Recommendations For USB 3.0 Powered Portable Monitor

MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 13:57

Hi All,

I'm looking for a USB 3.0 powered portable monitor that I can get for around $500.

My requirements are pretty minimal (I think):

1920 x 1080 or better resolution
20"+ (if possible).
COMPLETELY USB 3.0 powered, no separate power cable.
Will play nice with a Surface Pro 7 running Windows 10

Not that fussed about touch screen and it's for work (not gaming) so fresh rate isn't super important.

I'm currently looking at something like this, however, this seems to be about 8 years old so I think this requires it's own power cord and brick:
https://www.umart.com.au/Acer-23in-FHD-60Hz-IPS-LED-Touch-Sc…

Thanks.

Computing

Comments

  • markh on 03/08/2021 - 14:06
    +1

    Is this for your mining rig ?

    Ive seen a few smaller ones on aliexpress , but not 20"

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000415538729

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 14:16

      Mining Rig? No.
      WFH Rig Yes.

      I have a dual-screen setup in my office but I have been displaced to the kitchen table thanks to my wife also living the WFH life.
      The display on my Surface Pro 7 is fine for most things but not large enough for when I am doing engineering design work.

  • pharkurnell on 03/08/2021 - 14:08
    +3

    define 'Portable '

    dont think I'd like to be lugging around a 20+ inch screen

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 14:14

      Yeah sorry.

      Essentially I want a monitor that runs off a single USB 3.0 cable (display and power) with a modest footprint.
      Something that can be setup and connected to a Surface Pro with minimal fuss.

      I don't plan on taking it out of the house, but want to be able to set it up for engineering design work quickly and then store it away when not in use. WFH FTW!

  • lunchbox99 on 03/08/2021 - 14:17
    +1

    Umart sells heaps of portables. Find one that suits

    https://www.umart.com.au/search.php?cat_id=&keywords=portabl…

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 14:51

      Hi, yeah thanks for that.
      Unfortunately they are all well under 20".

      I might be looking for a unicorn.

      • lunchbox99 on 03/08/2021 - 16:25
        +1

        I think that acer is the only one readily available. No idea if it's any good.

  • FoxJump on 03/08/2021 - 15:03
    +2

    Not quite what you ask, but … I use my main monitor a 27" 4K and then a 13.3" usb c power+data one. It also has HDMI in and separate usbc for power only if thats how you want to connect.

    I use the big monitor for work and the little monitor for ms teams almost flat on my desk. I got sick of moving MS Teams around on the main monitor.

    I use the blitzwolf 13.3" . I think they sell a 17" one.
    https://www.blitzwolf.com/17.3-inch-Touch-Monitor-TFT-LCD-p-…

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 17:41

      Thanks,

      That looks pretty good.
      I'll have a look to see where I can get one from.

    • MayhemVC on 04/08/2021 - 17:15

      Thanks again for this.

      I couldn't actually find a link to buy the 17.3" one so I ended up ordering a 15.6" Blitzwolf badboy for the interim:

      https://www.banggood.com/BlitzWolf-BW-PCM3-15_6-Inch-Touchab…

      Never ordered from Banggood before so I have no idea if it's going to turn up or not. :-)

      It has 2 x USB-C plus 1x mini-HDMI which makes it a bit more versatile than just the 1 x USB-C offered by most of the domestic options in my budget.
      The battery in the ASUS models is not really important to me.
      Brightness seems to be much better than the MSI Optix mag161v which I had shortlisted.
      The Lenovo Thinkvision M14 seems to have a very nice screen but I want as much screen real-estate as possible.

      • FoxJump on 04/08/2021 - 18:28
        +1

        Awesome. Happy I could help. Yes I was very particular with the input options. I like a generous selection of inputs.

  • FireRunner on 03/08/2021 - 15:12
    +1

    I'm not sure if there exists such a product. I'd imagine powering a 20"+ screen requires more power than a single USB port can provide, especially if being powered from just a laptop's USB port.

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 17:39

      Yeah, the more I look into it the more I think you might be right.

  • MercSal on 03/08/2021 - 15:21
    +1

    Are you okay with a cable going the other way? ie monitor is powered, but laptop isn't?
    I don't think any laptop would be able to power a screen, let alone for any length of time if not plugged in, but if you are okay with a cable the other way there are lots of monitors that can power the laptop (but the monitor is plugged in)

    • MercSal on 03/08/2021 - 15:24
      +1

      Failing that, this is the best I can see
      https://www.asus.com/au/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/ZenScreen…

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 17:38

      I hadn't considered that!

      The laptop tends to stay put (plugged in) and my intention was to put the screen up and pull it down as required.
      I might have a rethink about it though based on your suggestion.
      Because I'm working off the dining table I want to be able to dismantle everything easily and often.

      Thanks for the suggestion!

  • TheBird on 03/08/2021 - 16:34
    +1

    Why USB powered? Is it for the quickness of the setup?

    I could be wrong, but I think you're a few years away. Intel is bringing out a new USB standard that allowed for higher power consumption in their next USB type.

    You can get battery powered monitors (I've used them in filming, but I'm not sure if they come that large) but they cost more than $500. I think I got a little change from a grand for the 13" one I have.

    Thunderbolt might do what you're looking at, but it's not something I know much about. Check at an Apple store, but that'll probably blow your $500 budget.

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 17:35

      Yeah I have a 26" monitor which I've been using but it's a pain to setup and pull down and the stand is bulky.

      Will have a look at both battery power and Thunderbolt but sounds like they might both blow my budget.

      Thanks.

  • alexlim2000 on 03/08/2021 - 16:57
    +1

    Hey mate, USB 3.0 wont provide enough power nor bandwidth to run a proper screen. I think you meant USB-C ? (Or Thunderbolt?).

    Check out https://www.mwave.com.au/monitors/portable-usb-monitors

    You'll find that anything with USB3.0 will need a power cord + USB3, as USB3 simply cant provide enough power. But USB-C 'should' be able to. I say should, because your laptop specifically may not be able to deliver the required power over the on-board USBC port.

    But also, I dont think you'll find any 20" portable monitors - they're too big to move around with. I used to travel with a 15" portable monitor - it was already far larger than then Surface 6 I was travelling with.

    • MayhemVC on 03/08/2021 - 17:34

      Yeah sorry, I meant USB-C.
      I was hoping to have a big screen allowing two documents to be read side by side but I might have to change my approach and look at a dual screen setup, using my Surface screen and the largest portable screen I can find.

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