Being able to play video games anywhere is not for everyone. Some gamers have a laptop and therefore don't see what we're talking about. However, most gaming purists are attached to their tower, but their PC screen is not easy to carry. Rest assured, we offer you a buying guide for the best 4K monitors , so you can play anywhere with the best possible resolution.
What to know before buying a 4K portable screen!
- Portable monitors are screens that can be transported more easily
- This does not necessarily mean that they are more fragile
- Don't focus on screen resolution! The size, resolution and parameters of the panel are all data to take into account that we describe to you in our buying guide!
Comparison of the best portable 4K monitors
Are you looking for a quality portable screen? We are going to share with you our selection of the best ultra HD portable monitors in 4K, an essential accessory for you, mobile and easy to transport!
1. The best value for money portable 4K monitor!
Features and Reviews
This 15.6-inch ultra HD portable monitor from the UPERFECT brand is the first in our selection. The HDR and FreeSync functions are integrated, allowing you to work or play games with 4K image resolution. Offering a better, extraordinary graphics experience, this portable PC screen provides you with images and details. realistic. The characteristics of this portable 4k screen stand out with its resolution of 3840 x 2160 in 4K ultra HD. The screen stretch is 16:9.
To connect it to your devices, UPERFECT provides you with 4 connectors including VGA, USB, DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI and Thunderbolt. With its 849 g and dimensions of 35.7 x 22.5 x 1.1 cm, you can take it wherever you go. It is one of the most compact and lightest monitors on the market. Comes with a cover and a screen protector, the latter reduces eye fatigue as well as blue lights for continuous use.
2. JOHNWILL. 13.3 Inch 4K Portable Monitor
Features and Reviews
The JOHNWILL monitor is next in our selection. Equipped with a 13.3-inch screen, this screen has something to seduce you. Made from CNC aluminum alloy metal, its shell is quite durable and very light. Two 1.5 W speakers are integrated to also enjoy sound effects. With a resolution of 3840 x 2160 in 4k ultra HD, enjoy a unique graphics experience and surprising image quality. Its plus is its wide use.
You can connect it to your PS3, PS4 Xbox 360, Xbox one consoles, your car radios, a drone or even medical equipment. JOHNWILL offers its user two HDMI ports and two 3.5mm audio jacks. It is also possible to use the Type C port to connect it to a smartphone. For its power supply , the manufacturer provides a USB port. Having a compact design, 9.5 mm thick, this monitor is practical and suitable for all uses. It comes with a leather case to protect the screen.
3. SUPERFECT 4K touch screen!
Features and Reviews
Still a 4K monitor from the UPERFECT brand, this model is one of the most renowned on the market. Indeed, it owes its popularity to its 4K screen with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 in UHD. It is equipped with FreeSync and integrated HDR functions. The images are of breathtaking quality with more than 8 million pixels. The details are impressively realistic, immersing you in the middle of your monitor. If you connect your monitor to your Smartphone, the gravity sensor, which can rotate up to 90°, automatically detects the direction of your device and adjusts the position to suit you.
In terms of design, this portable 4K touch screen is 5 mm thick. Very light to easily take it when traveling. An adjustable support is integrated to position it as you wish. On the practical side, this UPERFECT monitor has 2 USB-C and mini HDMI ports. You can easily connect it to your computer, or Smartphone, your game consoles, etc. With a highly sensitive portable touchscreen monitor, you can use it without installation. Plug in the USB cable and access the touch function.
It is important to know that to benefit from the touch function, the connected device must be equipped with a Type C function. It is also equipped with 2 integrated speakers. For your moments of relaxation while playing games, know that this monitor offers 2 game modes.
Buying guide and FAQ for choosing your 4K portable monitor!
What a joy to have a portable 4K monitor on hand! A few years ago, it would have been very difficult to find a portable mini screen... Today, they are suitable for gamers and the general public !
We offer you this buying guide so that you can be sure to make the right choice and choose a portable 4K external screen that suits you!
What is the difference between a portable monitor and other PC screens?
What will a portable monitor allow me compared to computer screens?
- This small transportable PC screen gives the opportunity, unlike its desktop counterpart, to be transported anywhere very easily.
- Very suitable for gaming, they allow gamers to transport their gaming equipment without taking up additional space .
- These portable monitors can, like a tablet, be placed anywhere , allowing you to play, work, or watch a series without any problem.
Is 4K really useful for gaming?
Is 4K screen resolution for a portable monitor essential to get the most out of your portable screen? There's no denying it, playing in ultra-high definition or watching your favorite series everywhere, it's a must-have for all nomadic geeks !
, 4K technology makes it possible to expand the size of the screen and the number of pixels to offer exceptional image quality superior to full HD in 1080 p. If you plan to choose a portable 4k monitor, you might as well get the largest screen size possible !
However, be careful... For portable monitors for playing on a gaming PC , make sure your configuration is compatible with your graphics card . There's no point in getting a 4K LED gaming screen if your laptop isn't capable of running games in 4K!
Good to know : If you are looking for an ultra high-definition desktop monitor, we invite you to see the best 4K screens for PC .
Who are these 4K PC screens for?
A portable 4K gaming monitor can be very appreciated by gamers due to its ease of transport and use, which will delight seasoned video gamers. For example, it can be used as a portable PS4 screen to have fun with friends over LAN!
4K will allow you to display your games with an extraordinary resolution guaranteeing total immersion, if they are compatible of course.
If you are one of those rare people who need an additional laptop screen , then a 4K external monitor is for you! By preserving the quality of your work as best as possible. Enough to maintain unparalleled visual comfort.
The criteria for choosing the best portable 4K monitor
Screen resolution
We talked about it briefly previously, the resolution of your monitor is one of the main characteristics that must be looked at, because it is this which will determine the visual comfort that you will have on your screen.
Be careful, however, not to fall into the trap of only focusing on this technical characteristic. We'll see it later, but you can play very well in 4K with a refresh rate of 10, which will make your gaming experience a real nightmare. In any case, there are different types of resolution which we detail below:
- Full HD (high definition very common these days)
- QHD or WQHD
- 4K
These are the 3 resolutions you can find:
Full HD – The best price
Full HD characterizes screens with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels . This is the famous 1080p HD that you can see almost everywhere. As you can guess, it's a decent resolution that will delight everyday users, especially since it allows you to acquire the cheapest portable monitor on the market .
However, it is not the most optimal for demanding gamers who want to play in 4K to enjoy the graphics.
QHD or the resolution of gamers
QHD (or WQHD) characterizes computer screens with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels . This is the famous 1440p that you may have seen. This screen resolution allows for greater gaming comfort and screen quality compared to Full HD. Enough to satisfy gaming enthusiasts!
4K portable monitors, the Rolls-Royce of portable screens
4K resolution corresponds to PC monitors of 3840 x 2160 pixels . We might as well tell you that with this, you will be amazed. This is one of the highest resolutions available on the market.
Be aware that you could find 5K or even 8K , however, unless you work in a specialized industry, no video games are compatible with these high resolutions. This is why our choice is 4K resolution if you are not afraid to put your hand in your pocket and become the king of the kid g .
Which panel to choose for a 4K portable screen?
Of course, if you don't have a lot of computer knowledge, this slab may seem obscure to you. And for good reason ! We go into technical details that the most hardcore will appreciate. After that, you will definitely know everything about portable 4K monitors!
So what are the differences between all these tiles?
TN panels for the most classic
TN panels are the ones found mostly on PC screens. Certainly, they allow a flash display of your screen, but at the cost of poor image quality and a low refresh rate ...
The chances of finding a portable 4K monitor with a TN panel are slim, or we advise you to avoid it!
IPS panels for a resplendent monitor
IPS panels have a lower display speed than TN panels , but this is at the cost of a much brighter image and resplendent colors.
An IPS screen is aimed at gamers who have adjusted their graphics card to visual qualities for the benefit of performance. They will thus be able to benefit from a portable screen with high display quality.
VA tiles for those who can't decide
You understood from the title just above, portable monitors equipped with a VA panel are for those who cannot really make a choice, apart from that of balance. With these PC screen panels, you will have a perfect mix between an IPS and a TN .
OLED panels for a perfect portable monitor
If you decide to choose a portable 4K monitor, there is a good chance that you will have to choose a portable screen equipped with an OLED panel. Indeed, it would be a shame not to be able to enjoy deep colors with a resolution as high as 4K !
Here, gaming enthusiasts will be served and will be able to enjoy extraordinary graphics on their monitor with wide viewing angle and exceptional colorimetry .
The disadvantage of this type of screen? They are very fragile and quite expensive. However, we don't worry that you will take care of it!
What does Gsync, Vsync Freesync mean?
These barbaric names are technologies that allow you to harmonize the scanning frequency according to your graphics card. So, if your card does not allow a 60Hz display, this technology present in your laptop will allow synchronization (that's what sync means) of what your screen can display with what your graphics card can produce. This helps avoid bugs, overheating and excess battery consumption. There are 3 types:
- Vsync : it is found on most screens , it is the least effective of all.
- Gsync : this is a technology only compatible with NVIDIA graphics cards
- Freesync AMD technology compatible with their own graphics card.
Choosing the right size for your 4K monitor
Screen sizes are calculated in inches which represent the diagonal of your screen. This is how we calculate its size.
Along with resolution, screen size is one of the most important criteria when choosing a portable 4K monitor.
When it comes to gaming, the higher the resolution of your screen, the more you want to enjoy it, right? Therefore, it is a shame to have 4K resolution on a small screen and a small resolution on a giant screen could sting your eyes. As you have understood, it is important to take these two criteria into account so that you have a real gaming experience without any unpleasant surprises.
A portable monitor will have its limits in terms of size! It will obviously be necessary to make a cross on 85 inches. Your choice will therefore be portable screens ranging from 19 to 32 inches , which already makes a good monitor. If you want 4K, the bigger the better. However, you will benefit from a good return with a 17-inch portable monitor which will be ideal for gaming.
Good to know : If you're looking for ultrawide computer screens, you'll love our Ultrawide monitor comparison !
Choose responsiveness: response time
There is something more important than the image quality of your computer screen, and that is the response time or latency time . Indeed, this is what will allow you to achieve high performance.
It characterizes the time between the moment you press a key and the moment the action takes place on the screen. Suffice it to say that for a portable gaming monitor, it is mandatory to have a very low response time at the risk of seeing its performance and gaming comfort decrease considerably.
This is something that is very well known to gamers, because it is similar to the lag ( latency ) that a bad connection can cause in a game.
In all cases, make sure that the response time, indicated in ms (millisecond), of your 4K monitor is as low as possible.
To give you an idea, so that it is not noticeable, the response time of your PC screen must be between 0.5 (absolute 0 does not exist) and 5ms .
The scanning frequency, or how to play at 60 FPS every time
This is something that PC gamers know well, because it depends on the performance of their computer (and the optimization of the game in question): the scanning frequency.
This is traditionally given in FPS (frame per second) or in Hz (Hertz). In France, you may find it in the form IPS (Image per second), all abbreviations aiming to say the same thing. So when you watch a YouTube video in 720p60fps, you are watching a video with 60 frames per second.
As you have understood, the scanning frequency is an indicator of the fluidity you will have on the screen. To give an impression of fluidity, the minimum tolerable is 30 fps, therefore, all 4K portable monitors are equipped to receive this type of frequency.
In general, we advise you to keep an eye on the maximum frequency that your monitor can reach, knowing that beyond 144 Hz you will not notice the difference with the naked eye. For high-quality 4K gaming, we advise you to go for a minimum of 120Hz.
However, focus more on the technical characteristics of your PC because it will do most of the work. For more details, we invite you to read our article on graphics cards and to come back above, read our section on Gsync, Vsync and Freesync technologies.
Good to know : If you are looking for the best PC screens according to the display refresh rate: see the comparison on 144 Hz screens and 240 Hz monitors for gamers !
4K Portable Monitors FAQ
It is legitimate that you still have a few questions about portable 4k monitors. Whether they relate to gaming or other tasks, we aim to answer them in this FAQ!
Am I likely to have compatibility issues?
It is certain that before purchasing your mini PC screen, you have taken a look at all the characteristics of your new 4K portable monitor so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises!
And this unpleasant surprise may be the connectivity . Make it a point to choose a PC monitor whose connectivity is compatible with your computer. There are several types of connectors:
The HDMI port (therefore with HDMI cable) and DisplayPort : these are the most present on the market at the moment. Be careful, because these come in several subcategories. So, a 2010 HDMI port will not be able to display 4K on your portable monitor, which would be a shame.
VGA and DVI ports : present on old models, they are gradually disappearing from the market, there is little chance that you will have to deal with them.
So take the time to see if the compatibility of the 4K monitor and your computer is good . If so, all you have to do is plug in your screen and enjoy this resolution!
What do I gain by paying the price?
The price differences will mainly come down to the definition and then address the details, such as the response time or the scanning frequency . In addition, the ergonomics of the portable monitor is also a factor in raising the stakes (for example if it is a touch screen, flat, etc.)
Tell yourself that for a 4K gaming monitor, you are going to have to break the bank! But it comes at the cost of exceptional gaming fluidity and breathtaking resolution in addition to greater durability and lower consumption.
It is in your best interest to clearly understand your budget and your needs. If you're not a gamer, maybe it's not useful to have 144Hz on your 4K monitor is it? Conversely, don't deprive yourself of good quality computer equipment that will last you over time.
This is now a choice available to you!
What is the difference between LED and LCD?
Regarding portable 4K monitors, you have undoubtedly seen that there are LED and LCD .
This is simply the type of bulb present on your screen . They are what give the pixels as well as the image quality through the brightness or their color palette.
An LED PC screen may be more expensive than its LCD counterpart. Indeed, LEDs are more expensive to purchase, but will save you energy in addition to having a more robust monitor!
As for an LCD monitor , it is more fragile to the shock that could occur but guarantees you to save your wallet in the present moment.
We advise you to choose a portable 4K LED monitor!