A second screen is the cheapest productivity upgrade there is, and a portable monitor means you no longer leave it behind when you work from a cottage, a client site or the kitchen table. Most are the thickness of a tablet, weigh under a kilogram and run off a single USB-C cable from the laptop.
Before you buy, it pays to understand how they get power and video, what panel terms mean, and which form factor suits how you work.
How a portable monitor connects
Single-cable USB-C
If your laptop's USB-C port carries video (DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt), one cable delivers both picture and power. This is the setup to aim for; every monitor in our table has a USB-C input. Some older or budget laptops lack video over USB-C, in which case you fall back to HDMI.
HDMI plus USB power
HDMI carries video only, so the monitor also needs power from a USB port or a wall charger. The Eviciv, Arzopa, Cocopar models and the Acer AOPEN (Mini HDMI) all include an HDMI input, which also makes them useful with a game console or a Raspberry Pi.
Panel and picture terms
- IPS: wide viewing angles and consistent colour, important when a screen sits off to one side. Look for it in the title, as with the Arzopa A1, the 14-inch extender and the Acer AOPEN.
- 1080P / Full HD: 1920 x 1080 pixels. At 14 to 18.5 inches that is plenty sharp; higher resolutions cost more and drain laptop batteries faster.
- sRGB coverage: how much of the standard web colour space the panel can show. The Cocopar 15.6 lists 85% sRGB, its 18.5-inch sibling 125% sRGB, which is the one to pick for photo and design work.
- Refresh rate: 60Hz is standard for office use; 100Hz (Cocopar 18.5) is noticeably smoother for gaming and scrolling.
- Response time: the Acer AOPEN lists 4ms, relevant mainly for fast-moving games.
Form factor: stand-alone or clip-on extender?
Stand-alone portable monitors come with a folding smart cover (Eviciv) or a built-in kickstand (Arzopa A1, Cocopar 18.5) and sit beside the laptop like a mini desktop display. Laptop screen extenders, like the 14-inch model in our table, clamp to the back of the laptop lid and slide out to the side, so your whole setup stays as one piece and fits on a tray table. Extenders are the better choice for trains and cafes; stand-alone panels are more flexible at a desk.
Six portable monitors compared
| Product | Key specs (from the listing) | Price (CAD) | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eviciv 15.6-inch 1080P Portable Monitor with Case for Laptop, PC and Game Console rated 4.4/5 by 10,900 buyers |
15.6-inch, 1080P, includes protective case; for laptop, PC and console | $159.99 | A first second screen on a budget, with a case for the commute. |
|
Arzopa A1 15.6-inch FHD 1080P Portable Monitor, IPS, USB-C and HDMI, Kickstand rated 4.4/5 by 475 buyers |
15.6-inch FHD 1080P, IPS, USB-C and HDMI, built-in kickstand | $195.99 | Anyone who wants a stand built in rather than a folding cover. |
|
Cocopar 15.6-inch Portable FHD 1080P Monitor, 60Hz, 85% sRGB, USB-C and HDMI, Speaker rated 4.8/5 by 1,400 buyers |
15.6-inch FHD 1080P, 60Hz, 85% sRGB, USB-C and HDMI, speakers | $195.99 | Office work and video calls where colour accuracy matters a bit. |
|
Cocopar 18.5-inch Portable FHD 1080P Monitor, 100Hz, 125% sRGB, USB-C and HDMI, Kickstand rated 4.8/5 by 1,400 buyers |
18.5-inch FHD 1080P, 100Hz, 125% sRGB, USB-C and HDMI, kickstand | $285.99 | Gamers and designers who want more size, more colour and a smoother refresh. |
|
14-inch Portable IPS FHD 1080P Laptop Screen Extender, HDMI and USB-C rated 4.3/5 by 500 buyers |
14-inch IPS FHD 1080P laptop screen extender, HDMI and USB-C | $240.99 | Road warriors who want a screen that clips to the laptop lid rather than sitting beside it. |
| Acer AOPEN 16PM1Q Jbmiuux 15.6-inch Full HD Portable IPS Monitor, 4ms, USB-C and Mini HDMI | 15.6-inch Full HD IPS, 4ms response, USB-C and Mini HDMI | $150.99 | Shoppers who prefer a recognised monitor brand in a portable format. |
Who each one is for
- Eviciv 15.6-inch 1080P Portable Monitor with Case for Laptop, PC and Game Console — A first second screen on a budget, with a case for the commute.
- Arzopa A1 15.6-inch FHD 1080P Portable Monitor, IPS, USB-C and HDMI, Kickstand — Anyone who wants a stand built in rather than a folding cover.
- Cocopar 15.6-inch Portable FHD 1080P Monitor, 60Hz, 85% sRGB, USB-C and HDMI, Speaker — Office work and video calls where colour accuracy matters a bit.
- Cocopar 18.5-inch Portable FHD 1080P Monitor, 100Hz, 125% sRGB, USB-C and HDMI, Kickstand — Gamers and designers who want more size, more colour and a smoother refresh.
- 14-inch Portable IPS FHD 1080P Laptop Screen Extender, HDMI and USB-C — Road warriors who want a screen that clips to the laptop lid rather than sitting beside it.
- Acer AOPEN 16PM1Q Jbmiuux 15.6-inch Full HD Portable IPS Monitor, 4ms, USB-C and Mini HDMI — Shoppers who prefer a recognised monitor brand in a portable format.
Buying checklist
- Confirm your laptop outputs video over USB-C; if not, plan for HDMI plus a USB power cable.
- Pick the size by how you travel: 14 to 15.6 inches fits most laptop bags, 18.5 inches needs its own sleeve.
- Prefer IPS for side-by-side use.
- Need colour accuracy? Look for a stated sRGB percentage.
- Decide kickstand vs cover vs clip-on extender based on where you will set it up most.
- Speakers are a bonus for console use; for calls your laptop or headset will sound better.
- Check the box includes the cables you need (USB-C to USB-C and HDMI).
FAQs
Will a portable monitor drain my laptop battery?
Yes, when powered over USB-C it draws from the laptop. Plug the monitor into a wall charger or power bank on long sessions, or keep the laptop plugged in.
Can I use one with a phone or tablet?
Many phones and tablets with USB-C video output will drive the monitor directly; check your device supports display output. iPads with USB-C generally do.
Is 1080P sharp enough on 15.6 inches?
For documents, browsers and video, yes; it matches most laptop screens of the same size. Only very fine design work benefits from higher resolution at this size.
Do these work with a MacBook?
Yes over USB-C or HDMI. Note that base Apple silicon MacBook Air models support one external display, so a portable monitor replaces rather than joins a desk monitor on those machines.
Ready to upgrade?
Browse the full Monitors collection at Nova Toronto Electronics. We ship Canada-wide from Milton, Ontario: flat $7.95 shipping, free on orders over $79, and every order is covered by our 30-day return policy. Prices are in Canadian dollars before HST, so what you see is what a Canadian pays — no surprise duties or currency conversion.