The largest screen size for a laptop as of 2022 is 17.3 inches. While this is remarkable, it may be inadequate for a developer, gamer, or someone that multitasks. And where screen size is not even a consideration, having an alternative screen to your PC can significantly improve your productivity and ease of use when you aren’t at home.
Most modern portable monitors come in different sizes, shapes, and specifications, necessitating you to choose the most appropriate one for your needs. But what do you need to consider when purchasing a new monitor for your laptop in 2023? These few tips will help.
Resolution
Your preferred monitor’s technology and screen resolution determine the clarity of the images it produces, and it also tells on the color quality and other details. There are now portable monitors with Full HD (1920 x 1080) capacity engineered with OLED or IPS technology to deliver excellent image, color, and contrast. If you use external monitors for video or photo editing, you cannot joke with these considerations.
Weight
Portable monitors come in different weights. If you are a traveler, you would want to minimize the weight of your luggage. As such, you should confirm the net weight of the monitor you are about to buy to be sure you can accommodate it. Your goal will be to aim for the lightest monitor that meets other requirements.
Audio Quality
If you are a gamer, you already know how vital an excellent audio output is to your experience. The RMS power, watts, and frequency response determine the audio quality of portable monitors, and the higher these values, the better the audio quality.
Touch Screen
Since the goal is to make your work or game easier, touch screen monitors are the best. You can navigate quickly without much hassle with a stylus or your hands.
Refresh Rate
Your monitor’s refresh rate determines its response time, and refresh rates lower than 60 Hz are unsuitable for gamers or programmers. So, while shopping, you should aim for a product with effective refresh rates.
Putting all these factors into consideration, here are the five best portable monitors you can purchase in 2023
5 Best Portable Monitors For Laptops In 2023
- ESR Kickstand Portable Monitor
- ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6″ Full HD IPS USB Type-C Portable Eye Care Monitor
- Lepow Z1-Gamut 15.6” FHD Laptop Display
- AOC 16T2 15.6″ Full HD Touch-enabled portable IPS monitor
- Uperfect 15.6″ Portable Monitor Matte
1. ESR Kickstand Portable Monitor– $199.99
Highlights
- Thin bezels
- 250-Nit Brightness
- 1780 Viewing Angle
- Low Blue Light Mode
- Full HD & HDR 10
Tablets and PCs with USB-C or HDMI display ports can use this portable monitor by ESR as an alternative screen. Android phones, Cameras, Xbox One, and TV boxes can equally utilize it once their display output is either USB-C or HDMI. Made of glass, this monitor has a kickstand that users can tweak to a large degree for a convenient landscape or portrait viewing experience.
The design is compact, allowing travelers to carry it anywhere conveniently. And unlike other monitors, this one doesn’t require pairing to use. Connect through its display port, and you are ready to start enjoying a beautiful screen display. You can customize the brightness and volume to your taste, and they will always remain so each time you connect it.
2. ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6″ Full HD IPS USB Type-C Portable Eye Care Monitor– $199.99
Highlights
- Smart cover & pen hole
- Eye-Care technology
- 60Hz Refresh rate
- Hybrid signal
- Slim & Stylish
This monitor takes video and power simultaneously with just one cable connection from your laptop or any other compatible device. Of course, that reduces wire connections that can make your workspace cumbersome. With less than 1kg weight and an 8mm profile, this monitor is the lightest and slimmest you can buy as your second screen.
The display widget feature of this monitor automatically senses the orientation and switches the screen appropriately. The color and image output is superb because of the Full HD and IPS technology that this ASUS monitor parades. Get rid of flicker, regardless of your viewing angle, with this product, as ASUS included this technology to prevent straining eyes.
3. Lepow Z1-Gamut 15.6” FHD Laptop Display – $219.99
Highlights
- Full HD Resolution
- Universal Compatibility
- Lightweight & Slim
- All Accessories Included
Lepow’s portable monitor is another excellent second-screen option for your laptop and other compatible gadgets in 2022. Beyond the Full HD resolution it shares with its contemporaries, this product also comes with 72% NTSC, an upgrade to its earlier Z1-Gamut color display. This implies that you now have a monitor with a broad spectrum color display to give accurate color and clarity.
It is just 1.7 pounds heavy and 0.3-inch thick, making it very convenient to carry for travelers. Its universal compatibility is due to its HDMI and USB-C display output that most tablets, laptops, phones, X boxes, and other electronic devices can identify with. All the accessories for immediate use are inside the box, and you can connect them yourself without assistance.
4. AOC 16T2 15.6″ Full HD Touch-enabled portable IPS monitor – $242.99
Highlights
- USB-C & Micro HDMI inputs
- IPS Monitor
- Built-in Battery
- SmartCover
- Stereo Speakers
- Touch Screen
Enjoy this self-powered IPS monitor for improved productivity and convenience when presenting or programming on your laptop. Its 8,000mAh built-in battery can last at least four hours of continuous use. Similarly, its immersive stereo speakers send out quality sounds for gamers and other audio-requiring purposes.
This monitor provides universal compatibility to devices like consoles, digital cameras, laptops, iPads, and MacBooks with HDMI or USB-C connectivity. Its capacitive touch screen features also make operating it easy, although you must connect it with a USB-C cable.
5. Uperfect 15.6″ Portable Monitor Matte – $199.99
Highlights
- Two USB-C Ports
- Anti-Glare Design
- One mini HDMI Port
- Frameless Bezel
- Full HD Resolution
Last on this list is this elegant UPERFECT monitor. It shares many features with others on the list, ranging from its Full HD display to slimness and compatibility. The matte display and anti-glare technology ensure that fingerprints don’t stick to your monitor and that you can easily clean them.
The weight of this monitor is 1.8 pounds, and it is 0.2-inch thick, making it easy to carry around. The 2W built-in double speakers produce high-quality audio, which you can listen to directly or connect to your 3.5mm headphone jack. You can use the kickstand to mount it on a wall.
Summary
The five monitors on this list share similar screen sizes, support Full HD display, and come with their complete accessories. There are minute differences, such as touch screen capacity, built-in battery, and speaker quality.
However, out of the five, I recommend the ESR portable monitor first for its comprehensive features and secondly for its universal compatibility and affordable price. It provides seamless video, audio, and visual content transmission from compatible devices.
