I have been enthusiastic about technology for over 30 years and have also been working in information technology (IT) for almost two decades. During this time I have seen people increasingly using mobile devices instead of desktop computers and hence the need for portable displays as additional screens has also increased. SHOP PORTABLE MONITORS Two years ago I bought an Acer PM161Q ($130) to add an extra display to my then Surface Pro 5. It was the first portable monitor of its kind, which was lightweight but also a nightmare device due to compatibility issues. First, it didn't work with any of the Surface Pro and HP laptops, but I was able to connect it to a friend's Dell laptop. At the time, I couldn't find any information from Acer or Microsoft as to why the monitor doesn't work with Surface Pro or HP laptops. It turned out that Thunderbolt 3 was required. Fast forward 7 months and more computers now support Thunderbolt 3 - with the exception of Microsoft Surface devices (by design) as Thunderbolt 3 is vulnerable and allows a hacker to capture data from your computer. In fact, all computers released before 2019 should avoid using Thunderbolt 3. Security issues aside, the Acer PM161Q worked really well with my Dell XPS 13 P73F work laptop (with Thunderbolt 3 support) and my manager decided to buy it for the team. to make it easier for us to travel. More portable monitors. have since been published. I previously reviewed the 15.6-inch Mukesh X1 ($150) and really liked it because it didn't require a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port, but what it lacked was something I found on Surface Pro Devices missed: touch screen. Most decent-looking touchscreen displays cost at least $100 more than the Mukesh X1, but one device caught my eye in my search: the 15.6-inch UPerfect MDS-156G16 ($305). What distinguished him? Touchscreen, built-in battery, IPS and 4 speakers! A similarly equipped Asus Zenscreen MB16AMT (with 25% less battery capacity) costs $340. I liked it, except for one thing: there is no built-in kickstand. I was happy to see that the Superfect came with a different display, but this time it had a built-in kickstand that could be used in both portrait and landscape modes. However, without a battery. ADVANTAGES - IPS HDR 1920 x 1080 FHD: Excellent brightness, sharpness and a 160 degree field of view - you can see it from almost any angle and from any distance. Can be viewed in sunlight. Built-in stand for vertical/horizontal alignment. Allows you to adjust the angle up to 110 degrees, similar to Microsoft Surface devices. Excellent contrast ratio, but keep in mind that this has nothing to do with display brightness. - Plug and play - worked straight away when connected to a Samsung Galaxy S21+ and a Dell XPS 13 P73F laptop. No driver installation required. On a Samsung phone (USB-C to USB 3.1), the Samsung DeX desktop turned UPerfect into a Windows-like interface. DeX can be toggled on and off for use as a desktop or to mirror your phone screen --- With a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard you can literally turn your phone into a perfect PC -- Does not require USB-C Thunderbolt 3 --- Video worked with Surface 3 2015 (non-Pro version) via Mini DisplayPort HDMI 5-point multi-touch (USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB 3) -- zoom and zoom like tablet/phone - - Touch behaved differently in Windows 10 when used as an extended or dual display (see CONS section below) - Good price for this type of product - Starts up in seconds and is ready to display whatever is on your phone or laptop - Can be used while charging (but requires 2 cables) - Great for presentations, movies and gaming - Multiple cables included - Built-in speakers - Bright LEDs on the back (which I don't care) CONS - No built-in battery - H None bluetooth h for external speaker connection - OSD (On-Screen Display for Information/Configuration Monitor) stays on too briefly (should be 2+ seconds longer) - you must be a fast reader or long press one of the buttons for information displayed on the screen should be. The speakers weren't very loud and sounded like tin. VESA mount not compatible. as a separate cinema screen. If it had USB-A and/or microSD it would be nice to be able to watch movies from them. When used as an external display with Windows 10, the monitor only acted as a large touchpad for the primary display. It is not possible to use touch on what is displayed on the monitor itself (only works when used as a dual display). - On Windows, you can set up your computer to use the UPerfect monitor as an extended display (second display) or as a dual display. Activate it by pressing the "Windows + P" keys or go to the "Notifications" taskbar and select "Project". I/O PORTS. The following explains what each connection port can/cannot be used for: - USB-C - as input: touch and audio/video (depending on the cable, connected device and must support Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1) - touch, audio and video worked with Samsung Galaxy S21+ (USB 3.1) Phone and Dell XPS 13 P73F Laptop (Thunderbolt 3) --- If your device's USB-C only supports charging, please use a USB-C to mini-HDMI cable instead (not included) - - - Supported devices: MacBook 2016 and above, HP/Dell laptops, Galaxy S8/Note 8 and above, etc. - USB-C PD (on the right of the display): For charging the monitor only. No audio/video transmission. Cannot be used to charge other devices. This is Power IN ONLY- Mini HDMI input: Audio/Video-- Connect the monitor to power FIRST before connecting the mini HDMI cable-- Use a USB-C to USB 3.0 -Cable to enable touch microUSB OTG input: mouse only/use keyboards FINAL THOUGHTS Overall, I found the IPS HDR display to be nice and bright and viewable from a wide angle, and its 5-point touch performance was excellent responsive, although not as good as 10-point touch. Without a built-in battery, you always need to carry a wall charger or USB-C PD cable for charging. The built-in stand eliminated one of my biggest issues with another monitor I own, but unfortunately some sacrifices have been made (like 5-point touch) to potentially keep costs down. The monitor can be used for a variety of occasions, including as a portable secondary computer display, an enlarged monitor for mobile devices/phones, and gaming via a mini HDMI interface (e.g. XBOX, Nintendo Switch, PS4). Workers, electronic spreadsheets and reports can be more easily manipulated in landscape or portrait mode, while leaving the main display free for other purposes. For both the player and the consumption of multimedia (movies), a large screen can provide more immersive entertainment. a bit heavy and can't use a single USB-C cable for both charging and audio/video playback. Regardless, this monitor is a pretty good buy with plenty of connectivity options for use with laptops, mobile devices, and gaming systems.
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