InnoView 15.6 Inch IPS Portable Monitor Expands Workspace Without Extra Bulk

A second screen can change how a laptop feels during long sessions of writing, spreadsheets, or video calls, and the InnoView 15.6 inch IPS portable monitor, priced at $49.99 (was $60), delivers that change in a package thin enough to slide beside a notebook in most bags. Measuring roughly a quarter-inch thick and weighing a couple of pounds with its included cover, the unit travels without demanding its own separate case or adding noticeable bulk to a daily carry. Once open, the matte IPS panel sits at 1920 by 1080 resolution with 178 degree viewing angles, so text stays readable and colors hold steady even when the screen sits off to one side of a laptop or leans back at an angle on a small table.

For the most part, connection options are straightforward for modern devices. You have two full-function USB-C ports that can connect to a laptop or tablet and also send video/power over a single cable if your laptop supports DisplayPort alt mode or Thunderbolt, which is extremely convenient because your laptop only powers the monitor while also sending the image, eliminating the need for an additional power brick. There’s also a standard HDMI port for consoles, older computers, or anything else that prefers to use a traditional cable, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to plug in your headphones when the dual built-in speakers aren’t cutting it, which they are for casual use, clear enough for calls, light background videos, or some music without muddying up your voice, but not too loud.

In regular use, the brightness ranges between 250 and 270 nits, which stands up well under normal indoor lighting and helps to reduce reflections to a minimum due to the matte texture. The contrast ratio is a respectable 1200 to 1, and the display covers roughly 80% of the sRGB gamut, so you get some good blacks and colors for documents, browsing, and casual media, and there’s even a low blue light mode to help reduce eye strain if you’re stuck in front of this thing for hours on end.

In terms of refresh rate, 60 hertz is more than enough for most applications, with the exception of high-end gaming, and it comes with a helpful protective cover that folds into a stand, allowing you to position the panel at a reasonable angle when on the go and protecting the glass when shipping it about. Assuming you set it to portrait mode, you can use it for long documents or reading code, and the good news is that most Windows, Mac, and mobile devices do not require drivers to function.

At a price that is frequently much lower than MSRP, the monitor can transform one laptop into a two-screen workspace that you can simply transport, store in a hotel room, or use on a shared desk. It’s compatible with a wide range of devices, including laptops, phones, tablets, consoles, the PlayStation, Xbox, and even the Nintendo Switch, so you can use the same display for work during the day and then turn up the visuals for gaming or streaming afterward. Given the small dimensions, dual connection choices, and protective cover that doubles as a stand, the entire set-up is rather portable.