ARZOPA A1 Max 17″ – Portable Monitor Review – a perfect workation tool

When it comes to working efficiently while traveling, having a second monitor alongside your laptop can be a game-changer. For business trips and workation, a portable monitor is the perfect tool to boost productivity. It needs to be lightweight and easy to use, with minimal connectors for convenience. After extensive research, I found the ARZOPA 17.3″ Portable Monitor to be the most suitable and convenient option for my needs. Here, I’ll share my thoughts on some available models and provide a detailed review of my final selection.

What I was looking for

With numerous portable monitors on the market, it’s essential to identify your personal “must-haves.” For me, these were:

• > 15″ Screen – I wanted a screen slightly larger than my laptop’s for better visibility and comfort.
• USB-C and HDMI port – While many monitors offer only a USB-C connection, which handles both power and image transmission, I wanted the added flexibility of an HDMI port. This allows me to connect the monitor to various devices, such as a smartphone or a video console for my kids.

Not Deciding Factors for Me

While there are features that might be essential for you, I didn’t consider these factors critical for my needs. However, I will list them for comparable models in case they are important to you:

• Touchscreen -I don’t use this feature on my laptop, so it wasn’t a priority for me.
• Built-in Battery: I’m fine with the monitor being powered via my laptop.
• >4K Resolution & >80Hz Refresh Rate: For regular work, HD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate are sufficient for me. If you’re considering a monitor for gaming, you might want something with better specs.

 ARZOPA A1 Max portable monitor – Specs

Let’s start of with a list of the main specs:

Display Size: 17.3 Inch
Panel Type: IPS
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 1920*1080
Display Color: 16.7M(8-bit)
Color Temperature: 6800K
Visual Angle: H：178° V：178°
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Brightness: 300cd/m2
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Input: Mini HD(Video Signal), Type-C Full Function(Video Data, Power Supply ISDN)
Output: 3.5mm Headphone & Speaker: Built-in (2x 1W)

What’s in the box:

• USB-C to USB-C Cable (Full-functioned – data & power)
• Mini HDMI to HDMI Cable (Data transfer only)
• Stand
• Manual / User Guide

Ports & Connection

Why did I want to have USB-C in the first place? The great thing about portable monitors with a USB-C connection is that you only need to connect one cable, and your setup is done. Simply connect your laptop to the Arzopa portable monitor using the included USB-C cable, and the monitor is powered while data is transferred seamlessly.
I once went on vacation by car, carrying a standard 24″ monitor. It was not only bulky (the screen is larger, but the attached stand is the real issue), but I also had to carry a connection cable and a power cable. In contrast, I use my Arzopa monitor not only for traveling but also for quick work sessions at home, like at the kitchen table (since my office space has now become a kids’ space). The setup is done in seconds compared to setting up a standard screen.

So why did I also want HDMI? For my work setup, the USB-C connection is perfectly fine for both Windows laptops and Apple Macs. It is the preferred connection since HDMI only transfers data and does not power the monitor. If you connect your Arzopa portable monitor using an HDMI cable, you also need to connect it to a power source via USB-C.
I still have some devices that do not have USB-C and wanted to be flexible for other solutions. For example, you can use the Arzopa portable monitor as a video display on the go and play videos from your phone. All iPhones up to the iPhone 14 can only be used via a Lightning to HDMI adapter. Additionally, there are video consoles that only offer HDMI video output. So, I wanted to ensure I had the flexibility to connect various devices.

Screen

One of my must haves was the larger size of the ARZOPA 17″ Portable Monitor compared to a standard 15″ laptop monitor. This extra and larger screen significant difference in productivity and comfort. As you can see in the picture, the portable monitor is not only larger but also noticeably brighter than the laptop screen, providing a more vivid and clear display.

Hands-on Experience – Review

Positive aspects

Size: I definitely made the right choice with the size. The portable monitor is large enough for working and small enough to travel. Without a sleeve, I was able to fit it in the same backpack compartment designed for a 15-16″ laptops. It is very thin and lightweight, making it easy to carry around without any hassle.

Display: The brightness is more than sufficient, even brighter than my Lenovo laptop that I use for work. I’m also happy with the resolution and refresh rate, which are the same as my Lenovo. While the MacBook Air screen looks better in contrast, the ARZOPA monitor still performs admirably.

Neutral Aspects

Stand: The stand is made of durable metal, small, and easy to store. It can also be used as a stand for your phone or tablet, which is great on a plane. However, I’m not sure if I would prefer a built-in stand within a cover. Since it is an extra part, you can easily forget to take it with you, which can be an issue when setting up your screen.

Negative Aspects

Cover: What I’m missing is a “smart” cover. There is no protection for the screen, and a cover that is exactly the size of the screen would have been perfect to protect it and allow storage in the same backpack compartment as my laptop. Most laptop sleeves are not a good fit, as they are larger than needed and designed for laptops.

Comparison

Where to get?

I ordered my Arzopa 17″ portable monitor from Amazon: