3 days ago
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The Best Portable Monitor
Courtesy of Amazon
Plugable
USB-C Portable Monitor
Portable monitors are a dime a dozen these days, and just about every PC or monitor manufacturer makes one. These mobile monitors let you have a dual-screen setup no matter where you are, and they're increasingly a popular option for people who often take their work on the go.
Of all the options he tested, WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu says the Plugable USB-C Portable Monitor is the best balanced of the bunch. The 15.6-inch size is pretty standard, as is the 1080p resolution, but the Plugable has an extra feature up its sleeve—100-watt pass-through over its USB-C port. That means it can charge your powerful laptop, giving you some extra juice on the road when you need it most. There are portable monitors with higher resolutions or even OLED backlighting, but the Plugable USB-C Portable Monitor is the best choice for the money.
Specs Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 Refresh rate: 60 Hz Panel type: IPS Wired
- Great value
- Can charge your laptop
- Sturdy cover and kickstand
Tired
- 16:9 aspect ratio feels old-school
- Only 60-Hz refresh rate
Other Good Monitors to Consider
We think the screens above are better buys, but these are some other good models we've tested that do the job just fine.
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Samsung Odyssey 3D Gaming Monitor for $1,996: If you want something truly next-generation, look no further than this glasses-free 3D gaming monitor (7/10, WIRED Recommends). Like trying VR for the first time, everyone needs to play a game in 3D at some point. Samsung even throws in some AI-enhanced conversion into 3D, a feature that could truly bolster this technology in the future. Game support remains problematically limited, but Samsung has plans to fix that soon.
BenQ 27-Inch IPS Monitor for $170: Reviews editor Julian Chokkattu bought and paired this monitor with his MacBook and says it works well and has nice colors. The large 27-inch screen paired with the 1080-pixel resolution means things can look a little fuzzy if you sit too close to the monitor, but it's fine at normal viewing distances. It supports the VESA mounting standard.
HP VH240A 24-Inch IPS Monitor for $148: The stand on this monitor lets you rotate the screen into a portrait orientation, making it a nice, hassle-free second monitor (you can VESA mount it too). WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu says he bought it for his partner in 2020 and it's been going strong ever since, with a sharp 1080-pixel resolution and slim bezels. Just don't bother with the built-in speakers, as they don't sound great (as is the case with most built-in speakers).
BenQ 27-Inch QHD HDR Monitor for $370: This is a good option for creative professionals who don't need a 4K screen and want great color accuracy. WIRED senior editor Michael Calore says the 2K-resolution display is gorgeous, with highly accurate color reproduction.
ViewSonic 27-Inch 2K OLED Gaming Monitor for $950: The ViewSonic (7/10, WIRED Review) is a bright and beautiful 2K OLED screen with an impressive 240-Hz refresh rate. The monitor controls could be better, though.
BenQ PD3225U 4K IPS Monitor for $1,200: This 4K monitor is made for Macs with its M-book mode that instantly matches the connected Mac's colors, and has a ton of screen settings you can access with the little puck remote. It's a beautiful 32-inch screen, and adjusting it up or down or to the side feels super smooth. It's on the pricey end, though, and there are plenty of cheaper options that do a similar job.
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