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Looking to add a portable monitor to your setup?
If you do edit photos, design, draw, or make content in those apps on your laptop or tablet, you may be wondering if a second screen could make your workflow easier. Many creatives today choose portable monitors to get things done—and for good reason. They’re lightweight, portable and connect to your primary device with little to no effort. Not to mention, they can expedite your work and help you focus better, especially when you are working with detailed visuals.
So let’s talk about how portable monitors can be useful for doing creative work, what things to keep in mind when choosing one, and why these devices are quickly becoming a staple among artists, designers, and other creative pros.
What exactly is a portable monitor?
A portable monitor is either a normal computer screen, only lighter and thinner. You simply connect it with a cable to your laptops, tablets or even phones, most commonly USB-C or HDMI. Most models don’t even require a separate power plug, so it’s very easy. You just plug it in and go.
Some use them to see more windows when they work. Some use them for colour correction, drawing, or reviewing videos. Given that creative tools often eat a lot of real estate on the primary display, a second screen can aid in keeping it all clean and manageable.
Why creatives love using portable monitors
Say you’re editing a photograph. You would want the image large enough to be able to see the details, but you want toolbars and sliders onscreen too. With a portable monitor, you can shift your toolbars or timelines to the second screen and devote your main screen solely to the image. It makes work easier and helps keep your mind sharper.
Helps with multitasking
Designers tend to have multiple things open at once, from reference images to colour palettes to text documents and beyond. A second screen can help you keep your main software on one and supporting files on another. It prevents window-hopping constantly.
More accurate colours
Some portable monitors feature very sharp, bright screens. For photos or video, colour accuracy matters. Monitors with 100% sRGB or even AdobeRGB coverage help you take a better perspective of what your final work will look like, as well as how it will be printed, or even visualized on other devices.
Easy to carry and use anywhere
If you’re constantly on the move (working from coffee shops, office buildings and shared spaces), a portable monitor lets you bring a dual-screen setup in your backpack. If you want more room to ponder and create but don’t want to lug equipment around, this comes in handy.
What to look for in a portable monitor if you do creative work
Portable monitors range in size from 13 inches to 17 inches. A 15.6-inch screen is the sweet spot for most people — large enough to reveal details, yet light enough to carry around. If you work with video editing or you do detailed drawing, higher resolution as Full HD or 4K helps to make the lines and the colours look crisp and sharp.
Color quality
Verify the full colour (sRGB or AdobeRGB) supported by the monitor. This difference is significant when editing photographs, creating digital paintings, or developing brand designs. You want your colours to be consistent between devices and prints.
Connectivity
Just be sure it’s USB-C or HDMI, depending on what your laptop or tablet uses. Some even support both. When travelling, a monitor that requires just a single cable (for both power and display) is more manageable.
Touchscreen and stylus support
Portable monitors also have touchscreen capabilities. If you sketch on the screen directly, you may find this a useful feature. Consider one that supports pen pressure if you’re accustomed to drawing tablets.
Build quality and weight
You want something solid but not weighty. Slim bezels, a foldable stand, and protective covers are all nice extras. Some even use the cover as a stand, too, which saves space.
Real ways creatives use portable monitors
Let’s take a few examples. A graphic designer creating logos, for example, could sketch ideas on one screen and have brand guidelines open on another screen. For example, a video editor may have the editing timeline on one screen and a preview video on the other. An image could be depurposed and compared in a split screen. Even those writing storyboards or screenplays find it beneficial to leave notes and references up on the extra screen.
Studio students studying design or animation like to use portable monitors while taking remote classes. They can also keep class material open on one screen and practice on the other.
Top features that make creative work easier
Portable monitors are popular with creatives, and many choose them.
- Integrated speakers so these can be used to listen to video projects without earphones
- Manage the brightness of your screen with night and day adjustments
- Portrait rotation for the screen that can auto-rotate and stand for developing long files or banners.
- Stands that are magnetic or foldable that fit on tiny desks or in close quarters
All these little things just make the work smoother, without having any stress added.
Are portable monitors reliable for everyday use?
And yes, in the contemporary world, long-term use is the central point of attraction. This means that these monitors are sturdy enough to withstand regular travel and hundreds of plug-unplug cycles. To top that, most models play nicely with Mac, Windows, and even Android phones, so you won’t have to deal with compatibility issues. With some models, wireless screen or image sharing is also possible, which can come in handy during client meetings or group projects.
Budget and choices for all levels
You don’t have to spend a lot to buy a useful monitor. If you just need an extra screen for reference work, then there are plenty of good options for less than that. Alternatively, if you try to use serious creative tasks like photo retouching or animation, you can choose a higher model based on better resolution and colour range.
Known entities in this space include ASUS, Lenovo, ViewSonic, AOC and the ASUS ProArt series. These brands have a variety of sizes and styles to fit what your daily work requires.
Simple setup, real results
Configuring an external display is quite easy. You simply plug in a cable or two, adjust the brightness or tilt, and you’re off to the races. In most cases, this does not require extra software or drivers. Even if you’re not very techy, it feels natural to use it after a couple of minutes.
And once you start using one, you may question how you ever worked without it. Many creatives swear by it, say it saves them time, enables them to concentrate better and provides clearer delineation of their tasks.
Final thought
If you work in design, content creation, digital art, or editing at all, a portable monitor is a small boon for a lot of help. It’s convenient, easy to get set up, and it encourages actual creative thought by providing you with additional space to work in. This is one of those tools that makes your day-to-day work better and smoother without having to come up with a productivity setup for your entire life.
