Best Portable Monitors for Working and Travel
Very few things help productivity quite as much as having the screen real estate to see more things at once. It’s the reason so many professionals have elaborate multi-monitor displays in their home offices. But as more people are choosing to work remotely, many are wondering if it might be possible to get a similar second screen experience for a laptop, and take it with them on the road!
There are definitely newer and shinier portable monitors out there, but for the money, this one is an easy recommendation as my pick for most people.
The 15.6" screen is plenty big enough to give you more room to work without being so big it's hard to pack, and while a 1080p screen doesn't exactly wow you in the era of 8k screens, I doubt you're looking at this as a replacement for your TV.
It can use a single USB-C cable for power and video (this is a good one) OR it can use HDMI so you can connect a game console or media stick to it in a pinch. Plus, with a sub-$100 price, it won't break the bank!
Using an external monitor is one of the simplest ways around to increase your ability to be productive while working. Extra space means less flipping between tabs searching for information, less chance of losing your place, and lots more space to keep important information front and center. But when you’re traveling, extra screen also means extra cargo.
Fortunately, it’s fairly simple to make sure that trade-off ends up being worth it. Keep reading to find out today’s best options for travel monitors that will boost your productivity when working remote.
Looking to stay productive while on the road?
Also check out…
Why a Portable monitor is the Best Second Screen for Travel
There are a ton of different manufacturers out there that make travel monitors, and most of them do a good enough job for everyday use. However, if you have specific needs for your monitor, it can be worth shelling out a little extra cash to get the best of the best.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Low Power
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not as large as a full-sized monitor
- Usually has a lower resolution (1080P FHD)
I originally grabbed a travel screen as something to plug a media stick into so my kids could watch TV while I got some writing done. However, I’ve loved having the extra screen space so much that I don’t think I’ve ever actually let my kids use it!
Having more space for reading and editing documents, or as a place for keeping my research tabs and music player on while I write has been a gamechanger for keeping the info I need at hand without getting distracted.
If your workflow is similar, this one from Cocopar is what’s currently on my desk. It’s capable of working with a single USB-C cord to keep everything simple, but it can also work with an HDMI-mini input, if your device only works over HDMI or you just want to keep your ports open for other things.
Of course, while this is the one that I have, that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you. Manufacturing prices have dropped since I bought mine, and you can now get a decent second screen for under $100. Sometimes cheaper, if you wait for a sale! Or, if you need a specific feature for your second screen to be useful in your personal workflow, it’s worth spending a bit more to get what you need.
Here are some of my favorite options on the market today. (Updated July, 2025)
- 1080p Resolution
- USB-C or Mini-HDMI
- Smartcase Stand
There are definitely newer and shinier portable monitors out there, but for the money, this one is an easy recommendation as my pick for most people.
The 15.6" screen is plenty big enough to give you more room to work without being so big it's hard to pack, and while a 1080p screen doesn't exactly wow you in the era of 8k screens, I doubt you're looking at this as a replacement for your TV. It's budget-friendly, simple, and effective.
- 4k Resolution
- Wide compatibility
- Smart case, pen-hole, or VESA mounting
Gone are the days of $300+ 4k monitors. This 15.6" monitor from ZSCMALLS offers full 4k capabilities for a price that's hard to beat! Plus, with both HDMI and USB-C connectivity, it will work with a wide range of devices, from your laptop to your phone.
- 10-point touch
- 1080p Resolution
- Smartcase stand
From a value-for-money perspective, I'm really impressed with the ZSCMALLS monitors! This one is a bit pricier than its non-touch sensitive siblings, but if you need touch capabilities, this screen delivers without breaking the bank.
- Large (but portable) screen
- Full-size HDMI or USB-C connections
- Integrated kickstand
While you can go bigger than this, you very quickly end up losing the portability factor to do so. At 18.5" this VisionOwl monitor gives you much more space than smaller 15.6" monitors while keeping a 1080p resolution. The larger size also means a full-size HDMI port, so you can connect devices like streaming sticks, gaming systems, and more without needing an adaptor.
- Dual 15.6" monitors
- Supports single USB-C Connection
- Fun conversation starter at the cafe
Sure, one extra monitor is nice, but what about adding two extra monitors, with only a single connection! I love the idea, though practically speaking, this does take up a bit more space than a single monitor. Still, it packs easier than bringing two separate monitors with you and still allows for some extra flexibility in how you arrange your screens.
While most monitors today aren’t priced at a point where they would break the bank, saving a bit of money is always appreciated. That’s why I typically try to buy my tech purchases around either Black Friday or one of Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales. In both cases, you’ll usually save some cash compared with everyday pricing, though in the case of of Prime Day, you also need to have an Amazon Prime account to make the most of their sales.
That said, even if you can’t get them on sale, adding a portable monitor to your travel bag is definitely worth it! After traveling with one for the last 5+ years, I can’t imagine working without on.
As more people begin working remotely, it’s not surprising that so many are looking for ways to be productive while on the go. Adding some screen real estate to your travel bag can be an easy and affordable way to make sure you have what you need to get your work done no matter where you end up.
