TAKE 5: PORTABLE MONITORS

We pick five second screens you can use to extend your laptop, tablet or smartphone at home or on-the-go

Need a second screen to extend your laptop, tablet or phone? We select the top products

Whether you are working from home or image editing on the go, you no longer need to confine yourself to the display area of your laptop, tablet or smartphone screen. Add a portable monitor to your regular screen and you’ll be able to see the bigger picture, while still maintaining total portability.

These clever displays are a similar size and thickness to a typical laptop screen, so they easily slide into your backpack. They often feature a tablet-style cover that folds into a prop stand, so the display can sit alongside your laptop screen at a similar angle.

Thanks to the power efficiency of modern LCD panels, a portable monitor can be powered from your laptop via a single usb-c connection, and this also carries the display data, so there are generally no other wires to clutter your work area.

Portable monitors range in size from around 12 to 17-inches, though most have a maximum full hd (1920 x 1080) resolution. Here, we list five of our favourite options.

1. ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACE

Price: £209/$249

Asus produces several versions of its sleek zenscreen monitor, and this 15.6-inch variant offers a full hd 1920 x 1080 resolution screen. Slim screen bezels

Keep the overall thickness at an impressive 8mm, and asus also includes a useful wraparound smart case cover that converts into a prop stand.

2. ViewSonic TD1655 Touch

Price: £349/$349

If you’re after a touchscreen portable monitor,

This 15.6-inch model comes in at a fair price. At 15mm thick and weighing 1kg, it has an anti-glare coating, blue light filter and built-in speakers. The 800:1 contrast ratio and 250 cd/m2 brightness should be punchy enough for use in sunny spaces, too.