Table of Contents
Best portable monitor 2021
The best portable monitors have the advantage of being compact and lightweight, making them easy to take or fit anywhere. Some are even designed to attach to your laptop so you’re almost dealing with a single device. But, besides being portable enough to travel with, they also require very minimal mounting and just a USB-C or USB connection for a simpler setup. You won’t have to deal with a tangle of cables or need another power outlet.
In other words, the best portable monitors are perfect for anyone on the go, working remotely, or who’s just run out of desk space to accommodate a more traditional option. Whether it’s for graphic design, coding, organizing your homework, or even playing the latest games, consider investing in one. Here are our top picks, from ones that make the best business monitors to those that are a little more pocketbook-friendly.
- Here are the best curved monitors right now
1. Asus ZenScreen MB16AC portable monitor
Thin, portable and great looking
Pixel-resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
The Asus ZenScreen MB16A Portable Monitor is one of the nicest-looking USB monitors we’ve seen, and it comes with a number of features and design considerations that make it an incredibly handy device, and one of the best portable monitors. However, it comes at a price, with the ZenScreen proving to be more expensive than many of the other portable monitors on this list. However, the build and image quality of this screen makes it well worth the extra money. Fans of Asus’ ZenBook laptops should be particularly interested in this device, as it has a design that compliments Asus’ high-end laptops nicely.
2. Asus MB169C+ portable monitor
The first USB-C portable monitor impresses
Pixel-resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
The Asus MB169C+ isn’t quite as portable as Packed Pixels, but its 15.6-inch size makes using it feel more like using a regular monitor. It has a healthy pixel-resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, which is perfect for streaming full HD video, working with two applications side-by-side and even gaming if you have a sufficiently powerful laptop.
The MB169C+ is incredibly simple to use thanks to its USB-C connection, which uses a single cable to transmit video, sound and power. It also comes in a handy protective sleeve that doubles up as a carrying case. Asus’ portable monitor uses an in-plane switching (IPS) display, which brings decent viewing angles making it perfect for watching video with a friend.
3. Gechic 1101P portable monitor
A great portable monitor for photographers
Pixel-resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
Aimed at photographers who need a monitor to take on shoots, the Gechic 1101P features an IPS display like the Asus MB169C+. However, this one is smaller at 11.6 inches and more portable, allowing to be easily attached to a tripod or SLR camera while out in the field.
This full HD display supports 16.7 million colors which can easily be tweaked using the monitor’s onboard color temperature settings, allowing you to get it as close to your camera’s display as possible
The 1101P is also well-connected, featuring support for VGA, micro HDMI and mini DisplayPort. These make it suitable for a number of different use cases – from previewing photos and videos shot on a camera to being used as a normal portable monitor with your laptop.
4. Asus MB168B+ portable monitor
1080p goodness over regular USB-A
Pixel-resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
If you like the sound of the Asus MB169C+ but don’t have a laptop with a USB-C connection, then the Asus MB169B+ could be one of the best portable monitors for you.
This one also connects to your laptop with a single cable, except it uses a regular USB-A port instead. It works with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, though you’ll experience noticeably more latency with the former due to its slower data transfer rate.
Still, it features the same alluring slim and lightweight design. Thanks to Asus EzLink tech, which offloads the graphics processing from the PC to dedicated hardware in the monitor, you can even hook up five of them if your laptop has enough USB ports.
5. Desklab Ultralight Portable 4K Touchscreen
A pin-sharp portable display for on the move
Pixel-resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Options have been limited for anyone seeking a slim and portable 4K monitor that connects using a single USB-C cable for power and display – until now. Though heavier (at 1.3 pounds) and dimmer than the Vissle-M below, Desklab’s offering is the sleekest and lightest model in its class. Its attractive Ultra HD touchscreen display is a boon for content creators, who may prefer to use it in darker rooms due to its highly reflective glass panel.
The Desklab’s adhesive kickstand cover, which attaches using an adhesive rather than magnets, adds noticeable weight and bulk but does the job. It all makes for a unique package yet to be offered by mainstream brands, one that’ll cost you a pretty penny.
6. Vissles-M portable touchscreen monitor
A bright and lightweight portable monitor
Pixel-resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
The Vissles-M is one of the most refined and fully-featured portable Full-HD monitors on the market. It sports a refreshingly bright matte panel surrounded by a thin bezel that makes reading text or undertaking productivity tasks a doozy – even if it is “just” 1080p. It comes with a plethora of ports onboard, including two USB-C, which lets you hook it up to a games console or other device while keeping it powered.
The Vissles-M is one of the thinnest and lightest 1080p portable monitors around, even with its practical kickstand cover attached, which features a grippy texture and attaches using magnets to aid longevity. Some may argue that its design is a little on the drab side, though the absence of any logos could be considered a plus.
- Read our Vissles-M portable touchscreen monitor review
- Also check out our 10 best full-sized monitors
