10 Best Portable Monitors of 2019

1. Asus MB16AC (Top Pick)

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0

The Asus MB16AC is the best portable monitor for productivity, featuring a 15.6-inch IPS screen with a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. It sells for around $250, which makes it one of the more expensive options on the market.

Weighing less than two pounds, this Asus portable monitor has a minimalist design with thin bezels at three sides. The unit is only 0.3 inches thick, which makes it easy to fit in a bag along with a similarly sized laptop. The power, blue light filter, and on-screen display buttons are all located on the thicker bottom bezel: the former on the right and the latter two on the left.

The MB16AC uses a single USB-C cable for both power and video input, which makes for a simpler setup with fewer cables to keep in line. The input port is located on the left side, right next to the on-screen display and blue light filter buttons. If your laptop has no USB-C port, you can use the included USB-C to USB-A adapter for connection.

Asus includes a protective case in the package. The case also doubles as the monitor’s stand and can support the screen in both landscape and portrait modes. Although the stand supports the monitor well, configuring it is a bit flimsy. The MB16AC also has a pen hole in the bottom-right corner. You can insert the included pen into the hole to create a makeshift stand, which is cool but rudimentary.

Overall, the MB16AC is a well-designed product. The build quality is good, with well-secured components. Regarding extra features, the unit doesn’t offer much, with no additional standard USB ports and no internal speakers. It’s not that difficult to set up out of the box, with Asus providing adequate instructions to help you get started, and it connects easily with compatible laptops.

The MB16AC is great for productivity. You can use it for coding, preparing presentations, editing spreadsheets, and content writing, among others. It has wide viewing angles, as expected from an IPS monitor, and features an auto-rotate option, which can be enabled in the control panel. The MB16AC isn’t recommended for photo editing, graphics design, and other color-critical work, though, as coverage for the sRGB color space is only around 70 percent.

Moreover, the monitor’s brightness is subpar even at 100 percent, with many laptops offering better peak brightness. This means the unit is not a suitable option for working outside, like in an outdoor coffee shop. The contrast ratio is also subpar, but to be fair, IPS monitors, portable or otherwise, are not usually great when it comes to contrast.

Although flawed in a few areas, the MB16AC is an excellent portable monitor overall. It’s great for productivity and general use, but not so much for gaming. If you want a portable secondary screen for your laptop, the MB16AC is the best option, featuring decent picture quality and a single cable for both power and data transfer.

2. AOC E1659FWU (Best Budget)

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Editor’s Rating: 3.5/5.0

If you want a good budget option, check out the AOC E1659FWU, a 15.6-inch display selling for just under $100, which makes it significantly more affordable than our top pick. It’s a good display for internet surfing and general office work, including typing and editing spreadsheets.

The E1659FWU is a portable monitor that’s a bit bulkier than more recently released models, with the frame measuring 0.87 inches thick. And at 2.7 pounds, the unit is a full pound heavier than the Asus model above. Still, the E1659FWU is easy to carry and will have no problem fitting in your briefcase along with your laptop.

A TN display with a 1366 x 768 resolution, this AOC offering has relatively thick bezels at all sides, with the company name sitting on the bottom bezel. The unit has a glossy black finish, which means it’s a magnet for fingerprints, which might bother some of you. Unlike our top pick, the E1659FWU has a metal kickstand that folds completely at the back. The stand supports both landscape and portrait screen orientations, which is nice.

There are no buttons on this monitor, which makes for an extremely minimalist profile. There are no built-in speakers as well, which isn’t really surprising considering the price. On the plus side, the unit has a VESA mounting interface at the back, which is great if you will no longer be traveling regularly and want to set up a permanent multi-monitor setup at home. The mounting interface is compatible with monitor arms and stands with a 75 x 75 mm VESA pattern.

Like our top pick, the E1659FWU uses a USB connection for both power and data transfer, which translates to more clutter-free cabling. It’s easy to set up out of the box and can connect with both PC and Mac, but for the latter, not all features are available (more on this later). The unit comes with a nice carry case that protects the screen from damage.

As mentioned earlier, this AOC portable monitor is best used for internet surfing and general office work. If you want a portable monitor that also works great for watching movies, there are better options out there. Since the monitor has a TN panel – which largely explains the low price – the viewing angles are narrow and the color reproduction is subpar. It’s definitely not something you’d use for photo editing and other color-critical work.

The E1659FWU also features an auto-rotate option. Once the necessary software is installed, the screen easily switches between portrait and landscape modes depending on the monitor’s position. However, those who are using a Mac will not be able to enjoy this feature. Actually, the E1659FWU is a mixed bag regarding Mac compatibility in general. Some users had zero issues connecting it to their devices while others never got it to work properly.

Overall, the E1659FWU is a good option if you want a budget-friendly portable monitor. It has a sturdy stand and uses a USB connection for both power and data transfer. If you are in the market for an affordable secondary screen for your laptop and are perfectly fine with the downsides of TN panels, check out the E1659FWU.

3. Elecrow AUS50025E (Best Value)

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Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

The Elecrow AUS50025E is a portable monitor that offers excellent value for the money, boasting a number of features not usually seen in a portable display selling for less than $150. It’s a 13.3-inch display with an IPS panel, a 1080p resolution, and a 60 Hz refresh rate. You can use it as a portable secondary screen for your laptop or as a mobile screen for your PS4 or Xbox One.

Made of quality materials, the AUS50025E is an affordable portable screen with a 0.6-inch thin frame, thick bezels at all sides, and a simple stand that supports the screen well. It’s not much of a head-turner, especially compared to our top pick. The menu controls, along with the power button, are on the back panel. There is also a 75 x 75 mm VESA mounting interface at the back, which will be useful if you decide to build a more permanent dual monitor setup at home.

Additionally, this Elecrow product comes with a built-in audio system, which is something you don’t usually see in portable monitors. However, the speakers are not that good, so don’t expect too much in terms of sound quality. But to be fair, monitor speakers tend to be low quality, even those found in high-end regular monitors.

For input, the unit has a pair of HDMI ports located on the right side. Along with gaming consoles, you can connect it to any laptop or computer that supports HDMI. There is more than one option to power up this monitor. You can connect it directly to a wall outlet using the included power adapter or use the micro USB port and connect it to your laptop. The AUS50025E also comes with an audio out port for headphones, which is great if you plan to use it for gaming.

Regarding performance, the AUS50025E is good. It’s got good brightness and wide viewing angles, the latter of which is a shoo-in considering the panel technology. It’s suitable for both productivity and entertainment, which makes it more versatile than our budget pick. The 1080p resolution and the 60 Hz refresh rate are both perfectly fine for console gaming, especially the latter since console games are typically locked at 30 or 60 frames per second.

On the other hand, this portable monitor has a subpar contrast ratio, so don’t expect to see very deep blacks in images. Furthermore, the color accuracy is far from perfect, which means this monitor is not ideal for photo editing and other color-critical work. For that kind of work, you’ll want a monitor with outstanding coverage for the sRGB color space (or Adobe RGB, if you work on printed media).

All in all, the AUS50025E is a great product. The build quality is good while the overall picture quality – which takes into account the brightness, viewing angles, and color accuracy, among others – is decent for the price. You can use this monitor for both productivity and gaming, with the multiple power options and dual HDMI ports allowing for versatility.

4. HP S14

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Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5.0

Released in late 2018, the HP S14 is another great option if you want something for both productivity and watching movies. It’s just as sleek as the Asus MB16AC, featuring a 0.34-inch thin frame with thin bezels at the top and sides. It sells for around $200-250, which puts it in the same price range as our top pick from Asus.

A 14-inch IPS display, the S14 comes with a protective cover that also doubles as its stand. The screen has an anti-glare finish, which makes it better suited in a bright setting. The power button is located on the left side while the input port is on the right side. The on-screen display buttons, meanwhile, are located at the bottom and are easy to use.

For both power and input, the S14 uses a single USB-C cable, which makes for a cleaner setup with fewer cables to worry about. But keep in mind that the monitor will only work when connected to a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode or a Thunderbolt 3 port.

The S14 is very easy to set up, provided your laptop is compatible with it. There is no need to go through a lengthy initial configuration to get it to work. The on-screen display is also well designed, with a good selection of options to choose from.

Featuring a 1080p resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate, the S14 is a great monitor for productivity, watching movies, and general use. It has decent color accuracy for a portable display and boasts wide viewing angles. It’s an ideal secondary screen for your laptop, with the one-cable connectivity translating to a simpler setup. You can use it for content writing/editing, working on spreadsheets, preparing presentations, and internet surfing. The screen only works in landscape mode, though.

On the other hand, this HP portable monitor is not recommended for photo editing, graphics design, and other art-related work. As mentioned, the color accuracy is decent at best, so if you use it for photo editing, you’ll end up with color discrepancies in the final product. And while we are talking about the cons, the monitor’s contrast ratio and brightness are also subpar.

If you can afford to spend more than $200 for a portable monitor, the S14 is another solid option if your laptop supports USB-C for video input. It has decent picture quality, comes with a protective case that doubles as the stand, and is easy to set up.

5. GeChic 1503H

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Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

If you want a good IPS portable monitor for both productivity and regular gaming, check out the GeChic 1503H, a 15.6-inch display that uses HDMI for input. You can get it for around $300-350, which makes it the most expensive item on this list. GeChic also offers a touchscreen version, which is even more expensive.

Regarding aesthetics, the 1503H isn’t exactly the most appealing, with the unit featuring fairly thick bezels, especially at the bottom. The screen has an anti-glare coating, which, combined with the good brightness rating, allows the monitor to work well in a bright room. The unit comes with an adjustable flip stand that supports the screen in both landscape and portrait orientations. While the stand easily supports the screen once upright, setting it up can be a bit tricky, but it isn’t a deal-breaker.

The unit weighs around 1.8 pounds and is about 0.4 inches thin, both without the stand. The back panel has a 100 x 100 mm VESA mounting interface, which is useful if you won’t be traveling for a while and would like to set up an arm-mounted dual monitor setup at home, with the 1503H serving as a secondary monitor for your desktop PC.

Like the Elecrow portable monitor above, this GeChic product has a pair of speakers, which fire out from the top. The sound quality is just what you’d expect from monitor speakers, though, which is to say that they are not very good. You’ll be better off connecting headphones or external speakers to the analog audio port, especially for gaming.

Speaking of ports, the 1503H offers HDMI for input, which means you can easily connect it to devices equipped with that digital interface, including gaming consoles. You can also use the VGA port for input, but the required VGA cable is proprietary and is not included in the package. And as for power, the 1503H is powered using the USB-C port. All connection ports, including the audio port, are located at the sides, which makes them easy to access.

The on-screen display and power buttons are located on the monitor’s side. They are easy to use and don’t feel flimsy when pressed. The 1503H’s on-screen display is also surprisingly decent, with a good selection of picture calibration options to choose from. While the menu isn’t exactly the prettiest, navigating it is easy and won’t be an issue.

Featuring a 1080p resolution, the 1503H is excellent as a portable secondary screen for your laptop for productivity and as a mobile screen for your PS4 or Xbox One. It has good overall picture quality, with wide viewing angles, decent color accuracy, and a high brightness rating. You can use it for general office work, internet surfing, and regular gaming, with the monitor’s 60 Hz refresh rate and decent response time proving to be adequate enough for the latter.

Overall, the 1503H is a great product, featuring a thin frame with good build quality. It connects easily with compatible devices, offers multiple input options, and has good picture quality for a portable monitor. It’s expensive, though, not to mention the cables are proprietary, so make sure you are cool with that.