The MacBook Pro is a great device, but its screen may fall short when it comes to multitasking. You can solve that issue with the best portable monitor for MacBook Pro. With an additional screen, you can work on multiple windows and tabs simultaneously.
A portable monitor isn’t just for gamers, graphic designers, or programmers; anyone can use it and increase productivity. It typically uses a USB or HDMI port and connects seamlessly. However, with so many choices, it can be confusing the find the right portable monitor.
Table of Contents
Best Portable Monitor for MacBook Pro Reviews
There’s something for everyone when it comes to portable monitors. Whether you want one to improve your gaming experience or use it for work, there are both basic and advanced options. Here are some of the best:
ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6 Inch Portable Monitor
The ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC easily wins the best all-rounder portable monitor feat with its 15.6-inch screen, high resolution, and USB Type-C and Type compatibility. It’s highly mobile, thanks to its sleek design and lightweight body. This monitor weighs 1.7 pounds.
This one comes with a smart cover and smart pen hole that come in handy when rotating the screen. You need to install the display widget to access some of these features. However, there’s no need to install any drivers on your MacBook Pro.
As for the ergonomics of the screen, you get TUV Rheinland-certified flicker-free backlighting and a blue light filter. This helps reduce eye strain and keep the experience pleasant even when you’re working for hours on end and looking at two monitors.
The ASUS Display Widget allows you to toggle through advanced display settings, which give the control right in your hand. Overall, the quality of the ASUS ZenScreen is quite commendable, and it pairs well with the quality your MacBook Pro offers.
Pros
- Hybrid signal
- Highly portable and lightweight
- Quality construction
- Eye care technology
- Smart cover and pen hole
Con
- Poor technical support
G-STORY Portable Gaming Monitor
For those looking to add another monitor to their gaming rig, the G-STORY Gaming Monitor would make a perfect addition. This powerful portable monitor has a 15.6-inch screen and a UHD 4K display. The graphics will be just as lovely and crisp as on your MacBook Pro.
It uses a single USB connection of C-Type or an HDMI connection. You can use it with a variety of gaming consoles, and not just your laptop. With support for HDR technology, it gives some of the best graphics for games with stunning contrast. On top of that, you have FreeSync technology that ensures there’s no lag or shutters in your gaming screen setup.
The G-STORY monitor also has two built-in speakers and an audio jack, in case you want to connect your speakers. Moreover, you also get a remote control. You can connect for video transmission through USB C-type but cannot charge.
This one also has Eye Care technology with flicker-free backlighting and blue-light filter. This feature is all the more important for gamers who spend hours looking directly into the screen. Although targeted at gamers, the G-STORY monitor can be used by others as well.
Pros
- High-quality 4K resolution
- Eye care technology
- Stereo speakers
- Shutter free
- Dual HDMI ports
Con
- Very expensive
Lepow Portable Monitor 15.6 Inch
The Lepow Portable Monitor checks all the points of the best portable monitor, whether it’s quality, features, convenience, or price. This monitor offers 1920 x 1080 resolution in a 15.6-inch screen. With a sleek design, it’s also quite a looker.
You can use it with virtually any modern device as it offers a USB Type-C connection for both video transmission and charging. Another excellent value feature in this monitor is that it comes with a screen protector and a PU-leather cover. You won’t have to buy those things separately, saving you some money.
The 0.3-inch tiny screen with a weight of just 1.76 pounds makes it one of the lightest portable monitors. You can easily commute and travel with it. With two speakers and HDR mode, this auxiliary monitor can support many media types.
You also have a mini HDMI connection and a 3.5 mm audio jack port available in this device. As is standard in most modern monitors these days, this also has Eye Care Technology so that there’s no strain on your eyesight from watching the display.
Pros
- Portable and lightweight
- 1920 x 1080 resolution
- Built-in speakers
- IPS screen
- Smart cover and protector included
Cons
- Brightness needs to be adjusted manually
- Controls can be better
AOC UltraSlim e1659Fwu Portable LED Monitor
The AOC UltraSlim e1659Fwu LED Monitor offers an IPS screen with multiple viewing angles for a great experience. It packs in many helpful features like a non-reflective coating, silver picture frame, and autorotation. In terms of design, this is hands down the best portable monitor you can buy under 100 bucks.
This 15.6-inch monitor offers a full HD resolution of 1366 x 768 and a 200 cd/m2. The most agreeable addition is a physical one, which is the silver picture frame. You can rotate it landscape or portrait and stand it on the frame, and the screen automatically rotates. This makes the experience so seamless, unlike on low-quality monitors where you have to adjust the rotation manually.
The AOC monitor uses a USB 3.0 connection for both data and power transmission. In other words, you don’t have to use two cables to set it up; you need a single line. The refresh rate is 60 Hz, which is pretty decent.
The viewing angles on this are great too, making it ideal in a setting where multiple people may be accessing the portable monitor. This is plugged and play monitor, especially in MacBook Pro, as it does require display link drivers for Windows.
Pros
- IPS panel
- Multiple angles for viewing
- Good resolution
- Great value for money
- Easy to use
Con
- No speakers
GeChic 1503E Portable Monitor
The GeChic 1503E Portable Monitor is very similar to Asus ZenScreen MB16AC, except for a few things. For instance, it also has a VGA input. This 15.6-inch monitor is exceptionally lightweight, coming in at only 779 grams.
You can also use it with a USB and HDMI ports to connect with a wide range of devices. As for resolution, you get 1920 pixels, which is pretty decent. However, it also offers 16.7M colors that make the screen bright and vivid.
You also get a blue light filter that reduces eye fatigue and doesn’t cause sleeplessness when working at night. Its ergonomic design features rear ports that allow you to go from landscape to portrait without needing to remove the cable. There’s an LED backlight, and the screen offers 170 degrees viewing angles both vertically and horizontally.
This is a USB-powered, plug, and play monitor that comes with its smart stand. There are speakers as well built into the monitor. Therefore, it’s a complete screen extension solution that will allow you to work or play games on multiple monitors easily.
Pros
- Dual input ports
- Speakers
- Smart stand
- Ergonomic design
- High-quality display
Con
- A bit expensive
EVICIC 4K Portable Monitor
The EVICIC Portable Monitor with a full UHD 4k display is great for gamers and graphic designers. This level of screen resolution is even better than full HD. This brand isn’t well-known, but the product is high-quality.
The IPS screen of this monitor delivers excellent color restoration. With a 1000:1 contrast ratio, you can imagine how vivid the picture must be. You might just like playing games more on this monitor than your actual laptop screen.
The resolution is 3840 x 2160, and the viewing angle is 178 degrees. It’s great for FPS and FTS games, as those games use heavy graphics. As for connections, you have a standard HDMI port and Type C USB port. You can use either of them to provide power and data transmission both.
With a 4 ms response time and 60 Hz refresh rate, it’s performance is comparable with some of the best portable monitors from known brands. Also, it comes with a smart cover that doubles as a stand for the monitor. The single cable is type c to type c connection, which you can easily use with most modern laptops and consoles.
It’s one of the sleekest portable monitors as its thickness is just 0.2 inches, whereas the weight is 1.89 pounds. This monitor can also be mounted on the wall, making it suitable for a permanent multiscreen computer set up. For audio, it features two built-in speakers.
Pros
- Very high resolution
- Just works with one cable
- Multiple angles
- Wall mountable
- Fast performance
Con
- Very pricey
- No warranty
Duex Pro Portable Monitor
The Duex Pro Portable Monitor is the most convenient and user-friendly portable monitor on this list. With features such as a kickstand, brightness control, and 270 degrees rotation, it provides many choices to work in different layouts. For instance, you can attach it right next to your MacBook screen.
This one is super slim and lightweight, measuring 0.48 inches thick and weighing 1.6 pounds. The screen measures 12.5 inches, so it’s smaller than most other options on this list. However, it’s a high-quality 1920 x 1080 resolution screen.
The 270 degrees rotation and 180 degrees presentation mode are the most useful features for people who work on multiple monitors. So they can adjust the screen anyway when using or when presenting their projects to their team members. It attaches to the laptop with the help of magnetic adhesives.
You can get an optional kickstand as well if you want to place it separately. It’s Energy Star certified, as it’s energy-efficient and lasts up to eight hours with a MacBook Pro. As for connections, it has one USB A/C connection.
The Duex Pro is a professional and ergonomically designed portable monitor that’s ideal for use in the workspace.
Pros
- 270 degrees Rotation
- Ergonomic design
- User-friendly
- Energy Efficient
Con
- Smaller than 15.6
Buyer’s Guide
Portable monitors may not be used as frequently, but they still serve an essential purpose. You can increase your productivity by double digits by merely having more screen space. But that would only happen if you invest in the right one, especially considering you’re using it with a MacBook Pro.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Resolution
The resolution of the MacBook Pro is pretty good, thanks to Retina Display. It’s only fair that you get a portable monitor that matches its dpi. Generally speaking, a 1080p monitor should do the job.
You can always go for a higher resolution portable monitor with a full HD display. That typically costs more, but you have a vivid and high-quality output. This may be more important for gamers and designers, as they rely on a resolution to render graphics.
Size
Size is dependant on your personal preference. However, it would be best to get something approximately equal to your laptop’s screen size. That would create a consistent feel when using the side of the screen by side.
For the latest MacBook Pros, you can go for 15.6 inches monitors because they will work well with 13 inches and 16 inches. However, you can also find bigger portable monitors that are as big as 22 inches. Those give you more space to work on, but those may not be so portable.
Connectivity
Connectivity is what would ultimately decide if the monitor is compatible or not. Nowadays, most portable monitors are coming with a USB C-Type connection. However, you can also find USB 3.0 connection monitors as well. Then your other options are HDMI and VGA (VGA is not so common).
If you plan on using it with other computers or gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, make sure to consider their connectivity options as well.
Another aspect to consider is whether it uses one USB connection or HDMI for power and video connection both. Some monitors may have them separately, in which case it will not derive power from your laptop.
Price
Price is also a consideration because it varies by brand and features. You may find a cheap option, but that may not deliver good resolution or support for gaming. So it boils down to your needs, whether you need an expensive one or not.
If you’re looking for a portable gaming monitor, then it makes sense to go for something expensive as you’ll be using it a lot and traveling with it too. Similarly, if you use an extended display every day for work, you also want to invest in a high-quality monitor.
If you don’t use the monitor only occasionally, you can make do with something affordable, perhaps under a hundred bucks.
FAQs
What is the Best External Monitor for a MacBook Pro?
The best external monitor for MacBook Pro is the ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC portable monitor. It meets all the compatibility requirements for old and new models alike. The resolution and performance are quite substantial.
Whether you’re handling spreadsheets on multiple screens or want to play games, this all-rounder monitor is a right choice. The design is ergonomic, and the display is easy on the eyes. Moreover, the price is also very reasonable, given the feature.
It comes from a big company with a global footprint, so you may get customer support anywhere you go. Also, you can pretty much design your display with this, which adds even more convenience and improves the overall experience.
Can I Use Any Monitor with MacBook Pro?
You can only use monitors that are compatible with your MacBook Pro. Not all products are created equal, and that goes for monitors as well. The most important thing here is connectivity, which determines whether you can connect them to your laptop or not.
Most portable monitors are USB-powered, so you don’t have to worry about the power supply. Some of these may require drivers for them to work correctly. Make sure to check beforehand that the model you’re buying is fully compatible with your specific model and version of MacBook Pro.
Can I Hook Up an External Monitor to my MacBook Pro?
You can easily connect an external monitor through a USB or HDMI connection (if HDMI is available in your model). These monitors can be set up on a stand or attached to the laptop. This allows you to extend the desktop workspace of your laptop, and you can open more windows and tabs to multitask.
With full HD displays, these monitors can make a difference for people who need to multitask frequently, for example, developers, designers, and accountants. The monitor portable is also easy to carry to your work or school, so you can multitask anywhere you want to.
Conclusion
The best portable monitor is the one that helps you increase your productivity. Some people say they can get twice as much work done in a short time with two screens as they would with just one. It’s changing the way we work, as multitasking is a part of many jobs.
When looking for the best external monitor for MacBook Pro, ensure that you’re buying something compatible and of adequate size. Portable.monitors usually are consistent with a wide range of devices, so you’ll b able to use the same with other devices in your home too for extending the display.
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