portable lcd screen brands

While monitors have been technically “portable” for decades, lightweight models that fit into a carry case rather than a station wagon are a more recent invention. Versions that you’d actually want to use? They’re even newer still.

While the benefits of a second screen are undeniable, we didn’t recommend any portable monitors on this site for a long time. They were just too expensive, had dim displays, didn’t work very well, and were still too big and heavy to really want to take outside the house with you.

That’s all changed in the last few years, as screen technology got better and lighter, USB C got rid of the bulky cables and chargers, and competition drove the price down. Several companies are now making portable monitors worth owning, with sizes and features to suit a wide range of needs.

We’d still suggest using a normal monitor if you work from the same space all the time, since you get much more for your money. If you’re a laptop user who travels regularly, often finds yourself hitting deadlines from the cafe, or needs to set up and take down your home office every day, however, a portable version makes a lot more sense.

Whether you’re on a budget, looking for the lightest version, or need extra screen size or a touchscreen, these are the best portable monitors of 2023.

To help you understand why we chose the models we did, but also to provide a starting point for you to do your own research, these are the key factors that influenced our portable monitor selections.

The critical factor for selecting a portable monitor is, well, portability. You’re going to be carrying the monitor from place to place, after all, usually alongside your laptop and other gear. That’s a lot of stuff to lug around, which is why size needs to be one of the first things you consider.

Before opting for the smallest model on the market, however, remember that display size will have a big influence on how useful your monitor actually is. A larger screen is more comfortable to use, but every extra inch adds more bulk, so choose wisely.

Picture quality is by far the most important aspect of any monitor, and portable ones are no exception. The problem is, unfortunately, that the increased portability can mean a worse display, which shows up particularly in lower-priced models.

Brightness: because you’re likely to use your portable monitor in different lighting conditions and environments, it’s important to pick a bright one. Usually measured in nits, look for a minimum of 250, ideally around 300-400 or more. Being able to dial the brightness up and down is also useful for conserving battery and avoiding eye strain in dark rooms.

While the monitor you choose needs to be portable, it also needs to meet your specific needs. While most models do a reasonable job of standard work-related tasks, gamers, photographers and graphic artists, and others have specific needs that makes certain monitors a better choice than others.

With your intended use in mind, there are a few extra features that can come in handy in certain situations. If they apply to you, bear them in mind when picking a portable monitor.

Anti-glare screen:choosing a monitor with a matte screen or anti-glare coating will make your life much easier if you plan to use your monitor outside or near a window. Considering that we’re talking about portable monitors here, this feature is more important than it first seems.

Touchscreen: touchscreen monitors are especially useful for creatives, and some come with a stylus that turns them into a (large) drawing tablet. Make sure that the touch component of whichever model you’re considering works with your operating system(s) of choice.

Stability: most portable monitors have some kind of stand that holds them in place on their own. Some also have tripod support, which provides even more stability (if you have a decent tripod, of course!). This is particularly important if you use the monitor outside or somewhere it can be easily knocked.

If opting for a budget pick is necessary, choose wisely. Manufacturers need to drop features to produce a portable monitor cheaply, so it’s your job to identify that compromise, and ensure you’re okay with the decision that’s been made for your particular situation.

For example, if you don’t plan to game much, it’s reasonable to sacrifice refresh and response rates. If you’re not a fan of touch screens, good for you: those models are usually more expensive. While having a higher resolution is better, it’s not always necessary: maybe 4k is overkill for your specific needs.

If we were going to pick the two most important features in a work-focused portable monitor, they’d have to be weight and picture quality. Apparently Lenovo had the same idea, and came up with the ThinkVision M14 as a result.

The M14 has an unusual design, with the screen connected to a fold-up base via a fancy hinge mechanism. The display itself is just 0.17″ (4.4m) thick, and can be adjusted to an angle anywhere from -5 to 90 degrees. The base unit holds all of the ports and circuitry.

Color reproduction isn’t the strong suit of most portable monitors, but here again the M14 shines, with accurate colors across the range. It’s also nice and bright, and the anti-glare coating means you’ll still be able to see what’s on the screen even under harsh fluorescents or sunlight.

The minimal weight, impressive color reproduction, and sturdy, flexible stand combine to make the ThinkVision M14 our top portable monitor pick for work-based tasks. As long as you have a recent laptop with USB C, there’s an awful lot to like and very little to complain about.

The words “portable monitor” and “creative work” don’t typically go together, especially if that creative work has a visual component. Small screens with poor color accuracy are the norm, and anyone doing serious graphical work will be better served by any decent desktop display.

With that out of the way, there are a (very) few manufacturers that make the effort to build portable monitors with creatives in mind. Of the limited range on offer, the best we’ve found so far is the ASUS ProArt Display PA148CTV.

Rather than the usual folio cover and stand that most portable monitors use, the PA148CTV has a fold-out metal kickstand that’s noticeably more stable. You can also mount the monitor on a tripod, which (assuming the tripod is sturdy enough) lets you raise the screen to a more ergonomically-friendly height.

It’s pretty bright for a portable monitor, and has a matte screen coating that keeps the worst of the reflections away, so it’s at least somewhat usable outdoors. Even so, it’s not as good as the best laptop displays in direct sunlight, and we wouldn’t choose to regularly use it this way.

If you’re planning to game with a portable monitor, especially if you prefer fast-paced action titles, the usual models won’t really cut it. Size and refresh rate start to matter a lot more, since small, laggy screens leave you at a significant disadvantage.

We’ve checked out a number of supposedly gaming-focused portable screens, many of which disappoint in the real world. For us, the Asus ROG Strix range consistently provides the best mix of features at prices that, while noticeably more expensive than other models, aren’t unreasonable for what you get.

Right now, our pick is the XG17AHPE, a 17.3″ monitor that despite its larger screen size, weighs in at a reasonable 2.3 pounds or little over a kilogram. It’s surprisingly portable for what it is, and the stand doubles as a basic screen cover for extra protection while not in use.

The standout feature, however, is the 240Hz refresh rate. That’s higher than anything else on this list, and paired with the super-fast response time, makes a real difference in FPS, racing, and other fast-moving games. In short, you’ll notice far less blur with the XG17AHPE than almost any other portable monitor.

The good bits don’t end there, however: like some of the other portable monitors in the Asus range, the XG17AHPE comes with stereo speakers and an inbuilt battery. Its 7800mAh capacity lets you run the screen for around two hours at max refresh rate and brightness, and up to five hours at lower levels.

The peak brightness of 300 nits is about as good as you’ll find from a portable display, and color reproduction is also very good: on par with the Thinkvision M14, and much better than most cheaper models.

You’ve basically got two choices when it comes to portable monitor manufacturers: one of a handful of major brands (Lenovo, HP, Asus) or any number of Chinese companies you’ve never heard of. Lepow is very much the latter, but it’s actually been in the market for quite a while.

The Z1 Gamut is an upgraded version of the popular Z1 model, with basic specifications that are exactly what you’d expect from a budget portable monitor: 15.6″ display, 1920×1080 resolution, mediocre brightness and color reproduction.

What sets the Z1 Gamut apart from the dozens of other no-name portable monitor brands, then? It’s the little things. For starters, as well as the ubiquitous USB C option, there’s also a micro-HDMI port on the monitor and the appropriate cables to use either option.

If neither of those things is a deal-breaker, the Z1 Gamut offers plenty of monitor for not a lot of money in a lightweight and easily transportable package. Throw in a three-year warranty, and you have our budget portable monitor choice for 2023.

If you’re used to having a touchscreen on your laptop display, there’s no reason you can’t have one on your second monitor as well. As the name suggests, the Asus Zenscreen Touch is the touch-enabled version of the Go model mentioned above, with almost exactly the same specifications.

There’s the same 1920×1080 resolution on a 15.6″ display, the same internal battery so you don’t need to draw power from your laptop, and the same muted color palette that’s common to pretty much every portable monitor except the Thinkvision M14.

The main difference, of course, is the screen. Multitouch-enabled, you’ll get full touch support on Windows and some Android devices, limited support on macOS (since it’s not built into the operating system,) and none on iOS. It’s relatively bright for a portable monitor, which is a nice change.

As with the non-touch model, you get an Asus e-ink pencil in the box, but here you can use it for more than holding the screen upright. Whether you’re using your finger or the stylus, the display is reliable and quick to respond to your input.

Weighing only slightly more than it’s non-touch siblings, if you’re looking for the best portable touchscreen monitor of 2023, you’ve found it in the Asus Zenscreen Touch.

The vast majority of portable monitors max out at FHD (1920×1080) resolution, and for many users, that’s perfectly fine. For those who want something better, however, options are quite limited, and good options are even more limited still.

That’s why you could do a lot worse than checking out the UPERFECT True 4K Portable Monitor. Reasonably priced and full of features, it’s a display that’s pitched at gamers but is equally useful for anyone else needing a high-resolution portable display at a reasonable price.

Brightness levels are quite good, and color reproduction is ok, although not as good as the Lenovo model mentioned above. As with many other portable monitors, stereo speakers are built in, but you’re unlikely to use them in preference to headphones or the ones built into your laptop.

Pricing for this model is usually quite competitive, often not much more than some of the 15.6″ portable monitors. If you’re looking for something slightly different, UPERFECT also makes a touchscreen version that auto-senses whether it’s in portrait or landscape mode and rotates accordingly, but you’ll usually pay noticeably more for it.

Asus has been making portable monitors for years, and it shows. The company sells a wide range of different models, and four have made it onto our list. Of those, the Zenscreen Go MB16ACV is the best choice for those with older laptops who need USB-A support.

The monitor is slim, comparatively lightweight, and relatively attractive as far as these things go. The 15.6″ display is standard for a portable monitor at the moment, as is the 1920×1080 FHD resolution.

A kickstand on the back of the monitor props it up in either portrait or landscape mode, and lets you adjust the viewing angle for the latter as needed. There’s also a standard ¼” tripod hole, letting you use an appropriate mount to lift the monitor up in line with your laptop screen.

Brightness and contrast are above average for a portable monitor, but colors can be a little dull, especially in the red part of the range. It’s an issue common to many portable monitors, so if you need the best color accuracy, consider the Lenovo M14 (above) instead.

All in all, this is a portable monitor that gets most things right. It’s well-made, with good brightness and viewability, and works with both older and more recent laptops. Attractive, reasonably lightweight, and with extras that set it apart from the pack, it’s a solid choice for a wide range of buyers.

The best computer screens offer high performance to help support you in work or play. Whether you are looking for an additional screen to boost work productivity or for a high-resolution monitor for gaming, the best computer screens include the features you need. While most monitors feature speakers, some monitors with speakers offer additional watts for extra power, which can be ideal for improved sound quality for gaming or entertainment— looking for a more interactive monitor experience? Touch screen monitors can be an excellent option for gamers or designers, allowing them to swipe and navigate easily.

Whether you"re working from home or the office, chances are you have a laptop and monitor setup. It allows you to have the big screen when you need it, but also the flexibility to take your work on the road. The problem with this is if you have to work away from your monitor setup for too long, you start to miss it. And you become less productive.

If you need an extra screen for your laptop more than you need it for your desk, a portable monitor could be the solution. It"s cheaper than buying a tablet (many of which can double as portable monitors) and it provides the extra screen space that you’re used to with the external monitor. It’s also thin, lightweight and travel-friendly, so you can take it anywhere.

Size:The vast majority of portable monitors come in similar sizes to most laptops. On the low-end, you can get a 13-inch portable monitor. And on the high-end, you can get a 17-inch monitor. The larger the screen, the more expensive it"s likely to be.

Connectivity: Most portable monitors these days connect to your laptop via USB-C, but there are some that require a HDMI connection. Some can do both, too, which could free up an extra port on your laptop (specifically if you have a Windows laptop).

Kickstand: This is a low-key, really important thing to consider before buying a portable monitor. Some come with integrated kickstands right in their body, which is really convenient. Other portable monitors, however, come with attachable stands that are less ideal because they aren"t always the easiest things to figure out.

Battery: Portable monitors can come with or without built-in batteries. The ones with built-in batteries are a little more expensive, but they can last for several hours before stealing power from your laptop. Portable monitors without built-in batteries need to be plugged into a power source. This can mean your laptop, of course, but it will cause your laptop to lose power faster.

Screen:As with laptops, portable monitors vary in their display quality. You can get ones that have a higher resolution, higher refresh rate or even have a touchscreen — but all those add to the price. The majority of portable monitors max out at a 1080p display.

Speakers:Some portable monitors come equipped with their own built-in speakers. It"s a nice feature, especially if you have an older laptop with not-so-great speakers or you"re using the monitor with a gaming console (like a Nintendo Switch). However, if your laptop does have built-in speakers, you might find it annoying when the audio keeps switching to the portable monitor"s speakers (in which case, you can just adjust this in your laptop"s settings).

The below portable monitors were used mostly in a work capacity — as a replacement for the external monitor in a setup with a laptop and portable monitor. We tested the portable monitors in split-screen and mirroring modes and judged them on brightness, image quality, ease-of-use (connectivity), their kickstand and any other features (like speakers and Wi-Fi connectivity). All the below monitors were tested with a 2017 MacBook Pro.

The Lenovo ThinkVision M14 is a small and lightweight, portable monitor. It"s got a bright and vibrant screen and has a highly adjustable kickstand. And it"s relatively affordable, although it lacks an integrated battery and varied port selection of higher-end options. It"s a simple option that"ll work with most USB-C laptops. The kicker is that it can be mounted (via a 100x100 VESA), which could come in handy if you want to use it even when not traveling.

The Dell C1422H is actually nearly identical to the ThinkVision M14 (above). Again, it"s a smaller portable monitor that"s fairly straightforward to use and will work well with most USB-C laptops. It delivers maybe a little brighter picture in our option and does a better job at blocking out reflections. But other than that, it has the same ports and a great integrated kickstand. It doesn"t have a built-in battery, however, meaning it"ll take power from your laptop or it"ll need to be plugged into a wall outlet (power adapter not included) while you"re using it.

Asus makes several different models of its ZenScreen Go — so be aware of which one you"re buying — and its MB16AWP is one of the nicest (and most expensive) ones you can buy. It"s a 15.6-inch monitor with a 1080p display (and 60Hz refresh rate) and it has an integrated battery that can last between three and four hours. Maybe the neatest thing about this ZenScreen Go is that it has built-in Wi-Fi, so you can extend or mirror your laptop"s screen without using a wired USB-C or HDMI connection.