Best Travel Monitor for Laptop – Expert Reviews

When you’re constantly on the go, it can be tricky to work or entertain yourself when you’re limited to a laptop or phone screen. Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, your typical screens may be too big or small. That’s where a portable monitor comes in!

A portable monitor simultaneously mirrors your screen from your phone, laptop, or tablet to give you more convenience while you’re on the go. You can pair it with your laptop screen as an alternate or second monitor for more convenient work, or connect it to your phone to easily edit pictures, play games, or watch movies.

The possibilities are endless–but you need the right travel monitor to start with. Before we dive into our expert recommendations, we will answer some important questions about portable monitors.

What is a Travel Monitor?

A travel monitor is a small, portable display that connects to your laptop, phone, or tablet to act as an extra screen. Travel monitors come in different sizes, with the most popular being around 10-15 inches. Some larger models can be as big as 17 inches.

While some portable monitors come with their own stand or case for protection, others may be more lightweight and fit easily in your carry-on bag. Many models also come with a built-in battery, so you don’t have to worry about lugging around an extra power cord finding a power source.

What are the Benefits of a Travel Monitor?

There are many benefits of using a travel monitor, depending on your needs. For example, if you’re a digital nomad who relies on your laptop for work, a portable monitor can be a game-changer. But you can also use it in your home office when you’re not traveling.

With a travel monitor, you can easily set up a dual-screen display to make working on the go more convenient. This can come in handy when you need to reference multiple documents at once or want to increase your productivity by having multiple programs open at the same time.

If you’re a content creator, a portable monitor can also be a valuable tool. When paired with a laptop or tablet, you can easily edit photos and videos on the go. This is especially helpful if you’re traveling and don’t have access to a desktop computer.

What Should You Look for in a Travel Monitor?

When shopping for the best travel monitor for your needs, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.

First, consider the size of the monitor. If you’re planning on using it primarily for work, you’ll want a larger screen that will give you plenty of space to open multiple programs or windows at once. However, if you’re looking for a monitor to use primarily for entertainment, a smaller screen may be all you need.

You’ll also want to consider the resolution of the monitor. A higher resolution will give you a clearer image, which can be important if you’re planning on using it for video editing or other graphics-heavy applications. However, a lower resolution may be fine if you’re primarily using it for web browsing or general document work.

Another important factor when looking for portable monitors is the weight. We recommend carrying it in your carry-on luggage , so you’ll want a monitor that is light enough to transport without being too delicate.

Finally, you’ll want to consider the price. Portable monitors can range in price from around $100 to $500, depending on the size, resolution, and features. It’s important to find a balance between what you need and what you’re willing to spend.

Best Monitor For Travel – 5 Excellent Portable Monitors For Your Laptop

Now that you know what to look for in a travel monitor, check out our top picks for the best portable monitors based on the features you need for travel.

Asus Zenscreen Touch – Best Portable Touchscreen Monitor

If having touchscreen capabilities is vital to you, the Asus Zenscreen Touch is a fantastic solution. This 15.6-inch portable touchscreen monitor has an IPS display (in-plane switching), full HD, a built-in battery, and a foldable smart case!

Thanks to its effortless connectivity and minimalistic profile, it’s one of the best travel monitors around. It uses hybrid-signal USB c and Micro-HDMI ports to connect to pretty much any device you’ll have on the go with a single USB c cable. And with a profile that’s only 9mm thick (even with its metal backing), it’s super-easy to slide into your travel bag.

Another reason we love this particular hd portable monitor is its blue light filter! It’s equipped with Ultra-Low BlueLight Technology, which offers 4 blue light filter settings to protect your eyes. And don’t worry about it affecting your full HD portable display. Even with eye protection settings, you’ll still enjoy flicker-free technology and crisp 1920×1080 resolution on the 15.6-inch screen.

The Asus Zenscreen also has built-in speakers, and the internal battery lasts for up to 4 hours on its own.

Lenovo ThinkVision M14 – Best Portable Gaming Monitor

If you like gaming on the go, portable monitors are a fantastic solution for your travel entertainment! You can use them to scale up your phone or scale down your bulky gaming laptop screen.

We like the Lenovo ThinkVision M14 for gaming, thanks to its full HD resolution IPS screen, 60Hz refresh rate, and super-fast response time. Not to mention it has some impressive color reproduction capabilities with a color gamut of 16.7 million! The 14-inch screen is perfect for gaming in the car, in your airplane seat, or even while waiting outside. It has superb brightness settings and a contrast ratio of 1000:1, which means you can use it indoors or outdoors without worrying about glare.

Other features that we love include the lightweight design (1.3. lbs), 2 USB-c ports, and the built-in stand that lets you adjust the viewing angle.

The only downsides to the Lenovo ThinkVision M14 are its limited connection capabilities (connecting device must have an advanced USB-C port) and the fact that it draws power from the device it’s connected to. However, it does have power pass through, which means you can charge both the monitor and your other device with a single adapter.

AOC e1659Fwu – Best Budget Portable Monitor

If you’re looking for a budget portable monitor, consider this travel monitor from AOC. These USB-C-powered portable monitors have 15.6-inch screens, 8 ms response times, and extremely slim profiles. While the image quality of the HD screen won’t be quite as good as a more expensive option, this is a great portable monitor for those just looking for a do-it-all second laptop screen.

One of the features we love is that you can simultaneously connect multiple portable monitors to a single laptop for extra display options! It only takes a single cable to get connected, and it pulls power directly from your device, so it doesn’t need a charge. It’s a great portable monitor for gaming, watching movies, or expanding your workspace. It also has a responsive screen that switches between portrait mode and landscape as you need it to.

Unlike many portable monitors you’ll find these days, the AOC also comes with a USB 3.0 port option. So if you have a laptop that doesn’t have the upgraded USB-C connection and don’t want to buy a USB-A adapter, this is a great choice. However, you can also buy the USB-C option (with full HD display) for just a few dollars more.

This 15.6-inch version comes with a built-in kickstand and protective cover.

SideTrak Slide Portable Monitor – Best Portable Monitor for a Second Screen

We love the ingenuity of the SideTrak Slide! If you’re looking to extend your workspace, having both screens side by side makes sense. Yes, having a separate screen with a kickstand works. But having a seamless connection between your laptop and the second monitor is even better!

Unlike other portable monitors, the SideTrak Slide uses magnets to connect directly to your laptop so that you can have both screens directly in your line of sight. When not in use, this 12.5-inch screen slides right into a special carrying spot on the back of your laptop, making this one of the most portable monitors on the market! The framework also allows the screen to rotate 270-degrees to get the perfect viewing angle.

This full HD portable monitor has a 1080p IPS display and an ultra-slim profile. The color gamut is a bit low, but it has a good contrast ratio of 600:1. It has two USB-c ports and includes a USB-c cord with a built-in USB-A adapter. It uses this single cord to draw power and transfer images to the second screen, and you can choose to use the left or right-side port.

ASUS ROG Strix – Best Portable Monitor for Editing

Whether you’re sprucing up your latest batch of travel photos or putting together a killer video presentation for work, this full HD portable monitor is the perfect second screen. You’ll get crystal-clear photo editing and smooth video playback with above-average screen size, 1920×1080 resolution, and a 240 Hz refresh rate.

This portable monitor offers an impressive IPS display, with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 100% sRGB color gamut. It also comes with the ROG Smart Cover, which protects your screen on the go and works as a built-in kickstand in both landscape and portrait orientation.

But that’s not all that makes this the best monitor for editing! There are built-in speakers at the front of the monitor (a rare feature), and it has an internal battery with up to 3.5 hours of its own charge. Additionally, the larger screen size does not mean it’s bulky. It has a 0.4-inch profile and weighs 2.3 lbs.

Finally, we like this portable display for its near-universal adaptability. It can connect to any device with a USB-C port or micro HDMI port, and the box includes a USB-C to A adapter, a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable, a USB-C cable, and a power adapter.

Can you attach a portable monitor to a laptop?

Yes, you can attach a portable monitor to a laptop using a single cable. Portable monitors typically have a USB-C or micro HDMI port that you can use to connect to your device. Some portable monitors also come with a built-in kickstand and protective cover.

Is it good to get a monitor for your laptop?

Yes, a monitor can help you extend your workspace and increase your productivity. A portable monitor is a great choice if you need a second screen that you can easily take with you on the go.

Can I travel with a computer monitor?

Yes, you can travel with a computer monitor. Most portable monitors are designed to be lightweight and easy to transport. Some even come with a built-in kickstand and protective cover.

How do I choose a portable monitor?

When choosing a portable monitor, consider the size, resolution, and connectivity options that you need. You may also want to consider features like a built-in kickstand, protective cover, and speakers.

Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful in choosing the best travel monitor for your laptop. Portable monitors are a great choice if you need a second screen that you can easily take with you on the go. When choosing a portable monitor, consider the size, resolution, and connectivity options that you need. You may also want to consider features like a built-in kickstand, protective cover, and speakers. Travel monitors come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you.