← Best of the Best: all the guides
The best portable monitors for work and travel
The ViewSonic TD1656-2K wins for its sharp, bright 16-inch screen, sturdy build, and useful touch support; cheaper picks cover everyday needs.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | ViewSonic TD1656-2K | Arzopa A1 15.6-inch Portable Monitor | MSI Pro MP165 E6 Portable Monitor |
| Price | about $300 | about $70 | about $80 |
| Why | Tom's Hardware names it best overall, and its 16-inch 2560 × 1600 screen is sharper than the common 1080p budget models. It also measured among the brightest in its comparison and includes touch support and an aluminum chassis. | Tom's Hardware recommends the A1 as its budget pick, with a typical price far below the ViewSonic's. It offers a 1080p IPS display, an integrated kickstand, USB-C, and mini-HDMI for basic second-screen use. | TechRadar found this roughly $90 monitor capable for everyday work and casual gaming, while Popular Mechanics listed it as its budget pick and showed an Amazon price around $80. It has a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen, built-in kickstand, and VESA mounting support. |
| Good to know | It has no HDMI port, so devices without USB-C video output need another solution. | Its measured brightness and color performance are modest. | Its brightness and color accuracy are weak for demanding creative work. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AITom's Hardware names it best overall, and its 16-inch 2560 × 1600 screen is sharper than the common 1080p budget models. It also measured among the brightest in its comparison and includes touch support and an aluminum chassis.
Good to know: It has no HDMI port, so devices without USB-C video output need another solution.
See on Amazonpicture by AITom's Hardware recommends the A1 as its budget pick, with a typical price far below the ViewSonic's. It offers a 1080p IPS display, an integrated kickstand, USB-C, and mini-HDMI for basic second-screen use.
Good to know: Its measured brightness and color performance are modest.
See on Amazonpicture by AITechRadar found this roughly $90 monitor capable for everyday work and casual gaming, while Popular Mechanics listed it as its budget pick and showed an Amazon price around $80. It has a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen, built-in kickstand, and VESA mounting support.
Good to know: Its brightness and color accuracy are weak for demanding creative work.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
Check that your laptop supports video over USB-C, and consider whether you need HDMI for other devices. Screen size, sharpness, brightness, weight, stand design, and price matter more than advertised HDR for most people.
Who this is for
These picks suit people who want a second screen for a laptop while traveling or working away from a desk. The budget options are for everyday tasks, not color-critical creative work.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: ViewSonic TD1656-2K
Tom's Hardware names it best overall, and its 16-inch 2560 × 1600 screen is sharper than the common 1080p budget models. It also measured among the brightest in its comparison and includes touch support and an aluminum chassis. The 16:10 display gives you extra vertical room for documents and spreadsheets. It supports touch in Windows 11, and ViewSonic's software extends touch support to macOS; an active stylus is included. Two USB-C ports support 65W pass-through charging, so the monitor can help power a connected laptop. Its Smart Cover protects the screen and folds into viewing positions. Skip it if you need HDMI or want a simple, inexpensive second screen.
Good to know: It has no HDMI port, so devices without USB-C video output need another solution.
See on AmazonBest value: Arzopa A1 15.6-inch Portable Monitor
Tom's Hardware recommends the A1 as its budget pick, with a typical price far below the ViewSonic's. It offers a 1080p IPS display, an integrated kickstand, USB-C, and mini-HDMI for basic second-screen use. The 15.6-inch, 1920 × 1080 screen is a practical size for email, documents, and browsing. The built-in kickstand avoids relying on a separate folding cover, and the mini-HDMI input gives you another way to connect. Tom's Hardware measured brightness at 228 nits and found its color performance behind competitors. Its straightforward feature set makes sense for general productivity when spending less matters more than a sharper panel. Skip it for bright rooms or color-sensitive editing.
Good to know: Its measured brightness and color performance are modest.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: MSI Pro MP165 E6 Portable Monitor
TechRadar found this roughly $90 monitor capable for everyday work and casual gaming, while Popular Mechanics listed it as its budget pick and showed an Amazon price around $80. It has a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen, built-in kickstand, and VESA mounting support. TechRadar tried it as a second screen for mobile IT work, music creation, and Nintendo Switch gaming, and reported no connection problems across several devices. Its slim, light build and USB-C connection make it convenient to carry and set up. The anti-glare finish and eye-comfort features suit routine work and streaming. Reviewers caution that its color accuracy and brightness are not strengths, so it is not a good choice for color-critical projects. Its 60Hz refresh rate is fine for ordinary use but not a gaming-focused feature.
Good to know: Its brightness and color accuracy are weak for demanding creative work.
See on AmazonHow we chose
Reviewers assessed usability and portability hands-on, and used color-measurement tools to check brightness, contrast, color coverage, and accuracy. Tom's Hardware measured the ViewSonic at 363 nits; TechRadar tested the MSI with work, music production, and Nintendo Switch gaming. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
Not sure which one is for you?
Ask Danilli anything about these, free. Tell it what you need and your budget and it says which one fits you.
Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon or the store when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Pictures marked "picture by AI" are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.