Portability is the number one factor why a lot of gamers purchase a gaming laptop instead of opting for the traditional desktop setup. With the demand for portable devices increasing rapidly, monitors aren't an exception. In fact, portable monitors have become a crucial peripheral for laptop and console owners who are limited by the size and features of their regular laptop's display.
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One of the most appealing aspects of portable monitors is that they are easier to carry than a thick, heavy gaming laptop and don't need a dedicated stand. By default, they bring their own foldable mechanism that lets users set it upright or change its orientation on a desk. As for what portable monitor users should be buying, this can be a laborious task as there are several resolutions to choose from, multiple screen sizes, different refresh rates, and various types of display panels. With a lot of scrutiny and careful analysis, the Game ZXC team has put together the list of top portable gaming monitors to buy in 2024.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Portable Gaming Monitors in 2024
Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE
The Asus ROG Strix 17.3" portable monitor boasts an incredibly high refresh rate for gamers who love smooth gameplay and also comes with Adaptive sync support to eliminate tearing. The display is perfect for enthusiasts who play competitive games and travel frequently.
- Brand
- Asus
- Screen Size
- 17.3-inch
- Display Technology
- IPS
- Resolution
- 1920x1080p
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:9
- Refresh Rate
- 240Hz
- Variable Refresh
- Yes
- Response Time
- 3ms GtG
- Screen Brightness
- 300 Nits
- Thickness
- 1 cm
- 240Hz refresh rate for incredibly smooth gameplay
- Adaptive sync support
- Runs on battery instead of a power outlet
- Poor speakers
- Contrast could be better
The Asus ROG Strix (Model: XG17AHPE) 17.3" portable monitor is exactly what every user needs for a pleasant gaming session. The screen size is quite adequate for 1080p resolution and makes it easily portable as well. The monitor is just 1cm in thickness and uses a smart case that serves as a stand and a protector for the display. Boasting a 240Hz refresh rate, this monitor stands out among every other portable monitor and displays its true competitive nature through a fast response time of 3ms GtG.
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The monitor uses a good quality IPS panel with 100% sRGB color space and up to 300 nits of brightness. While some of its specs are pretty standard, the operating mode isn't. Unlike most portable gaming monitors, it runs on its battery life instead of having to rely on an external power outlet. This makes it a wonderful option for laptop owners who want to game where they can't find the power outlets. However, using it at 240Hz will deplete the battery within 3 hours. So, it's recommended to use a good power bank to recharge its battery.
ViewSonic VX1755
ViewSonic VX1755 is a compact and highly portable 17-inch gaming monitor, boasting a full HD resolution with a refresh rate of 144Hz. This makes it a decent choice for competitive gaming at an affordable price, which can be carried anywhere in a small backpack. Equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium and a 2-way powered USB C port, it's features are on point.
- Brand
- ViewSonic
- Screen Size
- 17-inch
- Display Technology
- IPS
- Resolution
- 1920x1080p
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:9
- Refresh Rate
- 144Hz
- Variable Refresh
- Yes, AMD FreeSync Premium
- Response Time
- 4ms GtG
- Screen Brightness
- 250 Nits
- Thickness
- 0.6-inch
- IPS panel with 144Hz refresh rate
- FreeSync Premium for tear-free gaming
- Can be powered by a laptop via USB C port
- Lackluster brightness and color reproduction
- Unimpressive contrast
For less than half the price of the Asus Portable Gaming monitor, the Viewsonic VX1755 is an excellent choice for immersive gaming through its 17-inch IPS display. The monitor is roughly 1cm in thickness and weighs just 2lbs, making it highly portable. With an adjustable and sturdy kickstand, the monitor can be set at angles from 0 to 62 degrees and it still won't wobble. It uses a sleek metal casing and comes with plenty of connectivity ports to support multiple devices and consoles out of the box.
Surely, it does fall behind in a few areas like brightness, contrast, and color gamut, but it has good viewing angles, low response time, and a 144Hz refresh rate display to make every movement look fluid. The gaming experience is further enhanced through FreeSync Premium support, which eliminates any screen tearing. One of the most notable features of this portable monitor is its two-way powered USB-C port that provides 60W charging via a power bank or power outlet. It can be simply powered on with an outlet or even through a laptop, making gaming more convenient on the go.
MagicRaven 165Hz Portable Monitor
MagicRaven Portable Monitor refreshes 165 times every second to provide a smooth transition from one frame to the next. Its competitive nature along with great picture quality prepares it to be used for both gaming and productivity. With FHD+ resolution and high brightness, it brings more pixel density and is easy to use in a well-lit environment.
- Brand
- MagicRaven
- Screen Size
- 16-inch
- Display Technology
- IPS
- Resolution
- 1920x1200p
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:10
- Refresh Rate
- 165Hz
- Variable Refresh
- Yes, FreeSync Premium
- Screen Brightness
- 500 nits
- Thickness
- 0.35-inch
- HDR
- Yes
- Weight
- 1.3 lbs
- Works flawlessly with popular consoles
- 165Hz refresh rate for great fluidity
- HDR support for vivid details
- Consumes a lot of battery if used with battery-powered devices
- Dull speakers
MagicRaven is an unpopular brand, but its 165Hz portable gaming monitor is one of the best-selling portable monitors on Amazon. The reason behind its popularity is its premium gaming specs for a sub-$200 price tag. This monitor is one of the few that brings HDR support on a budget, and it can reach up to 500 nits of brightness. This enables its use outdoors or even in well-lit rooms, providing vivid details. The FHD+ resolution(1920x1200p) further adds more pixels to the 16-inch screen and sharpens images by increasing the PPI.
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Thankfully, it also brings the FreeSync Premium support, which is quite a surprise for its price tag, and works pretty well in eliminating the screen tears, which come as a result of the difference between the frame rates generated by the gaming device and the monitor's refresh rate. Apart from its display, the monitor is possibly the lightest one, weighing just 1.3 lbs, and is incredibly thin even with the protective cover.
ASUS ZenScreen MB249C
ASUS ZenScreen MB249C is almost a full-size gaming monitor, but with great portability. For users who cannot compromise on smaller 16 or 17-inch displays but at the same time want something that can be carried without hassles, the ZenScreen MB249C is the right solution. With a dedicated carrying handle and C-clamp arm, there are many possibilities to use it however the users wish.
- Brand
- Asus
- Screen Size
- 24-inch
- Display Technology
- IPS
- Resolution
- 1920x1080p
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:9
- Refresh Rate
- 75Hz
- Variable Refresh
- Adaptive Sync
- Screen Brightness
- 250 nits
- Thickness
- 0.93-inch
- Ports
- 5ms GtG
- Weight
- 6.28 lbs
- A 24-inch screen for clear visuals and immersive gaming
- Multi-stand design
- USB-C with 60 watt power delivery
- Cannot be powered via a laptop or gaming device
- Too large to be carried in a small backpack
Typically, the gaming experience on a regular gaming monitor cannot be duplicated on a portable gaming monitor, but the ZenScreen MB249C goes out of the norm and brings a big 24-inch panel while giving users the power to carry it anywhere. Even though it's quite heavy and large for portability, the monitor has a dedicated carrying handle that also converts into a kickstand when needed. It has a multi-stand design and also comes with a C-clamp arm that allows height adjustability.
With so much versatility, the ZenScreen is probably the easiest portable monitor to work with. As for its display, it uses a good quality IPS panel, boasting a full HD resolution with up to 75Hz refresh rate. The monitor is also equipped with Adaptive Sync, but does fall behind in response time. Still, weighing all of its pros and cons, it stands out due to its large-screen display, which is hard to find among portable monitors.
UPERFECT 2K 144Hz Portable Gaming Monitor
UPERFECT 2K 144Hz Portable Gaming Monitor comes with an excellent color gamut that produces vibrant colors and vivid details for mesmerizing visuals and color grading. With a 144Hz refresh rate at QHD+ resolution, it brings sharp details, high PPI, and high fluidity through FreeSync Premium support.
- Brand
- Uperfect
- Screen Size
- 18-inch
- Display Technology
- IPS
- Resolution
- 2560x1600p
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:10
- Refresh Rate
- 144Hz
- Variable Refresh
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- HDR
- Yes
- Weight
- 2.5 lbs
- QHD+ resolution with 144Hz refresh rate
- Supports HDR
- Exceptional color reproduction
- Dull speakers
Under $250, the Uperfect 2K 144Hz portable monitor brings an extraordinary color gamut that covers 100% DCI-P3 color space for professional color grading. With such a wide color gamut, expect it to deliver richer image quality through vibrant colors. To further elevate the viewing experience, the monitor boasts a matte-finish IPS panel and HDR support for brighter whites and blacks. At this price tag, there is nothing that comes even close to it.
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Now talking about its gaming performance, the monitor runs at 144Hz refresh rate on a 2560x1600p resolution. Thankfully, this 16:10 ratio is adjustable to 16:9 for the traditional 1440p gaming, which will put less load on the system. It's also one of the few portable monitors that are Vesa compatible, letting users wall mount it or connect it to a monitor stand. However, the kickstand is sufficient in most cases and will provide good support to avoid any wobble.
ViewSonic VX1655 4K OLED 15.6 Inch Portable OLED Monitor
This 15.6-inch 4K UHD (3840x2160p) OLED portable monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate and protective screen cover is perfect for gamers on the go, or anyone who travels for work and needs a second monitor. With a weight of 1.5 lbs and a thickness of 0.6 in, this portable monitor slips easily into backpacks and even purses. The USB-C connectivity provides super-fast data, audio and video transfer, and 60W charging over one cable, making it easy to attach to just about any PC. This monitor also comes with a durable screen cover and a built-in stand for orientation in both portrait and landscape modes, again adding convenience to workers in hotel rooms or cramped convention halls. Plus, the monitor comes with a 3-year coverage!
- Brand
- ViewSonic
- Screen Size
- 15.6"
- Display Technology
- OLED
- Resolution
- 3840 x 2160 Pixels
- Refresh Rate
- 60 Hz
- Ports
- mini hdmi, usb-c, 3.5mm
- Weight
- 1.5 pounds
- 4K OLED panel for an exceptional picture quality
- Unparalleled contrast
- 2 Way powered 60W USB Type C port
- Lackluster speakers
- No Adaptive Sync support
4K monitors are usually several times more expensive, especially when they are made up of OLED panels. OLED panels are simply unmatched in their picture quality, as each pixel on the screen acts as a light source. This results in an almost infinite contrast ratio and true blacks. This is why the ViewSonic VX1655 4K OLED monitor is the pinnacle of portable gaming monitors when it comes to picture quality. The OLED panel helps it immensely, and the 4K resolution on a 15.6-inch provides an incredibly high PPI.
Unfortunately, the VX1655 lacks a high refresh rate and users have to settle down with a 60Hz panel. However, this doesn't sound like a big deal, considering that it will require a high-end gaming machine to power 8.3 million pixels. To achieve a consistent 60 fps in modern titles, users will require something like an RTX 4080 or an RTX 4090 if they also plan to turn on ray tracing. All in all, the VX1655 is a luxurious 4K portable monitor that is best for both gaming and work.
Things to Consider When Buying a Portable Gaming Monitor
Screen-Size: Portable monitors are typically smaller than regular gaming monitors. This is why they are generally found with the same screen size as found on gaming laptops. Portable monitors are available in various sizes, such as 14", 16", 17", and bigger. Depending on how easy it will be to carry one on a trip and how much immersion individuals require, users should consider all these factors before selecting the appropriate screen size.
Resolution: The most popular resolution on portable monitors is Full HD, but FHD+ and QHD/QHD+ resolutions are also common to find, as they offer higher PPI and better sharpness overall. Depending on the current PC hardware configuration, users should select a resolution that can be powered easily without restricting performance significantly.
Refresh Rate: A gaming monitor's refresh rate is an essential spec that can make a huge difference in the gaming experience. Aim at 100Hz or higher so that the fluidity is better. While 60Hz monitors will also do a fine job, a 120Hz or a 144Hz monitor will let the users see the actual performance of their PCs. A standard 60Hz monitor can only give the visuals of 60 fps, but the 120Hz panel doubles this.
Panel Type: There is a lot of difference between a VA or IPS panel and an OLED panel. While the former is significantly cheaper, the latter has no competition in picture quality and contrast. Still, a vast majority of portable monitors utilize either a VA or IPS panel, as they offer quite satisfactory picture quality and are more affordable.
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FAQ
Q: Is a portable monitor good for gaming?
A portable monitor is easier to carry around due to its lightweight and compact construction. Users who travel frequently and own a compact gaming build or a laptop/console can enjoy gaming on a portable monitor anywhere anytime.
Q: Is a small monitor better for gaming?
Not necessarily. It depends on how close the user sits to the monitor and what resolution does the monitor boasts. A large monitor will provide more immersive experience, while a smaller monitor will be better for portability.
Q: How useful is a portable monitor?
Portable monitors are generally less than an inch-thick and weight 1-2 pounds. They can be easily carried in a backpack and powered via a laptop or a power outlet. Depending on the requirement, a portable monitor can serve as a good option for both gaming and work.