Inspiration doesn’t strike while we sit at a desk. For the 21st century designer and digital artist, it’s just as likely to come at a café, on a flight, or in a client’s office. The problem is that working on the go can often mean restricted screen space. Splitting your attention between reference images, brushes, palettes, and a busy canvas all on your laptop’s single display can feel like painting a mural through a keyhole.
Enter the portable monitor. Thin, light, and designed to extend your workspace anywhere, these devices have become a favorite tool for creatives who don’t want to sacrifice between flexibility and productivity. With so many on the market today, though, which portable monitors for graphic designers and artists are truly worth using?
In this article, we’ll cover the best portable monitors for graphic design and art, compare some of the top brands in the space, and explain why UPERFECT’s dual screen designs are gaining a following with the creative crowd.
Why Portable Monitors are Essential for Designers
To a layperson, a second screen may sound like a luxury. For an artist, however, it’s a must-have. Creative software rarely simplifies complex tasks—consider Photoshop, Illustrator, or Blender, with their layers upon layers, sidebars, dropdowns, and reference windows. Extra space means you can dedicate one screen to your primary artwork and the other to tools, layers, or live previews.
Portable monitors bring this benefit to the road. These small and light devices are thin enough to slip in a bag and light enough not to feel burdensome. Some connect through a single USB-C cable and all fold or roll into compact packages. Unlike bulky desktop monitors, they aren’t homebound.
Of course, not all portable monitors are created equal. Designers and artists need certain features more than others:
Color accuracy: At least 100% sRGB support, wide color gamuts, and calibration support are key.
Resolution: Full HD works for some, but 2K or 4K panels will show more detail in images and drawings.
Brightness, panel, and viewing angles: IPS or OLED panels with decent brightness ensure sharp contrast and consistent angles.
Form factor: A sturdier stand, foldable screen cover, or multi-screen design all add practical value.
Armed with these criteria, let’s examine the brands currently rising to the challenge.
ASUS ProArt: For Color Purists
ASUS has long been a professional mainstay for any creative work, and their ProArt portable monitor series is no exception. Curated for artists and designers, this line is precision-made to deliver the color accuracy, resolution, and convenience needed on the road.
ASUS ProArt PA148CTV, for example, is a 14-inch portable monitor that delivers far more than its size suggests. Factory calibrated with 100% sRGB and Rec.709 color accuracy, its Delta E is less than 2. In practice, this means the color you see onscreen is the same color you get—whether you’re editing branding assets, layout designs, or digital illustrations.
For an even larger screen with greater detail, the ASUS ProArt PA169CDV is worth looking at. This 15.6-inch 4K UHD portable monitor not only has excellent color accuracy but also supports a Wacom EMR pen. Simply put, this means you can sketch directly on the screen with the same fluid feel as a drawing tablet. For artists that want a monitor that doubles as a portable digital canvas, it’s a game-changer.
ASUS excels in high fidelity and reliability, but their prices tend to reflect this. If you’re a creative that values color above all else, they’re an ideal choice.
Lenovo ThinkVision: Sleek and Streamlined
Lightweight, ultra-thin, and driven by USB-C, Lenovo’s ThinkVision M14 series has also won a following among road-weary professionals.
The M14t variant ups the ante by incorporating touch capabilities as well. This makes it more than just a portable monitor but a versatile device for annotating designs, sketching ideas, or intuitively navigating software interfaces. While its color accuracy isn’t at ASUS’s ProArt level, it makes up for it in portability and overall value, making it a solid pick for artists on the move.
UPERFECT: Portable by Design
UPERFECT is the rising star of portable monitors, and for good reason. While ASUS and Lenovo deliver on precision and sleekness, UPERFECT opts for a different route—innovation through versatility. Their folding portable monitors and dual-screen setups especially appeal to designers and creatives craving both more workspace and less to carry.
Take, for instance, the UPERFECT Delta Folding Monitor. Opening into two 15.6-inch displays, it functions as a dual monitor setup that folds into a single portable unit. You can open the display to work on your primary illustration while keeping all your color palettes, reference boards, side chats, or design layers on the other. For multitasking creatives, it’s like unfolding a mobile studio onto any desk.
Thoughtful touches like sturdy hinges with flexible viewing angles and USB-C/Mini-HDMI connectivity round out the design. Despite having two screens, it folds flat for packing and storage, nesting nicely into a laptop bag.
Artists that have used UPERFECT’s folding monitors on projects and presentations especially love its size. Instead of hovering around one person at a laptop, you can unfurl your display across both screens for easier visibility. Whether you’re pitching a portfolio or explaining a design mockup to a client, the extra space is a game-changer.
UPERFECT may not have ASUS-level brand recognition, but for artists that need maximum space and flexibility in a portable package, their dual screen innovation is hard to beat.
SideTrak and Other Small Makers
Another portable monitor that may catch the eye of creatives is SideTrak. These are attachable portable monitors that clip to your laptop, sliding out like a drawer. While they don’t focus on color accuracy like ASUS or UPERFECT, they’re extremely convenient for on-the-go productivity. Designers that need a portable solution for email, secondary reference images, or productivity tasks may want to give them a look.
Similarly, budget-friendly portable monitors from Lepow, Arzopa, and EVICIV are some of the best entry-level options for students or freelancers needing extra workspace. While they may not meet professional-level color accuracy requirements, they’re also surprisingly useful for digital sketching, presentations, or web design.
Which Portable Monitor is Best for Graphic Designers and Artists?
With so many portable monitors for designers on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones to look at. It comes down to your specific needs and workflow as a creative:
- If you’re a color perfectionist that needs studio-grade accuracy for print, branding, or photo work, ASUS ProArt monitors should be at the top of your list.
- If you’re a frequent traveler who prioritizes lightness and simplicity, Lenovo ThinkVision portable monitors are a reliable option.
- If you’re a multitasking creative who thrives on more workspace, UPERFECT’s portable dual monitor and Folding-screen designs expand your potential anywhere.
- If you’re on a tight budget, entry-level monitors from Lepow, Arzopa, and EVICIV will still give you that extra space for creative tasks.
Final Words
The best portable monitor for a graphic designer or artist isn’t just one that has the best specs—it’s one that seamlessly integrates into your life. For some creatives, that’s studio-grade color precision; for others, maximum portability and convenience; and for others, it’s the expansive feeling of dual screens on the go.
UPERFECT’s folding portable dual screen monitor, in particular, represents an evolution in how creatives view portable workspaces. They offer a unique balance of practicality and innovation, allowing you to turn any location into a fully functional studio space. Whether you’re fine-tuning a logo, sketching storyboards, or presenting a portfolio, that additional room can make all the difference.
Creativity deserves space to breathe. With the right portable monitor by your side, you can never feel cramped or limited by a single laptop screen ever again.
