• Portable monitors are terrific solutions for expanding your screen real estate on the go, and they’re excellent for multitasking, improving creative workflow and even just watching Netflix as you get through your daily work tasks.
  • The Asus ZenScreen MB16AC takes the top spot as the best portable monitor overall for its thin and lightweight design, USB-C connectivity, feature set and affordable price tag.
  • Read more: The best computer monitors of 2020

Portable monitors have become somewhat of a necessity in the modern age. With more and more people working remotely, ditching cold offices in favor of the warmer atmosphere in coffee shops and their own living rooms, professionals and creatives have become reliant on the portability of laptops.

Since laptops tend to have smaller screen real estate – even the 17-inch ones – a need for an equally portable solution to expand one’s display is growing. That’s where portable monitors come in handy, which expand your screen space without the inconvenience, heft and bulkiness of full-sized monitors.

To professionals, creatives, and even gamers, these displays don’t just mean additional space to work on. That capability to spread out on a bigger desktop space also means a more seamless creative workflow, efficient multitasking and a bit of time saved. Next to those, the fact that these compact displays are portable almost seems like a nice perk.

For more in-depth information on what to look for in a portable monitor, click right here.

Here are the best portable monitors you can buy:

Updated on 8/18/2020 by Michelle Rae Uy. Added all new product picks as well as introduced new categories entirely.

The best portable monitor overall

Versatility in connectivity and viewing orientation, a super slim profile and a great feature set for an affordable price rounds out the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC quite nicely.

Asus touts the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC as a super slim and light portable monitor, which it is. It's almost half the thinness and weight of the new MacBook Pro 13-inch at 8mm and 0.78kg, making it a glorious companion when you're traveling or working on-the-go. But, it's also so much more than that.

This portable monitor claims to be the world's first portable monitor with a hybrid-signal solution, meaning that not only does it have native USB-C support, but it also offers USB-A connectivity support via the DisplayLink driver. So, whether you're entirely dependent on USB-C or you find yourself needing to use a USB-A connection every now and then, this offers that versatility you need.

More on versatility, its vibrant 15.6-inch IPS screen with a 1080p (1,920 x 1,080-pixel) resolution also allows automatic screen orientation with the DisplayWidget software so you can switch from landscape mode for productivity to portrait mode for presentations, document reading and just reading for pleasure.

It's got a helpful feature set as well, especially for the price. Besides the automatic screen orientation, it also has its own foldable smart case to protect the screen from scratches and dust, a smart pen hole so you won't lose another stylus pen, and the Asus blue light filter so it's easy on the eyes especially when you're watching movies. And, it comes with its own ZenScreen pen.

Pros: Support for USB-C and USB-A connections, vibrant color reproduction, super slim body, nice feature set

Cons: Brightness at only 220 cd/㎡, non-touchscreen panel

The best budget portable monitor

Foto: Source: Amazon

At less than $200, the Auzai Portable Monitor offers a helpful set of features and impressive picture quality for the budget-minded.

A decent selection of ports - Mini HDMI and two USB-C ports, one of which is for power - allows the Auzai Portable Monitor to stand out from the rest. It's a pretty nice feature, considering that the display is less than most of the portable monitors you'll find out there.

Speaking of the price, this will set you back less than $200 without compromising on quality and features, making it well-deserving of its best budget portable monitor title. Among its features are PS3, PS4 and Xbox compatibility, its own built-in speakers, and a settings menu so you can adjust brightness, contrast and even audio based on your personal preferences. It may only have a 60Hz refresh rate, but that's certainly enough for casual gaming.

This 15.6-inch 1080p IPS portable monitor is incredibly light and thin as well, beating the Asus ZenScreen MB16AC at 3.56mm thick and 0.62kg. Now, the sound quality isn't the best, understandably due to its thinness, but the picture quality is excellent with deep contrast, vibrant colors and decent brightness at 250 cd/m².

It's certainly a great portable viewing solution for gaming and entertainment. And, thanks to the case and screen protector that come with it, you know it's safe and sound in your bag while you're on the go.

Pros: Wide port selection, cheap price, built-in speakers, gaming console compatibility, super thin and light

Cons: Not a lot of bells and whistles, stand solution isn't great, speakers are subpar

The best portable monitor for 4K HDR

Foto: Source: Amazon

You're getting a lot of bang for your buck with the Eviciv 4K Portable Monitor, especially considering that it isn't that expensive for a 4K portable monitor.

While 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) is all the rage in computer monitors these days, portable 4K monitors are hardly a dime a dozen. That certainly makes sense - these monitors are small enough that having 1080p resolution is actually much better, especially for productivity.

However, if 4K is necessary for your workflow, whether it's because you need more screen real estate or you need an even better and crisper picture quality, then the Eviciv 4K Portable Monitor is certainly the most cost-effective solution for you.

This 15.6-inch UHD portable monitor is definitely an excellent value, especially considering what it has to offer. As far as picture quality, for example, it's got 300cd/m² brightness, 16.7 million display colors and 100% sRGB colour gamut, giving photographers and video editors vibrant images with accurate colors on top of the extra screen space.

The monitor also has a 178-degree viewing angle, which is when you're working on a project with colleagues on one laptop, HDR support and AMD FreeSync for gamers, portrait and landscape modes for presentations, built-in speakers for entertainment, and a nice selection of ports - one HDMI and 2 USB-C ports that offer both power and signal support.

And, if those aren't enough, it's also got this nifty magnetic stand cover. Not bad for a portable monitor that's less than $350? We'd say it's a bargain.

Pros: Really affordable for everything it offers, excellent 4K picture quality, 178-degree viewing angle, great feature set, nice port selection

Cons: There are cheaper alternatives if you don't need 4K resolution

The best portable monitor for gaming

For esports and fast-paced gaming, you cannot go wrong with the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE, as long as you can put up with its massive size.

Hands down, the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE is the most advanced portable monitor you'll find, especially if you're all about fast-paced gaming and esports. With its 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, you'll find this to deliver the smoothest picture quality you'll ever find in a portable display. That's on top of its adaptive-sync technology, which delivers tear-free gaming for a more immersive experience, and 17.3-inch IPS panel for even more screen real estate.

Even better, this screen's built-in battery that offers up to three hours when gaming at 240Hz, wide 178-degree viewing angles (because if you're playing esports, you have to have an audience), 100% sRGB color gamut for a rich and vibrant display quality, quick charging capabilities, built-in stereo speakers, and a decent selection of ports that include USB-C, micro HDMI and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Bizarrely enough, it's even cheaper than the MSI Optix MAG161V, though not by much. And of course, it comes with Asus' ROG Smart Cover for protection.

Just know that this is a 17-inch display weighing 1.06kg, which makes it a bit too big and too heavy for light travel. But hey, if you're a competitive gamer looking to travel or game at a cafe, it's definitely a shoo-in. Just make sure you've got a big enough space in your backpack for it.

Pros: Incredibly fast refresh rate, not too expensive, up to three hours of battery life, nice port selection

Cons: Big, heavier than most portable monitors

The best touchscreen portable monitor

Windows and Android users will love the immersive touchscreen experience on the Asus Zenscreen MB16AMT.

That touchscreen capability is getting more and more common on laptop displays these days, even on those that aren't hybrid. So it was only a matter of time for the feature to reach the realm of portable monitors as well. There aren't a lot out there yet, but there are some, the best one being the Asus Zenscreen MB16AMT with gesture-based, multi-touch controls that are simply fantastic.

Smooth to use, accurate and responsive, especially on Windows and Android, this 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen portable monitor is simply the one to get especially if you're planning on using it for design.

The monitor also has a 7,800mAh battery that delivers up to four hours, and it's fairly lightweight as well, at 0.91kg. You can simply immerse yourself in your creative process without having to worry about bulk or pesky cables when you're weaving your designs. We would have liked it to be a little brighter, but at 250 cd/㎡, it's certainly bright enough. Plus, the vibrant picture quality and superb contrast should make up for that.

Other notable features worth mentioning here are its hybrid signal solution, so you can use both USB-C and USB Type A connections, a smart cover and smart pen hole, a wide 178° viewing angle - useful for when you're consulting a colleague or another artist, and that automatic screen orientation via the Asus DisplayWidget software.

Pros: Touchscreen capability is impeccable, decent battery life, nice feature set, fairly lightweight, great picture quality

Cons: Single port, a bit pricey, touchscreen support for macOS limited

How to choose a portable monitor

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As portable monitors come in a variety of sizes, uses, price tags, and even connectivity types, there's something out there for everyone, from photographers and video editors to gamers and cinephiles. Just know that there are a few key factors to consider.

  • Size: Just like laptops, portable monitors are typically available in 13.3-, 15.6-, and 17.3- inch sizes. Consider what it is you'll be using it for before you decide. Larger displays offer a better viewing experience so they're best for games and movie watching. However, they also tend to be heavier and are bigger. If portability and traveling light are your main concerns, then a smaller screen might be a better choice.
  • Resolution: The resolution of a portable monitor determines how sharp and detailed the image will look. Portable monitors are available in 4K, Full HD 1080p, and lower - though 1080p is the standard these days. Higher resolutions are beneficial, especially if you favor picture performance and want more space to work on.
  • Connectivity: These days, a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 connection is the cream of the crop. It's more powerful, has faster transfer speeds, and is becoming the standard on many laptops. However, some portable displays also include common video connections like HDMI, allowing you to easily connect them to game consoles and media players. Others still have USB ports, some of which can also be used to power the monitor directly from a connected device.
  • Refresh rate and response time: If you're buying a portable monitor for gaming, you should be mindful of the display's refresh rate and response time. Refresh rates higher than 60Hz can provide a smoother experience when gaming at higher frame rates. These days, you can find a portable gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, which is pretty impressive as it outpaces frame rates in most games on most computers.