10 Best Portable Monitors for Macbook Pro

This modern electronic age has brought an entirely new meaning to the concept of working. It could be work from home, or even working while on the move. So, if you are one of those who are constantly working while moving or traveling around, then you will be interested in getting the Best Portable Monitor for MacBook Pro.

Thankfully, today you will be barraged by the choice of great portable monitors. Deciding which one is the best for you might be difficult because of the range of options available. 

Few things to be kept in mind while deciding on the right one are factors such as price, resolutions, connectivity modes offered, and so on.

Most importantly the weight also plays a crucial part in the portability. So, its weight also is an important factor to be considered.

Best Portable Monitors for Macbook Pro in 2021

Lepow Z1-Gamut Portable Monitor

This portable monitor from Lepow, the Z1- Gamut is made for MacBook Pro and is also very apt for gamers. Its size is 15.6” and is specially designed by keeping gamers in mind. It has FPS/FTS gaming technology.

Plus, there is flicker-free backlighting and blue filtering provided to reduce eye strain. The design is lightweight, making it easy to carry, move, and useable while traveling too!

The pricing is affordable and friendly on the pocket. It has an improved Color Gamut panel making it brighter compared to generic IPS 1080P panels. Not to forget, it is Ultra-Slim as well.

The quantum dot technology-based film makes the monitor panel more colorful and provides protection from scratches.

Also Check: Best Budget Monitors for Macbook Pro

Keeping these features in mind, gamers might find this monitor best suited for their MacBook Pro. The display is large, and the refresh rate is the best. It is also Vesa compatible in attractive Black color.

The device has 2 USB Type C ports, which are used for power and video. This makes it compatible with the latest Laptops and smartphones too.

The device feels really slim with a profile of just 0.3 inches weighing 1.76 pounds. You also get a smart TPU cover for making it durable and protected. Overall, it is the best portable monitor for Mac according to us.

Asus Zenscreen MB16AC

With its USB-C interface, the MB16AC by Asus is very sleek and comes amongst the lightest portable monitors. It comes with a smart cover and a smart pen hole which is often found handy if you are into using the Apple Pencil.

This model by Asus has TUV Rhineland certified flicker-free features for backlighting and a blue light filter to prevent eye damage. It weighs only 1.7 pounds and is USB Type-C and Type-A compatible. The design is very stylish and with an ultraportable slim fit, that is the size is 0.3”.

If you are wondering how are you going to carry this as a portable second monitor along with you, don’t worry. ASUS provides you with a smart cover that resembles much like an iPad’s smart cover. The cover also works as a stand which is of course an added bonus.

It uses a USB Type C port to power on. But you also get a Type-A to USB-C converter included in the box, which is really helpful for a ton of people out there. The colors here are not the most accurate that we have seen so, don’t think of using it as a primary monitor.

The portable monitor can also be connected to some phones as well. But you might need to install a driver on your phone. Considering you use it together with your desktop and Macbook, you are definitely going to love this one.

The hybrid signal solution is top class. Please note that this monitor requires Windows OS to be installed. Some users have faced connection problems frequently as it disconnects and reconnects frequently, and the technical support provided was not satisfactory.

Newsoul Portable Monitor – Best Option for Gamers

This portable monitor comes equipped with Eye Care Technology which means minimal eye fatigue and tiredness. It has a 3 in 1 function Type C interface thereby giving it the best power, USB interface function, and signal transmission.

The resolution is 1920x1080p, and the size is 15.6” which feels very compact at the same time. For easy connection with laptops, there is also HDMI, OTG, mini DP, and USB ports provided. Overall, this is amongst the best portable monitor for MacBook Pro when you consider that it has a Versatile Digital Connection, Upgraded configuration, and HDR option.

Now the reason this is a great option for gamers, it does come with AMD freesync HDR capability, and it has a ton of ports if you’re interested in adding things like a gaming mouse or keyboard. Also, it does have an isolated power delivery slot for stronger performance.

This portable screen comes with Type-C, OTG, mini DP, and USB ports. Thus, you can also pair this portable screen with any other Laptop, PC, Phone, or any other gaming console like PS3/PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, etc.

Thus, it can be your companion in scenarios where you want to play games, extend your screen, business trip, travel, or even home entertainment.

The downside is that it takes a long time to charge and the cable provided is very short. Not only that, some may feel that the brightness range of the monitor is very limited. So, this can be a drawback for some users. Overall, it is the best portable monitor for Macbook pro in terms of gaming.

GeChic 1503H

This is a 15.6” IPS monitor with 1080p clarity. It also offers a LED backlight and comes with built-in speakers. You might consider buying it when you come to know its weight. That is, it weighs only 1.75 pounds. So very good for those who want to use it while traveling.

Other than your Macbook Pro, you can also use it with other devices like laptop, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mini PC, computer stick, HDMI wireless display adapter making it a solid purchase.

The device is only 1.1 cm in thickness and provides a 170 degree vertical and horizontal viewing angle which is supported by the LED Backlight Exquisite Brightness. Check the latest Deal by clicking on the link below

UPERFECT Dual Touch Screen Portable Monitor

This UPERFECT portable monitor is a premium 4K Ultra HD Portable display that features an A-grade screen. This monitor is highly popular among gamers who are looking for a portable option but at the same time, don’t want to miss out on the minute details like vivid images, clear motion, HDR, etc.

It is amongst the slimmest portable monitors on the market being just 5mm in thickness. Making it a perfect business and travel companion.

This portable monitor has a built-in FreeSync and HDR feature with an impressive 100% sRGB color gamut. With a 178-degree viewing angle, fast response speed, and a 60Hz refresh rate display, you will not miss out on any sort of video adventure on your monitor. It also has Low Blue Eye Care tech that minimizes blue light to reduce eye strain.

To justify its price point, it comes with a 10 point touch capacitive touchscreen which is built using the G+FF technology to provide a much more precise and sensitive touch.

Similar to other UPERFECT monitors, this one too does not need any extra driver installation for functioning.

To get the touch screen working, you will need to connect the USB Type-C cable to your device. It comes with Gravity Sensor automatic rotation. When you connect it to a phone or a laptop, the monitor will automatically adapt display in a horizontal or vertical manner depending on how the product is placed. This highly improves efficiency and entertainment.

This USB-C powered monitor comes with 2 USB-C and Mini HD input ports. Which makes it compatible with all devices such as laptops, computers, phones that are powered by a USB-C video input port, Raspberry Pi, etc.

So, if you are looking for something premium and high quality, this should be your pick.

Asus MB16AP Zenscreen Go

If you are looking for a high-end portable monitor, then this is the right model. The Asus MB16AP monitor is very impressive. It has USB Type-C and Type-A choices for ports, and the HD resolution has landscape and portrait orientations which are very convenient.

The portable monitor is very lightweight and goes just under 1.9 pounds. You can get up to 4 hours of battery life for your display using the built-in powerful battery. You can connect it to your laptops and phones easily.

The foldable smart case given with the monitor can be turned into a stand which can help to use the monitor in portrait or landscape mode.

The monitor features a hybrid-signal solution that supports power and video transmission. Thus, it enables compatibility with any laptop with a USB Type-C or Type-A port.

One of the best things about the ASUS Eye Care portable monitors is that they feature TÜV Rheinland-certified Flicker-free and Low Blue Light technologies.

This helps to ensure a comfortable viewing experience. Definitely check out this Asus USB monitor that is portable and easy to set up and use.

Lepow Portable Monitor

This is a 15.6” monitor that provides 1920 x 1080 resolution. It has 2x USB Type-C ports for power and video. It is lightweight, weighing around 1.76 pounds only, and comes with a screen protector for added protection against scratches when traveling.

Thus, making it very portable. The exterior is protected by a smart cover of durable PU leather which acts as an added protection for your monitor.

You can use all the USB type-C-based laptops and smartphones with this portable monitor, thanks to the 2x USB Type-C ports which are used for power and video.

The Monitor from Lepow is also compatible with HDR mode which helps in displaying various multi-media files and extensions.

Besides these features, it also has dual speakers. The downside of this monitor is that the OSD controls provided are a bit too small and the magnetic case is also a little weak.

Overall, this monitor is great for gamers as it supports multiple device connections and is slim, lightweight, and very portable.

UPERFECT Portable Monitor

Graphic Designers would prefer this model because of its LED IPS screen panel and its resolution of 1920 x 1080. It has a wide angle of 178 degrees with a true color display and HRD technology.

If you go into the details, it provides 300cd/m2 high-definition textured pixels which can deliver incredibly smooth, close-to real-life visuals: whether you’re gaming, watching a video, or editing a photo.

Thus this portable monitor is an excellent choice for people who do a lot of graphic oriented work such as Graphic Designers, Photo and Video Editors, Youtubers, etc since it is a true color display that has the ability to provide stunning precision.

The plus points of this monitor are that it comes in a solid metal housing, has great HD visual performance that is providing life-like images and of course, even has multi-interface usage. The reason why this portable monitor sells a lot is that it can run without any program installation and format export.

Gamers too would prefer this monitor because of its great visual support. The minus points, to name a few are that the USB-C port is fragile and the pen hole is not angled. Although, the plus points more than makeup for its disadvantages. 

The UPERFECT monitor makes your life easier as it can be used with only a single Type-C connection without the help of external programs or drivers.

However, you need to have a computer interface to get the support of Thunderbolt 3.0 and in the case of phones, for the support of USB 3.1.

Duex Pro Portable Monitor

It is the closest competitor to Asus’s ZenScreen MB16AC and is about 33.33% brighter than its competition. It is also much slimmer than the Asus portable monitor weighing only 1.6 pounds and having a thickness of fewer than 0.48 inches.

What will make you love this monitor is its ergonomic design. It can rotate up to 270° and you have the option to go as wide as 180° for presentation mode. That’s why it’s popularly known for its dual-side sliding and flexible rotation.

You can also attach it to your laptop by using the magnetic adhesives and attach the Duex pro portable monitor to the adhesives. You will then be able to connect and slide out.

The only thing that you might not like is that the screen is only 12.5″. So, if you are looking for a smaller screen size for a portable monitor, this is a good pick.

ZSCMALLS Portable Monitor – Budget Pick for Mac

It is one of the few USB C portable monitors which is ready to plug and play and does not require any sort of driver installation. This ready plug-and-play will highly improve your productivity and increase your enjoyment while watching media content.

It has a smart design to increase productivity and comes with a durable PU leather exterior case to ensure added protection. You can use the case to make this monitor stand in 3 varying positions according to your liking.

The display is sharp and clear and comes with a money-back guarantee which is awesome. It comes with all the necessary ports such as USB C, mini HDMI, and a USB port as well to get a faster and easier connection with devices like laptops, smartphones, PCs, Phones, PS3/PS4/PS5, Xbox, mouse, and keyboards.

Connecting this portable monitor to Macbook Pro is really fast and easy. All you need to do is plug and you are ready to use it right away. Definitely have a look over this monitor.

What Is A Portable Display?

Portable Display is one solution for a busy lifestyle. A Portable USB monitor is a secondary display that is generally larger than a laptop screen and is used to be carried around as a replacement for a secondary monitor.

The advantage of such secondary portable monitors is that they rarely need to be plugged into an external source as they can get all of their power as well as the video input from a single USB cable.

They are also compatible with your desktop, laptop, smartphone, or any other gaming device for that matter.

How to Choose a Portable Monitor?

There are several types and quality portable monitors that you can find in the markets. You can see popular manufacturers like ASUS, Lenovo, HP, GeChich, and many more.

You need to take care of a few points before you consider your options. The following points will ensure that you get the best portable monitor for MacBook pro. Let us have a look at them:

1. Resolution: While looking out for monitors, this is something that you should give a high priority to. Low-Resolution monitors will result in poor quality images. So always go for at least HD (high definition) monitors.
   
   Doing so will ensure that you get clear images with nice details and quality. If you can, always buy the Full-HD monitors. They are a bit costly but they pay off in the long run by the better quality and crips clarity.
   
2. Screen Size: Most of the portable monitors are available in the market come in 15.6 inches variant. While size will depend on your needs, the most optimal size is 15.6″ as it can be used for traveling and work purposes as well.
   
   You can also go with other screen sizes like 12.5 inches or 13.6 inches. To have good image quality, a resolution of 1920x1080p is good.
   
   However, it is not recommended to go with even bigger screen sizes like 17.3″ or 22″. An optimal screen size ensures that you get enough space to work without you having to worry about carrying a monitor around with you.
   
3. Weight: If you happen to travel a lot, this is something that definitely needs your attention. Slim and lightweight monitors are easy to carry and handle. They occupy less space in backpacks and handbags. So, always aim to get a portable monitor that is under 2pounds as it will be a perfect fit in the worst-case scenarios too!
   
4. Connectivity: Almost all the high-end portable monitors are equipped with basic ports like USB or HDMI, it still becomes an important criterion to look for. Check the devices you are already having and make sure that the ports you need are available on the monitor you desired.
   
   Other than that, always look out for the basic ports like the VGA port to get the most out of your purchase. It is important to note that some monitors need a power source to work. So, if you need something for work or travel, keep an eye on the same.
   
5. Speakers: This can be again important depending (or not) depending on your requirements. However, having a speaker on a portable monitor will always give you an added advantage. These can act as game changers if you are willing to use them with a portable DVD player.
   
   They can also be used while giving in presentations. Although the sound of an external speaker will always be better.
   
6. Price: The general rule of thumb is the costlier the better. That is not always true though. Consider the factors in this list and then decide what is the price you would like to pay.
   
   There are certain portable monitors that are costlier than normal ones. For example, the HDMI portable monitors are expensive compared to the ones that are powered by USB. So, always keep these factors in mind before making a final decision.
   
7. Contrast Ratio: While purchasing portable monitors, one of the key areas to keep in mind is the contrast ratio. Here is a video that you should definitely have a look at to get a clear picture of contrast ratio:

So keeping the above points in mind will help you pick the right one for you. Always keep the basics like Contrast Ratio, Resolution, and screen size in mind and you will never go wrong while making the decision to get the best portable monitor for your Macbook Pro.

Ending Note

The list above has some of the best portable monitors for the MacBook Pro. As of now, there is very little demand for portable monitors. But whatever is available is of very high quality and very well compatible with the MacBook Pro.

A good decent thought is given to the performance, connectivity, and weight of the monitors while describing them.

Besides, other factors such as Connectivity and contrast ratio too need to be considered, especially for those professionals who are in the creative field. 

Since most of the monitors look almost similar, there is a little bit of uniqueness in each model. A good suggestion is to start by considering the portable monitor which satisfies your basic requirements, and which is within your budget.

Later, you can consider going in for additional features and at the same time remain within your budget.

So, choose wisely and decide on the appropriate portable monitor as this will boost your productivity and enhance your creativity.