Things to Consider Before Buying a 24-Inch Portable Monitor for Travel Use

Googling “best portable monitor” brings up thousands of options with their 4K super-ultra-fast refresh rates and hi-fi audio capabilities. These monitors are quickly becoming every professional, gamer, designer, student, and traveler’s favorite due to their convenience and portability. You can carry them on your backpack or laptop sleeve and use them wherever there’s a power socket – the office, cafes, airport lounges, train journeys, and beach houses.

Whether you use a portable monitor to access spreadsheets in a coffee shop, create a multi-monitor setup at home, or plan on using one for gaming and remote work, you’ll want a screen that’s portable, durable, and high-performing.

For people constantly on the move or using the monitor for travel or business purposes, the size of the screen matters. 24-inch portable monitors are versatile enough to be used with laptops, computers, and other mobile devices for productivity and entertainment. However, choosing the best 24-inch portable monitor depends on several other factors. We have shortlisted the top things to consider before buying a portable monitor to help you make the right choice.

1. Portability & Weight

Slim and light is always best when it comes to picking a portable monitor. The model shouldn’t be bulky or thick, making it hard to store in your laptop sleeve. Besides being light in weight, it should have slim bezels and ideally a foldable stand to fit in a backpack easily.

But a thinner, lightweight design also shouldn’t mean losing out on screen size. Since small 15-inch and 17-inch portable monitors are gaining popularity, a 24-inch display may not be an easy fit in some travel bags. However, many people would also argue that the larger the portable monitor, the better. For a 24-inch monitor, we suggest a weight under 2 kg (4.4 lbs) so that your bag remains light to carry. This is true for people who carry around all day, like students, business travelers, or gamers on the go.

2. Display Quality

On an external monitor, you do a lot of things like editing photos or videos, working on Excel sheets, and gaming. For these tasks and others, you need a quality screen. The important parameters to consider when shopping for a portable monitor are:

Resolution: A 24-inch portable monitor should have at least a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution. 2K and 4K display models are even better with high clarity.

Panel type: IPS panels are better than others in terms of color accuracy, viewing angle, brightness, and overall quality.

Color gamut: Designers and creative professionals will benefit from a larger monitor with a wide color gamut, which generally means 100% sRGB or DCI-P3 coverage.

UPERFECT’s uperfect umax 24 is a great example of a portable 24-inch monitor that offers high screen resolution and great color reproduction. With options such as these, it won’t be difficult to work from the comfort of your home or while traveling.

3. Power Source & Battery Life

Powering a portable monitor can be tricky. Ideally, a model should have a built-in battery for on-the-go use or a USB-C connection to draw power from the host device or adapter. The important point is power efficiency, which may not matter if you use a portable monitor at a stationary setup or near an electrical socket.

Built-in Battery: More freedom in using the portable monitor, especially when you use it with a laptop whose battery may have died.

USB-C powered: Easier and lighter with no in-built battery; it generally depends on the connected device or power adapter for battery life.

If you anticipate long hours of use without a power outlet, consider a portable monitor with lower power consumption or an in-built battery. Make sure to ask about the battery specifications and how long the screen can run on it. Before purchasing a portable monitor for travel or business, check that the display is power-efficient and doesn’t drain your laptop’s power.

4. Connectivity Options

A portable monitor will be the most useful when you don’t have access to your full range of accessories or gadgets, like your docking station. It’s always better if the device has an array of ports to connect it to, such as:

• USB-C (with DisplayPort alt-mode)
• HDMI
• Mini DisplayPort
• 3.5mm audio
• Micro-USB/micro-USB or full-size USB-A

Having multiple ports makes the portable monitor more versatile by allowing you to connect it to other mobile devices, like smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, cameras, or laptops. The portable monitor options from UPERFECT come with USB-C and HDMI, ensuring plug-and-play use with most laptops and mobile devices.

5. Durability & Build Quality

Since the monitor is for travel or remote work, it should be easy to carry and lightweight but built to last. The material should be high-quality and resistant to knocks, moisture, dust, and accidental drops. Some things to consider are:

• Durability: Aluminum or metal alloy cases will generally be more shock-resistant.
• Scratch-resistant glass
• Waterproof or dust-proof coating
• Protective cover/magnetic folding stand

It is also a good idea if the monitor is supplied with a hard-shell case or protective sleeve. UPERFECT’s uperfect umax 24, for example, is built to last the long run, even with constant travel and use.

6. Touchscreen Support

For creatives, digital artists, or people who like using their fingers instead of a mouse, touchscreen-compatible portable monitors can be very handy. Touchscreens enable one to sketch, navigate, mark-up, and quickly move around inside the monitor without touching other devices or peripherals.

On the flip side, touchscreen displays tend to be slightly heavier than regular models. Built-in batteries may also have lower life as touchscreen functionality drains power.

Check that your portable monitor supports a stylus and offers multi-touch gestures, if possible. Compatibility with the operating system is also important to consider before buying a touchscreen portable monitor.

7. Refresh Rate & Response Time

Travelers who are gamers or content creators will also pay attention to the portable monitor’s refresh rate and response time.

Higher refresh rates (120Hz and above) are better to enjoy smoother video playback, browsing, and gaming.

Response time: The lower the response time (5ms and below), the less ghosting or blur there will be.

For many gamers, a great gaming setup while traveling is also a consideration. Portable monitors for gaming are now being launched in bigger sizes, with high refresh rates and low input lag support.

8. Ergonomics & Stand Design

A small feature that’s usually overlooked is how easy the monitor is to use. It should have a built-in stand or display mount to:

• Angle tilt
• Rotate for vertical mode (portrait)
• Fold flat against the body

Some portable monitors may also have VESA mount compatibility to attach to a monitor travel stand or tripod. Foldable stands are better on surfaces, for instance, the uperfect umax 24. The monitor from UPERFECT comes with an adjustable stand which can be placed against your body and angled from different sides.

9. Device Compatibility

Before buying a portable monitor, make sure that it is compatible with your:

• Laptop or MacBook
• Smartphone
• Tablet
• Gaming console (Switch, PS5, Xbox, or others)
• Camera or media devices

Asking if the portable monitor offers driver-free plug-and-play support can help save you time and trouble later. Compatibility with operating systems and the need for third-party software can also be important, especially while traveling and not having access to technical assistance or the internet.

10. Audio Capabilities

Monitors with built-in speakers are always convenient to use when you don’t have access to other headphones or Bluetooth speakers. They also come with a headphone jack (3.5mm) that you can use on flights or at public places when silence is required.

Portable monitors won’t have studio-quality speakers, but many users find them good enough for use in video calls, entertainment, or light gaming.

11. Price & Value for Money

Portable monitors, especially 24-inch ones, come in different price points. Very cheap models may not be very bright, or offer better refresh rate or build quality. At the other end, the exorbitantly priced portable monitors will likely have better resolution and sturdier design and many connectivity options.

A good portable monitor should have a perfect balance between its use-cases (professional design, gaming, productivity) and your requirement (travel use, home use, regular use, or occasional use). The uperfect umax 24 is a great example of a 24-inch portable monitor with a lot of features for the price.

12. Warranty & Customer Support

Purchasing a travel accessory or peripheral, like a portable monitor, may also require a good warranty to be offered. Minimum one year of manufacturer warranty and responsive customer support and service centers are essential. In that sense, UPERFECT offers some of the best warranty and support services for their portable monitors.

Final Words

Travel or not, a 24-inch portable monitor is a handy companion to your workspace. It offers more screen real estate without having to settle for a non-portable monitor. A portable monitor of this size, however, should have adequate resolution, great connectivity, power source, durability, portability, and additional perks. 24-inch portable monitors like the uperfect umax 24 are great for digital nomads, corporate travelers, gamers, creators, and professionals on the go.

Before your next business trip, be sure to pack the right display! There is a portable monitor for every requirement, purpose, and budget – so you can be sure to find the one best suited for you.