If you own a Nintendo Switch or Valve Steam Deck and want more screen space without buying a new TV, or want to expand your laptop’s working area, a portable monitor could be the solution. It’s also a great half-measure if you want more monitor space for your desktop but can’t fit another full-sized screen.
Portable monitors now rival their full-sized brethren for features, resolution, and speed, and some even come with integrated batteries. But for the most part, batteries won’t be necessary; modern portable monitors can be both powered and take video a video signal in through a single USB-C port.
The best portable monitors are loaded with extra features, like the 1080p ASUS ZenScreen OLED ( 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch). Both come with a magnetic folio cover that can double as a stand, a tripod, multiple USB-C ports so users can rotate the display vertically, and even a built-in proximity sensor to dim the display and prevent image retention when the user steps away.
For office work
If you want a portable solution to a lack of screen space, a 13.3-inch display with a folio cover is the perfect size to put in your backpack or briefcase, although I’d also recommend picking up a laptop sleeve just to be safe. The next size up, 15.6 inches, provides more screen space but is also a bit unwieldy to take out and about. You can go larger, but if you plan on toting the screen around regularly, 17 inches might be too much.
For office work and watching movies, you’ll want a display with great text clarity and accurate colors. The Viewsonic 15.6 Inch 1080p Premium portable monitor is an IPS display loaded with features, including speakers and 60-watt pass-through charging from the monitor itself.
The 13.3-inch Asus ZenScreen OLED is also an excellent option; it doesn’t have speakers or a touchscreen, but the OLED panel delivers fantastic contrast and colors, excellent pixel response times, and HDR capabilities.
For gaming
Credit:
Reviewed / Jonathan Hilburg
Modern portable monitors can be both powered and take video a video signal in through a single USB-C port.
If a portable monitor will be your primary gaming display for your Switch, Steam Deck, laptop, or another portable device, a 15.6-inch or larger display will better suit your needs.
While there are dedicated portable gaming displays, such as the 17-inch, 144Hz ViewSonic VX1755 or the well-reviewed 16-inch, 1440p, 120Hz Uperfect portable monitor, 60Hz should be fine for most people (unless you’re connecting a high-powered gaming laptop).
All of the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch games I tested on the 15.6-inch Asus ZenScreen OLED looked fantastic, and I would rather have perfect motion clarity over a 60Hz-plus refresh rate for these two devices. An OLED display is also a viable option if you regularly do color-accurate work.
If you really want to game on the go and push high frame rates, the 15.6-inch Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE can hit 144Hz, is G-Sync compatible, has an integrated kickstand, and promises up to three hours of playtime on its 7800 mAh battery.
If you don’t already have a wireless controller to go with your prospective monitor, I recommend the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth controller. It’s compatible with almost anything you’d hook up and can live on its charging dock at your home. (Excluding the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.)
For expanding your desk
Credit:
Reviewed / Jonathan Hilburg
The best portable monitors are loaded with extra features.
Even if you have a gaming desktop, a little more screen space never hurt anyone. Whether it’s a dedicated area for Discord, Slack, or watching YouTube videos while you game, buying a portable monitor will let you do all of the above and give you the added flexibility of taking it with you when you’re out and about.
Any of the portable options mentioned above will work, but if you plan on using it for extra productivity space alongside your gaming monitor, I don’t recommend getting an OLED panel. They might look great while displaying the same static elements all the time, but you run the risk of developing permanent image retention, or burn-in. An IPS display would serve just as well here.
Regardless of which portable monitor you pick up, make sure you’re getting the size and resolution that makes the most sense for your use case.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
