminum Case
- HDMI connectivity
- Built-in speakers