Whether for work or for pleasure, an external laptop monitor can make your screen time better
From work to play and everything in between, the average American spends about seven hours a day looking at a screen.
For those of us who primarily use laptops (67% of all internet users), that means seven hours of looking at a single screen with sometimes not-so-great resolution and limited real estate. That’s where a portable monitor for laptop use could come in handy.
Whether used as a second screen, expanding your screen real estate, or as a better quality primary display, there are a lot of reasons why a portable laptop monitor makes sense.
Need help picking the right portable monitor for your needs? Check out our complete guide, What to Know About Portable Monitors.
Portable monitor for laptop use
Although working with a laptop gives you the freedom to move, it can be limiting when it comes to screen size. For years, people have been using two- or even three-monitor setups with a desktop computer, but options for a portable external monitor for laptops have been few and far between.
With today’s better-quality options, you can add a high-quality second screen to your laptop. Some are even wireless, allowing you to reduce clutter and work untethered.
Did You Know?:The RICOH Portable Monitor 150BW comes with a built-in 3,740mAh lithium-ion battery that delivers 3 hours of battery life on a charge.
Presentations
Giving presentations is stressful. Not only are you speaking to a group of people, but you also have to worry about whether you look OK, if you have spinach in your teeth, and if the projector will work with your laptop — or work at all.
A portable monitor for laptop use can help you with one of those, at least. You can ditch the projector altogether and display slides and graphics on a monitor that’s synced perfectly to your laptop, either wirelessly or with a cable.
A lightweight monitor with a bright, clear screen is perfect for this. And built-in speakers mean you could even show a short video clip.
Meetings
Anyone who’s had to precariously carry a laptop from one room to the next for a meeting will tell you there’s no graceful way to show someone your screen. Until the science fiction trope of flicking or swooping graphics from one screen to another becomes a reality, a portable monitor for laptop use is the best solution.
Leaving your laptop safely on a table or other surface and using a portable external monitor allows you to share graphics, reports, and other digital data with a team without having to juggle a whole laptop or — even worse — pass it around a table.
A portable external monitor for laptops makes sharing a breeze. A wireless monitor can be passed all the way around the table without worrying about someone dropping your laptop or changing the settings. The best monitors even come with a stand attached to the back so you can set them on a table.
Travel
Maybe you do use a two-monitor set-up at home, but when you travel, you’re limited to just a single laptop screen. A portable monitor could give you back the screen you’re missing. You can turn any travel workspace into a full-sized workstation.
A portable monitor with a generous battery life can become a trusty travel companion, playing movies and games or just giving you extra space for spreadsheets.
Streaming
Streamers need to have a lot of windows open, with the streaming controls, what you’re streaming, and a chat window so you can respond to your viewers, all taking up generous amounts of space.
With a laptop paired with a portable monitor for laptop use, you can stream from anywhere. Pack up your laptop, monitor, and microphone, and you’re a mobile streaming machine.
Did You Know?:PCMag gave the wireless RICOH Portable Monitor 150BW a 4 out of 5 and says it’s “an awesome piece of kit.” Find out more in this review.
Our recommendation: RICOH Portable Monitor 150BW
Take productivity and comfort wherever you go with our light, sharp, versatile portable monitor for those who work on the road or need extra screen real estate. Stay productive and mobile with our high-performance, lightweight (25.2oz), ultra-slim bezel (.19” at its slimmest point), OLED touchscreen portable monitors. Whether you’re streaming, giving a presentation, or just want the extra screen space for traveling, the RICOH Portable Monitor 150BW is our pick for the best portable monitor for laptop use. Click here to learn more about our portable monitor series.
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