Get a great deal by shopping the best budget laptops of 2023
By Odinga FanuelJul 25, 2023
A good laptop for work or gaming doesn’t need to be costly. There are great options within your budget if you know where to look.
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The 9 best portable monitors for laptops to boost productivity
Leaving your home office? By shopping one of the best portable monitors for laptops, you can still work with an extra screen while on the go.
A quick-view on monitors | ||||||||||||
ViewSonic VA1655 15.6-Inch LCD FHD Monitor | AOC I1601C 15.6-Inch Portable Display | ASUS MB16ACV ZenScreen 16-Inch 16:9 IPS Portable Monitor | ASUS ProArt PA148CTV 14-Inch 16:9 Full HD Multi-Touch Portable IPS | Acer PM161Q Abmiuuzx 15.6-Inch IPS LED FHD Portable Monitor | SideTrak Solo 15.6-Inch 4K Touchscreen Portable Monitor for Laptop | ViewSonic 15.6-Inch VP16-OLED Thin Portable Monitor | UPERFECT Portable Monitor for Laptop | ASUS Republic of Gamers Strix XG17AHPE Portable IPS Gaming Monitor | ||||
Price $139.99 | Price You save $30 (16.67%) $149.99$179.99 | Price $209.99 | Price $394 | Price You save $17 (11.33%) $132.99$149.99 | Price $479.99 | Price $399.99 | Price You save $160 (44.45%) $199.99$359.99 | Price $469 | ||||
Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | Shopping links | ||||
Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4.5 stars at Best Buy | Consumer ratings Average star rating: No ratings at B&H | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4 stars at B&H | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4.5 stars at B&H | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4.5 stars at Best Buy | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4.6 stars at Walmart | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 5 stars at B&H | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4.9 stars at Walmart | Consumer ratings Average star rating: 4.3 stars at B&H | ||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||
Screen size (in) 15.6 | Screen size (in) 15.6 | Screen size (in) 15.6 | Screen size (in) 13 | Screen size (in) 15.6 | Screen size (in) 15.6 | Screen size (in) 15.6 | Screen size (in) 13 | Screen size (in) 15 | ||||
Weight (lbs) 1.54 | Weight (lbs) 1.81 | Weight (lbs) 1.83 | Weight (lbs) 1.6 | Weight (lbs) 3.59 | Weight (lbs) 2 | Weight (lbs) 2.2 | Weight (lbs) 1.89 | Weight (lbs) 0 | ||||
Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | Touchscreen? | ||||
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Having multiple monitors is a fantastic way to boost your workplace productivity. With a dual monitor setup or even a triple screen configuration in your home office, you can read documents and multitask easier — without having to open and close tabs as often.
But what about when you leave home? Whether you’re traveling for work or you’re just heading to a coffee shop, a transportable monitor allows you to enjoy the same setup while you’re out.
To help you find the best portable monitor for your laptop, our editors researched the market to bring you awesome models with impressive features, such as built-in batteries for prolonged use, resolutions up to 4K, vibrant color contrast — and so much more. Let’s get into it.
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The best portable monitors for laptops
Best touchscreen model
ASUS ProArt PA148CTV 14-Inch 16:9 Full HD Multi-Touch Portable IPS
Top portable monitor overall
Pros & Cons
Simple and streamlined design
Lightweight and easy to transport
HDMI and USB-C display support included
Doesn’t include a power adapter
Stand feels a bit flimsy
Our overall top pick for the best portable monitor for laptops is the ViewSonic VA1655. This LCD monitor boasts a full HD 1920x1080 display and a 15.6-inch screen, which is plenty of space for most computing tasks. The slim profile means it’s easy to transport and set up, too.
It’s also one of the best lightweight portable monitors for travelers, weighing just 1.54 pounds. This is the lightest weight of any monitor on this list. Whether you’re headed to your local coworking space or across the country, it’s easy to pack into your bag.
Best-rated option
Pros & Cons
Supports vertical and horizontal modes
Includes a smart cover that doubles as a stand
Crisp and bright FHD IPS display
Screen could be brighter
One-button design makes setup a bit awkward
If you’re looking for the best portable screen for a laptop that packs plenty of features into a budget price, this 15.6-inch display from AOC is exactly what you need. It connects via USB-C which delivers both Displayport and power from your laptop, simplifying setup. It also supports both vertical and horizontal mode, which gives you more flexibility when setting up your workspace.
A full HD 1920x1080 resolution is packed into the 15.6” screen, which features 220 nits of brightness. As an IPS panel, this portable laptop monitor also provides great overall color reproduction. Whether you’re working on a spreadsheet or chatting on Slack, the display looks clear and crisp.
Best for work
Pros & Cons
Integrated kickstand
Comes with a carrying case
Larger screen than most competing products
Kickstand may not hold up over time
Viewing angle isn’t the best
The Asus ZenScreen line of monitors is one of the best options if you’re looking for a durable portable monitor for work. This full HD 1920x1080 display measures 16 inches, and uses an IPS panel that looks fantastic. It comes with a carrying case, too, which is great if you’re often on the go.
The integrated kickstand offers a variety of viewing angles and the monitor can be used in both landscape and portrait modes. Its 250 nits of brightness means it’s plenty bright for most environments. The ZenScreen draws power and connects to your laptop with just one USB-C cable, which simplifies setup.
Best touchscreen model
Pros & Cons
Responsive, bright touchscreen
Supports most stylus
Supports both micro HDMI and USB-C
Limited support for macOS computers
Power draw is pretty high
If you have a laptop with a touch screen, you may also want a portable laptop monitor with touch screen support. This model from the ASUS ProArt model fits the bill and is one of the best portable monitors for laptops overall. The 14-inch FHD screen is fully touch-enabled and uses an IPS panel that offers superb viewing angles and solid color reproduction.
This makes this one of the best travel monitors for laptops if you work in a creative field. Compared to other portable options, this model has higher color accuracy. Since it uses a capacitive touchscreen, it also supports most styluses for drawing and creative work.
Best budget-friendly monitor
Pros & Cons
Several connectivity options
Protective case doubles as a stand
Slim and portable design
Manual and documentation are confusing
Heavy compared to the competition
The PM161Q from Acer is definitely one of the best portable displays if you’re on a budget. The 15.6-inch 1920x1080 IPS gives you enough display space to keep up with different applications. Plus, the included stand doubles as a case to keep your screen safe while you transport it.
This is also one of the best portable monitors for laptops when it comes to connectivity options, which is a surprise given its low price. It has two USB-C ports that support power and DisplayPort, as well as a mini HDMI port, a micro USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. These additional features make it easy to integrate into your mobile office setup.
Best for Dell laptops
Pros & Cons
Stunning 4K screen
Supports HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Great touchscreen support
Touchscreen doesn’t work on Mac computers
Consumes lots of power
This product from SideTrak isn’t cheap, but it’s our top pick for Dell laptops, and it has Chromebook and PC support, too. It has a 4K (3840x2160) display with a 15.6-inch LED screen that delivers stunning image clarity and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio. It also has two built-in speakers that provide high-quality audio.
It even includes touchscreen support, which makes this one of the best portable monitors for laptops if you’re a graphic designer or artist. Depending on your setup, you can connect with just one USB-C cable, or use a USB-A and mini HDMI cable to link to this monitor.
Best for PCs
Pros & Cons
Cover included
OLED display for quality image
Unique integrated tripod/stand for better ergonomics
A little bulky and heavy
Higher price point
If you use a PC and you’re looking for a good portable monitor with a sturdy stand, this monitor from ViewSonic is just what you need. The unique design lets you raise the monitor much higher than most other portable laptop monitors, which makes your workspace more ergonomic and reduces neck strain.
It’s also one of the brightest portable monitors available, with up to 400 nits of brightness. The 15.6-inch 1920x1080 OLED screen has deep blacks and fantastic color reproduction at a speedy response time of just 1 ms. It’s a little bulkier than some of the other best portable monitors for laptops, but it’s still pretty easy to pack up and transport.
Best 4k monitor
Pros & Cons
High-resolution IPS screen
Plenty of ports for connectivity
Easy setup
Included case and stand won’t work for portrait mode
HDR mode leaves something to be desired
If you want to balance price and performance, this high-resolution portable monitor from UPERFECT is a solid choice. It boasts 4K resolution in a 15.6-inch IPS panel, providing a sharp image whether you’re watching videos, working on documents or playing games. The built-in magnetic case doubles as a monitor stand, too.
The slim design and thin bezels make this portable monitor attractive to look at, and also make it small and easy to pack with your laptop and other office gear when you’re on the go. It supports both portrait and landscape modes. It has USB-C connectivity and a full-sized HDMI port, which is a rarity on most laptop monitors.
Best for gaming
Pros & Cons
240 Hz refresh rate and fast response time
Integrated battery for long gaming sessions
Great overall display clarity and quality
Monitor and case are rather delicate
Higher price point
This product from ASUS RoG is the best large portable monitor for gamers. The 17.3-inch screen is bigger than most competing portable monitors for laptops, and features a 1920x1080 full-HD resolution. A maximum refresh rate of up to 240 Hz and 3 ms response time reduces blurring and ensures top performance in FPS games.
The IPS panel has 300 nits of brightness allowing games to look fantastic on the large screen. This monitor also supports adaptive sync that eliminates screen tearing. A built-in 7800 mAh battery means that you can get up to 3.5 hours of battery life, even if you don’t connect this portable monitor to your PC or another power supply.
Which best portable monitor for laptops gets our vote?
You really can’t go wrong with any product from this list. But if we had to narrow our choices down even further, we’d go with the following two portable laptop monitors:
ViewSonic - VA1655 15.6-Inch LCD FHD Monitor (DisplayPort USB, HDMI): If you just want a simple and lightweight portable laptop monitor that won’t break the bank, this product from ViewSonic is a great option. You may not get all the fancy bells and whistles, but it’s great for office work and productivity.
ASUS Republic of Gamers Strix XG17AHPE Portable IPS Gaming Monitor: This portable laptop monitor from ASUS RoG is a great upgrade pick. Sure, it’s pricey, but you get a huge screen, great brightness, a 240 Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync and tons of other amazing features. A built-in battery pack means it can also go the distance, even in high-performance mode.
Prices updated on 01/07/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.
Written by
Eric Liston
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Eric Liston is a freelance writer focusing on consumer product reviews, digital technology — and helping readers find the right items at the right price. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him gaming, cooking or disc golfing.
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