I was sick of squinting at my laptop screen like some corporate gremlin, so I was desperately seeking a second display that wouldn’t cost me an arm, a leg, and my firstborn.
With this in mind, I came across the MNN portable monitor.
Here’s what happened next.
Update:
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First Impressions
When the package arrived, I half-expected a puff of disappointment to escape as I tore into the cardboard. Instead, I was greeted by a monitor so slim, it could’ve slipped into a manila envelope without breaking a sweat. “Alright, MNN,” I muttered, “you’ve got my attention.”
Unboxing this bad boy felt like unwrapping a tech burrito. The monitor itself was snugly nestled, flanked by an assortment of cables that would make a DJ jealous. HDMI, USB-C, power brick – gang’s all here. But let’s be real, if you’re buying this, you’re probably hoping to use that single USB-C cable for both power and display. Spoiler: it works, and it’s glorious.
As I freed the monitor from its packaging, I couldn’t help but marvel at its weight – or lack thereof. This thing is lighter than my regrets after a night of heavy drinking. It’s the kind of portable that makes you want to take it everywhere, like that one friend who’s always down for an adventure but never asks for gas money.
Setting it up was about as complex as making a peanut butter sandwich. Plug in, power on, boom – instant second screen. No software to install, no cryptic error messages, just pure, unadulterated display goodness. It felt almost too easy, like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop – but it didn’t.
The screen itself? Well, it’s no OLED masterpiece, but for the price, it’s like finding a Picasso at a yard sale. The colors pop without looking like a unicorn threw up on your desk, and the 1080p resolution is crisp enough to make your spreadsheets sing and your Netflix binges shine.
Key Features
Full HD IPS Display: This 1920×1080 IPS panel is the visual equivalent of a perfectly toasted marshmallow – crisp on the outside, smooth on the inside. The colors are vibrant enough to make your retinas do a happy dance, but not so oversaturated that you feel like you’re staring into the sun. The 178° viewing angle also means you can slouch in your chair like a proper desk jockey without losing picture quality.
Dual USB-C Ports: Remember the days of juggling more cables than a circus performer? The MNN says “no more!” with its dual USB-C ports. One cable for power AND display? It’s witchcraft, I tell you. Plug it into your laptop, and boom – instant second screen with no power brick required.
Ultra-Slim Design: At just 0.3 inches thick, it’s practically two-dimensional. You could slide this bad boy between the pages of a book and still have room for a bookmark. It’s the kind of portable that makes you want to work from coffee shops just to show it off. “Oh, this old thing? Just my second monitor that I casually carry around like it’s no big deal.” Prepare for envious glares from the laptop-only peasants.
Smart Cover Stand: Remember those slap bracelets from the 90s? This smart cover is like that, but actually useful. It’s a cover! It’s a stand! It’s… both! This origami-inspired piece of tech wizardry lets you prop up your monitor in portrait or landscape mode faster than you can say “ergonomic workspace.” It’s like yoga for your monitor, minus the uncomfortable stretching.
Multiple Display Modes: Copy mode, extended mode, second screen mode, portrait mode – this monitor has more modes than a teenager has mood swings.
Built-in Speakers: These speakers aren’t going to blow your socks off. They’re more like a gentle breeze that might ruffle your socks a bit. But for a quick YouTube video or a passive-aggressive email ping, they do the job. Think of them as the audio equivalent of a participation trophy – they’re there, and they’re trying their best.
Pros
Portability: This monitor is so lightweight and slim, it makes supermodels look bulky. Whether you’re hopping between coffee shops, crashing on a friend’s couch, or setting up a makeshift office in an airport bathroom (hey, no judgment), this monitor can handle it.
Plug and Play: Setting up this monitor is easier than making instant ramen. . Just plug it in, and voila! It’s like the tech gods heard our collective groans about complicated setups and said, “Fine, we’ll make it idiot-proof.”
Eye Candy on a Budget: For the price, the display quality is like finding a Gucci bag at a garage sale. It’s not going to make your OLED TV jealous, but it’ll make your Excel sheets look sexier than they have any right to be. The colors pop, the blacks are decent, and the overall image is crisp enough to make you question why you ever squinted at your laptop screen like a mole in sunlight.
Power Play: The ability to power this bad boy with just a USB-C cable from your laptop is nothing short of technological sorcery. It’s like finding out your car can run on hopes and dreams instead of gas.
Cons
Speaker Sadness: They’ll do in a pinch, but they’re more “meh” than “marvelous.” It’s like they’re there just to remind you that external speakers exist.
Stand Struggles: While the smart cover stand is clever, it’s not winning any stability contests. One enthusiastic desk bump, and your monitor might do an impromptu trust fall.
Glossy Screen Glare: The glossy screen is great for making colors pop, but it’s also fantastic at doubling as a mirror. In bright environments, you might find yourself staring at your own reflection more than your work. It’s like the monitor is constantly asking, “Who’s the fairest of them all?” Spoiler: it’s not your productivity.
Final Thoughts
For the digital nomads, the coffee shop warriors, and the “my apartment is too small for a proper desk” crowd, this monitor is a fantastic buy. It’s the kind of tool that makes you wonder how you ever lived without it, like smartphones or pants with stretchy waistbands.
But if you’re a color grading professional, a hardcore gamer looking for 144Hz refresh rates, or someone who thinks anything less than 4K is peasant vision, you might want to keep walking.
So, should you buy it? If you’ve ever found yourself hunched over a laptop, cursing the limitations of a single screen, then hell yes. Just don’t blame me when you start looking for excuses to whip out your second screen at every opportunity. Welcome to the dual-display life, friend. There’s no going back.
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