Although standard desktop monitors are extremely common, a different type of monitor is beneficial if you work on the go. Known as portable monitors, these displays are about the same size as a laptop screen and give you extra screen space while being easy to carry around. Like laptops, they can also deliver sharp text thanks to their high pixel density. You may want to consider the screen's brightness and viewing angle if you want to use it on the go.
Portable monitors have some drawbacks, as they don't have as good picture quality as desktop monitors. This is why they're better to use as a secondary display next to your main display. Besides that, most of them still require power from an external source. You'll need a cable to power the display and another charger handy for your laptop, but some do have built-in batteries or power passthrough. Most come with USB-C ports, making it easy to connect your laptop quickly.
We've bought and tested over 375 monitors, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best portable displays. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best USB-C monitors, the best monitors for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, and the best work monitors. Check out the best lightweight laptops if you're also looking for a laptop.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, with units that we buy completely on our own, without any cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized and custom tools to measure various aspects with objective data-based results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance against the competition, and whether or not it's easy to find.
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Best Portable Monitor
Office7.0Media Creation7.1Gaming5.1SDR Brightness6.5Size15"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzNative Resolution1920 x 1080USB-C Ports2Thickness (Without Stand)0.3" (0.7 cm)See all our test resultsWeight (Without Stand)1.9 lbs (0.8 kg)The best portable monitor we've tested is the espresso Display 15 Touch. It has good enough picture quality for a portable display and a few handy perks. It's best to get this monitor directly from espresso's website if you can't find it easily available from retailers. It has a responsive touchscreen that works well with Windows and macOS PCs, letting you easily complete work that requires touch movements. It even has a rotation lock that adjusts the image into portrait mode when you turn the display.
What makes this better than most portable monitors is that it's available with different accessories. One of those is its stand, which can lift the display above a table and offers versatile ergonomics. You can also get a case with a kickstand if you prefer. On top of that, it has good picture quality for a portable display with sharp text clarity and great color accuracy. It also displays a wide range of colors in SDR, resulting in life-like images. Besides that, it has a standard range of inputs with two USB-C ports, so it's easy to connect your laptop.
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Best Mid-Range Portable Monitor
Office7.1Media Creation6.6Gaming6.7SDR Peak Brightness7.4Size14"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzNative Resolution1920 x 1080USB C2 (2x DP Alt Mode, PD)Thickness (without stand)0.5" (1.2 cm)See all our test resultsWeight (without stand)1.7 lbs (0.8 kg)If you don't have the budget for a premium portable option like the espresso Display 15 Touch, you can get the ASUS ProArt PA148CTV for cheaper. It's similar in many ways to the espresso monitor because it also has a 1080p touchscreen display, but it's not as well-rounded. For example, the ASUS' touchscreen feels less responsive than that of the espresso. You can't get the ASUS with as many accessories as the espresso monitor, either. The ASUS monitor at least has a built-in kick stand that you can adjust, which helps you fine-tune its placement on any surface.
Besides the differences, this is a solid mid-range monitor. It gets fairly bright and even has better reflection handling than the espresso. Plus, this monitor is accurate before any sort of calibration. In terms of inputs, it has two USB-C ports that each support DisplayPort Alt Mode, allowing you to connect your laptop to either port.
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Best Budget Portable Monitor
Office7.0Media Creation6.5Gaming6.1SDR Peak Brightness6.8Size14"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzNative Resolution1920 x 1080USB C2 (2x DP Alt Mode 1.2, PD)Thickness (without stand)0.5" (1.3 cm)See all our test resultsWeight (without stand)1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)If you're on a budget, the Lenovo ThinkVision M14 is a good alternative to the ASUS ProArt PA148CTV. The biggest difference is that the Lenovo doesn't have a touchscreen. It also has worse accuracy and isn't as bright as the ASUS. However, this is what you have to expect for a cheaper portable display. That said, it's very similar otherwise, as it also has two USB-C ports, which each support DisplayPort Alt Mode. You can connect your laptop to either port, and if you connect a power source to the other input, the monitor can pass power through to your laptop. This is helpful as you won't need a separate cable for charging your laptop.
Aside from that, it has a built-in kickstand that offers tilt adjustment and even has a small height adjustment. If you prefer something that comes with a screen cover as well, look into the ViewSonic VG1655. It costs less than the Lenovo, and its cover helps protect the screen without any extra costs. However, the ViewSonic has worse picture quality than the Lenovo.
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Best Portable Monitor For Gaming
Office7.2Media Creation6.8Gaming8.0SDR Peak Brightness7.3Size17"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate240 HzNative Resolution1920 x 1080USB C2 (1x DP Alt Mode, 1x Charging Only)Thickness (without stand)0.4" (1.0 cm)See all our test resultsWeight (without stand)2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)Although portable gaming monitors are less common, you can still find some options if you're looking for the best portable monitor for gaming on the go. The ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE is a great choice for mobile gaming or if you need something on the side of your main gaming monitor. It has an incredibly high 240Hz refresh rate to provide a smooth gaming feel. If you aren't going to take advantage of such a high refresh rate, then the ASUS ROG Strix XG16AHPE is a good alternative. It has a lower 144Hz refresh rate and is similar otherwise, but it can be harder to find.
The XG17AHPE has a faster response time than the espresso Display 15 Touch, resulting in better motion handling with minimal blur behind fast-moving objects. It even has a 7800 mAh battery, lasting nearly three hours of gaming. Lastly, it supports FreeSync VRR technology with G-SYNC compatibility, ensuring a nearly tear-free gaming experience from almost any source.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16AHP:
The ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16AHP is a budget-friendly portable monitor with a battery. It's something to consider over the Lenovo ThinkVision M14 if you want the versatility of having a battery. However, it has worse picture quality than the Lenovo.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 11, 2026:
We moved the ASUS ProArt PA148CTV from the Notable Mentions to the 'Best Mid-Range Portable Monitor' to give another option. We also replaced the ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16AH with the ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16AHP in the Notable Mentions.
Dec 16, 2025:
We updated the text throughout for clarity and verified that the recommended monitors are still available for purchase.
May 21, 2025:
We removed the Lepow Z1 from the Notable Mentions as it's hard to find. We also updated the photos that appear in the recommendation.
Feb 19, 2025:
We added the Lepow Z1 to the Notable Mentions, introduced a new format to the article, and updated the text to reflect these changes.
Nov 29, 2024:
Checked that our selections are consistent and accurate.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best portable displays currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here's a list of our monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
As we haven't updated all portable monitors to the latest test benches, the table below doesn't show any that we've tested. Instead, you can see more in an alternative table.