Best USB Powered Portable Monitors 2019 | Buying Advice

ASUS MB169C+ Design

I must say Asus never compromise on their design. Just like many other portable monitors out there in the market from ASUS, MB169C+ also comes with a slimmest and attractive design as you might have observed in the picture.

Speaking of its dimensions, the MB169C+ comes with 379mm width, 236mm height and 8.5mm depth which makes it super portable monitor.

Moreover, it weighs only 800g which makes it lighter than many other USB powered portable monitors out there in the market.

The device comes with a protective case that protects the exterior of the monitor from scratches and any unwanted damages. If you see around for other portability supporting screens especially every portable gaming monitor, they provide protective shield onboard to secure the screen from scratches either in the shape of body cover or a screen protector.

Just like any other modern monitor these days, the ASUS MB169C+ also has buttons on its side and the purpose of these buttons is to launch the OSD(on-screen display) menu.

ASUS MB169C+ Specs And Display

Now that you’re clear about the design of the portable monitor, let me guide you through some of the interesting specifications that ASUS MB169C+ offers.

Just like its predecessors, the device keeps the same 15.6-inch display but I can see the improvements that ASUS made in the connectivity and screen’s panel.

The previous portable USB monitor that I experienced was ASUS MB169B+ that offers HD TN panels, but unlike that, the MB169C+ went to the next level with IPS panels on 1080pixels display.

The device is also upgraded to use a single cable for display and power. Moreover, Screen settings are also improved. Though it is a fact that MB16AC is brighter than the MB169C+. The former is spec’d at 220 cd/m2 and the latter 180 cd/m2.

I must say ASUS did a great job of making the device more convenient by making these small changes.

Moreover, the IPS panel comes with 220 cd/m2 brightness and contrast ratio of 700:1 which is perfect for consuming less than 7w.

During the test, MB169C+ an impressive gray to the gray response time of 5m/s which is quite impressive.

Moreover, the USB powered portable monitor claims to have 1980×1080 display alongside with impressive viewing angles which stand out than most of the monitors in the market.

ASUS MB169C+ Performance

The device delivers awesome performance and speed. You don’t have to upgrade the drivers as the MB169C+ is compatible with almost all laptops.

It means the monitor still delivers incredible speed and performance even if you’re using it with an old generation laptop.

One of the downsides for the device is that you might find the carrying case a bit fiddly to use and killing your laptop’s battery in less time isn’t hard for Asus MB169C+. The display seems to be a little dim but that’s fine, it’s good for the eyesight.

AOC I1601FWUX Design

Starting with the design, the device comes with a simple design having a plain display and black bezel around it.

Moreover, the aluminum display chassis at the back and sides make the I1601FWUX USB powered portable monitor more appealing and eye-catching.

The monitor weighs only 1.8 pounds which makes it lighter than many other USB powered monitors in the market.

The thing is 14.9 x 9.25 x 0.3 inches in dimensions which makes it slim and small enough so that it can easily fit in your laptop’s bag.

AOC I1601FWUX Display And Performance

Now that you’re clear about the design, let’s talk about the display of the device.  AOC I1601FWUX comes with a 15.6-inch display with 1920×1080 pixels resolutions which is great.

When we tested the trailer of blade runner 2049 and Avatar 2 on the portable monitor, we found that it was a bit hard to see the pixels as we found them a bit dark.

AOC I1601FWUX stands out than many USB powered portable monitors in brightness as it delivers 212.6 nits which are way better than the AOC e1659fwu and Asus MB168B+ USB monitors which are similar to the one that we’re reviewing.

Moreover, the color saturation wasn’t that impressive as we expected, But still better than many USB powered monitors. The device is at the contrast ratio of 700:1 which is great.

What We Like And Dislike

The device delivered lag-free performance during our test with the response time of 5ms(OD) which is quite impressive.

Unlike other monitors in the market, we find it easy to handle and the touch screen quality is just amazing. I must AOC did a great job for releasing such a device for us.

There is one design flaw that we found in the device, as the usb powered portable monitor is only USB-C so, if you don’t have USB-C port in your computer or laptop, it’s not recommended for you.

ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC Display

Let’s start with the display. The 15.6-inch display size and 1920×1080 resolutions make the ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC one of the best devices to use as a second display for your laptop to get the most out of your precious time.

I gave it a try by watching the “Ready Player one trailer” and it delivered a crisp and clear display. But the scene where a person is riding a scorpion and shooting was a bit hard to pick as the movie effects were dark and the portable monitor delivers low brightness with 179.6 nits.

ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC comes with two different brightness modes, one is for gaming and the other one is for movies. I find out the default one much brighter as I was able to handle many things in that mode.

ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC Design

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the design. The portability of the device is on another level with 14.6 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches dimension and weighs 2.8 pounds(with cover) and 1.7 pounds without cover which is amazing.

Moreover, it is protected by a cover which helps the device to cope against scratches when it’s inside your briefcase or backpack.

The cover is supposed to be used as a stand as it’s thick enough but it’s a headache for me, I wouldn’t use it, instead, I would use the hole at the bottom which is able easily to balance my device by sticking a pen.

Moreover, the viewing area is covered with bezel which makes it more attractive than many USB powered portable monitors. The buttons on the left corner of the USB powered portable monitor are supposed to control the navigation menus.

ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC Features

Changing the setting on ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is quite simple. It would be better if you install any sort of software, then you can easily change the settings by using your laptop’s screen.

The USB powered monitor comes with IPS panel and USB-C that can be used with A adapter. The contrast ratio is better(800:1) than the ones that I reviewed above.

Moreover, it comes with the Flicker free Blue light filter technology that allows you to different brightness capabilities. Comes with a glossy display that makes the pictures and videos crisp and clear with the pixel pitch of 0.179mm.

I find it a bit confusing to handle the stand which one of the downsides for the portable monitor, also it’s a bit dim than other usb powered portable monitors.

AOC E1659fWUX Design

You might have seen some of the devices like the one I reviewed before which is the ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC that comes without a stand and instead of that, it uses the cover as a stand which is quite difficult to handle.

AOC E1659FWUX isn’t the same, as it comes with a proper stand that is easy to handle. All you have to do is to open the stand and it balances the portable monitor without any hesitation.

You can rotate the stand which makes the monitor perfect to use in the landscape. You don’t have to worry about the image rotation as you rotate the stand as it automatically does its job.

Moreover, the display size is the same as the other USB powered portable monitors on our list which is 15 inches and is covered with half an inch of mate black bezels. AOC E1659fWUX USB powered portable monitor weights 2.6 pounds with 9.1×14.6×0.6 inches dimensions which makes it slim enough to fit inside your laptop’s carrying case or bag.

AOC E1659fWUX Features

In case of connectivity, this one is different than the ones that I reviewed before as it includes USB 3.0 and you won’t find any other input or output connectivity options in the monitor other than this one.

Moreover, as soon as you’re done with the connectivity it displays the picture from your laptop or PC and consumes power from your host PC.

But before you get into the connectivity, there are few things that you need to do. First, install the DisplayLink driver. As soon as the software is done installing, make the connection. The DisplayLink software will find your monitor and you’re ready to go.

However, you’re also provided with the AOC E1659fWUX manual so, you need to go through the instructions before you get started.

The portable monitor delivers the contrast ratio of 500:1 with 1920 x 1080 resolutions which are good enough as compared to many other USB power portable monitors in the market. It could deliver crisp and clear images and visual content. Other than that, the monitor comes with TN panel rather than IPS panel.

Although, I am not impressed with the viewing angles as they narrow and the gray-scale performance is weak which are the only letdowns for this USB powered portable monitor.

Specs And Features

First and foremost let’s have a look at the Gechic 1503H specs and features. The device is one of the best quality USB powered portable monitors that includes USB type A, USB type C and micro HDMI connectivity. So you’re getting 3 in one which is awesome.

Moreover, As much I am concerned with the design, it doesn’t offer the design that can stand out from other devices, but still, it’s satisfactory. The device weighs 798 grams which makes it a little heavier than other USB powered monitors in the market, but not that heavy so that it is difficult to carry from one place to another.

The stand at the back of the device is just perfect. It perfectly balances the monitor on the plan surface as soon as you open it. But the thing is, it’s not designed for landscapes.

The best is that in the menu options you can easily adjust the brightness, contrast, and sharpness of the picture without any hesitation.

When we compared the price of Gechic 1503H with other USB powered portable monitors, it came out a bit expensive than others as it offers more specs and features. The design isn’t that good as we expect from the devices that we review.

The Eleclink 10.1 comes with length 14.3, width 11.8 and height 2.4 with 2.75 pounds which makes it super portable. The inner portion is protected by a strong exterior that prevents damages with a stand attached to its back that balances the monitor on a plan surface without hesitation. The overall design is quite impressive as you might have observed in the picture.

However, the screen resolutions are not that impressive as expected. The Eleclink 10.1 portable monitor comes with 1080 by 600 pixels having LED back-light.

The contrast ratio measured at 800:1 which is good enough. Moreover, the aspect ratio also isn’t bad with 16:9 (height and width). From the connectivity options that I mentioned at the beginning proves the device to be a multipurpose portable monitor.

Let’s find out what you’ll get in the box for this HDMI portable. As soon as you open the box, you’re welcomed with Eleclink 10.1 inches portable monitor alongside with an adapter that supports all interfaces. The package also includes a VGA and a stand that is separate from the monitor. If you’re a gamer, I think it’s the best choice for PS3, PS4, and Xbox.

The problems with the monitor are that it’s image quality isn’t that good and the company didn’t included any sleeves for outer protection. Moreover, comes with the poor viewing angles with 89/89/89/89 left, up, right, down.

Specifications and Features of GeChic 2501C 15.6″ Portable Monitor

The USB powered portable monitor isn’t just limited to USB, it also supports VGA and HDMI that you have to buy separately from the package. Moreover, it supports USB 3.0 which means it can easily support all new generation laptops.

Other than that, the more connectivity options that I mentioned allows you to connect the monitor with Macbook, Mac mini, Xbox, PS4, and smartphones.

The resolutions are at 1366 by 768 which delivers a quite impressive display with crisp and clear images. The contrast ratio is calculated at 400:1 which is good enough.

Just like most of the USB powered portable monitors in our list, Gechic 2501C also comes with 15.6″ IPS screen display with 1.28cm thickness and weighs only 2.27lbs including the cover. The cover is actually thick enough so that it can be used as a stand.

You don’t need to install the drivers, with Gechic 2501C, everything is plug and play. All you need to do is to plug in the connector to both devices and you’re ready to go.

Performance of GeChic 2501C  Portable Monitor

The response time for the Gechic 2501C USB powered portable monitor that we measured is 8ms which makes it fast enough. Moreover, the monitor comes with the 200cd/m2 brightness with 16.7 million colors. The aspect ratio is at 16:9 with the refresh rate of 60Hz.

To check it’s performance, we tried some videos on the device, but the display wasn’t that impressive. instead of watching movies and videos, I think it’s way better for office use as it’s able to perform heavy tasks with ease.

The problem with the device is that it’s non-touch, it means you have control everything from with buttons and laptop. The other problem that I found in the monitor is that it doesn’t deliver full HD resolutions.