If you frequently take your work on the go, a portable monitor can help you multitask with a large, bright display that easily connects to your computer’s software and extends your laptop’s work area. The best portable monitors have a smooth refresh rate and bright display so you can not only multitask, but can also game and stream in your downtime. Our panel team of Forbes Vetted testers, including our tech editor, put 15 portable monitors through their paces; ultimately, we chose the SideTrak Solo 4K as the best portable monitor overall.
Goto Sihovision to know more.
But there are other options available that may suit your individual needs better. For those who need a portable monitor for creative work, the Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV offers Delta E < 2 and more; otherwise, if you’re seeking the lightest portable monitor available, you can’t go wrong with the Dell Pro 14 Plus Portable Monitor. After rigorous testing, here are our recommendations for all of the best portable monitors.
Best for:
Skip if:
The SideTrak Solo 4K ticked plenty of boxes for me. The monitor has a large, 15.6-inch 4K display. I had mixed feelings on its sheer size. On one hand, I loved having this big, bright display available for multitasking, but on the other hand, it’s large enough that it doesn’t toss casually into my on-the-go bag.
When I worked at my kitchen countertop, its 340 nits brightness left me impressed. The monitor offers a suite of display settings, including contrast, brightness and modes. You adjust these settings using a switch and button setup on the back, which was pretty intuitive to use. You get four ports—2 USB-C, one USB-A and one HDMI. You can use the settings wheel to set which you’re using.
Multitasking was easy, and if you’re working with spreadsheets and documents, the SideTrak Solo 4K works just fine. Modern Family looked good enough while streaming, and the only setting I adjusted was brightness, as it feels like the monitor comes (mostly) pre-calibrated. It has just a 60Hz refresh rate, but unless you’re doing serious gaming, you’re not going to notice that much. Regarding sound, it does have speakers, but don’t expect to use them for much. It’s rare for a portable monitor to have speakers, but these don’t pack the same power as a laptop speaker.
The matte screen made it easy to see all my work during sunny afternoons, too, which was important for getting work done. It feels like a do-it-all portable monitor—but that comes with the major caveat that it’s $430 when not on sale. If you can stomach that price, it’s a great monitor that is perfect for most needs.
Best for:
Skip if:
For a portable monitor that’s just over $100, the MSI Pro MP161 E2 has a simple design and features only two buttons on the entire device. While that may be a boon for some, that comes with a tradeoff. Our tester noted it’s not really possible to make any display adjustments. Its connection options are also limited; it only sports two USB-C and a mini HDMI port.
Our tester appreciated its lightweight, 1.7-pound build as she moves between a coworking space and travel frequently. She finds it easy to tuck the device into her bag in addition to her laptop, keyboard and mouse. Its rotating kickstand is also useful to prop it vertically or horizontally, making it, “great for reading and coding,” she says. When it’s set up horizontally, it’s “not as great for spreadsheet viewing,” our tester said, but it can still get the job done.
Because it’s a monitor that’s just over $100, there are some drawbacks. Our tester noted that, “it had a warmer, slightly orange cast to it and it seemed like the resolution was a little fuzzier and more pixelated than on my laptop or regular monitor.” There are brightness adjustments that can change the display just a hair. “I was easily able to figure out how to adjust the brightness, but it didn’t help much,” our tester said, and added that the contrast could be better, too. During streaming movies and YouTube videos, the picture looked clear with little to no saturation.
One distinction that helps cement its spot on our list: The monitor comes with a convenient carry case, something that not all portable monitors we tested offer. If you just need a second monitor for working and aren’t planning on using graphics-intensive applications, this is a great choice.
Best for:
Skip if:
Of all the portable monitors I tested, the Dell Pro 14 Plus Portable Monitor was my favorite. It has a simple foldable stand that rests flush against the back of the device. Unfold it, and it creates a large, flat stand for the monitor. If you’re using a small table, the stand may be an issue, but it keeps the monitor sturdy and houses its two USB-C ports. You can use either of these USB-C ports to connect the monitor, but it has one major drawback: It has no HDMI port.
Still, it nabs the most lightweight portable monitor because it only weighs 1.3 pounds. Comparatively, the best overall pick, the SideTrak Solo 4K, weighs 2.9 pounds, which can feel cumbersome if you’re hauling it around all day. The lightweight build means there are tradeoffs. You don’t get robust display tuning, for starters, as the monitor only offers brightness adjustments, but it looks significantly better out of the box than our budget pick, the MSI Pro MP161 E2. Those adjustments come in handy, as it can get bright and it also has an anti-glare matte finish.
It can also be adjusted horizontally or vertically, and you can lock the display into place thanks to a button located on the stand. The picture when watching Modern Family was a little pixelated, and the audio was delayed, almost like it was buffering slightly. It’s built as a work display for viewing spreadsheets and documents, but for gamers and streamers, this monitor simply doesn’t suffice. If that’s you, look elsewhere.
Another perk to this display? It comes with a felted envelope carry case to protect it from bumps and scrapes. Considering how many travel accidents I’ve had in the past, this feels like a massive perk for this portable monitor.
Best for:
Skip if:
For photographers and videographers, it’s worth considering the Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV, one of the few monitors on this list that feels designed specifically for creatives. Its design also allows you to mount the monitor to a tripod thanks to a triple socket, and you get access to a good number of ports, including a micro HDMI and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s an Asus dial on the back to help you adjust settings.
While it has a solid build, it’s the software extras that make this a worthwhile choice for creatives. The colors look good—and that’s because it comes with 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut. It’s also Calman Verified and its Delta E < 2 is factory-calibrated for vivid, lifelike colors. For context, Delta E measures color accuracy—the lower that number, the stronger a monitor can achieve accurate colors that are imperceptible to the eye. Ideally, you’re aiming to hit a Delta E < 2 or lower.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of 15 inch Touch Monitor. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Our tester used it for photography and graphics design and noted its, “color-matching capabilities,” which came very close to matching his laptop’s display settings. This came in handy for editing photos in Lightroom and Photoshop, as they require this color precision to produce accurate, rich colors.
The display also handles fast-paced Nintendo Switch gaming well, but keep in mind that it’s still 60Hz—not 120Hz. It’s also a bit lighter than other monitors on this list at 1.6 pounds. The display offers a 10-point touchscreen to work directly with touch photography software, and you can also set it up as an extension and work directly off the anti-glare matte display.
Best for:
Skip if:
The Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE is the largest portable monitor we tested. It’s a 17.3-inch display, which our tester noted is larger than most laptops, so it can be difficult to toss in a commuter bag. It’s a tradeoff to get some pretty raw power here: The display can hit a 240Hz and can make action games and movies feel beautifully smooth. It can also hit a 100% sRGB, and our tester noted that while Asus stays it comes factory pre-calibrated, she found, “the greens and yellows to be more apparent than other colors in the spectrum, even when dialing down the saturation and choosing the cool tone. Overall, the display felt really warm—almost too warm.” In other words, you may need to make some minor adjustments on the display to fit your color saturation and temperature preferences.
For gamers, it offers a 3ms response time. The monitor also has eight different screen modes, including scenery, racing, FPS and more, and it offers the option to save your favorites so you can pull them up quickly. Its display settings also can accommodate deeper contrasts for your gaming needs, too.
For those who don’t want to or can’t connect to a power source, the monitor has a built-in battery. We put this battery through multiple rounds of testing, from gaming to streaming and general office work to check its life. Asus claimed that it could get four hours, but our tester found 2.5 to three hours was more realistic. Keep a close eye on the battery life, too—our tester shared that she, “got a 5% battery life alert, and then the monitor died about 30 seconds later.”
Our tester noted the settings are finnicky and annoying since you, “toggle through the settings via three buttons on the side of the machine. If you’re not active for about ten seconds, it automatically shuts the menu down so you have to navigate back to where you were.” Keep in mind that this model does not offer a protective carry case, either.
Best for:
Skip if:
If you work best with more than two displays to read spreadsheets or coding, the Cevaton Dual-Screen Portable Monitor can increase your laptop’s display to up to three different screens. The center frame slides in and out from behind your laptop, and, “you, ‘squeeze’ the frame to affix it to the laptop, but there’s no automatic tensioner, clip or lock,” our tester noted. Flip out its tri-fold design hinges which, “are stiff enough that the displays stay where you put them, regardless of the angle.”
Each monitor offers three USB-C ports, and make sure you pay attention to them: two are marked as type C, and one is marked HDMI to connect it to your laptop. Make sure you use the ones marked type C, as our tester noted the HDMI port doesn’t function with the included cables. It’s durable, with an, “all-metal construction and weighs in at just about 4.6 pounds,” which gave our tester confidence that it was a rugged, durable monitor. Just keep in mind that when you’re carrying that 4.6 pounds around, you’ll feel it.
It’s worth noting that the monitor has a slew of models it’s incompatible with, including MacBooks M3 and older and specific models from Lenovo, HP, Samsung and more. Make sure you cross-check your laptop model against what’s compatible before you spring for this monitor set.
Outside of some software compatibility issues and its egregiously heavy weight, our tester loved how easy the control settings are—you can adjust brightness, contrast, backlight, color temp and you can opt for the Eco mode to preserve battery life. While our tester reported that the visuals were always warmer and he could never color-match a Dell XPS 14’s display, he “frequently watched videos and surfed the web on the Dell, and it really didn’t matter which of the three screens had the windows; the visuals were good and relatively similar no matter which,” he said.
We put 15 portable monitors to the test. While the ones we chose stood out from the pack, we tested others that are worth mentioning. These range from affordable models to dual-screen extenders to give you more than one extra display. Here are our honorable mentions.
Kefeya P5 Portable Monitor ($140 at Amazon): The P5 is a great choice for those who want a portable monitor on a budget. I really liked how images looked on the display, and its 300 nits felt really bright and easy on my eyes. The portable monitor offers speakers, but they’re very weak. Also, while you can adjust the display settings via a switch on the back, it’s a little difficult to reach. Still, it’s nice that it’s available when you need to turn on the HDR, which you’ll need to smooth out even casual viewing like Modern Family reruns. One impressive design choice: It can attach to your laptop via the included display magnets, or you can use the (also included) 360-degree kickstand for flexibility.
Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 ($400 at Amazon): The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 monitor has a touchscreen interface on the 14-inch display. We really liked its sturdy base, and the colors looked accurate and vivid. It’s a plug-and-play device, and it comes with a handy stylus if you’re using an Android or Windows device. Apple products or devices running on any iOS system won’t be able to use the touchscreen, and it gets slightly less bright than the top pick, the SideTrak Solo 4K. The Lenovo clocks 300 nits brightness versus the SideTrak’s 340 nits.
Ricoh 150BW Portable Monitor ($570 at Amazon): The Ricoh 150BW stands out from the pack for being an OLED monitor, whereas all of our recommendations are LED. It has gorgeous, rich colors, and our tester felt it was easy to adjust the values. There was a slight color disparity, but our tester didn’t find it unbearable. It has a touchscreen, but it doesn’t offer compatibility for Mac users. It’s also very high in price, so if you’re seeking a splurge, this device would be a great option.
Asus ZenScreen Touch (MB16AMT) ($349 At Asus): The Asus ZenScreen Touch has great colors for working, but when we tested for video streaming, it was a little darker compared to a laptop’s brightness. It comes with a great envelope case to carry it safely in a backpack, and it weighs just under two pounds.
ViewSonic VG ($220 at Amazon): The ViewSonic VG is a lightweight, 1.8-pound IPS monitor that has a sturdy aluminum frame with a magnetic case cover for carrying. Our tester felt that the QR code system for setup was subpar. They also felt it was difficult to adjust the monitor into a snug position both horizontally and vertically, and while it could connect to a 10th-generation iPad, the monitor refused to shift to a vertical alignment. Our tester felt it could be good for work and some light entertainment, but not much more than that.
Arzopa Z1RC ($130 at Arzopa): The Arzopa Z1RC has a lovely 2.5K QHD display, and our tester appreciated that the monitor comes with three different cables for HDMI, USB-A and USB-C connections. It’s slightly larger than other monitors we tested and has a 16-inch display. It’s also easy to adjust display settings, but our tester noted some color inaccuracies, particularly in darker colors including blacks. The speakers were also a little weak, but it’s nice that Arzopa included them. Our tester noted that it would be great for casual use, including streaming.
The Forbes Vetted team has published hundreds of tech and electronic guides, including home office essentials like the best home printers and Wi-Fi extenders.
To find the best portable monitors to recommend, the Forbes Vetted team put 15 portable monitors to the test. We considered the following features during testing:
If you want to learn more, please visit our website 15.6 inch touch screen monitor.