• The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best budget
3. Best USB-C only
4. Laptop monitors
5. Best enthusiast
6. Mid-tier portable
7. Budget runner-up
8. How to choose
9. How we test
Need another screen but just can't fit another monitor on your desk? Or do you need a display that is portable and lightweight you can travel with to play your Nintendo Switch in docked mode or knock out some two-screen workflows? Well, this guide has got you covered.
From known and trusted brands to some new names entering the market, there are dozens of options online for portable displays, and picking one up is one of the best investments I made for my personal workspace. I currently have 6 screens on my desktop running off of a desktop and 2 laptops. I found that having 2 screens for my job function just wasn't cutting it but I didn't want to give up one of my gaming PC's monitors to my work laptop and have to keep switching them back and forth. That's when I picked up my portable display which can easily fit in front of another monitor that is on a stand or a monitor riser and it made a huge difference.
The best part is, on days when I need to travel, go on location, or head into an office I can easily pack up my laptop, and my portable display and set up a functioning and workable environment wherever I go so my efficiency doesn't suffer.
Most of us know, that being forced to work on one screen after living the dual or triple monitor life is cruel and unusual punishment. With this guide, you won't have to subject yourself to that anymore though.
We have compiled our list with as much helpful information on each monitor to assist you in your purchase decision. Is it worth trading name-brand dependability for the price-savings of these newer brands? Let's break it down.
In between my work as a Cybersecurity Incident Responder, Contributor for Windows Central, and an avid gamer most days I spend 10 to 14 hours a day at my desk. I understand the value of a good monitor and how vital having more screen real estate is. I focus on buying guides for Windows Central and strive to find the best deals and products available on the market.
The quick list
If you're in a hurry, check out a quick list of my picks for the best portable monitors Hit the links below to read a full breakdown of any options, with details of the pros and cons for each.
Best overall portable display
With a 1080p IPS screen with anti-glare, USB-C, and one cable solution for both power and video this Asus Zenscreen offers all of the best features. What makes this model stand above the rest though is the built in Surface like kickstand. One of the main flaws with portable monitors are the cases used to prop up the displays are often flimsy and unreliable. The kickstand on this model resolves that issue.
Best budget portable monitor
Not the best name, but the reviews on this one are fantastic. 4.7 stars out of 1660 ratings on Amazon. Coming in as the cheapest option as well as Amazon's Choice this is hard to beat. With a 1080p screen and under 2lbs this display has great things in a small package. VILVA states it can use 1 cable for power and video, and reviewers love to use it with their ROG Ally and Nintendo Switch.
Best USB-C-only portable monitor
The AOC 16T3EA 16'' Class USB-C Ultra-Slim Portable Monitor is the newest monitor to come out on this list and has two built-in stands to support either horizontal or vertical orientation. The monitor itself is great but it's one defining feature is it only has one input which is USB-C. If your device doesn't support video out via USB-C this monitor is not the one for you.
Best portable laptop monitors
These monitors by Teamgee might look like dramatic, but the ability to mount them directly to the laptop screen and get a triple-screen portable setup for $250 is a bargain. Both displays are 1080p and fit 13.3”-17.3” laptops. It comes with a kickstand to support your laptop's monitor.
Best enthusiast portable monitor
This form factor is just amazing and is one of the best solutions I have for my biggest issue with my personal portable monitor which is the flimsy case not supporting the monitor. Having the hardware form the base for the screen is a novel and fantastic idea all backed by Lenovo's great design and dependability.
Best mid-tier portable monitor
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Best budget runner-up
KYY is another new competitor in the portable monitor market. This monitor has 4.6 stars out of 3,500 reviews and has a competitive price, commonly going on sale. It offers single cable solutions for power and video and 1080p screen, but the case-stand is not as good as built-in solutions.
The best portable monitors in 2024
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Below, you'll find complete breakdowns of why these choices have made my list of the best portable monitors.
The best overall portable monitor
The ASUS ZenScreen portable USB monitor offers a 1080p 15.6 inch IPS anti-glare screen. This specific model (MB16ACV) wins best overall due to the amazing built-in Surface-like kickstand in the back. It has 5ms response time which is good for all but the most demanding competitive online games, and it even has a tripod mount connection in the back if you need to mount it. Backed by ASUS's brand and long-time reputation, this is a great option that won't leave you wishing you went with a different portable monitor. At around $200 it is a bit pricy, but it has every feature I could ask for and has great reviews.
Best budget portable monitor
Coming in at the lowest price on our list today, the VILVA has the best overall rating with a substantial number of reviews. At 4.7 stars with 1660 reviews, the customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Sporting a 1080p 15.6 inch IPS display with a wide range of compatibility including PC, MAC, tablet, phone, XBOX, PS3/PS4/PS5, and Nintendo Switch it can fill in for any need.
It has a magnetic leather smart cover that acts as a stand that uses a kickstand style approach but it's not built-in and doesn't offer the stability of some of the more premium options. At around $75 this portable monitor from VILVA is an absolute bargain.
Best USB-C only portable monitor
The AOC 16T3EA 16'' Class USB-C Ultra-Slim Portable Monitor just came out on February 13th, 2024. It's the newest portable monitor on this list and has some great features. It's super lightweight and compact. It comes with a Vesa mount as well as a carrying sleeve/case. Its biggest upsell is also its biggest downfall and will really be for very specific use cases. It only has a single USB-C input. I've tried using a HDMI out to USB-C video cable but it doesn't work since it can't send power to the display. So, if you want a lightweight monitor for USB-C video this is a great option. It has two different built-in kickstands that work great to hold the monitor up either in landscape or portrait orientation. I enjoyed my time using the device but it's a bummer it can't work with the Nintendo Switch dock or most gaming consoles.
Best portable laptop monitors
Admittedly, the Teamgee portable monitors are for a unique use case. They don't have the same portability or ease of placement as the rest of this list and aren't really useful or practical except as an attachment to a laptop. However, if you don't have room on your desk for full-sized monitors but want to have a triple monitor set up on your laptop, this is a great option.
Two 14-inch 1080p screens provide a great increase in screen real estate. The screen comes with a kickstand so that your laptop screen doesn't fall backward. Besides the price which is a bit steep at $250, it also doesn't support M1 or M2 Macs, likely due to the connections needed. However, if this is the kind of portable monitor you need, this is a great option.
Best enthusiast portable monitor
I love the concept of the Lenovo ThinkVision M14. Its small stand on the back provides all of the IO allowing the screen to be ultra-thin. It has a 14-inch 1080p IPS monitor with a 6ms response time. And while the price is high at around $220, the small form factor means it will fit almost anywhere. All while being backed by Lenovo's top-quality production.
It's one of the lightest portable monitors today coming in at an impressive 1.3lbs. Customer feedback for the device is great at 4.4 stars out of 1236 ratings on Amazon, and it promises to be a perfect fit for whatever you need to throw at it.
Best mid-tier portable monitor
The Acer PM161Q Abmiuuzx 15.6-inch portable monitor doesn't seem to be doing anything better than any of its competition but it does over a solid experience overall and covers its bases well.
It has a 5ms response time, a 1080p IPS display at 60Hz, and an ultra-slim design. It comes with a premium cover that it uses as its stand, similar to many tablets. Using a cover like this as a stand can be cumbersome but it gets the job done. Coming in at a higher price than our budget options but without the features of the premium Asus and Lenovo monitors, this is a great mid-tier option for those who want a brand-name portable monitor.
Best budget runner-up
Through my research into portable monitors, the KYY brand came up quite a lot and seems to be making a good name for themselves. This is a great alternative to the VILVA monitor and has a 1080P 15.6 inch IPS display. It offers wide compatibility with a range of devices and boasts a 178-degree viewing angle.
It comes with a smart cover that serves as a stand which is a less than ideal solution but for this price point, it can be overlooked. Weighing in at 1.7 lbs it's a great portable option for any scenario. It is sitting at 4.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon and overall has great feedback.
How to choose the best portable monitor for you
How to choose
Which portable monitor works best for you really comes down to your budget and use case. In my opinion, if it's going to be a daily work-horse that is used to take on the road then getting one with a built-in stand is a must. If you're going to set it and forget it on your desk except for some occasional trips, then one of the budget devices with the case providing the stand will work great. If your main use case is for a laptop and having 3 monitors is a must, the Teamgee monitors make a great option and have some great quality-of-life features to make travel easy.
Luckily all of these monitors say they offer single cable support so you can plug in a single USB-C cable to power the monitor on and get a video signal. Be aware, in my experience unless the source device has a lot of power the picture will be quite dim unless you plug in a separate power cable.
Can I use this portable monitor for gaming?
Besides the TeamGee laptop portable monitors which are designed to work directly connected to a laptop screen, the rest of these portable monitors will all work great for gaming. 1080p at 60Hz with 5ms-6ms depending on the screen will provide a great gaming experience whether you're hooking up a Nintendo Switch, Rog Ally, SteamDeck, mobile phone, Xbox, PC, or the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go launching on November 1st 2023.
We reviewed the Rog Ally and the SteamDeck and they both offer great experiences. Looking for a place to pick up the Lenovo Legion Go? We have you covered there as well. As more and more people get into handheld gaming with devices the option to connect them to a portable monitor is a great benefit. Paring up the Asus ZenScreen with a Rog Ally for overnight hotel stays, or a gaming session at a friend's house improves the gaming experience ten-fold.
How we handpick these portable monitors
While I wasn't able to get hands-on with all of these portable monitors, I do use one on a daily basis and know what features and quality of life features are most important. I'd so the most important thing for me, after the build quality and reliability, is the quality of the stand. I looked for portable monitors offering unique experiences and those with great customer feedback as well as some backed by trusted brands.
