BCG Staff 
The world we live in today is so technologically fast-paced that you almost can’t keep! As devices become more advanced by the second and our days become more upbeat, the need for portability and speed is constantly shooting up. Out of these urgent demands, portable monitors were born.Essentially, a portable monitor is a computer-sized screen that you can carry around without breaking a sweat. The crazy ease of use this machine offers coupled with the increased productivity resulting from its mobility is exactly why owning a portable monitor became more than a trend that tech-savvies go after, it’s a necessity if you want to keep step.
So, Why Use a Portable Monitor?
Well, from business to pleasure, the possibilities are endless with this one. If you’re always on the go, you can’t really let your entire PC setup tag along. Even its portable tangent, the laptop, doesn’t only force you to sit down if you wish to use it, but also it can be quite small and give squinting nightmares. A portable monitor allows you to carry it around, it moves with you.You could be waiting at the airport or sitting on your flight, and whip out your sizable screen to watch whatever show or movie you like with no inconvenience whatsoever. It doesn’t stop at planes, a portable monitor is useful with just about any other means of transport. Of course, you don’t have to be traveling. You can just be someone who is always stepping from one room to another or you simply can’t stay still for too long. Like me, you may be a multitasker who doesn’t want to go crazy switching between tons of open tabs or trying to juggle several devices at once. You can even use these monitors for security-watch or as a backup when the TV isn’t working. It’s an all-around entertainment system that’s also excellent if you got a kid, or a few, on your hands. If any of these scenarios sound all too familiar, then you’re in for a treat! Portable monitors are what you’ve been waiting for, and we’ve scavenged all over the web and reviewed lots of products, to come up with a list of the best portable monitors available on the market. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Top 5 Best Portable Monitors Comparison Chart
GeChic 1503H Monitor
GeChic 1503i Monitor
EleDuino Portable Monitor
Elecrow 13.3 inch Monitor
ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC
Our Top Picks
GeChic 1503H Portable Monitor
Kicking things off with the GeChic 1503H monitor. The impressive product weighing only 1.75 lbs falls right into the lightweight category making it a breeze to carry around. The display is a nice 15.6 inches with a full HD resolution of 1920×1080, which serves high-quality images on a comfortable size. Besides USB ports, the GeChic also offers both HDMI and VGA input ports, this means that you won’t need to install drivers. And no worries, cables all go in the back so they won’t get in your way. In addition to gaming consoles such as PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, this device is also compatible with both Mac and Windows devices.Unfortunately, the price tag on this portable monitor is rather hefty and the sound quality is a huge letdown.
Things We Like
- Crisp display quality
- Works with VESA 100 mounts
- Variety of connectivity options
- IPS panel
Things We Don’t
- Expensive
- Disappointing sound quality
- On the heavier side
- Bezels are too big
GeChic 1503i Portable Monitor
Although pretty similar, the GeChic 1503i ou stages the 1503H version in one major feature. The GeChic 1503i offers a 15.6 inches Multi-Touch capacitive touchscreen display, perfect for those looking for a portable touchscreen monitor.Much like the previous GeChic monitor, the 1503i has an awesome image quality with a resolution of 1920×1080 and it’s compatible with Windows and Mac as well as gaming consoles and wireless devices. It also supports HDMI and VGA options to allow multi-connectivity. The thing is, the touchscreen function is not compatible with Mac devices, so keep that in mind if you own such devices.The sound quality is slightly improved in the 1503i than the 1503H and it’s a bit thicker, at a weight of 2.34 lbs, the GeChic 1503i is obviously heavier.
Things We Like
- Touchscreen function
- Full HD resolution
- Comes with IPS panel
- Slightly better sound quality
- Anti-glare and color adjustment ability
Things We Don’t
- Mac and touchscreen not compatible
- Pricey
- Cabling is somewhat complicated
EleDuino Portable Monitor
If you’re shooting for a top-notch resolution, the EleDuino portable monitor is the perfect target. Landing with a mighty 2560×1600 resolution, the EleDuino monitor delivers bright colors and a sharp clear image of unmatched quality at an affordable price.With a 10.1 inch display and a feather-like weight of 0.77lbs, portability on this one is not nearly an issue. Being smaller also translates into less power usage which means you can use your phone or power bank to fire this baby up. This monitor is compatible with just about any device thanks to its USB and HDMI ports.Designed for gaming, the EleDuino portable monitor comes bearing not only one but two built-in speakers for rather decent sound quality and immersive experience. However, you can always plug in your external speakers or headphones to crack it up a notch.A downside to this monitor is its small size and the fact that it doesn’t come with a stand nor a cover.
Things We Like
- Marvelous image quality at 2k resolution
- Ultra lightweight
- Drivers not needed
- Great value for money
Things We Don’t
- Too small for some users
- Not compatible with VESA mounts and tripods
- Box doesn’t contain may equipment.
Elecrow 13.3 inch Portable Monitor
Next up, the Elecrow portable monitor comes in packing all kinds of neat features. Starting with the 1920×1080 full HD resolution display on the 13.3-inch monitor which means a high-quality image on a screen that’s not too big nor too small, a middle-ground you can say.The Elecrow offers all kinds of ports- USB, HDMI, 3.5mm jack and a power port. This lets you connect to any device with an HDMI output. However, since the power port is separate, you’re gonna be needing at least two things to get it running; a power source and an HDMI device that’s connected to it. It’s also very light at 1.41 lbs so you can handle it with no problems.What really stands out in this portable monitor, is the incredible response time. At 5 milliseconds, it’s the fastest one in our bunch and blazing when it comes to gaming. It offers built-in speakers with good sound quality and comes with its own metal rack.The only bone I gotta pick with the Elecrow portable monitor is the fact that it’s 15 millimeters thick, the thickest on the list.
Things We Like
- Lightning-fast response time
- High-quality image
- Built-in loudspeakers
Things We Don’t
- Fairly thick at 1.5 millimeters
- Unnecessarily large bezels
- Doesn’t come with a manual
ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC
Finishing strong with ASUS ZenScreen M16AC, a true master of its craft. The ZenScreen provides amazing image quality at 1920×1080 HD resolution along with high enough brightness to see very clearly on its anti-flicker 15.6-inch screen. It also offers an awesome feature where you get to switch between two brightness modes: one for gaming especially and one for anything else.Connectivity is where it gets even more interesting as the ASUS monitor is branded with a dual signal USB type C port to charge your monitor and receive data and the same time. Add in the part where it’s delivered with a USB-C to USB-A adaptor, and you’ll know that ASUS has got you covered.The ZenScreen is simple to handle at a lightweight of 1.71lbs and 8 millimeters if thickness. It has a pen included as well as a smart protective cover, not a touch pen though, just a normal pen which you can fit into its own designated hole on the monitor.
Things We Like
- Smart slim design
- Flicker-free technology for more comfort
- USB-C compatibility
- Smooth performance
- Bright vibrant display
Things We Don’t
- Lack of other connection options
- The magnetic case isn’t very sturdy as a stand
What Are You Looking for?
Only you can answer this question. You should determine what you expect to get out of a portable monitor. Are you using it mainly for work? Do you want it for gaming? Is it for watching movies and listening to music? Or perhaps you’re using it as a security cam monitor? Well, whatever it is, knowing what you require from a monitor is the first step to making the best possible choice for you. Now, it’s time for me to do my part. Here, I’ll be introducing you to all the knowledge and information you absolutely need to consider when you’re searching and comparing all sorts of portable monitors models.
Size.. It Does Matter!
It goes without saying, the size of the monitor is crucial to your experience.
You want it large enough to be comfortable to look at and, at the same time, compact enough to easily sport it around but not too small that it loses its purpose altogether.Keep in mind that while it’s very tempting to go bigger, it’s not always better.
You gotta make sure that you have in reach so that it doesn’t slow you down by being troublesome to get. Knowing what type of bag or backpack would fit your portable device is one way to guarantee a hassle-free usage.
Weight .. How High or Low Can You Go?
Obviously, any portable device needs to be lightweight. If it’s too heavy, it wouldn’t be so portable, now would it? Ideally, a handy portable monitor should weigh no more than 3lbs. This will make it easier for you to carry it on you anywhere you go. It won’t cost you much travel weight and it won’t be a pain to bear every time you’re in a hurry to get to work. However, the bigger the monitor, the heavier it gets. So, you’re gonna have to compromise and balance out the screen size vs its weight. A 20-inch monitor would be much harder to maneuver than a slim 15 inch one.
Display .. What Makes It Good Quality?
What’s the point of a monitor if it doesn’t display a proper image? Exactly, no point.Two things that contribute to a crystal clear vibrant image are the resolution and the contrast ratio. The higher the resolution the clearer the display. So you should go after an HD resolution, no less than 720p.A contrast ratio controls how bright and sharp colors are delivered to your eyes. A higher contrast ratio is certainly something you want to seek to use your monitor to its full potential.
Having Connections
We’re not talking about you knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone.
No, what I mean is the way your portable monitor connects to your other devices. A portable monitor with only a USB option will work just fine with pretty much all laptops allowing you to easily connect them.
But, if you want to be ready to connect, without needing setups, to other devices such as LED screens and gaming consoles, then getting a monitor that includes HDMI and VGA options is what’s best for you.
Extra Tips
Here are some bonus features that you should take into account if you want to further improve your portable monitor performance.
Response Time
Because there’s nothing more frustrating than a device that chokes and lags, the response time on your portable monitor should be on top of your priorities list.To ensure fast responses and quick performance, I recommend choosing a monitor with 8 milliseconds maximum response time.
Sound Quality
A feature that often gets overlooked is the audio quality of a portable monitor. Typically, as you don’t really need them, speakers on monitors don’t offer the best sound quality because you’ll probably be using external speakers or headsets for good sound quality. However, they’re still not so bad to have for those times you’re on the road but your audio gear is at home.
Compatibility
Always check for a monitor’s ability to run with different operating systems. Is it compatible with your, Windows, Mac, console or Android devices?
Wrap Up
All in all, the ASUS ZenScreen seems to have everything an average user would need, from a high resolution to a smooth performance. However, if like me, you’re a sucker for ultra-HD resolutions, then we’d both be more than happy with the EleDuino portable monitor with its soaring 2k resolution.
