Whether you need a second screen to enhance your work-from-home productivity or you want to beef up your travel game, portable monitors give you compact options for more screen space without weighing you down.
Portable displays work like regular monitors and come in many sizes, ranging from 3.5 inches to 22 inches (corner to corner diagonally). They’re used by programmers, artists, graphic designers, and gamers, as well as by general personal or business computer users—anyone, really, can benefit from the second-screen experience a portable monitor provides.
What to Consider in a Portable Monitor
Two key features should always be considered when deciding which portable monitor is right for you:
- The Screen: With a wide range of sizes available, the size that’s right for you depends on the way you intend to use your portable monitor. Larger screens may give you a better view, but they can also weigh more and take up more space when you’re on the go. Bigger is not necessarily better. Screen resolution and color performance are widely ranging, too, so always check those in the product features. Keep in mind that mobile monitors tend to be dimmer than desktop monitors, so it’s important to look at the brightness rating.
- The Connections: Some portable displays include common video connections like HDMI, allowing you to easily connect them to game consoles and media players, while others use USB ports. USB-C ports power the monitor directly from a connected device and allow data and video to flow through as well, while a USB-B port will require separate cables for data and power delivery. Simplicity is crucial to the portable monitor experience, so look closely at how a monitor connects to the device you intend to use with it.
Best Overall: Lepow 15.6 Inch Full HD Portable Monitor
This monitor, with its 15.6-inch, Full HD resolution screen, offers a crystal clear picture no matter which egadget you hook it up to. Thanks to its mini HDMI and USB C ports, this monitor can connect to just about any other device, from PC and laptop to smartphones and Switches, PS3 and PS4 and Xbox One, and more. This makes it equally useful for travel, gaming, or work. The two built-in speakers provide superior, more immersive sound, and the IPS screen protects your eyes even after hours of use. The included cover and screen protector helps prevent the monitor’s screen from becoming damaged or scratched, and the cover can fold over to double as a stand. At only 1.76 pounds and 0.3 inches wide, this monitor is incredibly portable for its size and great for work presentations.
Best for Gaming: Elecrow MQ133 13.3 inch Portable Monitor
The Elecrow 13.3-inch portable monitor provides an outstanding visual experience on a smaller screen, with a brightness of 400cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. It allows you to connect two HDMI devices at the same time, and it supports audio output with built-in dual speakers and a 3.5-mm headphone jack. It comes with a sturdy metal stand.
Best Image Quality: Lenovo ThinkVision M14 14 inch portable monitor
The Lenovo 14-inch monitor is a Full HD resolution portable monitor, but what sets it apart is its 300 cd/m2 brightness and near 100% sRGB color coverage, which provides exceptional image quality. This portable monitor is 4.4 mm thick, weighs 1.31 lb, and comes equipped with two USB-C ports.
Best Rotatable Screen: ASUS ZenScreen MB 16AC 15.6 inch portable monitor
You’ll love this 15.6-inch monitor’s quick, hassle-free connection to any device. It only needs a single USB connector cable to be fully compatible with almost any laptop and offers a Full HD resolution screen to boot. It’s very slim, with an 8-mm profile, and weighs just 1.7 lbs, making it a very light monitor for its size. And thanks to the pen holder feature, you can flip it vertically without requiring a special stand.
Best For Budget: EVICIV Portable Raspberry Touchscreen Monitor
If you’re on a tight budget, are in the market for a smaller second monitor, or are looking for a monitor with a touchscreen, this portable model checks all those boxes. The HD touchscreen is highly sensitive, allowing you to swipe and scroll and zoom with ease. It’s compatible with most devices and media players, from PCs to Macs to Xbox to Switch and much, much more. The dual integrated speakers provide better stereo sound and ensure you don’t need to buy an extra external speaker for your projects. You have the choice of mounting this monitor on the back of the display thanks to the included screws, or use the case and frame as their own stand. A micro HDMI cable comes included with your purchase as well, and you have the choice of three different sizes for this monitor.
