Portable monitors have been around for years, but their importance has increased during the pandemic. With the continuation of remote and hybrid work positions, they will be key positions for the foreseeable future. But choosing one is not as simple as it seems. At this point, almost every major computer manufacturer has travel-friendly displays, ranging in price from $100 to nearly $1,000. So, to help cut through the confusion, I’ve tested a number of options to put together a short list of the best portable monitors on sale today.
Things to consider before buying a portable monitor
Before you start looking at specific products, it’s important to think about how and where you plan to use the portable display. Larger panels are great for home use, where you may only need to move or move it around when you have company. Meanwhile, small screens are great for traveling and walking around a coffee shop or co-working space. But if you’re too small, you can add extra weight to your bag without a ton of added benefit.
It’s also important to consider your typical workload, as artists can get added value from monitors with higher brightness and a wider color gamut. Those who spend all day looking at charts won’t get as much value from more vibrant screens.
What to look for in a portable monitor
Aside from price and screen size, the most important features of a portable monitor include panel type, brightness, refresh rate, and connectivity. Most portable monitors generally use IPS LCD displays that offer good viewing angles, strong brightness, and good energy efficiency. However, there are a few models with OLED screens that support wider color gamuts, which can be a huge benefit for artists and content creators. Some budget models can use TN panels, as this can help reduce costs and reduce energy consumption. However, we generally try to stay away from them because they often have worse image quality than IPS screens.
300 nits is the lowest we recommend for brightness – anything less can make the monitor difficult to use, even in some indoor environments. Ideally, we’re looking for displays that are close to 350 or 400 nits and above.
Connectivity is also important because if you can’t easily connect your phone or laptop to the monitor, it becomes a big paperweight. Most travel displays include HDMI or USB-C ports (or both), which cover the vast majority of devices. However, we also like models that support USB-C pass-through power, which reduces the complexity of your setup and the number of cords and adapters you need to carry around.
Finally, most portable monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate, which is fine for most use cases. However, there are a few models with up to 120Hz or even 240Hz. Fast panels are especially good for gaming, especially for those who plan to bring their console or gaming PC on the go.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
It just doesn’t Espresso 17 Pro it has strong brightness (450 nits) and a super premium design, but what really elevates this display are all its accessories and utilities. Espresso’s Stand Pro attachment feels downright bulletproof while also providing a super-strong magnetic attachment system, so you don’t have to worry about stands or tripods. Meanwhile, there’s a charging station with a large 32,000 mAh battery for people who need extra juice on the go. Alternatively, Espresso’s Jot app makes it easy to draw and mark up documents with a pen that works great with the company’s screen saver and adds a more textured surface for better feedback while drawing.
But the 17 Pro’s standout feature is that when connected to a Mac, it unlocks touch support to help unleash your creativity. Finally, it has everything you could want in a portable display, with great features including 10-bit color support, 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum, and dual USB-C ports with power delivery. Heck, it even comes with built-in speakers. The only downside is that it’s expensive, starting at $799. However, after testing it, it’s totally worth the money while offering better image quality than many similarly-sized, desktop-chained competitors.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
For just $200, Plugable’s 15.6-inch portable monitor provides everything you need and more on the budget screen. That’s because, despite the lack of HDMI, it has not one, but three USB-C ports with hub functionality thanks to two 10Gbps connections and 85-watt switch charging. Since the monitor itself is low power, you probably won’t even need to use the included brick when connected to a laptop.
True, the panel itself lacks eye-catching features with a brightness of 300 nits and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. But it’s good enough for most situations, and it’s usually better mileage than you’ll get in this price range or below. One minor drawback is that the image quality drops when viewed from acute angles, although this shouldn’t be a big deal as the colors and sharpness throughout are above average for the money. Finally, while we don’t expect a ton of freebies to come with budget gadgets, the Plugable includes a foldable magnetic cover that doubles as a kickstand and a USB-C 3.2 cable, which is a nice touch.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
Although ROG Strix XG17AHP has been on market for a whileit has a 17.3-inch panel with an anti-reflective coating and great specs, including 1080p resolution, plenty of ports and a fast 240Hz refresh rate – the latter about as high as you can get from portable monitors today. I appreciate that its built-in, 7,800 mAh battery makes it easy to set up for short sessions without worrying about the power source. This model also comes with a travel bag, folding cover, a ton of cables, and more. It also has a quick release system for attaching the included tripod, which is great when using it at home or in more semi-permanent setups. Even if you prefer to travel lighter, there are some that are a little cheaper version it only comes with a stand instead of a tripod.
Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget
For people who are always on the go Lenovo M14t Gen2 Mobile Monitor making it easy to bring the beautiful display wherever you want it. Its 14-inch panel has a 2240 x 1400 resolution with 100 percent sRGB color gamut and a 16:10 aspect ratio for a little extra vertical screen real estate. It also supports USB-C power delivery (up to 65 watts) so it can conveniently share power with a connected device like a phone or laptop. You also get sketching support thanks to Lenovo’s included stylus.
But the best part is its built-in stand that offers a stable tilt function from zero to 90 degrees, so it’s easy to adjust even in tight spaces. And at just 1.5 pounds, it won’t add a ton of extra weight to your bag. Lenovo has even thrown in a nice carrying sleeve to ensure the panel doesn’t get damaged in transit.
Just be aware that there are several different versions of the M14t monitor; you can choose one for as cheap as $284 direct from Lenovo. If you want to save a few bucks, read the specifications of the model you’re considering buying before pulling the trigger.
