Plugable 15.6in USB-C Portable Monitor review
The world of portable monitors is incredibly vast and diverse, and has only become increasingly so in recent years as people work from home, coffee shops, and couches. I write this from my home office (my dining room table, couch, or bedroom chair) away from my home office. Yes, a lot of the time I work strictly on my laptop, but sometimes, there are tasks where I can benefit from having a second monitor. When I need to complete these tasks and I can’t pick up a monitor, I reach for a portable monitor.
I’ve tried a lot of portable monitors over the years; I always used an 11-inch iPad Pro as a portable monitor (until I replaced it with an iPad Mini 7). While all of these portable monitors are great for one reason or another, there’s something incredible about the Pluggable 15.6-Inch Portable USB-C Monitor. It’s not the prettiest display, with only 1920 x 1080, it’s not the largest 15.6-inch display, and it’s not the fanciest display, but it’s the one I’ve been using most at work over the past few months. I have a lot of sick family members to take care of.
Plugable somehow found a way to meet my needs in this area without any frills. one of the best portable monitor I’ve used it, and this one is very lightweight, easy to use, and even upgradeable (more on that later).
Pluggable 15.6-inch Portable USB-C Monitor: Pricing and Availability
The pluggable 15.6-inch USB-C monitor is sold through the official pluggable website (click here) and online retailers such as Amazon The price is $199.95 and comes with lifetime support. This purchase will get you the monitor, magnetic case, and USB-C cable to connect the device.
Pluggable 15.6-inch Portable USB-C Monitor: Unboxing and First Impressions
As I said before, I’ve tried a lot of portable monitors and monitors in general. One of the most striking things about this monitor is its lighting. When I took it out of the box I was shocked and thought something was wrong. Then when I added the folio box it barely got any heavier. I quickly familiarized myself with the ports and a few buttons on the monitor, grabbed the USB-C cable, and plugged it into my laptop. It immediately comes to life, demonstrating how easy this monitor is to use.
I immediately thought the monitor looked great and wanted to use it. The folio base is perfect for sofas, beds, chairs, tables, desks, cafes, and just about anywhere I’ve tried it. The folio provides screen protection without the need for another unused bag or case, keeping the setup minimal, and this portable monitor is easy to slip into a bag, backpack, or purse to take with you.
Plugable 15.6-inch Portable USB-C Monitor: Design and Build Quality
Specification
Screen size: 15.6 inches.
solve: 1920×1080@60Hz.
Panel type: IPS has LED backlight.
brightness: 300 nits.
port: 1 USB-C for host connection, 2 USB-C 10Gbps hub ports with pass-through charging
weight: 840 g (1.85 lb) with facing pages.
Perspective: Vertical and horizontal 178°.
The pluggable 15.6-inch portable USB-C monitor is extremely slim, portable, simple and durable. I’ve traveled with this monitor many times, some people put it in a backpack, others put it in a suitcase, it’s just that it’s so thin and light that I feel like it’s unsupportable, but every time I’m amazed at how durable it is.
In addition to being durable, it comes with valuable features you need and nothing you don’t. Featuring three high-speed USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, this portable monitor delivers up to 10Gbps data transfer and up to 100W PD (85W charging) to your laptop or other connected devices via TAA-compliant ports that are compatible with most USB-C ), USB4, Thunderbolt and USB-C cables. It also has an anti-glare screen, a crisp 300 nit IPS LED display, universal compatibility, and even playback protected content (HDCP) from streaming services, which some displays block.
Finally, the folio with this monitor can be used as a stand, meaning it is very small and requires no additional accessories to support the monitor.
Plugable 15.6-inch portable USB-C monitor: in use
Over the past few weeks, the pluggable 15.6-inch portable USB-C monitor has been a game-changer for me. It’s not the best in every area, but it’s phenomenal in most of the places that matter, which makes it suitable for just about everyone. To quickly list a few things it doesn’t have, there’s no VESA mounting option or any Magsafe or stand options even when the folio snaps into place, nor is this a high-resolution or high-brightness screen. Instead, it’s a 1920 x 1080 display with 300 nits of brightness, a few ports, and a split stand.
However, this works for me to extend my work to another screen almost anywhere. When another screen helps, whether I have a fancy home office, another monitor to plug in, or a suitable workspace, it helps me get more done. This monitor offers 85W charging, which is enough for even my 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro or most of my laptops. Also, if I need to charge other devices (like my laptop light bar mod), I can use the third port to charge (more on that later) or use the drive to transfer data, as long as whatever computer I’m using has USB- C, all of these will work, even on semi-new computers.
I added a few things to this monitor that take it to another level. Since I’ve been using it a lot over the past few months, especially while traveling or working away from my home office at night, I’ve been working a lot in the dark, either late at night or early in the morning. I don’t know about you, but the stark difference between a screen and a dark room sometimes makes my eyes really nervous, or if I’m referencing something else or something else around my workspace, or even a drink, I like to look at Looking at my workspace, if nothing else, helps me stay awake during those long nights.
So what I did was add the BenQ Laptop Light Bar to my portable monitor; that way, it acts as a single desktop setup that I can unplug my laptop and go wherever I might need to go , then immediately returns to the complete setup. I did this by adding MagSafe adhesive to the back of the monitor (specifically, it’s extra adhesive from the rolling square attachment on my laptop). The laptop light strip then magnetically sticks to it. Now, wherever I work, I have a replica of my complete desk setup in a detachable case that can easily fit in a backpack. I also added a right-angle adapter to the end of the USB-C cable to bring the laptop closer to the monitor and keep the cable out of the way, but that’s just a personal preference.
| property | notes | grade |
|---|---|---|
| design | great minimalist design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Material quality | High quality materials | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Easy to use | Easy to use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Practicality | Very suitable for most people | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| price | mid price | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Pluggable 15.6-inch Portable USB-C Monitor: The Final Verdict
A pluggable USB-C portable monitor is an excellent tool for professionals looking for an extra screen. Its premium build, IPS display, and seamless connectivity make it a valuable asset for productivity and on-the-go entertainment. While its brightness limits outdoor use and the resolution may not be the best choice for graphic designers or video editors, it’s still a solid choice for anyone who needs a versatile portable monitor.
For more display options, we looked at best business monitors.
