The best portable monitors for gaming 2023

The best portable monitor is going to set free your gaming experience. Whether you're planning on travelling or often find yourself barred from the main living room TV, mobile screens can keep you playing games regardless. Smaller, thinner panels have also come along way in the past few years, as we're seeing specs that put some full sized desktop displays to shame, especially when it comes to refresh rate.

Normally, portable displays aren’t a match for the best gaming monitor, as most manufacturers trade away specs to keep things trim. The keyword here is most, as there are screens with a wafer-thin body, a built in battery and that can 4K 120Hz capabilities. Sure, you’ll probably need stay near a power outlet if you pushing specs to their limit, but being able to potentially match your at-home display setup is a pretty neat party trick. Plus, the best gaming handheld contenders out there aren't as demanding as a PC or new-gen console, so they tend to pair pretty nicely with the reduced specs portable panels can offer.

So, if you're in need of a screen you can easily take with you, we're here to help you find the best portable monitor for gaming possible. Our picks cover a wide range of price points, meaning you'll be able to pick up something that'll suit your budget. We've also got a few options that ditch a built in batter, as some of you out there might be happy to save money by using your own power bank.

The quick list

The best portable monitor for gaming overall

Arguably the current daddy of portable gaming monitors, both in terms of stature and price, the Asus ROG Strix XG17 clocks in at 17 inches and around $600 / £600 depending on the configuration.

As standard, it’s a 1080p IPS display cranking out up to 240Hz refresh and comes with a tablet-style folding stand. For a little extra cash, you can have a folding tripod stand that allows for a full range of adjustability.

It’s pretty beefy at over a kilo for the display, to which you can add another 0.65kg for the optional tripod. But then it is 17 inches and sports a 7800mAh battery. That allows for up to 3.5 hours of mains-free use, though the display can also be powered over USB-C. In terms of video inputs, it’s USB-C or HDMI.

It’s a quality bit of kit with a metal chassis, 3ms response, wide color gamut coverage, a gaming-friendly 1080p native resolution, and a full range of OSD menu options including pixel overdrive settings. Unless you want to go 4K or need HDR support, this is probably as good as portable gaming panels get.

The best budget portable monitor for gaming

Portable monitors can cost a pretty penny, but Verbatim's Portable Touchscreen Monitor manages to offer great features for less. 

It's worth noting this screen lacks a built in battery, and that may matter if you're looking for a completely untethered experience. However, if you hook it up to your own battery bank, you'll be able to pair it with the best gaming handhelds out there and benefit from features like HDR and touchscreen support. Depending on what you're using it for, trading away an integrated battery for those traits is more than worthwhile, not to mention it helps cut cost.

In terms of design, Verbatim's monitor is clad with a metal shell, and it's pretty thin even by portable monitor standards. One of its stand out elements is the fact it has a kickstand built in, so you won't have to use any dual-use cases to prop it up on a desk.

We tested the Verbatim Portable Touchscreen Monitor using laptops and handhelds like the Steam Deck, and for the price, it performed admirably. 15.6 inches is arguably the perfect size for a 1080p screen, and we didn't notice any particularly soft visuals as a result of sits resolution. Even PS5 gameplay looks pretty decent on this screen, which is a feat given that we normally use a 4K panel with our new gen consoles.

Your mileage may vary when it comes to price, but you should be able to snag one of these monitors for under (or just over) the $200 mark in the US. If you're in the UK, you'll easily find it for under £200, and it's a fantastic option for the money.

The best high refresh rate portable monitor

G-Story is rapidly carving out a niche as a leading maker of portable monitors. The G-Story GSV56QM is probably its most appealing all-rounder with a 15.6-inch form factor, IPS panel, 1ms response, HDR support and both 165Hz refresh and both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync support. This gives it a great gaming edge, but also means it appeals for a whole range of uses beyond, too.

When it comes to both high refresh and adaptive sync, remember that currently these are PC-only as opposed to console features, though next-gen consoles will add compatibility soon.

Also note that with a peak brightness of 300cd/m2 and no local dimming capabilities, this is not a true HDR display, more a monitor that can process HDR content. Inputs are via a pair of USB Type-C ports and a single HDMI socket and it comes complete with an integrated stand that can be adjusted across a wide range and a soft carry case to protect the panel on the go.

The best 4K portable monitor for gaming

If your hellbent on playing at 4K no matter where you are, the ViewSonic VX1655-4K will see you right. You'll pay extra for a UHD panel, but the package doesn't skimp on build quality and features to make room for its high resolution.

Kitted out with the usual USB-C and HDMI ports, you'll be able to easily hook this screen up to anything that can handle 4K visuals. Whether you've got one of the best gaming laptops around or you just fancy torturing your Steam Deck, proper UHD visuals are on the menu with this display.

Aesthetically, the ViewSonic VX1655-4K is a bit conservative, which will suit some of you out there that aren't into gamer vibes. That said, it cleverly uses its back IO block as a stick stand, meaning the extra bulk at the back serves more than one purpose.

Naturally, you'll be capped at 60Hz using this 4K monitor, but that's not going to matter so much if you're not into shooters (or lack a decent GPU). Response times aren't abysmal, but you might also want to curb your expectations if you're used to speedy desktop screens.

We'll eventually see cheaper (and better) 4K screens hit the marker as the technology matures. For the time being, the ViewSonic VX1655-4K is a reliable way to take UHD visuals with you on the go, and we'd pick this model over various no-name brands out there.

The best touchscreen portable monitor for gaming

If picking up a touchscreen is a portable monitor priority, you'll want to head straight to the Asus Zenscreen. 

This 10-point touch panel is naturally going to appeal to those of you who are productive during the day, serving as a more intuitive way to interact with PC apps and programs. However, there are surprising gaming benefits tied to this office feeling screen, as operating systems like SteamOS feel natural on a touchscreen.

When it comes to looks, the Asus Zenscreen is extremely subtle. Bringing it into the office isn't going to serve as a distraction, and it effetely looks like the top part of a laptop. That's not a bad thing depending on your environment of choice, not to mention it's an appropriate look for a monitor that sticks to 1080p 60Hz.

One of the more unique traits tied to the Asus Zenscreen is its tripod support, as you can attach a stand to give it a more conventional desktop look. That could come in handy if you want to switch from using it out and about to at your desk, as it'll help you align it with your desk-bound screens. 

If you know for a fact you'll never touch this screen to navigate through anything, then you might want to look at traditional options instead. However, if you'll be using your fingers more than a controller or mouse, then this is the monitor we'd reccomend.

The best multi-use portable monitor for gaming

The AOC 16T2 portable monitor is based around a 15.6-inch IPS screen with added multi-touch capability, and is a worthy contender is the best portable monitor conversation given its qualities and who it's made by.

Connectivity options include HDMI and USB-C, the latter via a pair of ports either side of the chassis for maximum flexibility. It’s also the USB-C interface that’s required to enable the 10-point capacitive multi-touch functionality.

An onboard 8,000mAh battery is built into the slim chassis, contributing to a surprisingly hefty 0.99kg kerbweight. That said, bi-directional charging means this screen can double as a power brick, so you’ll have more than one reason to throw this screen in your bag. AOC reckons it stores enough charge to rejuice a typical smartphone twice. AOC also bundles both a magnetic clip-on stand similar to those often used with tablet computers and a 100mm by 100mm VESA bracket. So, fixed and portable installation options are well covered. 

As for image quality, think entry-level IPS panel and you’ve got the idea. While the colours are decent and viewing angles good, at 250 nits, it’s not the brightest monitor dans le monde. Nor is it a great choice for esports addicts with its 60Hz refresh and a whiff of discernible latency. But as an allrounder to add multi-monitor support on the move or to combine with a console for maximum portability, the AOC 16T2 has plenty going for it.

Best portable monitor: FAQs

How we test portable monitors at GamesRadar+

Just like with stationary screens, we spend hours testing portable monitors, but there a few key differences involved. For example, if a display has a built in battery, we add in additional benchmarks to assess longevity and capacity, as both become vital when cutting the cord.

Of course, we also check each portable monitor's specs, design, features, and performance too, and all four traits help decide whether we should recommend a display. To do this, we typically use the panel as our daily driver by playing the latest games, which enables us to push a screen's resolution and refresh capabilities to their limit. In turn, this also let's us assess other qualities like contrast, color, and brightness, all while seeing how it brings console and PC games to life.

For more information, you can read more on How we test monitors at GamesRadar+ here, and for an overview of our approach to gaming tech then you can check out our full Hardware Policy. 

If you're looking for something TV-shaped and specialist, then check out our best TV for PS5 ad Xbox Series X, best OLED TV, and best 120Hz 4K TV guides.