Screens are cheap these days. It's reflected in smartphones, TVs, and everything else around you. But one thing you might not think about when it comes to affordable screens is getting something completely portable for your other gadgets without spending a ton of money.
That's exactly what Auzai's portable monitor wants to be, however. For less than $200 you're getting a display that doesn't need a full wall outlet that you can connect to just about anything. Are good screens really that cheap, or is this a waste of time? Let's find out.
Design
It's hard to talk about the design of a screen because of how simplistic it tends to be, but there are still some aspects to be excited about here. Auzai has built an incredibly slim monitor, especially without its protective case. It's thickest at the bottom where it houses all the ports and components, but above that where it's the only screen? You'd almost confuse this thing for an OLED screen. It's about the size of three credit cards, which is pretty insane. Bezels are tiny, too, so you're getting the most of out that 15.6-inch screen without any wasted space, excluding the large logo at the bottom. Gotta put some under-the-hood hardware somewhere, though.
At the bottom left you'll find the toggles for controlling the monitor, including a power button/input selector, as well as a slider that turns the brightness up and down and selects different inputs in its respective menu. There's a 3.5mm output just below these for headphones or connecting your own sets of speakers.
The opposite side houses inputs and power connections. There are two USB-C ports (one for outputting video, one for powering the monitor) and a mini HDMI port. Depending on the device, though, you can fully power this monitor just from a single USB-C port. I was able to connect my OnePlus 8 and power the display and the phone, speakers and all, without needing any kind of wall outlet or battery. Fully portable bliss.
There's a protective case included that also doubles as a stand for the 15.6-inch display, which does the job. It feels like a really big tablet with everything's included, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Quality and portability
As I mentioned earlier, it's very easy to make this thing totally portable depending on your devices. A higher-end phone won't have any issues driving the display. I'm not sure what the exact power requirements are, but several of my portable batteries could juice this thing up, too. I'd imagine lots of computers and monitors put out enough power over USB-C to keep the lights on, too, making this a great work companion if you're trying to have extra screens on your laptop without needing to stay glued to the wall.
The quality of the screen is also much, much better than I'd expected. It's a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution screen that gets fairly bright, and that's already more than I was anticipating for something of this price and size. It won't blow you away next to a 4K laptop display, and several higher-end phones also get brighter, which does make a difference in outdoor situations, but overall? Man, this thing's impressive. You can adjust the contrast (which I didn't have to do) but the default settings really have a pop to the colors. The motion wasn't too blurry, and 1080p sits right on the edge of being a crisp resolution at this screen size. Obviously, it would've looked a bit better in a 13-inch size, but I think getting the extra screen size is worth it here.
I even tested the monitor with the Steam Link app on my phone to stream games to my OnePlus 8, mirrored to the display, with an Xbox One controller connected. Worked like a charm for portable gaming, although these situations will put a bigger drain on your phone's battery, so keep an extra battery around.
The speakers are probably the weakest link of the entire package. They're fairly tinny, and they don't get incredibly loud. They're fine, and it's pretty much exactly what I'd expect from a $200 monitor. If you're serious about good sound, you're going to want your own pair of headphones or some speakers that directly plugin at the bottom. Plan around your weaknesses.
Flexible and versatile
There's really a lot you can squeeze out of a monitor like this thanks to how flexible it is. Like we've mentioned earlier, this is an easy way to share videos and photos with a group or just to have a better screen to watch YouTube on your lunch breaks, and it's a no-brainer for anyone doing serious productivity work on your laptop during the day.
Going beyond that, though, you could easily set this up in a spare bedroom or in a DIY setup. You've got enough ports that anyone can plug their device into it, and Auzai is kind enough to throw in all the cables you'll need, plus the protective case and a screen protector for free to get you going right out of the box.
It's light enough at only about 1.4 pounds that you could mount this on the wall with very little effort (seriously, you could probably just use 3M Command strips) and get a Chromecast plugged in for an easy always-on display around the house. Looking to make a gaming corner? Sit this thing on top of an Xbox One or PlayStation 4 on a desk and you've got a tiny footprint with a monitor that's great for gaming and watching Netflix.
Worth it?
Personally, I think so, as long as it fits your needs. The MSRP on this monitor is around $220 but it pretty typically stays below $200, and that's a great price for how well this works.
Here's the catch, though; $200 will get you a 40″ TV if you're shopping around. A regular TV in this size will still be about half the price of what Auzai's asking, so if you just want screen real estate, you're not making out very well here, and you should keep that in mind. If you're always going to leave this on a desk, you have the extra space, and you want a bigger screen to work with, go get a cheap HP monitor or something. Duh.
But what you're paying for with the Auzai portable monitor is a convenience that you don't get from a clunky television or monitor, and you're not sacrificing much quality, either. Anyone trying to keep a light footprint or looking for that extra degree or portability for gaming sessions or productivity work should give this a serious look.
Auzai Portable Monitor | $179 | Amazon
