Top 5 Portable Monitors for Remote Work in 2026

Credit: Envato Elements

Transform any coffee shop or hotel room into your personal office with these screen-expanding powerhouses

Remote work shouldn’t hold back your efficiency and output. Whether you’re at a local café or in a hotel room, a portable monitor can turn your laptop into a dual-screen setup. I’ve looked at dozens of models and testing data to find the five best portable monitors for remote workers.

Why Remote Workers Need Portable Monitors

Let’s be honest. Juggling everything on just your laptop display gets frustrating quickly. You’re constantly switching between tabs, losing track of emails, and squinting at tiny text. A portable monitor gives you extra space to keep email open on one screen while you work on documents on the other.

These monitors are also lightweight enough to carry in your bag. The best part? Modern portable monitors connect with just one USB-C cable for both video and power. No more mess of adapters and charging bricks.

Best Overall: HP Series 5 Pro 14-Inch WQXGA (514pn)

If you want quality without spending a fortune, the HP Series 5 Pro is the one to get. This 14-inch monitor has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, which is sharper than standard 1080p. The brightness levels are seriously impressive.

In testing, this monitor reached over 400 nits of brightness. That means you can use it outdoors or in brightly lit coffee shops without any problems. The taller 16:10 screen format provides more room for documents and spreadsheets. This is perfect for reading long documents or scrolling through email threads.

The aluminum frame feels premium and stays light. The fold-out kickstand is sturdy enough for bumpy train rides. My only complaint? You need to buy a protective sleeve separately since one doesn’t come in the box.

Best Budget Pick: Arzopa Z1FC

Now here’s something interesting. The Arzopa Z1FC sells for around $100 to $130. Yet it performs like monitors that cost twice as much. This 15.6-inch screen delivers accurate colors and reaches 300 nits of brightness.

The 144Hz refresh rate is usually a gaming feature. But it also makes scrolling through documents super smooth. The kickstand works in both landscape and portrait modes. You get two USB-C ports plus a Mini HDMI connection.

One person who tested it wished for USB-C ports on both sides. That would help with left-handed setups. But honestly, at this price, it’s hard to complain. The included cable is just long enough if you need to position the monitor on your left side.

Best Premium Option: ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED

Want the absolute best picture quality? The ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED costs $500, but the display is stunning. The OLED screen produces perfect blacks. When you look at black areas, you see actual darkness instead of gray.

The 4K resolution on a 15.6-inch screen makes text incredibly sharp. Colors look vibrant and make regular LCD monitors seem dull by comparison. It weighs only 1.5 pounds, making it one of the lightest options you can find.

The kickstand is a small square that flips out from the back. All the ports hide behind it for a cleaner look on your desk. You get two 60W USB-C ports. This means you can charge your laptop through the monitor while using it.

Best Wireless Option: ViewSonic VG1656N

This one’s different. The VG1656N comes with a USB-C dongle that plugs into your laptop. It sends video wirelessly up to 20 feet away.

The built-in battery lasts about three hours. This makes it perfect for presentations or when you want the monitor away from your laptop. I’ve seen it tested with MacBooks, Windows laptops, and even a Steam Deck. It worked great on almost everything.

The 1200p resolution with 16:10 aspect ratio gives extra vertical space for documents. There’s some backlight bleed on the lower edge. The wireless mode isn’t as color-accurate as wired connections. But the convenience makes up for these small issues.

Best Touch Screen: ViewSonic TD1656-2K

Touch support usually costs extra on portable monitors. The ViewSonic TD1656-2K offers it at a fair price. The 16-inch screen works with both finger and stylus input. A stylus comes included in the box. It works right away with Windows 11. Mac users need to install free software from ViewSonic to get touch support.

The 2560 x 1600 resolution looks sharper than 1080p. The aluminum body feels solid and well-made. During testing, this monitor hit 363 nits of brightness and had excellent color coverage. The included cover works as a stand with different positioning options.

Comparison Table

What to Look for When Buying a Portable Monitor

Resolution makes a big difference. While 1080p works for basic tasks, stepping up to 2K or higher makes text much sharper. Your eyes will thank you during long work sessions.

Brightness matters for remote work. Look for at least 300 nits if you work in coffee shops or spaces with lots of natural light. Anything less and you’ll be searching for the darkest corner in the room.

The stand quality is important. A wobbly stand gets annoying fast. Look for solid kickstands that work in both landscape and portrait modes. You’ll appreciate this when working on tall spreadsheets.

Get USB-C connectivity. Single cable connection makes life so much easier. Make sure your laptop supports USB-C video output. Look for monitors with pass-through charging if possible. This lets you power your laptop through the monitor.

Final Remarks

The right portable monitor really can change your remote work setup. For most people, the HP Series 5 Pro gives the best mix of price and quality. If you’re watching your budget, grab the Arzopa Z1FC. Creative professionals will love the beautiful display on the ViewSonic OLED model.

No matter which one you pick, you’ll wonder how you survived with just a laptop screen. Your neck will feel better. Your productivity will improve. And you can finally keep Slack open without closing your actual work. That’s worth it.