Many people are considering buying a touch screen monitor, but they may not know what to choose or how to set it up. After all, touchscreen computer monitors are different from touchscreen phones. In this guide, we will explore why touchscreen monitors are popular, how to set them up on Mac and Windows 10, and provide a buying guide to help you choose the best monitor for your needs.
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There are several compelling reasons to choose a touch screen monitor:
1. Direct Interaction
Touch screen monitors offer a more natural way to interact with computers. You can tap, swipe, and pinch directly on the screen without needing a mouse or touchpad. This reduces the steps between thinking and acting, making it a quicker way to navigate systems.
2. Increased Productivity
Touch screen monitors can enhance efficiency, especially in multitasking environments. Many users find that switching between apps or zooming in on documents directly on the screen saves time compared to traditional methods. This is particularly useful in design, education, and data entry.
3. Enhanced Creativity
For artists and designers, a touchscreen monitor with a stylus provides an accurate and intuitive way to draw or manipulate graphics. The tactile experience allows for a smoother creative workflow that a mouse or keyboard cannot replicate.
4. Versatile Use
Touch screen monitors adapt to various scenarios, from gaming to presentations. In the office, they are ideal for real-time collaboration during meetings. At home, they offer an immersive way to interact with games or educational applications.
1. Ease of Use
Navigating using touch input simplifies many tasks. Whether resizing windows or drawing in design applications, it feels intuitive.
2. Space-Saving
Touch screen monitors can eliminate the need for extra input devices like a mouse and keyboard. This helps create a cleaner and more streamlined workspace.
3. Engaging Education
Teachers can use touchscreen monitors for interactive lessons, allowing students direct access to learning materials.
Although touchscreen monitors are useful, they have some drawbacks:
1. Cost
Touchscreen monitors are generally more expensive than non-touchscreen models. Advanced screen technology and additional features come at a price.
2. Fatigue
Prolonged use of a vertical touchscreen can cause arm fatigue, sometimes called “gorilla arm.”
3. Fingerprint Smudges
Frequent touching of the screen leaves fingerprints, meaning you must clean it more often than expected.
To provide a better perspective, here are some real customer reviews from major websites, including feedback on Magex monitors:
TechRadar: “Touchscreen monitors are game changers, especially for graphic design and presentations. The ability to interact directly with the screen has completely transformed how I handle projects.”
Amazon Customer: “I love using the touchscreen monitor for my daily tasks. It is responsive and makes multitasking smoother. However, I clean the screen more often than I expected.”
CNET: “For professionals and artists, touchscreen monitors offer unmatched precision and control, but they are pricier. They are ideal for those who need more interactive displays.”
Magex User Review: “I recently purchased a Magex touchscreen monitor for my work office, and I am impressed. The touch sensitivity is excellent, and it integrates seamlessly with my Windows 10. It’s perfect for design work, and I love that it saves desk space without needing a mouse. Highly recommended!”
MAGEX 15.6″ FHD Touch Screen Monitor – P IPS Display with 10-Point Touch, Built-In Speakers, and VESA Mount for Enhanced Productivity
These reviews indicate that users praise touchscreen monitors for their practicality and ease of use, especially in creative fields. However, users also mention high costs and frequent cleaning as drawbacks.
Before setting up make sure that is computer is a Windows 10 system, and not can be downloaded from the Windows official website.
Setting up a touch screen monitor on a Windows 10 PC is straightforward. Here’s how:
While macOS does not natively support touchscreen monitors, you can still use them by following these steps:
When it comes to PC touchscreen monitors, most users rely on Windows 10 for better support. PCs running Windows fully support touch functionality, allowing for smoother interactions across various applications and software.
Touchscreen monitors are especially useful for those working in creative fields or needing to multitask. With native touch support from Windows, you can use these monitors for design, presentations, and even gaming.
When selecting a touch screen monitor, consider several factors to ensure you get the product that best suits your needs:
1. Screen Size
2. Resolution
3. Touch Sensitivity
Check if the monitor supports multi-touch and ensure it has responsive touch performance. Higher sensitivity is crucial for tasks requiring precision, like design or editing.
4. Connectivity
Ensure the monitor has the ports you need, such as HDMI, USB-C, or DisplayPort. If you use a Mac, look for USB-C support for easy connection.
5. VESA Mount Compatibility
If you plan to mount the touchscreen monitor on a wall or stand, check if it is VESA compatible. This feature allows for flexible mounting options.
6. Single DIN Touch Screen Monitors
If you’re looking for a compact option, consider single DIN touch screen monitors. These are great for cars or small spaces where you need functionality without taking up too much room.
1. Adjust Display Settings
Offer recommendations for adjusting resolution, width, and scaling to enhance touchscreen comfort.
2. Installation
Guide users on ensuring driver updates, especially for specific features, to ensure stability.
3. Cleaning and Maintenance
Provide tips for protecting the touchscreen surface, such as using screen protectors and proper cleaning methods, to prolong the touchscreen’s lifespan.
Touch screen monitors are versatile and can significantly boost your productivity and creativity. Many Magex customers are top professionals who purchase large quantities of 15.6-inch touch screen monitors. The p resolution perfectly meets everyday work needs, and the 10-point touch screen greatly enhances their efficiency.
Whether you are a designer, student, or business user, a high-performance touchscreen monitor can help you complete tasks more effectively. Check out our recommended best touchscreen monitors to find the right solution for you!
Portable monitors that you pair with a laptop are nothing new, but in the past few years, they have exploded in number. (Most display makers now have several in their product lines.) Whether you want to add a second display to give small-group presentations, view two programs full-screen side by side, or touch up designs with a stylus, you can find a mobile monitor ready to serve. That's where PCMag comes in: We've tested the best portable monitors for a wide variety of uses. Our top under-$200 pick is ViewSonic's VG, and our overall favorite, price regardless, is Lenovo's ThinkVision M14t Gen2. But one of our other picks below—backed by our in-depth testing and collective decades of review experience—could better fit your budget and needs. We stand behind them all. Read on for the best portable monitors on the market, followed by our detailed shopping advice.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested PicksApril 7, : We added the Asus ZenBook Duo to the roundup as our Best Dual-Screen Portable Monitor, replacing the aging Espresso Display (15-inch), a top portable monitor pick for presenters. We also added the Dell Pro 14 Plus Portable Monitor (P) as our new Best Non-Touch Portable Productivity Monitor. Since the last update of this roundup in March, we tested and evaluated two new monitors for inclusion.
A touch-enabled portable monitor with a sturdy hinged stand, Lenovo's ThinkVision M14t packs a high-resolution IPS panel with great contrast and excellent color coverage. Its 16:10 aspect ratio gives you more vertical screen space than 16:9 widescreen panels do. The M14t Gen2 also comes in at a modest price for its capabilities.
The M14t Gen2 is a great choice as a secondary monitor for office, home, or road use. If you want a portable display mostly for movie watching, you may want to opt for a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio to match the widescreen video format instead. Also, the M14t Gen 2's 14-inch screen size is small for a portable monitor, so it's best for use with laptops with screens between 13 and 15.6 inches.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 14 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:10 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 300 nits Rated Contrast Ratio :1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync NA Video Inputs USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 1 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 12.4 by 9.3 by 3.8 inches Weight 1.5 lb Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years GET IT NOWThe ViewSonic VG offers some uncommon features for a budget portable monitor. A built-in, fold-out stand offers a wide tilt range. A five-way mini-joystick controller lets you access a full-fledged, sophisticated onscreen display (OSD) menu system. And you'll also find two USB-C ports—one for power and one for data/video transfer—plus a mini HDMI connector, and a pair of built-in speakers. The relatively low sRGB color-gamut coverage of its 15.6-inch p IPS panel makes it best for typical business tasks rather than color-sensitive workflows, but it shines brighter than most mobile panels.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit 15.6 inch touch screen monitor.
The VG is a good portable monitor for business or personal use—, web surfing, or creating and editing office-type documents—for people on a budget.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 15.6 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 250 nits Rated Contrast Ratio 800:1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync NA Video Inputs USB-C, HDMI USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 1 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 8.8 by 14.0 by 0.6 inches Weight 1.8 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years GET IT NOW Learn More ViewSonic VG ReviewThe Dell Pro 14 Plus Portable Monitor (P) is an excellent choice as a secondary productivity display, particularly for workers whose tasks include preparing art for the web. The P is easily the brightest non-OLED portable display we've tested, and its superb contrast and color accuracy cement its excellence. It doesn’t have quite the resolution of the Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2, and it lacks that Editors’ Choice panel’s touch screen, but the P comes in at a somewhat lower price.
The Dell P’s ideal role is as a portable display for workers involved in online art prep. It gets strong marks for performance; its panel is blazingly bright, with superior contrast for an IPS display, full sRGB color coverage, and the color accuracy we'd expect for a (basic) creator-centric monitor. Its 14-inch 16:10 aspect-ratio panel is taller for its screen size than widescreen models, giving you a couple of extra vertical inches to work with for photo editing or spreadsheets.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 14 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:10 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 400 nits Rated Contrast Ratio :1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync NA Video Inputs USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 1 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 8.8 by 12.4 by 6 inches Weight 1.4 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years GET IT NOWThe Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE 15-inch mobile monitor has no critical omissions. The display packs in a wealth of gaming features, such as a high refresh rate, Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, and low input lag. The monitor also offers a built-in battery, speakers, and a kickstand. Good brightness and a relatively high contrast ratio round out its list of talents. Its excellent sRGB coverage is less critical for gamers, but just adds to its appeal as an all-around portable entertainment monitor.
The Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE is a formidable, well-rounded portable display for gamers and multimedia buffs. Its excellent sRGB color coverage makes it a good choice for viewing photos and video.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 15.6 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 300 nits Rated Contrast Ratio :1 Pixel Refresh Rate 144 Hz Adaptive Sync Nvidia G-Sync Compatible Video Inputs USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 1 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 8.9 by 14.2 by 0.46 inches Weight 2 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years GET IT NOWThe ViewSonic VX-4K-OLED is perhaps the most impressive portable monitor we have encountered, by virtue of its 15.6-inch UHD (4K) OLED screen that has phenomenal brightness, contrast, and color coverage. The only major downside is a price commensurate with its elite performance and ultra-high resolution. It is particularly good for creative work, with a pixel density that exceeds that of Apple creator monitors. It’s also a fine choice for movie watching and light-duty gaming.
The VX-4K-OLED is good for creative pros and well-heeled entertainment junkies (movie watchers and casual gamers). For those who can’t afford it, the ViewSonic VP16-OLED is a more-than-adequate substitute—still bright, though not blindingly so, and with a pixel density suitable for graphic artists, even on its p screen.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 15.6 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology OLED Rated Screen Luminance 400 nits Rated Contrast Ratio :1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync NA Video Inputs mini HDMI, USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 2 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 8.8 by 13.9 by 0.6 inches Weight 1.5 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years Learn More ViewSonic VX-4K-OLED ReviewThe Asus ZenScreen Duo OLED’s signature feature is its pair of 16:10 full HD 14-inch OLED screens stacked atop one another. This lightweight, portable monitor is bright, offers impressive color coverage, and provides exquisite OLED contrast. It’s not perfect—its stand is a little too flimsy, and the glossy finish picks up some distracting glare—but it is a good choice for power users who need lots of extra screen spread but don’t have desk space to spare.
The ZenScreen Duo OLED is an exquisite, lightweight portable monitor that's best for people who need a pair of extra displays they can take practically anywhere, but there’s a catch: It comes at a price that makes it primarily for proficient power users with plenty of cash to spare. If you’re already used to having three displays arrayed on your desk, perhaps with some of them oriented in portrait mode, using the ZenScreen Duo will feel second nature, but the additional functionality might be overkill for on-the-go use for more casual users. At its price, you really have to ask yourself if you will employ that second extra screen to its fullest potential.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 14 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:10 Screen Technology OLED Rated Screen Luminance 400 nits Rated Contrast Ratio 1,000,000:1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync NA Video Inputs USB-C, mini HDMI USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 2 VESA DisplayHDR Level DisplayHDR True Black 400 Dimensions (HWD) 8.35 by 12.56 by 0.59 inches Weight 2.36 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 yearsThis touch-enabled IPS display has a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio. At 16 inches measured diagonally, it is the perfect size to serve as an additional screen for those who have a large-screen laptop. Plus, the handy included cover and excellent color range make it one of ViewSonic’s best portable offerings.
The TD-2K is an impressive portable monitor. It is useful for road warriors who like touch input (either with their fingers or with the included stylus) and are looking for a second screen when remote-working.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 16 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 400 nits Rated Contrast Ratio 1,500:1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync Video Inputs USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 2 VESA DisplayHDR Level Dimensions (HWD) 9.3 by 14 by 0.4 inches Weight 2.3 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years GET IT NOW Learn More ViewSonic TD-2K ReviewThe NexiGo NG17FGQ 17.3-Inch 300Hz Portable Monitor goes for broke, appealing to hardcore gamers looking for a high-refresh-rate panel they can take with their gaming laptops. Boasting AMD FreeSync support and surprisingly good color accuracy, as well as a sky-high 300Hz peak refresh rate, the IPS panel performs admirably whether paired with lower-end hardware like the Nintendo Switch or a cutting-edge console like the PlayStation 5, or as an extra display for a home desktop or laptop. The premium price, lack of an internal battery, and so-so construction muddy the monitor's shine, but not enough to spoil its overall impressive showing.
Assuming that you match this portable monitor’s user profile (hardcore gamer!), the 17.3-inch NexiGo delivers on its promises of full HD with HDR coupled with an ultra-high refresh rate and minimum compromises. Its build feels a little cheap considering its price, but this monitor excels in performance. The NexiGo 300Hz is a strong companion for esports gamers seeking peak refresh rates on the go. Just make sure that your video source can actually push frame rates in the hundreds per second before diving in.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 17.3 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 300 nits Rated Contrast Ratio 1,000:1 Pixel Refresh Rate 300 Hz Adaptive Sync AMD FreeSync Video Inputs HDMI, USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 1 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 9.8 by 15.4 by 0.43 inches Weight 2.2 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 1 year GET IT NOWRicoh didn't bother dipping a toe into the water before entering the portable monitor market—it plunged straight into the deep end. Its Portable Monitor 150BW has the sort of high-end features you would expect from a panel at its rarified price: an OLED screen, touch sensitivity, Wi-Fi connectivity, and even a built-in battery. The screen's image quality is high, with good color coverage and the ultra-high contrast ratio typical of OLEDs. The 150BW is a tour de force of mobile display technology, all the more so because this is Ricoh's first foray into this product area. But unless you really need all its features—especially the full wireless capability—you can get well-equipped portable displays for considerably less money.
The Ricoh Portable Monitor 150BW doesn't come cheap, but it's an awesome piece of kit. If money is no object, or if you really need its triumvirate of features—the wireless connectivity, the touch input, and the quality of an OLED panel—the 150BW should be a satisfying purchase. Otherwise, turn to other fine portable monitors listed here with many of the Ricoh's features—including touch screens and batteries—at more affordable prices.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 15.6 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology OLED Rated Screen Luminance 300 nits Rated Contrast Ratio :1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync N/A Video Inputs USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 0 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 8.7 by 14 by 0.4 inches Weight 1.6 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 yearsThe Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B can display images, videos, models, and games in three dimensions without 3D glasses, in addition to having some atypical elements such as a built-in battery and an SD card slot. The ASV15-1B works perfectly well as a traditional portable monitor, thanks to its bright UHD screen with excellent contrast and near-complete sRGB color coverage, but its real forte is glasses-free 3D. It works best with content such as games with built-in 3D elements, but finding the sweet spot for 3D viewing by centering yourself in front of the screen and remaining relatively still can be cumbersome. Still, the SpatialLabs View is worth consideration by gamers who have money to spare for trying out 3D.
If you have a relatively recent gaming laptop and a little over a grand to spare, you can add another dimension to your viewing experience with the Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B, and throw out those old 3D glasses while you're at it. Imperfect as it is, the Acer SpatialLabs View ASV15-1B is a viable system for viewing three-dimensional content, such as the games that the SpatialLabs TrueGame app supports.
Panel Size (Corner-to-Corner) 15.6 inches Native Resolution by Aspect Ratio 16:9 Screen Technology IPS Rated Screen Luminance 380 nits Rated Contrast Ratio :1 Pixel Refresh Rate 60 Hz Adaptive Sync NA Video Inputs HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C USB Ports (Excluding Upstream) 1 VESA DisplayHDR Level NA Dimensions (HWD) 9.6 by 14.9 by 1 inches Weight 3.3 lbs Height-Adjustable Stand? Tilting Stand? Swiveling Stand? Landscape/Portrait Pivot Warranty (Parts/Labor) 3 years GET IT NOW Get Our Best Stories!By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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You could lug around some smaller desktop displays on the road in a pinch, but "true" portable monitors are those specifically sold as such. Even those range quite a bit in size: from 3.5 inches to 22 inches. Portable displays run the gamut from personal, business, and general-purpose models to panels for artists and gamers.
The sweet spot for use with a laptop, though, and our focus here, is screens between 12 and 17 inches. Many users match their portable display with the screen size of their laptop. But you'll also see a handful of models on the market at 10 inches (primarily for use with gaming consoles) and at 7 inches (for use with the Raspberry Pi).
Many portable displays, especially toward the budget end, use a stand consisting of a thin but stiff plastic board, with several grooves or creases on which it folds. At one end is a magnetic strip, which adheres to the back of the monitor at its top. Folding the sheet in the middle, with the angle pointing away from the user, props up the monitor. The bottom of the monitor inserts into a groove, securing it and tilting the device upward. (Some portable displays have several grooves, and you can alter the monitor's tilt angle by placing the base in a different one.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)These foldable stands, often referred to as origami-style stands, can double as protective covers for the display when it's not in use. Some protect just the front of the monitor, while others are larger wraparound covers that sandwich the entire monitor.
Another common stand design, particularly on higher-end models, consists of a rigid, flat base, containing the ports, to which the screen is attached via hinges. You can set the screen at any angle you like simply by tilting it. Also, a few designs use the laptop itself as the support, fastening to its back or its side and sliding or swinging out for use.
Although most mobile monitors lack the height, pivot, or swivel adjustability of their desktop counterparts, they are small and light enough that they are easy to adjust manually. Some monitors can be pivoted by hand, though not all stands can support a monitor in portrait mode. In those cases, you could always prop the monitor against a wall or other surface. Most portable monitors can automatically correct the image so it is always right side up, whether you're in landscape or portrait mode. (Even in those without such automatic image rotation, you can change the orientation in Windows display settings.)
When we evaluate mobile monitor panels, the main factors we consider are the screen size and aspect ratio, the native resolution, the brightness range, the technology the panel uses, and the maker's claims for color-gamut coverage.
Many users prefer to use a mobile monitor that has the same screen size and native resolution as the laptop screen they are using it with. That said, I have found these panels to be forgiving and have had no trouble running portable displays that are slightly larger than my laptop's own screen. As long as you don't mismatch the mobile monitor's and laptop's screen aspect ratio (which, until the last few years, was almost always a 16:9 widescreen ratio but is now increasingly often 16:10), you are unlikely to experience much trouble in matching them up.
The native resolution on panels suitable for use with a laptop ranges from 1,366 by 768 pixels (too coarse for modern laptops) up to 3,840 by 2,160 pixels (UHD, aka 4K). Most recent laptop-appropriate screens sport a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (aka p, or "full HD"), but a few go higher.
Mobile monitors tend to be dimmer, at their maximum brightness levels, than their desktop counterparts. What is commonly called brightness is actually luminance, or brightness per unit area. Portable monitors tend to cluster around 180 nits (also expressed as "candelas per meter squared") in our testing, even though many are rated between 230 and 300 nits, which is acceptable for typical use. The recent arrival of portable OLED panels has given a huge boost to monitor luminance, with the brightest we have tested measuring more than 550 nits.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Monitors that make use of in-plane switching (IPS) technology are generally preferred for general use over vertical alignment (VA) and twisted-nematic (TN) panels due to their wider off-axis viewing angles and good color accuracy. Many recent mobile monitors are IPS, but there's a catch, especially if such displays were made before . When we test a panel for its color gamut, we first test the sRGB color space, the default color space for the web and many other applications. This color space comprises essentially all the colors that can be made by mixing red, green, and blue. Most desktop monitors cover at least 95% of sRGB, and we have seen portable monitors attain similar coverage.
However, until a few years ago, most mobile IPS monitors we reviewed showed much more limited overall color coverage (60% to 72% of sRGB) and very similar color profiles—indicating poor red and purple coverage and slightly enhanced blue-greens. Because of their nearly identical "color signatures," these core panels likely came from the same or similar sources, although they are on monitors made by various manufacturers.
(Credit: Molly Flores)These measured results were borne out in our experiential testing, where red and purple areas tended to look dull and washed out in photos and videos. Although screens with this issue are fine for most business and productivity use, they are subpar for videophiles or photo enthusiasts. In our monitor reviews, we include a chromaticity chart that maps our readings against the ideal readings for the color space being tested, and we provide an analysis of the panel's color coverage. Most recent portable IPS monitors have shown much better color-gamut coverage, but we occasionally review one with the same poor color profile.
The few portable OLED panels we've reviewed have extraordinarily high contrast due to their ability to display true blacks by turning off groups of pixels. They have contrast ratios in the neighborhood of 100,000:1, while VA panels have contrast ratios of about 3,000:1, IPS Black screens 2,000:1, and standard IPS around 1,000:1. Even those lower ratios are still fine for many artists and gamers, however.
As I alluded to earlier, the mobile-monitor world is undergoing a convergence of power and connectivity thanks to USB Type-C connectivity. Many USB-C ports support both DisplayPort over USB and USB power delivery, letting both data/video and power flow through the port from a computer over a single USB cable. Most new mobile monitors have at least one USB-C port, and some connect solely via USB-C. While this simplicity has appeal, be sure your laptop's USB-C port supports data, video, and power transfer, because some early-generation USB-C ports don't. (Thunderbolt ports should also work fine; their functionality encompasses all that of USB-C.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)A few mobile monitors use traditional power adapters. This is particularly true of models that work with sketch pens and are intended for artists; they are, in effect, interactive monitors. In a common configuration with older panels that don't support DisplayPort over USB and USB power delivery, the display draws power through an adapter, while two cables connect to the computer. One is HDMI, to handle transfer of the image displayed on the device, and the other is USB (through a USB-A port), to record the user's pen motions when drawing on the interactive display. HDMI (usually in the form of mini-HDMI) is also a common port (the most common other than USB-C) on more conventional portable displays.
A few older portable display models draw their power from a laptop over a separate USB 3.0 connection, but USB-C has made this kind of connection passé.
Nearly all portable displays are plug-and-play and require no software to operate. Any utilities offered will be for specific functions, such as enabling the screen image to remain upright when you switch between landscape and portrait orientation. Sometimes, the display may have a utility that lets you change monitor settings from your computer screen rather than through the secondary panel's on-screen display (OSD) controls.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The OSD is the monitor's menu system, governing user-controllable settings such as brightness, contrast, color levels, picture mode, and aspect ratio. It is often arranged in several submenus. Although a few models include several buttons to navigate the OSD, a single button or switch to control it is more common.
In general, audio is not a consideration with mobile monitors, as these devices tend to lack built-in speakers or audio jacks. The few portable displays (often gaming models) that do include speakers, in our experience, have weak ones and are most valuable when paired with a portable gaming console or a smartphone. When the monitor is connected to a laptop, you can always switch from the display's speakers to your laptop's speakers by clicking (in Windows) the speaker icon in the taskbar and changing to your laptop's audio.
Whatever your needs or budget, there's a model out there that fits; the key thing is to consider the primary display panel you'll be using alongside it, and that the two match up well. Check out our product picks above, as well as our detailed spec list, for the best current portable displays we've tested. We update this story regularly, but for the latest monitor reviews we've posted, also see our overall best monitor guide.
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