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Remote work, on-the-go gaming, and digital nomadism have never been more popular than they are right now. This means that our devices need to be able to keep up with our lifestyle and be as mobile as possible while, of course, remaining lightweight, simple to use, and powerful. Portable monitors check all of those boxes in a very compact, minimalist package. But what is a portable monitor, exactly? Let’s find out.
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Portable Monitor: What Is a Portable Monitor?
Portable monitors, also known as mobile monitors, travel displays, or second screens, are a small, portable, external monitor that’s compatible with just about any laptop, phone, gaming device, and camera out there. Portable monitors are called portable monitors for good reason. Portable monitors are, in a word, portable. Lightweight, foldable, and coming with a built-in stand, USB-C/HDMI connectivity, portable monitors are, in a word, portable.
Portable monitors are usually 12 and 17-inch portable monitors and make a great second screen for laptops, PCs, and tablets. The portable monitor screens also support both landscape and portrait mode, and are powered through USB-C directly from your laptop or mobile device. This means that portable monitors require no additional power source.
Portable dual monitor setups are a thing, too. Portable dual monitor setups are essentially when you pair two portable external monitors with your laptop or computer’s built-in screen to create a 3-screen setup. Portable dual monitors are also a thing, which we’ll talk about later.
How Does a Portable Monitor Work?
Portable monitors connect to a laptop, phone, camera, or any other device with a single cable (usually USB-C or HDMI) and, as the name would imply, work as a regular external monitor would. Most new laptops and phones come with USB-C with DisplayPort compatibility that allows you to send video and power over a single cable.
Mini HDMI ports are also quite common, as are wireless connectivity options which you can also find on some gaming portable monitors. If you want to add an additional screen to your current laptop, mobile device, or any other gadget, you only need a portable monitor and an appropriate cable.
Portable dual monitors work the same way as portable monitors, only you connect two portable monitors to laptops and computers, thereby creating a two external screens + one laptop screen setup. Portable dual monitors are particularly popular with people who want to get more work done but without the (or very little) hassle.
Portable dual monitor setups are similar to any portable monitor in that it’s extremely easy to set them up as well (plug and play), so you don’t need to worry about drivers and lengthy installation procedures. Select the desired display mode (duplicate, extend, or second screen only) and you’re good to go.
Portable Monitors: Who Needs Them?
Portable monitors are universal as in that they work with just about every device out there. You can connect a portable monitor for laptop use to Android phones, iPhones, Windows and MacBooks, tablets, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, cameras, and other gadgets. Who needs portable monitors, though? Who uses portable dual monitors? Let’s take a closer look at who exactly needs a portable monitor.
Remote Workers and Digital Nomads
Remote workers and digital nomads work outside of the office more often than not. Portable monitor for laptop use is a great way to gain some additional screen real estate which is useful for multitasking (video call on one screen and messaging on the other, for instance).
Gamers
Gamers, on the other hand, love portable monitors for the same reason. Portable monitors allow you to connect your Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, or any other portable console to your monitor for more comfortable big-screen gameplay when you’re not at home. Portable monitors with higher refresh rates and lower response times are also good for more graphics-intensive games.
Students and Educators
Portable dual monitors are also useful for students and educators as they are usually working with a number of apps and windows at a time. Portable monitors for laptops allow a student, for example, to do research on one screen and work on their paper on the other.
Creatives and Designers
Photographers, videographers, designers, and other creatives can use a second portable screen to monitor color correction, timeline scrubbing, or content previews. 4K portable monitors with a higher resolution and color accuracy are especially useful for creatives and other professionals who work in tech or video.
Business Presenters and Sales Teams
A projector is always a good solution, but it’s also not always practical or, in some cases, even possible to bring a projector with you. This is especially true when you need it in a pinch, say on a business trip, or when you travel often for work. The next best solution is a portable monitor.
Main Portable Monitor Features to Consider
Choosing the best portable monitor for laptop use isn’t all that difficult, but there are a few key features and specs that you should pay attention to. Here are some of the most important ones.
Resolution
Screen resolution determines the image sharpness or pixelation on the screen. Full HD (1920×1080) is what most portable monitors come with, but 4K (3840×2160) portable monitors are also available. As you can probably guess, 4K portable monitors have an ultra crisp resolution.
For day-to-day use and office productivity, you can get any modern portable monitor with a Full HD resolution, but 4K portable monitors are a better bet for creatives and people who work in tech or otherwise need more pixels per square inch.
Panel Type
IPS (in-plane switching) panels are by far the most common types of panels in portable monitors as they offer better viewing angles and more accurate color reproduction. TN panels (twisted nematic) have higher refresh rates which is great for gamers but inferior color reproduction.
Connectivity
USB-C is an obvious choice here since it powers most modern laptops and smartphones. But it is the USB-C with DisplayPort compatibility that’s important here since you don’t need an additional cable apart from the one that came with the monitor. HDMI works fine as well, especially if you work with older devices that don’t need the power supply.
Mini DisplayPort, wireless connectivity, and other options are available with some models as well.
Portability and Build Quality
Weight and thickness are the most important factors here if you travel or commute a lot and want to take your laptop with you everywhere. Most portable monitors weigh less than 2 pounds and are about 0.5” thick. Some even come with built-in stands and magnetic covers.
Touchscreen Functionality
Some portable monitors support touchscreen functionality which is great if you work with mobile devices, but also great for interactive presentations. Touchscreen portable monitors are also great as drawing monitors if that’s your profession or hobby.
Power Source
Most portable monitors have an integrated USB-C port that receives power directly from your laptop or phone. Some do require an additional power source and are plugged into a power outlet but there are portable monitors with a built-in battery, too.
Portable Monitors: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Portable monitors are a great way to get more work done and more of it done faster with minimal effort.
Lightweight and mobile
Portability is the primary focus of these devices. Portable monitors are even more lightweight and mobile than most laptops and tablets at less than 2 pounds.
Plug and play
You can even get portable monitors that require little to no setup at all. No need to install drivers, software, or other time-consuming processes and solutions.
Work with anything
USB-C and HDMI connectivity means that portable monitors will work with laptops, phones, tablets, game consoles, and even cameras as long as the video-out is 1080p or 4K.
Compatible with laptops and phones
Portable monitors are compatible with most laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Making them the easiest way to add more screens.
Reasonably priced
Portable monitors are very, very affordable. You can find a portable monitor that’ll cost you practically nothing. There are pricier 4K or even 8K models on the other end of the spectrum.
Cons:
Brightness
Portable monitors can’t get as bright as regular monitors can. This means that you’ll have a hard time in sunnier areas as you’ll have a hard time with glare and reflections.
Smaller screens
Portability, as much of a plus as it is, comes at the cost of a smaller size. The smaller size is what portable monitors have in common.
Durability
Portable monitors aren’t particularly rugged or durable. If you’re hard on your gadgets, you’ll want to buy a protective case for your device.
What Is a Portable Monitor? The Wrap-Up
So what is a portable monitor, exactly? Portable monitors are mobile, compact, and powerful and they allow you to get more work done or have some downtime. Portable monitors aren’t made with one specific type of person in mind. Portable monitors are used by a wide range of professionals and in many fields.
Freelancers, remote workers, digital nomads, students, teachers, business professionals, designers, photographers, videographers, gamers, business presenters, and sales teams are just some of the people who use second monitors or portable dual monitors when they work outside of the office or at home.
With 4K portable monitor available, it’s no problem at all to find a device that’ll meet your specific needs and budget. Whether you want a mobile second screen for your laptop or a portable dual monitor setup for your Windows or Mac computer, the best portable monitor for laptops (or any other device for that matter) will significantly boost your workflow and improve your leisure time.