<p class=”body-dropcap”>We’re all tied down to computers five days a week, so we understand the malaise that can come with a sedentary life. A <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g40360148/best-mini-laptops/” target=”_blank” data-vars-ga-outbound-link=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g40360148/best-mini-laptops/” data-vars-ga-ux-element=”Hyperlink” data-vars-ga-call-to-action=”compact laptop”><strong>compact laptop</strong></a> can free you up, but the addition of a portable monitor will help you level up your work-from-home game. By having two screens anywhere you want to work, you can optimize your efficiency no matter where you choose to plop down for the day. You don’t need to be a workaholic to enjoy the benefits of a portable monitor. </p><p>That said, these additional mobile screens can also be excellent <strong><a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/g30701528/best-4k-gaming-monitors/” target=”_blank”>monitors for gaming</a></strong> or streaming TV on the go. If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s hard to go wrong with an <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/ARZOPA-Portable-Monitor-2560×1600-Kickstand/dp/B0CH9XR3G4/ref=asc_df_B0CH9XR3G4/?linkCode=ogi&tag=esquire_auto-append-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10054.g.60788193%5Bsrc%7C%5Bch%7C%5Blt%7C%5Bpid%7C080d64eb-e1be-436f-bbd2-a5b97f9e4b95%5Baxid%7Cfbd71cd4-fb28-4775-abe1-7090ebbf64bf” target=”_blank”>ARZOPA gaming monitor</a>. Artists and graphic designers looking for a <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/cars/a44187939/onyx-boox-tab-ultra-c-e-ink-tablet-review/” target=”_blank”>tablet</a> alternative will love the flexibility given by the <a href=”https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Display-Portable-Touchscreen-PA148CTV/dp/B091D4CRTP/ref=asc_df_B091D4CRTP/?linkCode=ogi&tag=esquire_auto-append-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10054.g.60788193%5Bsrc%7C%5Bch%7C%5Blt%7C%5Bpid%7Ccc79b885-1500-4762-befb-d71375db8920%5Baxid%7Cacc983d1-1528-45fc-b176-a6aa1b8f6960″ target=”_blank”>Asus Pro Art</a> portable monitor. Whether you are looking for a feature-rich touch screen or a high refresh rate for Esports, the tech experts at Esquire have found the right choice for you. Each one of these best portable monitor picks is functional, fashionable, and ready to rock out of the box. </p>”/>
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Best Portable Monitor for Gaming
ARZOPA Z1FC 144Hz Gaming Monitor
Pros
- High refresh rate
- Very affordable
- Can be used with gaming consoles
Cons
- Tinny speakers; headphones recommended
Whether you are a traveling Esports champ or casual single-player gamer kicking back in a hotel room, monitors with gaming and streaming in mind are in high demand. The ARZOPA Z1FC gaming monitor stamps out most of the competition, and for a reasonable price too. The kicker here is the 144 hertz refresh rate. For Esports, or any online gaming, refresh rate is as important as fidelity in a monitor. Anything north of 120 on a monitor this size is beyond impressive, and ARZOPA isn’t lying with this one—it works as advertised.
Even if you don’t bring your gaming laptop, you can plug this monitor into your Xbox, PS5, Switch, or Steam Deck for a console experience even when you’re away from home. The screen itself looks great, but does suffer when it comes to speaker quality. We know that sound is important to getting the most from your video games, so we recommend headphones as a needed accompaniment to this one.
| Screen Size | 16.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 144 hz |
| Weight | 1.66 lbs |
| Connections | USB-C, Mini HDMI (data transfer only) |
Best High Fidelity Monitor
LG LG gram +view IPS Portable Monitor
Pros
- 2K resolution
- Easy to adjust image settings
Cons
- Only two USB ports
If you want a tiny upgrade over most portable monitors, we recommend you opt for the LG gram + view. This screen goes beyond HD to deliver 2560 x 1600 resolution. It’s not 4k, but those extra pixels make a huge difference when compared directly to all the other HD monitors we tried. Plus, the color contrast on this monitor is outstanding compared to the competition at its price range.
The brand’s LG Switch function makes it super easy to adjust your second screen experience on-the-fly. With automatic pivoting from vertical to horizontal, you’ll feel like the gram+view isn’t just another monitor but a whole other device you can use for rapid multitasking.
Our only gripe is with ports. A monitor with this sort of resolution would benefit from an HDMI port or two.
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 hz |
| Weight | 3.69 lbs |
| Connections | USB-C |
Best Portable Monitor for Designers
Asus ProArt
Pros
- Touch screen is great for sketching
- Full RGB color range
Cons
- Slightly small screen
If you’re getting a portable monitor for creative work, it’s hard not to resist the allure of the Asus ProArt. Once you use its responsive touchscreen and feel how light the device is, you’ll find it hard to go back to your heavy, unresponsive drawing tablet. Whether you’re sketching or storyboarding, for work or for fun, this monitor is a portable companion that won’t let you down.
For our eyes, and everyone’s are different, we find Asus monitors with Eye Care are some of the best to look at for extended sessions. With a full RGB color range and flicker-free and low blue light options, this selection isn’t going to strain your eyes—even after a full workday.
| Screen Size | 14 inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 hz |
| Weight | 1.63 lbs |
| Connections | USB-C, Micro HDMI, |
More Portable Monitors We Liked
The four monitors listed above might be the four best portable monitors on the market, but that doesn’t mean they are the only ones worth your hard-earned cash. There are a couple other premium options we like quite a bit. Even though they narrowly missed the list, we found these worth recommending if the others won’t do.
Asus ROG Strix Portable Gaming Monitor: If you want an upgrade to your second gaming monitor, the ROG Strix is a great step-up from the ARZOPA. It’s just as portable and meant for gaming with its 144 hz refresh rate and G-SYNC capability. It also has a built-in battery, which gives this sucker multiple hours of high refresh rate power without needing to be constantly attached to an outlet. Our only gripe is for $450, you could get a really good 4K monitor instead. So, the question that remains is portability worth that much to you?
ViewSonic VA1655: If you are trying to scrape the bottom of the barrel, you can do so much worse than the VA1655. This budget-friendly option from ViewSonic simply gets the job done if all you need is a lightweight and portable second screen.
What to Look for When Buying a Portable Monitor
When choosing which portable monitors to recommend, there are two categories we looked at: portability and performance.
Portability is anything that had to do with how easy it is to take one of these monitors with you. That includes battery life, weight, number of ports, whether if it came with a kickstand or folio case, and more quality-of-life features. First and foremost, we wanted to answer the question “well how portable is it really?” with a resounding yes.
Performance is everything that has to do with how well a monitor functions. How crisp and colorful is the image? How much screen real estate are you getting for your money? What is the screen resolution and refresh rate? Was there any noticeable input lag? If the answer to that last question was yes, for example, then the monitor in question was thrown out of the running. We only picked the top performers, the ones that delivered a seamless dual screen experience.
How We Picked the Best Portable Monitors
The only way to know if something works is to use it. Not just for a day, but an extended period of time, as intended. We tried portable monitors at home and in the office, and took notes on battery life, ease-of-setup, and other facets you can only know after living with a device for a bit.
Why Trust Esquire?
At Esquire, We’ve been poking, prodding, and stress-testing products for a long time, allowing us to recommend you the best tech for your hard-earned money. With decades of expertise in testing home electronics, we know what our readers are really looking for—a product they will want to use for years.
We compile our guides after performing heavy research and testing, and the gadgets we choose are what we’d spend our own money on. From computer monitors to baby monitors, we wouldn’t recommend anything to our readers that we wouldn’t feel comfortable buying for ourselves or our friends and family.
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