I've been working from home a lot lately and my apartment is too small for a dedicated office space. My kitchen table has become my new workspace, but I need a portable external monitor to pair with my laptop. I'm looking for a 24-inch screen that's super easy to move around since I'll be bringing it out and putting it back every day.
Here are my must haves:
- It should be very portable for easy daily handling.
- It needs to be durable enough to withstand being moved frequently.
- I'd like it to have HDMI and USB-C connectivity.
- I prefer it not to come with a typical electric cord—it should draw power from the laptop (USB-C) or occasionally from a Raspberry Pi (HDMI).
- It should include a built-in stand for proper eye level height, so I won't have to haul books back and forth.
In addition, any good-to-have features would be a thin design for storage, a 4K resolution if it's not too pricey (1080p is fine too), and decent screen quality for coding. Not really concerned about refresh rates though.
Does anyone have suggestions for a monitor that would fit these needs?
4 Answers
There are a bunch of ultra portable USB-C monitors available on sites like AliExpress or Amazon for around £40-80. They support 4K or 1080p at 60Hz and often come with built-in kickstands. One thing to keep in mind though is that HDMI typically won’t provide power for a Raspberry Pi, so USB-C is your best bet for that setup. I've been using some generic models for work and they work great as secondary screens.
The Syncmaster SA300 is a solid choice; it runs off any 12-14V power supply with at least 2-3A current. They’re super lightweight, making them easy to carry around. You can also find more modern replacements since these are a bit older.
I got my portable monitors from "uperfect". They have great options, including touchscreen models and even some wireless versions. They also sell lapdocks that work with Raspberry Pi, in case that's something you'd consider.
As far as I know, HDMI doesn't provide enough power to run a monitor, usually only 5V. USB-C is capable of handling different voltages and can power the display while transmitting video. If your Raspberry Pi has power delivery over USB-C, that would be your solution!
Thanks for the info!
Thank you! I'll check those out!