I tested a bunch of portable monitors and these were the best (2024)

MNN

Size: 15.6" | Native resolution: 1080p | Touchscreen: No | Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 mini-HDMI | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Warranty: 2 years

You've never heard of MNN, but the company makes a great first impression — and a fine budget monitor. Inside the box, illustrated quick-start guides and instruction manuals help you with the various connection options, while the three bundled cables come in clearly marked bags. (Interestingly, although there's no DP port adapter in the box, MNN will send you one for free if you request it via MNN's support email.) There's even a removable screen overlay with port diagrams, warranty info and support contact info. Color me impressed.

I'm less impressed, though, by the monitor's color reproduction. Compared with the laptops it sat next to, colors seemed muted and the text a bit soft. Granted, I'm spoiled by the premium, high-resolution screens built into both these machines, but there was a clear difference in color quality.

If you're just working on documents or browsing the web, you may not care about — or even notice — that difference. It certainly doesn't diminish the monitor's usability. Speaking of which, I like the little trackwheel that's built into the side; it makes for easier menu navigation than the control buttons used by most.

MNN's magnetic cover allows for two different landscape viewing angles and protects the screen during travel, but there's nothing "smart" about it, despite MNN's claims to the contrary. In fact, it's completely incompatible if you rotate the monitor 90 degrees for portrait viewing. For that you'll need to purchase some kind of stand.

Let's remember, though, that we're talking about a $100 monitor, by far the most affordable in the group. Minor flaws aside, it definitely gets the job done.

ViewSonic

Size: 15.6" | Native resolution: 1080p | Touchscreen: Yes | Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 mini-HDMI | Weight: 2 pounds | Warranty: 3 years

The highly versatile ViewSonic TD1655 adds one key feature that many users covet: touch. You can tap, pinch, swipe and all that, same as on your phone and tablet. Plus, ViewSonic supplies a stylus in case you want to draw or take notes.

ViewSonic does not, however, make setup easy, because the included quick-start guide is woefully incomplete. When I first plugged the TD1655 into my VAIO, nothing happened; all other monitors immediately came to life. Suspecting that perhaps the USB-C port wasn't supplying the necessary 10 watts of power, I switched over to the MacBook. Same result, even though the system had clearly detected the presence of a second monitor. Turns out there's a small power button/control stick on the back of the monitor — but this isn't shown anywhere in the setup guide.

Similarly, there's no mention of the software required for Mac users; without it, the screen doesn't respond to touch.

Those annoyances aside, this is a superb monitor, with a bright, colorful Full HD display and robust kickstand that works for both landscape and portrait orientation. It has dual built-in speakers and a headphone jack, making it a good choice for casual gamers.

I do wish ViewSonic had opted for a matte finish, though; the glossy screen suffers from glare and fingerprints. Something like this inexpensive anti-glare screen protector would make a good addition.

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$270 at Amazon

ViewSonic

Size: 15.6" | Native resolution: 4K | Touchscreen: No | Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 mini-HDMI | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Warranty: 3 years

If your laptop runs at 4K resolution (looking at you, MacBook Pro), it makes sense to choose a portable monitor that matches. The ViewSonic VX1655 matches, making this thin, lightweight OLED display an ideal companion.

That OLED technology is responsible for the monitor's exceptionally vivid colors and dark blacks, but take note that these screens can suffer from "burn-in," which is what happens if a static image stays lit for too long. (Think: the Windows toolbar at the bottom.) This probably won't affect most users, but it's something to keep in mind. And ViewSonic's otherwise generous three-year warranty doesn't cover that issue.

I like the overall design of the VX1655-4K, including the removable travel cover and built-in stand that's home to the various ports. I also like the mini joystick controller for navigating onscreen menus; it works really well, though I wish ViewSonic had mounted it somewhere else. Because it's integrated into the stand, it's hard to reach.

Another note for ViewSonic: Your printed documentation is dismal. Anyone unfamiliar with portable-monitor setup or operation will find zero help in your quick-start guide, which has a couple of illustrations and nothing more.

Thankfully, there's nothing complicated about using this. On the whole it's an absolute peach for anyone seeking a colorful 4K second monitor.

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$500 at Amazon$500 at Staples

SideTrak

Size: 13.3" | Native resolution: 1080p | Touchscreen: No | Ports: 2 USB-C | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Warranty: 1 year

The SideTrak Swivel Pro physically attaches to your laptop instead of sitting alongside it. That makes it easier to transport and potentially easier to use, as it doesn't require any surface area on a desk or table. The cleverly designed hinge allows the screen to rotate 270 degrees and pivot a full 360.

The downside is that you have to affix a semipermanent metal plate to the backside of your laptop screen. If it's a work machine, your IT department might frown on that. The good news is that SideTrak provides two of these mounting plates, meaning you can easily move the Swivel Pro between machines — work and personal, for example — if needed.

You also have the option of popping the screen off the mount and using its integrated kickstand, nice if you want to, say, point that second screen toward someone else. But although the stand can hold the screen upright, in portrait mode, the Swivel Pro doesn't natively support that viewing option; you have to manually set it in MacOS or Windows.

That gripe aside, this is a superb monitor: bright, colorful and glare-free. Given its relatively high price, however, I do wish SideTrak offered a longer warranty.

Rick Broida/Yahoo News

Size: 10.1" | Native resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 | Touchscreen: No | Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 mini-HDMI (per screen) | Weight: 2 pounds | Warranty: 1 year

If two screens are better than one, three must be the best option of all. That's what you get from Xebec's Tri-Screen 2, an innovative accessory that adds high-resolution 10-inch monitors to either side of your primary display. It's a little heavy and a little cumbersome, but there's really nothing else quite like it.

The design is surprisingly simple: The entire apparatus hangs atop your laptop screen, no magnets or sticky-pads required. Then you just slide out one or both screens. Needless to say, this makes the system fairly top-heavy, but a simple kickstand keeps it from toppling over. The only downside is that your laptop is no longer lap-friendly; it needs a desk or other hard surface.

Each screen can plug directly into a USB-C port (if your machine has that many), and each has a pass-through USB-C so you're effectively net-zero on overall port use. However, they're all down-facing and therefore hard to access.

My VAIO laptop had only one USB-C port, so I had to rely on Xebec's Tri-Screen 2 Adapter ($50), which enables a USB Type-A port to supply power and video to one of the displays. This makes for a somewhat clunkier setup, but it works.

The screens are admirably sharp (owing to their impressively high native resolution), but even with their brightness settings cranked to maximum, they're pretty dim alongside the MacBook and VAIO. It's not a deal-breaker but definitely noticeable.

The real question is whether you'll be happy with 10-inch screens. For certain applications (widgets, photos, stock tickers, etc.) they're fine, but I struggled to use one for the likes of word processing. Even so, anyone needing multiple screens on the go is likely to find this a welcome accessory.

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$499 at Adorama