10 Best Portable Monitors 2020
Portable monitors are not discussed as much as some of the other consumer electronics counterparts, but they are no less important. Whether you use computers for home entertainment purposes or professional requirements, a portable monitor (also known as USB PC monitor) goes a long way in making your life easy.
In this article we give you some important parameters about portable monitors and review three of them so that choosing the best portable monitor is quick and easy.
What Are Portable Monitors All About?
For all practical purposes, a monitor powered by USB qualifies as a “portable monitor,” irrespective of its size. This definition, however, is not set in stone and at times we see conventional monitors being used as portable ones because of their size. Conventional monitors come with a minimum of two thick input cables – one each for power input and signal input. This, in turn, makes the set up bulky and compromises portability.
USB powered monitors have one thin USB input cable to draw power as well as signal. This makes the set up extremely simple and they can be carried around with ease. If your profession requires you to travel a lot (such as photography), these come in extremely handy. You can even set them up to mirror your phone’s screen in some cases, which considerably simplify creating and editing files – particularly when you are on the go.
Top 10 Portable Monitors Comparison Table
Features of a Great Portable Monitor
There is no clear winner when it comes to selecting a portable monitor. Degree of portability, required screen resolution, desired features, etc. are some of the factors that should guide your choice. While buying a portable monitor, keeping the following points in mind would serve you well:
- Size. We do understand that there needs to be a balance between size and portability. Still, we recommend going for the largest display size that fits within your budget and space constraints.
- Resolution. 4K displays are fast taking over the HD-ready and Full-HD displays and we strongly recommend it. If you do not want to go all the way to 4Ks, a 16:9 aspect ratio monitor (commonly 1920 X 1080 or Full HD/FHD) is the minimum we recommend.
- Touchscreen. If Windows 10 drives your system and you spend considerable time in close proximity to it, a touchscreen display will add a lot of value to your work. It requires an additional investment but the enhanced experience and efficiency would be worth every penny.
Top 3 Best Portable Monitor Reviews
1. GeChic 1303H 13.3″ 1080p Portable Monitor
It takes a lot to earn the crown of best portable monitor – it has to have utility, hassle free set up, minimal driver requirements and to top it all, flawless performance. GeChic 1303H has all that and a lot more, propelling it to the top of our list.
At 13.3” of screen, it is big enough to offer practicality and usability, yet small enough to be carried around without hassles, thanks to its light weight. It comes with a protective case that also functions as a stand – a nifty little useful feature. Coming to its usage, it is strictly a plug and play device and doesn’t ask you to install endless number of drivers to get going. Its full HD LED display offers crystal clear picture, making it an all-rounder that can be used for photo editing, gaming, casual internet browsing and even a bigger screen for your smartphone. HDMI, VGA and Mini Display ports offer plenty of connectivity options to choose from.
It is one of those unique monitors that strike the balance perfectly – usability, performance and portability – a must have member of your electronic devices ecosystem.
2. Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421 Portable USB LED
Lenovo’s LT1421 is a sleek USB powered monitor that is handy for working in groups, browsing the web on a bigger screen, document editing or as a second monitor. Its form factor and black finish are instant attractions.
Its set up is very easy – we highly recommend using the USB cable that shipped with it, though. Once switched on, we were pleasantly surprised by its brightness. Color reproduction is very much acceptable and the brightness control provided on the stand is very easy to reach and use. Lenovo has paid a lot of attention to small details that matter and it shows through the non-grainy display and the viewing angle. However, you might miss a power button and a full HD display – none of which are show stoppers.
Overall a very affordable USB 2.0 powered monitor that is easy to carry around and is an all-weather performer.
3. ASUS MB168B USB Portable Monitor
Asus throws its name in the hat with the MB168B – the world’s slimmest monitor – that is loaded with features and is available at a very attractive price point. Throw in a 3-year warranty and 2-way free shipping, and this one throws a serious challenge to the competition.
It is a 15.6” portable monitor that uses a single USB 3.0 cable for power and input. Weighing less than 2 pounds, it is the lightest monitor around. In fact, it is lighter and bigger than a number of portable monitors. Its protective case can double up as a stand for tabletop use. Once powered on, it senses its orientation and adjusts itself to portrait or landscape mode. Its lighting sensor controls the brightness levels to ensure you always have the best working conditions.
It is quite a bargain at the price and if you are not looking for a monitor that has really detailed color reproduction, there’s no reason to look beyond it.
