Best portable monitors 2023: Displays that go with you

Viewsonic’s ColorPro VP16-OLED is a portable monitor that targets professionals and enthusiasts. It has class-leading image quality and a unique, versatile stand.

The 15.6-inch 1080p OLED panel delivers a brightness of 375 nits and an impressive color gamut that spans the entire sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut. Although it lacks HDR support, it compensates with class-leading contrast, outstanding color accuracy, and numerous image quality options that will help you adjust the display to fit your needs.

You’ll enjoy the unique attached stand that can be used as a kickstand or raised to provide a more comfortable viewing angle. It’s the only portable monitor on the market with this feature. It adds weight, however: at 4.8 pounds, the VP16-OLED is heavier than most portable monitors.

Viewsonic tosses in several features that make the VP16-OLED ideal for professional content creators. It ships with a bundled hood that can be used to reduce glare in a bright environment. The monitor can also mount a standard tripod screw mount for use on-the-go in a studio or outdoors. 

Priced at $399.99, the VP16-OLED is more expensive than most competitors. Still, the price is more than justified by the monitor’s performance. Most portable monitors will feel out of date within a few years, but this display will remain a top performer for years to come.

The Arzopa A1 Gamut is a solid 15.6-inch 1080p portable monitor that delivers good image quality, an attractive design, and useful features at a low price.

Arzopa opts for a simple yet elegant design that pairs a thin display panel with a small bump on the lower half to house the monitor’s ports and internal electronics. A faux-leather cover is included to provide protection when stowed. It also folds into a kickstand when the monitor is in use.

The monitor has three input options: two USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and one Mini-HDMI. All required cables and accessories are included. However, the monitor’s menu system is hard to use and offers few adjustments.

Image quality is great for the price. The Azorpa A1 Gamut reaches a maximum brightness of 297 nits, which is brighter than many competitors. The color gamut spans 97 percent of sRGB and 74 percent of DCI-P3. The A1 Gamut appears bright and vivid in day-to-day use and, though not ideal for professional content creation, holds up well while browsing the web, working in Microsoft Office, or viewing YouTube.

The Arzopa A1 Gamut retails for $170 but is frequently sold at a steep discount, often as low as $110. It’s an absolute steal when on sale, and we highly recommend waiting for a discount if one isn’t currently available.

Want a light, compact monitor that’s ideal for gaming while away from home? The inexpensive Arzopa G1 Game is a solid choice. 

Arzopa’s portable gaming monitor has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 (better known as 1080p) and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. The refresh rate, which indicates how many times the display can refresh per second, improves responsiveness and motion clarity. It’s a noticeable improvement over a portable monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate.

The monitor also delivers a bright, attractive image. 1080p resolution may sound mundane in today’s world of 4K displays but, due to a portable monitor’s small 15.6-inch display, it delivers sharpness close to that of a 27-inch 4K monitor. The Arzopa G1 Game also scores well in contrast, color gamut, and color accuracy. 

It’s easy to pack, too, as the monitor weighs just 1.36 pounds and measures roughly four-tenths of an inch thick. A faux-leather case provides protection while traveling and serves as a kickstand. The kickstand’s tilt adjustment is limited, though, which can prove frustrating. 

The G1 Game routinely retails for about $150 on Amazon.com and ranks among the most affordable 144Hz portable gaming monitors available. It’s a good value and an easy recommendation for travelers who frequently game away from home.

Want a portable monitor with premium image quality at a midrange price? The Innocn K151F should be on your short list.

The Innocn 15K1F is a 15.6-inch 1080p OLED portable monitor priced at $269.99, providing a less expensive alternative to the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED. The 15K1F has an outstanding contrast ratio, a color gamut that spans 100 percent of sRGB and 99 percent DCI-P3, and good out-of-box color accuracy. The VP16-OLED is better, but the more affordable Innocn K151F nips at its heels.

Innocn’s design feels robust and looks attractive. Connectivity is strong, too, with a pair of USB-C ports and one Mini-HDMI port, offering a variety of options and the ability to connect multiple input devise. The menu system is competitive with the VP16-OLED and offers customization for color temperature, saturation, hue, and three-axis RGB color calibration.

Unfortunately, the included cover and kickstand could be improved. The cover physically snaps over the display and does not use magnets, which makes it a bit difficult to install or remove. The kickstand can easily slip out of place if you accidentally bump the monitor. It’s usable but a clear step down from the kickstands available on more expensive competitors.

Still, it’s hard to argue with the image quality Innocn offers for $270. It performs almost identically to the more expensive Viewsonic VP16-OLED. Innocn’s cover and kickstand falls short, but we suspect many people would rather pocket the savings and buy their own third-party stand.