When considering a mini LED monitor, it’s crucial to think beyond just the display technology. The resolution, refresh rate, and color accuracy are paramount to ensuring the visual experience meets one’s expectations. Also, compatibility with various devices, the range of ports provided, and even the build quality and design of the monitor can influence the overall satisfaction of the user. Brightness: One of the few things you’ll be able to tweak on a portable monitor, brightness is measured in candela per metres squared (cd/m²) or nits, so keep an eye out for those. If you’re on the go a lot you’ll want something that can exceed 300 nits to counteract sitting in direct sunlight. Colour reproduction is disappointing with sRGB coverage of 57.5% but otherwise, this is a fantastic solution for those who don’t have space for a full-size desktop monitor.

Why all of these panels, all of a sudden? The widespread adoption of USB Type-C connectivity—with its ability to transfer power, data, and video over a single cable—has been a godsend for the growth of portable displays. They no longer need a dedicated AC adapter for juice (though some do come with one as an option), and many have just a single USB-C port that handles all the connectivity, though some add HDMI or other connectors. Portable monitors come in all shapes and sizes, but the Mobile Pixels Duex Plus' slide-out mechanism is the most seamless way I've found to integrate a second screen with my laptop," said Wan in his full review. "If you want a dual-screen setup without the hassle of carrying a separate monitor, then this is as good as it gets," he says of its ultimate portability feature.I don’t believe there really is a perfect desk setup though, as the best desk setups are constantly evolving. Whether this involves adding that cool new device to your desk or just mixing things up to be more productive, there’s always something you can change or improve. It’s really about finding what works for you at the current moment. The best portable monitor for gaming with adaptive sync, 240Hz refresh rate, and a good battery life. As I alluded to earlier, the mobile-monitor world is undergoing a convergence of power and connectivity thanks to USB Type-C connectivity. Many USB-C ports support both DisplayPort over USB and USB power delivery, letting both data/video and power flow through the port from a computer over a single USB cable. Most new mobile monitors have at least one USB-C port, and some connect solely via USB-C. While this simplicity has its appeal, be sure that your laptop's USB-C port supports data, video, and power transfer, because some early-generation USB-C ports don't. (Thunderbolt ports should also work fine; their functionality encompasses all of that of USB-C.) (Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

As female HDMI connectors are usually recessed into the body of TVs, games consoles, projectors, computers, and monitors - and because they tend to be more susceptible to deforming under excessive strain than male connectors - they’re more widely sold as standalone replacement parts. Make sure you have the correct cable(s) and adapter(s) for your devices. When you're ready, here's how to set it up:Resolution: Ideally, you want a portable monitor with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 or above. This is the standard for most modern portable monitors. Mobile monitors tend to be dimmer, at their maximum brightness levels, than their desktop counterparts. What is commonly called brightness is actually luminance, or brightness per unit area. Portable monitors tend to cluster around 180 nits (also expressed as "candelas per meter squared") in our testing, even though many are rated at between 230 and 300 nits, which is fine for typical use. The highest we have measured at this writing is 280 nits. Connect one display with up to 4K resolution at 60 Hz using the HDMI port and one display with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz using a Thunderbolt port.

Laptop or console gamers looking for extra screen space or a reliable display for on-the-go gaming will love the Asus ROG Strix portable gaming monitor. It has a 17.3-inch screen that provides crisp 1080p resolution and a truly impressive 240Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth action, and the 3ms refresh rate provides near-instant reactions to your inputs. A VGA adapter and cable are for video only. Audio will play from your Surface speakers unless you've connected external speakers. For more info, go to Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories. Set up your TV, monitor, or projector Connect one display with up to 4K resolution at 60 Hz using the HDMI port and up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz using the Thunderbolt ports.Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter and the cable that came with your Thunderbolt 2 display Like many portable monitors, the Acer PM161Q isn’t much to look at, but this one happens to deliver where it counts. It connects to your devices via USB-C and has a micro-USB port for additional power delivery if you’re connecting to an older phone. Both cables are included in the box alongside a USB-A power adapter.

A few mobile monitors use traditional power adapters. This is particularly true of models that work with sketch pens and are intended for artists; they are in effect interactive monitors. In a common configuration, the display draws power through an adapter, while two cables connect to the computer. One is HDMI, to handle transfer of the image displayed on the device, and the other is USB (through a USB-A port), to record the pen motions the user makes when drawing on the interactive display. HDMI (usually in the form of mini-HDMI) is also a common port (the most common other than USB-C) on more conventional portable displays. (Credit: Molly Flores) A few older portable-display models draw their power from a laptop over a separate USB 3.0 connection, but USB-C is well on its way to making this kind of connection passé. The Asus MB16ACE connects to your laptop via USB-C or HDMI (both cables and a mains adapter are supplied in the box) and comes with a case that props it up at various angles, a bit like an iPad case. When we're looking at the panels for mobile monitors, the main factors we evaluate are the screen size, the native resolution, the brightness range, the technology the panel uses, and the maker's claims for color-gamut coverage. Customisation: Most portable monitors don’t have an on-screen display (OSD), so you won’t be able to play with any settings other than adjusting the brightness. How much should I spend?For Mac mini with Apple M2 Pro, you can connect up to three external displays in the following configurations: Connect one display with up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60 Hz using the Thunderbolt ports. Mini LED technology, without a doubt, is paving the way for the future of display technology. The advancements it offers, particularly in terms of brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, make it a superior choice for most applications. Whether you’re a professional looking for precise color accuracy or a gamer aiming for a visually immersive experience, a mini LED monitor is sure to enhance your digital interactions. The native resolution on panels suitable for use with a laptop ranges from 1,366 by 768 pixels up to 3,200 by 1,800 pixels (QHD+). Most of the recent laptop-appropriate screens sport a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (aka 1080p, or "full HD"), but a few go higher. (Credit: Zlata Ivleva) After going hands-on with the Duex Plus portable monitor, we can say that its lightweight build, surprisingly easy set-up, and slide-out mechanism make it June Wan's "productivity secret weapon."