What Is A Portable Monitor? Do You Need One

Last Updated on 3 months by Touhid

Today, in this post, we will define “what is a portable monitor” and discuss why you need a portable monitor. If you want to work on the go, laptops, Chromebooks, or MacBooks are the way to go. However, sometimes the screen may seem small, and you can run out of screen estate, so the solution is to use an extra monitor.

In most cases, extra monitors are large and bulky and cannot be carried, but luckily, portable monitors are there to save you from this trouble. 

What Is A Portable Monitor?

What is a portable monitor? A portable monitor is a lightweight, portable display device intended for convenient carrying and multipurpose use. These monitors come in a variety of sizes, often ranging from around 10 to 17 inches diagonally, and they usually have a small profile, making them appropriate for use while traveling.

The screen size can also be bigger than that, but that makes it less portable to carry around with you. Hot-desking at work is made easier by the extra-screen real estate. However, it also offers other advantages like 4K resolution and the capacity to execute several programs simultaneously.

A full-featured USB Type-C connector and HDMI (or small HDMI) are found on almost all portable displays. Few portable monitors are QLED, OLED, or IGZO; most are constructed of IPS panels.

Main Features of Portable Monitors

Portable monitors have some distinct features, and these are the common criteria for these monitors. Keep on reading to know more!

Portable

As the name suggests, portable monitors are portable and compact, which makes them easy to carry around. They are perfect for traveling, remote work, presentations, on-the-go gaming, and expanding display capabilities in various environments because of their small form size.

Many connectivity options

Numerous connecting options, such as HDMI, USB-C, DisplayPort, and wireless alternatives like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, are available with portable displays. These ports easily facilitate power delivery and high-definition video/audio connections to laptops, game consoles, cameras, and other devices.

This selection of connections meets various user requirements and improves mobile gaming, entertainment, and productivity.

Work-related models

Specialized portable monitors meet certain requirements. For more fluid gameplay, gaming models prioritize low reaction times and higher refresh rates. Professional-grade solutions, which are perfect for design activities and content production, emphasize color accuracy and broader viewing angles.

Whether a user needs professional-grade visual clarity or gaming performance, these customized displays satisfy their needs.

Regular Monitor VS Portable Monitor (Comparison Table)

Even though the main objective of a regular monitor and portable monitor may seem the same, technically, there are many differences between them. Read the comparison table below to understand all the differences between them.

Aspect	Regular Monitor	Portable Monitor
Size	Larger, typically 22 inches or more	Compact, usually ranging from 10 to 17 inches
Portability	Cannot be moved everywhere	Designed to be move
Connectivity	Many ports but mostly display ports	Comes with different types of ports but less than regular monitors
Purpose	Used for desktop and workstations	Secondary or additional display for easy carry options
Versatility	Restricted movement	Provides flexibility
Special Features	Wider screen choices and resolutions	Stresses mobility without sacrificing functionality
Use Cases	Gaming, professional work, multimedia content	Travel, remote work, presentations, gaming on-the-go

Why Do You Need A Portable Monitor?

Already, we’ve defined what is a portable monitor. Now the question is do you need a portable monitor? The portable monitor might not be for everyone, but it has some unique uses. So, this section will help you determine whether or not a portable monitor is for you.

For multitasking

With the ability to browse various websites, documents, emails, and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams without constantly switching between tasks, portable displays provide an effective multitasking option.

These monitors facilitate more efficient workflows and higher productivity by providing more screen area when needed, which makes multitasking an easy and pleasant part of your job or project.

Giving extra screen estate for gamers

Whether you choose to play video games on a PC, laptop, or console, a portable display may make the experience even more enjoyable. So, you can carry your portable monitor with you and your laptop wherever you go and use that to play games anywhere you want.

Additionally, these portable monitors sometimes come with OLED panels, which will further enhance your gaming experience, especially during console gaming.

You like to enjoy content on the go

Compared to smaller device displays, portable monitors offer a better viewing experience and are ideal for streaming material, watching movies, and using as a portable screen when traveling.

Even if screens are present everywhere in our modern society, there is a certain something that is missed while viewing a film or engaging in gaming on a little mobile device. Expanding the screen on your laptop or mobile device while on the road can be rather enjoyable with a portable monitor.

A good option for creative people

It’s simple to communicate designs, ideas, and tasks with your team when you have a portable display. This is quite helpful for content producers, photographers, and designers who need more screen space for on-location editing or design and color accuracy.

Even casual photographers find the small 2″ LCDs on their cameras unpleasant to preview images on. For those who create media professionally, it is not just a choice but a must-have gadget.

Additionally, professionals who are constantly on the road, such as developers, graphic designers, or video editors, can combine a portable monitor with laptops to acquire extra screen area for their work.

Business traveling

There are several benefits of using a portable monitor when traveling for work. Professionals can use these movable screens for presentations, improving their capacity to communicate information efficiently while on the go.

Furthermore, processing papers or setting up a mobile workstation is made more comfortable and productive with the help of a portable monitor. This configuration facilitates an effortless shift to an efficient work atmosphere, guaranteeing that necessary activities may be accomplished comfortably and simply away from the conventional office setting.

Advantages Of Using a Portable Monitor

Using a portable monitor comes with many advantages and surely makes your working pace more efficient.

Save your workstation space

A portable monitor would be an excellent option if your desktop and room are small spaces since it can fit on even the smallest desktop when needed.

You can simply tuck the monitor into a drawer or wherever you want when it is not in use. The compact design of the room makes it ideal for using portable monitors, especially for students.

Can Improve work ergonomics

Using a dual-monitor setup with a portable display is more ergonomic as it allows you to relocate your workstation more easily. This adaptable configuration can easily help you to reduce any type of neck or back pain which would otherwise be very common if you work on your desk for a long time. In addition, you can position the screens to your preferred positions and improve the ergonomics of your desk.

Increase productivity

One of the most important advantages of using a portable monitor is that it increases productivity. Having more screen real estate via a portable monitor allows for effective multitasking, greatly increasing productivity.

The enlarged display makes it easier to refer to several documents or programs at once, which improves efficiency and streamlines operations. You can work on many projects concurrently without having to constantly switch between windows or documents.

Can be used without any socket

Portable monitors use very little power, and the power consumption is only around 10-15 Watts. They can be powered using Type-C power sources like a power bank.

So, this can be a very good choice, especially when camping or outdoors. Additionally, many monitors come with built-in batteries so they can be charged to run.

Disadvantages Of Using a Portable Monitor

Just like every gadget, portable monitors also come with some disadvantages. Although we do not consider these disadvantages to be deal breakers, they are still worth knowing before buying a portable monitor.

Can be expensive

Portable monitors are not cheap. As the configurations get higher, the price can also increase. So, depending on your preferences, you might need a high budget.

Durability

Certain models could prove more vulnerable to damage from falls, bumps, or hard handling when traveling because of their compact design. So, you must be very careful while carrying these monitors.

Mismatched image quality

For activities requiring accurate color reproduction, certain portable monitors may not match the picture quality or color accuracy of more expensive, bigger screens. This can have an impact on visual fidelity.

FAQs

If you are still having some questions about portable monitors, keep on reading our FAQs below to clear all your confusion.

What resolution of a portable monitor do I need to get as a developer?

We advise obtaining a minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels or Full HD. However, if you work with intricate apps or need precise visuals, you’ll need a higher resolution, such as 4K (3840 x 2160) or QHD (2560 x 1440).

Is it possible to use a portable monitor with every device?

The devices that accept the monitor’s connection choices such as HDMI, and USB-C that can be used as a portable monitor.

Can I use a power bank to power a portable monitor?

A portable monitor can be powered by a power bank, particularly if it has USB-C or other power delivery capabilities. Certain portable monitors can be charged by USB, which means they can be used with power banks that have enough output power.

However, be sure the power bank can provide the monitor with the required voltage and current without causing any harm to either device.

Final Words

A portable monitor can be quite useful depending on your work and requirements. However, you need to be careful while choosing the model, so you don’t end up buying a monitor that is not compatible with your desktop and existing laptop.

Also, do not buy a monitor that is too big since it will make it difficult to carry it around with you. Hope the article “What is a portable monitor” will be helpful for you.