Adding a portable monitor to your work setup can help increase productivity and simplify processes
Anyone who spends hours at a desk every day can attest to the value of a high-performance monitor. If you’re going to use a screen from the beginning of your workday until the time you sign off, that screen should be sharp, crystal-clear, and intuitive. Adding a second monitor in addition to your primary or laptop display further heightens productivity and gives you more digital real estate — especially if that second monitor is lightweight enough to join you wherever your work or hobbies take you. Here’s how adding a portable second monitor to your office can help you make the most out of a dual-screen setup.
Need help picking the right portable monitor for your needs? Check out our complete guide, What to Know About Portable Monitors.
How a portable second monitor increases productivity
Think about how many apps you use in a typical workday. You’ve got communications — chat programs like Slack and possibly video conferencing software like Zoom. Maybe you like to use the Notes app to keep track of your daily to-dos, or you have a different software solution that keeps your tasks organized. Then there’s the work itself; you might spend a good chunk of the day switching between spreadsheets, documents, presentations, photo or video editing software, and more.
In other words, you probably spend a lot of time switching back and forth between programs, and you could be losing seconds of productivity every time. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up, particularly if going between windows breaks your concentration. Offloading some of that information to a second monitor can increase productivity by up to 42% because it helps streamline the workflow and lets you focus on what’s in front of you. For example, some people prefer to balance their immediate business priorities with communication by offloading those chat apps to a second screen. This way, they can concentrate on the task at hand while ensuring that they don’t miss any important messages.
The same strategy also works if you prefer to have some background noise while working; just move music or video streaming platforms to the other screen and you won’t have to keep clicking back and forth.
Did You Know?:PCMag called the wireless RICOH Portable Monitor 150BW “an awesome piece of kit” and “a tour de force of mobile display technology.” Find out more in this review.
A dual-monitor setup has additional occupation-specific benefits as well. For developers, software engineers, and anyone else who works with code, the ability to keep that code on one side and documentation — or other work apps — on the other side is a boon to productivity and focus. Graphic designers can dedicate more screen space to their creative work, moving secondary apps out of the way. Accountants may dedicate one screen entirely to spreadsheets. For nearly every profession that relies on computers for productivity, having a second monitor is beneficial.
It’s also important to note that the office environment has fundamentally shifted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and the second quarter of 2020, onsite work in the United States took a steep dive, while remote work rose to 70% of employees. In the years since, hybrid workplaces have emerged as the most common, with employees spending some time onsite and some working remotely. This increases the need for portable solutions that allow workers to replicate their setups in whatever their work environment happens to be on any particular day.
Traditional monitors, while excellent for productivity, were not made to move. This has led to the rapid growth of the portable monitor market, which is expected to increase in value from $266.2 million in 2023 to $2.4 billion in 2033. Portable monitors are particularly well-suited for the modern hybrid worker, as they’re designed to be lightweight and have a low profile — simply put them in your laptop bag or backpack and you’re ready to go.
Traveling with a portable 2nd monitor
If you’ve ever traveled for business reasons, you probably know the struggle of going from a familiar place to working off of a tiny laptop screen in a hotel room or convention center. Even if you already have an ideal workstation at your home or office, replicating that environment while traveling is challenging. A portable second monitor for laptops helps bridge that gap. If you’re searching specifically for a dual monitor laptop setup, here are the features you should prioritize:
- Weight: Portable monitors should be lightweight enough that they don’t place an undue burden on you during travel. No one wants to sprint to their airport gates with an extra five to ten pounds of tech in their backpack; instead, look for solutions under two pounds.
- Built-in stand: An integrated stand makes it easier to set up your temporary office once you’ve met your destination. For example, RICOH portable monitors offer a built-in kickstand that allows for multiple viewing angles.
- Connectivity: Make sure your portable second monitor is compatible with your computer! Whether it connects wirelessly or via cables, take care to confirm it works with your preferred device and operating system.
- High screen quality: Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you should suffer from eye strain. Search for portable monitors with at least 1920x1080 resolution; an OLED display also helps ensure that the picture is bright and well-contrasted.
Did You Know?:Ricoh’s portable monitors come in wired and wireless variations. Each one has a 15.6” OLED touch display packed into a lightweight design — 1.23lbs for the wired model and 1.58lbs for wireless.
Our recommendation: RICOH Portable Monitor 150 Series
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. The RICOH portable monitor comes in wired and wireless versions, both of which weigh in at under two pounds and feature OLED touchscreen displays. Click here to learn more about our portable monitor series.
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