Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
This 15.6 - inch Full HD IP video display doubles most laptops ’ sieve space and is simple to frame-up and connect , and then unplug and lightweight enough to carry aside when you ’re done .
Best Prices Today: Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display
Asecond screenmakes your MacBook more utilitarian and turns a laptop into a literal option to a background computer . lend one or more outside displays to your MacBook is soft and commend for a home office or indeed an old - fashioned real office setup . But you could’t — or at least shouldn’t — lug a 32 - inch monitor lizard around to meetings or the local coffee berry shop class .
Having a second screen door alongside your MacBook ’s built - in display gives you more distance for viewing open windows at the same prison term — for example , for supporting documents or apps while you ’re on a video call or pay a presentation . Or if you want to watch a pic in more ocular comfort than a 13 - column inch laptop offers , a large second screen gives you more display flexibility .
A properly portable presentation is a more naturalistic answer if you need the convenience of a laptop computer but more screen real acres to match your multi - app and window needs . We ’ve retrospect several of these portable displays , and this belated 15.6 - inch full HD portable monitor is the most straightforward we ’ve tested . It works with MacBook , iPad , and iPhone . take down that it will only mirror what is on the iPhone ’s screen , while it can extend the display of a Mac or iPad .
The Plugable USB-C Portable Display’s protective cover doubles up as a foldable stand.
Foundry
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Portability
We ’ve long been fans of Plugable ’s docking stations and hubs and other canny accessories , and the fellowship has now released its first filmdom , the Plugable 15.6 - inch USB - C Portable Display — or USBC - PDMON to its friend .
Weighing just 1.85 lb ( 840 K ) with its cover / rack or 1.35 lb ( 615 gravitational constant ) without , it is hardly noticeable alongside your laptop computer in your packsack or briefcase — although you ’ll need to remember to pack aUSB - C cable(one is included in the box ) , and possibly a charger if using the cover for an extensive menstruum .
It measures 14.2 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches ( 3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 centimeter ) .
The Plugable USB-C Portable Display’s protective cover doubles up as a foldable stand.
On the back of the display is a detachable PU vinyl cover that can protect the screen in transportation or computer storage and doubles up as a folding stand that is wanton to setup . This looks and operate like an iPad protective cover and feels durable .
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Setup
While some portable displays rely on old - style mini - HDMI connexion , the USBC - PDMON connects via USB - C — including the MacBook ’s Thunderbolt and USB4 — to laptops , tablet , phones , or computers that support USB - C DisplayPort Alt Mode . It will work with any Mac released since 2016 .
There ’s no demand to download software program number one wood , and the connection is plug and play .
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The Plugable USB-C Portable Display’s protective cover doubles up as a foldable stand.
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Specs
The Plugable Portable Display is a 15.6 - in anti - glare IPS LCD panel with a 16:9 ratio . It supports a full HD 1920 - x-1080p firmness at a healthy 60Hz refresh rate .
It boasts a 178 - academic degree viewing slant ( 89 - academic degree vertical + 89 - degree horizontal ) and can expose 16.7 million people of color . The light range is up to an impressive 300 nits luminance . This is bright than the popularViewSonic VA1655(also 15.6 inches ) , which maxes at 250 nit .
Some portable reminder , such as the 2,560 - x-1,600pLG Gram + view , have higher resolutions that give a crisper experience , but at a price — that exhibit costs 1.5x as much . There are 4 K portable displays , such as the 3,840×2,160pUPerfect reliable 4 K , that , again , will set you back importantly more .
The screen cover/stand attaches to the back of the display and can be detached.
We found the Plugable Portable Display to be fine for vane browsing and productivity apps , and it ’s acceptable for streaming , too — but mayhap not for originative applications . There ’s no Portrait Mode , so it ’s maybe not for coders or readers of farseeing documents .
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Power
The display itself can draw business leader from the connected laptop or you may connect a charger or power bank to one of the display ’s USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate port , which keeps the MacBook charge up at up to 85W. Connect another gimmick to the showing ’s third USB - degree Celsius port and the passthrough can have power to that , too .
Some portable displays include a built - in battery so you could use them longer on the go , but this adds considerable system of weights to the admonisher . stay put illumination and give you flexibleness to draw power from the laptop or connect to a charger via the USB - speed of light larboard offers you tractability .
The Plugable Portable Display ships with a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type - C line , but no courser . See our comparing reexamination of thebest Mac laptop chargersfor options .
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Ports and controls
Along the display ’s correct side are three USB - C port and three control buttons . The top buttons ascendancy luminosity up and down , and quick color mode setting .
The USB - C ports are upstream to the host computer , PD 3.0 exponent delivery to the projection screen and passthrough power to the laptop if required , and a downstream USB - C to connect other devices . With Plugable being a market drawing card in docks and hubs we ’d rely this display hub to exercise with just about any compatible equipment .
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Price
The Plugable 15.6 - column inch USB - C Portable Display is usable in the U.S. and Canada for $ 199.95 / CA$275.95 . you may buy cheap portable monitor but you ’ll probably give features and spec such as screenland result and brightness .
There are option that we have tested such as the dual 14 - inchLimink Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitorand magnetic 14 - inchMobile Pixels DUEX Max , which both physically attach to the MacBook . The Plugable Portable Display stands aside and is therefore more versatile .
Of course , you’re able to add much larger displays — see our roundup of thebest proctor for Mac — but few will be as portable .
Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Verdict
Even the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro ’s own screen is often not enough to admit all the window you involve seeable at the same clock time . This 15.6 - column inch Full HD IP exhibit doubles most laptop ’ screen distance and is simple to set up and unite , and is lightweight enough to carry out when you ’re done .
The display includes three USB-C ports at the bottom and three controls at the top.
