The best portable monitors let you extend and expand your laptop, tablet, or games console screen without tying you down to a desk.
Our team of reviewers have tested all the best monitors and best business monitors - but if its compact portability you need, these are the devices we recommend.
The best portable monitor you can get overall is the Asus ZenScreen OLED MQ13AH, a gorgeous 13in 1080p display that's great for color accuracy and vibrancy. But we've compared a full range of small portable monitors for a range of budgets and uses at home, on the commute, and on campus.
As part of our review process, we compare everything from screen resolution to viewing angles, color space coverage to design and dimensions. We also assess build quality across Full HD and 4K portable monitors, and touchscreen displays for everyday use.
The quick list
Best portable monitor overall
Its bright, vibrant OLED screen, excellent color accuracy, and lightweight form factor make this a fantastic option for most users.
Best budget portable monitor
Though slim on features, this budget option is amazingly lightweight and deliver great picture quality for how much it costs.
Best portable monitor for gaming
Though only a 1080p panel, this comes with a 144Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync, which makes it ideal for fast-paced titles.
Best portable monitor for MacBook
If you’re more of a business or productivity power user needing to extend your MacBook’s display, then this is the ideal choice.
Best 4K portable monitor
A must if you want a portable 4K display, it boasts 600 nits of brightness, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and 100% Adobe RGB.
Best portable monitor for creatives
Its 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 color gamut, and high color accuracy make this a great touchscreen portable monitor for creatives.
Load next products...
Best portable monitor with built-in battery
This one comes with a built-in battery that can last up to three and a half hours on a single charge, as well as wireless connectivity.
Best triple portable monitor setup
If you need a dual-screen portable monitor to complement your laptop screen, we found the very versatile Flex a good performer, especially for meetings and multitasking.
Best 17-inch portable monitor
This good-looking 4K model from Intehill is a bit of a unicorn as there just aren’t a lot of portable monitors with this screen size.
Best OLED portable monitor
A portable OLED monitor with solid build quality and a vibrant panel, this is a top choice for those looking for one on a tight budget.
The best portable monitors 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best portable monitor overall
There are many things about the Asus ZenScreen OLED MQ13AH that makes it a worthy top recommendation if you’re seeking a portable monitor for productivity and casual use. It’s a bit on the small side, but at least that means it’s the perfect size of that 1080p resolution. And its 1.08-pound weight means that you’ll hardly feel it in your backpack when traveling or commuting.
In terms of performance, you’ll be hard-pressed to complain. It’s got 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and a color accuracy of Delta E < 2, delivering excellent color performance. It also has a bright panel, topping at 360 nits, so you won’t have to squint through your eight-hour workday – although we wish the display itself isn’t so glossy and prone to annoying reflections.
The only complaint we have about its design is that its stand, which moonlights as its case, isn’t the most convenient to use. Hardly a big deal, if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s also not the cheapest option.
See what our sister site Tom's Hardware thought in its review for the larger but similarly-specced Asus ZenScreen OLED MQ16AH review.
The best budget portable monitor
Though a little slim on special features – it has a built-in stand, of course, and for travel purposes, it comes with its own travel case. It also has portrait mode for reading documents and coding, as well as two 0.8W speakers, but that’s about it. However, if you don’t really need anything fancy, it’s the best one out of all the budget portable monitors you’ll see on Amazon.
This 15.6-inch 1080p display is a little dim, with its brightness topping at 250 nits, but it has two USB-C ports, one of which has 60W power delivery (plus a mini HDMI). It’s also very light, one of the lightest options on here, coming in at only 1.5 lbs – an advantage if you’re a digital nomad on an extended trip around the world.
We’re still working on testing and reviewing this display, but ViewSonic’s budget monitors haven’t failed us yet, and this one is also very highly reviewed by verified customers on Amazon.
See what our sister site Tom's Hardware thought in its full review for this cheap portable monitor.
The best portable monitor for gaming
There aren’t a lot of portable monitors geared towards gamers. Luckily, Asus has us covered with its line of ROG portable gaming monitors. There’s a few of them worth looking at, but if you want the best, we suggest going for the Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE, which we’ve gamed on ourselves (although we are still working on a review for it).
This 15.6-inch version comes with a versatile built-in kickstand that gives users the option to switch from landscape to portrait mode, which comes in handy if you’re also a coder. Though only a 1080p panel, it does come with a 144Hz refresh rate, which makes it ideal for fast-paced titles, as well as Nvidia G-Sync support.
There is a built-in battery, which also makes this a worthy proposition if that’s important to you, but it’s small and only gives you up to two hours of use (less if you’re gaming). There are speakers built-in as well, though you’d want to rely on a gaming headset instead.
Read the full review for this portable gaming monitor from our sister site Tom's Hardware.
The best portable monitor for MacBooks
If you’re a MacBook user who is a photographer, videographer, or graphic designer by trade, we recommend checking out our best portable monitor for creatives suggestion further down this list. However, if you’re more of a business or productivity power user needing to extend your MacBook’s display, then the LG Gram +view 16MR70 is the ideal choice.
The LG Gram line is known for its super-lightweight nature, and you can expect the same from this portable monitor, sitting at only 1.45 pounds for a 16-inch display. It’s, in fact, lighter than many of the smaller options on this list. Naturally, it works beautifully with the MacBooks, especially with its two USB-C ports. And while its color accuracy isn’t anything to write home about, it does offer DCI-P3 99% color gamut, which is a nice concession.
While we have yet to get our hands on this display for a proper review, which we plan on doing soon, it’s been positively received by Amazon customers. It’s currently enjoying a 3.4 out of 5 rating, with some reviewers declaring it an impressive portable monitor despite its minor flaws.
Read the full review from our sister site ITPro.
Check out our LG promo codes to get the best deal on your next purchase.
The best 4K portable monitor
While we haven't gone hands-on with this best portable monitor contender, it's proved remarkably popular on Amazon, with great reviews and even better specs.
What makes the UPerfect True 4K portable monitor such a must for those seeking 4K in a portable package is its blinding 600 nits of brightness to go along with that UHD resolution. While the HDR support is not Vesa-certified, its 1500:1 and 100% Adobe RGB more than make up for it, providing a vibrant and dynamic image.
If only you didn’t have to reset the brightness every time the screen is manually powered off. It’s a minor quibble, but considering how much power this screen takes – you’ll need somewhat powerful hardware to make use of that higher resolution – and the fact that your laptop is as likely to be on battery power than not, it is worth noting.
The other minor issue is its cover, which also functions as its stand. As a cover, it’s fine. But, as a stand, it can sometimes be a little flimsy, a regular issue with portable monitors. That said, at least there are more than enough ports on hand.
The best portable monitor for creatives
Content creators who often travel for work don’t always have the convenience of having access to a screen real estate big enough for a comfortable creative workflow. Luckily, some manufacturers have seen to it that they too have options in the portable monitor scene, and the Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV may be the best one we’ve seen and tested.
Though we haven’t done the review on it just yet, one of our Computing editors has had a proper hands-on experience with the monitor, and it truly delivers in color coverage and color accuracy. With 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut, as well as Calman verified color accuracy, this is truly better for video and photo editing than all others on this list. That’s without mentioning its other features that simplify your workflow.
First is its touchscreen capability, which allows you to make adjustments to your work directly onto the screen. Then there’s the built-in integrated dial you’ll find in the rear of the monitor. It works seamlessly with several Adobe editing software, allowing you to fine-tune your work while minimizing your use of the trackpad or mouse.
Read the full review from our sister site Tom's Hardware.
The best portable monitor with built-in battery
You might not feel comfortable with spending quite the asking price of the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AP since it is pretty pricey. However, that’s probably the biggest strike against it. Outside of that and the fact that it is a bit on the chunky side, there’s much more to love than not.
While we haven’t reviewed it here at TechRadar just yet, one of our Computing editors has already put this display through its paces, and it truly does deserve to be on every top portable monitors list. To start, it comes with a built-in battery that can last up to three and a half hours on a single charge. That alone is pretty impressive. But, it also comes with wireless connectivity, though it only functions through screen mirroring.
As far as the panel itself goes, it’s not right for any serious photo or video editing but good for productivity work with a 1080p resolution and bright enough 220 nits. Colors look good for most regular work as well as streaming. But, the star of the show here is not the screen but the features, especially the battery, making this perfect for the digital nomad who needs extra screen real estate.
See the full review for this long-life portable monitor from our sister site Windows Central.
To save yourself some money, be sure to use one of our Asus coupon codes.
The best triple portable monitor for laptops
If one extra screen is good, two must be better - and that’s where a fold-out portable monitor like the Flex 14 comes in. A versatile device powered by a single cable, you can set both 14-inch 1080p dual-screen portable monitors flanking your laptop. But you can also use a single display in landscape or portrait mode, or in a triangle formation for teams..
Given its weight, this is more suited for when you’re working from home or hot-desking in the office than using on the commute. In our hands-on testing, we found the build quality felt solid, the aluminium providing real stability, and overall flexibility was very welcome. Set-up was fast and simple, and performance was good. Images were clear and crisp, with good control over settings.
Color space coverage is only 72% sRGB - so the focus here is on expanding your screen real-estate over color-accuracy for content creators. If you use a laptop that’s between 11in and 18in and need a three-screen set-up for meetings and multitasking, this is a very flexible option.
Read our full The Portable Monitor Flex 14-inch review
The best 17-inch portable monitor
This 17.3-inch 4K model from Intehill is a bit of a unicorn as there just aren’t a lot of portable monitors at this size with this resolution. Thankfully, it’s also a good looking one. Just be aware that you’ll have to spend a hefty sum for this larger display as well as buy a PSU separately, that is unless you have a Thunderbolt port which can fully power it.
While we found its backlighting to be somewhat center-focused during our testing, the color coverage is good for most with 100% Adobe RGB and 93% DCI-P3. HDR is on offer as well though its 400 nits is not quite bright enough for strong results – not to mention that it didn’t quite hit its advertised peak brightness when tested.
Back on the plus side, there’s plenty of connectivity on hand with the ability to use either USB-C, mini-DisplayPort, or a full-fledged HDMI port. The Intehill 17.3-inch Portable 4K monitor also comes with Vesa mounts as well as a smart case that doubles as a stand.
Read our full Intehill 17.3” Portable 4K Monitor review
The best affordable OLED portable monitor
Graphic designers and videographers may want to look elsewhere. But, for everyone else interested in a portable OLED monitor and on a budget, the Innocn 15A1F should be in the running.
That might seem strange considering that the colors here are pretty spectacular. When tested, we found the monitor to have a fairly wide color gamut to the tune of 176.3% sRGB and 124.9% of DCI P3. Plus, OLED panels offer a very consistent image across all sections. All this makes for a vivid display. However, it is held back for professional work somewhat by its 1080p resolution at 15.6 inches. And, it doesn’t quite have the brightness to fully take advantage of true HDR. That said, it still looks great.
And, while it doesn’t come with a carrying case – you’ll have to get one separately to keep the monitor from getting scratched up – it is well built and comes with a magnetically attached support foot that solves the problem that we find with a lot of portable screens by keeping it steady on its feet. We also appreciated the inclusion of both USB-C and Mini HDMI connectivity.
Head to our sister site Tom's Hardware for the full review.
The best affordable touchscreen portable monitor
The new CrowVi portable monitor has all the bells and whistles of a modern screen while being simple. The glossy 13.3” FHD IPS panel is bright at 300 nits and offers an 800:1 contrast level. Being thin at less than 10mm and weighing around 350 grams, the monitor can easily be moved around. The IPS technology also provides a great viewing angle and faithful color reproduction. The supplied plastic cover doubles as a stand while protecting the screen.
The CrowVi is an excellent screen that won't break the bank. It works out of the box, providing superb image quality and a touch interface. The low power consumption and built-in speaker make it an essential accessory for crowded spaces like desktops. Its best feature is that it works with only one Type-C connection, providing power, display, and touch input.
The main negative point is the glossy screen, which can distract from serious work. The bezel isn’t the smallest found on a portable display, and while using only a slide button for the menu might be economical, this renders navigating the settings time-consuming.
The best 14" portable monitor
Elecrow’s CrowView Note is a portable monitor that can turn a single-board computer, such as the Raspberry Pi 5, into a 14” laptop in just a few steps. With its FHD IPS screen, the self-powered unit has a 5Ah LiPo battery, a touchpad, and a pair of speakers. The silver casing can be easily mistaken for premium models offered by HP or Apple, but for $169, the plastic case feels flimsy and tends to bend under keystrokes.
A KVM in disguise, the Note can connect to several display interfaces while a multifunction USB hub expands the Type-C or Type A connector to several peripherals and a spare USB Type-A socket. The 84-key keyboard has function keys for screen settings and a numeric pad shared with other keys. The supplied 48W adapter charges the battery in less than one hour and will also power devices connected through Type-C in PD mode.
The CrowView Note is one of those gadgets that becomes essential once you start using it. It packs a crisp FHD display, stereo speakers, a LiPo battery, and, above all, two USB host sockets, allowing it to become a true KVM. As a secondary display, it is light and offers a large viewing area. The multi-touch trackpad complements the compact keyboard well, while the build and material quality could be better. For $169, it will pay for itself with increased productivity away from the desk.
Read our full CrowView Note review.
Best portable monitor FAQs
How do I connect a portable monitor to my device?
In general, portable monitors connect to devices via USB-C - a single cable carrying output and power, making it better-suited for portability. Plug one end into your device, the other end into the display, and head into your operating system's display settings for further configurations like mirroring.
Some portable monitors also connect to devices via USB-A, mini-HDMI, micro-HDMI, and VGA. Check your manual for full details.
Are portable monitors compatible with all devices?
You'll find the best portable monitors are compatible with laptops, tablets and gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch. Depending on the portable monitor model, it may be possible to hook up to display to a desktop, but if you have the space for a second full-sized monitor, this will be usually be the better option for productivity gains.
Do portable monitors have built-in speakers?
Some of the best portable monitor models do feature built-in speakers. However, when it comes to internal speakers, we find audio quality varies greatly. Lower-priced portable monitors often having a shallow, tinny sound to them, lacking in bass. These speakers will be fine for presentations or in a pinch, but pale in comparison to those with dedicated audio systems or external speakers.
Do portable monitors require external power?
It depends on the model. Some portable monitors feature a built-in rechargeable battery, while others will draw power from the connected device.
Both have pros and cons. A portable monitor with a battery means you can use it for longer on the go, but it will be heavier. They're also more expensive. A display without a battery is lighter to carry, but will drain your device faster if you're not connected to the mains.
How to choose the best portable monitor for you
Choosing portable monitor hinges on your use case and to what device you are connecting.
Hardware & connections
When selecting the best monitors for a dual set-up, most people pair a portable monitor with a USB-C-equipped laptop. When it comes to plug-and-play simplicity, these are usually the top option, ensuring both compatibility and plenty of bandwidth for any resolution a portable monitor is likely to offer. That said, many mobile screens also support mini-HDMI, micro-HDMI, USB-A, and VGA. Just be aware that it may require software and drivers, which could present a problem depending on your device to drive the display.
Screen size & resolution
Screen size is an important deciding factor - big enough to complete tasks, small enough to carry with you. Most of the best portable monitors are 15.6-inch panels with a 1080p resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels - although 4K portable monitors are becoming increasingly prevalent, with better color accuracy and color space coverage for creatives. However, more compact models with 11-inch screens are available for truly portable displays.
Battery
Battery or no battery is another critical question. You can get portable screens both with and without built-in power. Cheap portable monitors tend to come without a battery, and are lighter. However, if you’re using a mobile screen away from the mains, they will drain your laptop’s battery pretty fast.
Brightness
Brightness is a significant factor, particularly for creative work and gaming. If you plan to use your portable display outside, you want as much of that as humanly possible. Most are limited, only topping out at a little over 200 nits. Aim for the brightest, highest luminance you can get - although brighter displays will use up even more battery when powered by your laptop.
Budget
The best portable monitors range in price, from as little as $50 up to hundreds of dollars for premium displays - so it's easy to find one that does everything you need at the right price. Don't forget to check Black Friday portable monitor deals and Prime Day portable monitor deals when the seasonal shopping sales are on.
How we test the best portable monitors
We've tested a range of professional displays, including the best monitors for video editing, the best monitors for MacBook Pro, and the best gaming monitors. So, we know what to look out for when you need a second screen to take with you.
When it comes to testing the best portable monitors, we evaluated the displays across many aspects, starting with how premium the design and build felt, how lightweight the monitor was, the screen size, and whether it offered full HD or 4K resolution.
We considered how many types of connections (USB-C, USB-A, VGA, etc.) the monitors supported and the number of connectivity ports they had. We looked at the display brightness and the viewing angle width.
Importantly, we assessed how minimal the latency was and how good the display looked, in terms of the color accuracy and saturation. We also analyzed how ergonomic the monitor stand/cover was and what type of user the monitor would be best suited for.
We also tested the best monitors for graphic design - and these are the ones we recommend
Get in touch
- Want to find out about commercial or marketing opportunities? Click here
- Out of date info, errors, complaints or broken links? Give us a nudge
- Got a suggestion for a product or service provider? Message us directly
- You've reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^
