Portable Monitor(s) for Laptop

Hambone

will post for drinks
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
2,822
I'm working remotely this week with a borrowed laptop monitor and realizing I kinda like being able to get out from my home office. Thing is our systems suck so I have to do a lot of copy and paste into the CRM as well as pull information from multiple documents, which makes working on a single monitor suck. I'm fully wired on this trip, but it might be nice if I could power the monitor off the laptop via USB-C or it have a rechargeable battery.

I have pretty good vision, so I don't need anything big. Do these portable monitor extenders just suck?

View: https://www.amazon.com/TeamGee-Portable-Monitor-Display-Extender/dp/B09NLKWDMP/ref=sr_1_6?crid=SLRFKFLC71YC&keywords=portable+laptop+monitors&qid=1677126759&sprefix=portable+laptop+monitor%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-6&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.0566e4a0-c021-43c5-b0fb-9f56f724aabb


I'm running off a Dell PC if it matters.
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
7,879
Boston, MA
I've used a couple of them extensively when working from home. I don't have an office or anything, so I need to set up on the kitchen table and take it down every day.

Amazon.com: ZSCMALLS Portable Monitor 15.6 Inch Full HD Computer Display USB C Dual Monitor with Speaker, Gaming Monitor for PS3 PS4 Xbox Nintendo Raspberry pi : Electronics

INNOCN 15.6" 4K Portable Monitor Touchscreen 3840 x 2160 USB C HDMI External Gaming Monitor Second Computer Screen Travel Portable Monitor for Laptop MacBook Xbox Switch PS5 Phone, w/Kickstand (amazon.com)

They both connect via one USB-C cable to the laptop. The 4k one has a nicer picture and having touch can be helpful, but it's a little heavier and can only go over 50% brightness without an external power source. If I were moving around with it more, I'd just go with the 1920x1080 one. It's easier to carry and still looks good enough at that screen size. Especially if color accuracy doesn't really matter.
 

dcdrew10

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
1,397
Washington, DC via Worcester
I do web content management/editing/strategy so having as multiple monitors is a necessity. I bought this ARZOPA 15.6" one mostly based on price and reviews. I use regularly and when I get a new home office set up, I will add it to my two monitor system. It is not even remotely fancy or special, but I can work on it seamlessly, without thinking about it much, which is pretty important for me. I take it with me when I am traveling and have to work. It's pretty clutch; if something happened to mine I would buy a replacement immediately. I also got a monitor stand, for ergonomic reasons. I have never tried the dual portable monitors, but it looks like a viable setup.
 

Rudi Fingers

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,845
Adianoeta
One can also use an Android tablet or iPad as a second screen for Windows laptops with software like Spacedesk (https://www.spacedesk.net/ ) running on both devices.

Also, higher end Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets (S7 and S8) can be used out of the box as second screens for Windows laptops - see https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00088544/

The bonus with the tablet approach is, of course, that the tablet can be used for other tablety things when you are on the road, especially if your laptop itself is a corporate-locked-down one.

That said, if your Windows laptop is *so* locked down by your employer that you can't install any applications, definitely use a portable monitor instead of a tablet.
 
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Hambone

will post for drinks
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
2,822
I've used a couple of them extensively when working from home. I don't have an office or anything, so I need to set up on the kitchen table and take it down every day.

Amazon.com: ZSCMALLS Portable Monitor 15.6 Inch Full HD Computer Display USB C Dual Monitor with Speaker, Gaming Monitor for PS3 PS4 Xbox Nintendo Raspberry pi : Electronics

INNOCN 15.6" 4K Portable Monitor Touchscreen 3840 x 2160 USB C HDMI External Gaming Monitor Second Computer Screen Travel Portable Monitor for Laptop MacBook Xbox Switch PS5 Phone, w/Kickstand (amazon.com)

They both connect via one USB-C cable to the laptop. The 4k one has a nicer picture and having touch can be helpful, but it's a little heavier and can only go over 50% brightness without an external power source. If I were moving around with it more, I'd just go with the 1920x1080 one. It's easier to carry and still looks good enough at that screen size. Especially if color accuracy doesn't really matter.
Thanks! I got the first one from Amazon as I don't need 4k. After some issues with Amazon delivery, it works great.

Need to look into updating my ipad to be a 3rd monitor for when that's needed.