![Lepow Portable Monitor Z1-Gamut Laptop Display 15.6'' FHD [Improved Color Gamut] IPS 1080P Ultra-Slim Type-C & HDMI Travel Monitor, Dual Speakers, Ideal for Laptops PCs Phones Switch PS4/3 Xbo](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gcIT7gfeL.__AC_SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
![Lepow Portable Monitor Z1-Gamut Laptop Display 15.6'' FHD [Improved Color Gamut] IPS 1080P Ultra-Slim Type-C & HDMI Travel Monitor, Dual Speakers, Ideal for Laptops PCs Phones Switch PS4/3 Xbo](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pPLZ0RSZL._SS75_.jpg)
I saw one one of the tech sites that there was a deal on this particular monitor, so I gave it a shot because the price was right and I can certainly find something to do with a decent monitor. After testing it out, I'd like to share my thoughts on it from the perspective of what it has to offer for its price rather than comparing it to any other monitor options we have available to us; it's not perfect, but it doesn't have to be because it's not particularly expensive and I think a product can be considered good if you're getting what you pay for.
So to start off, would I recommend this monitor? I think so, if you have a specific use for this particular type of display. This is not a desktop monitor that you'd leave hooked up to your gaming PC; it certainly is a fully-functional HDMI-equipped display, but you'd generally opt for a larger panel if you're staring at it all the time, watching videos, playing games, and so on, and you'd have a selection of higher resolutions and features like VRR/adaptive sync. This Lepow display is, as I see it, suited for two primary use cases: as a portable secondary display, and as a simple external display for a game console.
Let me elaborate: above I mentioned that this is "fully-functional, HDMI-equipped." That's because there are other portable monitor options that utilize DisplayLink, a solution that uses software rendering (i.e., not GPU-accelerated) and discrete hardware to create a video output over USB. You can find both docking stations that offer the video output in addition to audio, USB hubs, etc., and portable monitors that have DisplayLink built-in and just use 1 or 2 USB connectors straight to the PC. Those solutions have their place, but are limited by the USB connection (early ones were USB2) and lack of GPU acceleration, meaning they're best for desktop tasks (e.g. browsing, word processing,) maybe OK for video watching, and completely unsuited for gaming. This Lepow monitor is straight-up equivalent to plugging in literally any "regular" HDMI (or DP, for that matter,) display to a host device, be it a computer, game console, or home video equipment (cable/satellite/IPTV set-top box, DVD/BR player, etc.,) so that's why it's not quite in the same exact category as the generally cheaper, but less capable, and less compatible DisplayLink products.
That being said, I still think this type of monitor is primarily for use as a portable, secondary display rather than something I'd leave in a guest room hooked up to an STB or to a PC. This monitor would work well if you wanted to bring it along with an Xbox or Playstation on a trip, but especially a Nintendo Switch, which is far more portable and nowadays has multiple available portable dock solutions with video output. I personally have a few Switch-specific gear bags (backpack, messenger bag) that have laptop pockets that would perfectly accommodate a 15" display like this one. Alternately, you could use it as a second monitor with your laptop, especially if you travel for work, because multiple displays can absolutely increase productivity by giving you more screen real estate. As mentioned previously, any 15"+ laptop-capable carrying case should easily have space for this monitor, which is rather thin. So while you could absolutely use this monitor in a variety of other roles, I'm judging it based on how appropriate it is for the two scenarios described above, and I think it is absolutely well-suited for them, especially for the price.
So how about the physical presentation, fit & finish? More than adequate. The package is a sturdy white box containing the display, case/stand, screen protector, cables, and power adapter. The monitor seems well-constructed, with a main chassis that I think is matte plastic that is designed to have a metal appearance; it's nice enough, although it's mostly covered by the cover. The cover is one of those multi-fold tablet stand thingies; it folds over to protect the display and is sturdy enough, and then folds back to prop up the display at a couple different angles; it's not super-adjustable, but again, for the price it's acceptable. The flexible screen protector is a nice add-in but not all that necessary in my opinion, as it's not a touchscreen and I don't think you need to be incredibly concerned about protecting inexpensive displays. There's a USB C-to-C cable for the monitor's data/video connection, a USB C-to-A cable to go with the power adapter, and a mini-to-full HDMI cable. Somewhat unfortunately this monitor uses mini-HDMI, which works perfectly but most people probably have plenty of full-sized HDMI cables; this isn't really a huge deal, especially since the mini-HDMI cable is included (and there's another display output option) but it's a compromise that some people might not like, but I consider totally acceptable given the circumstances. Finally, the monitor does likely or certainly need a discrete power supply hence the included USB AC adapter, which should go without saying if you connect it via HDMI but may be a little disappointing if you expected it to get power over USB-C, but more on this below.
How does the display look? Quite acceptable. The resolution is FHD, which is fine for a 15" panel even though you can see the pixels if you look close enough. The brightness is fine for indoor use (although I haven't even tried using it outdoors.) The image quality is also, again, fine, although as other reviewers have mentioned, there does seem to be a bluish cast, which was more noticeable next to my laptop's mirrored display, but less noticeable on its own, and in any case perfectly fine for my stated use cases. If you were using this with a laptop for productivity, you'd want to use the laptop's own, preferably calibrated display for color accurate work, and this external monitor could display everything else.
The Lepow panel has speakers on each side, USB-C, HDMI, and a 3.5 mm audio jack on the left, and USB-C, a power button, power indicator, and toggle switch on the right. The speakers are what you'd consider typical laptop- or tablet-grade; not amazing, but passable when you don't need hi-fi audio to listen to music or movies. The toggle switch on the right is one of those "swivel in either direction, press in to select" types; it's a little flimsy, but does the job and you won't fiddle with it much anyways. The USB-C ports are the important parts here. The one on the left is fully-functional, the one on the right is for power only. This is where we'll get into the power delivery situation.
As described above, there are some DisplayLink monitors that get all their power from one or two USB connections (typically using a Y-cable, similar to some external drives.) Unfortunately this Lepow monitor doesn't appear to be able to draw enough power from a single USB-C connection to the host, which may be part of the monitor's design but also may be a function of compatibility with other devices; not every other device can offer up to 100 W the other way as specified in USB PD 2.0. This is also a compatibility concern regarding the video output topic, which will be elaborated upon below, but in brief, it's difficult to get a full listing of a device's power delivery and Alt-Mode capabilities; I'm still not even sure what power options and Alt-Modes the Chromebook I'm using supports, although it did otherwise work with this monitor. So anyways, what this means is that, unless other devices are indeed able to output enough power to drive the Lepow, you need to plug that right USB-C port into a power supply, either the included one or something else that can output 10 W. (And again, HDMI doesn't deliver power so if you were using that connection you'd still need an external power supply so the rest of this topic is a non-issue.) I was unable to drive the monitor with two USB-C-to-C cables plugged into each of the monitor's ports and both of my Chromebook's ports, which again isn't something that my Chromebook is necessarily capable of doing. I was able to power the monitor connected to the Chromebook's own supply instead...and the monitor passed power through to the Chromebook! This means that essentially, despite the perceived inconvenience of having two cables plugged into the monitor, you end up only needing that single cable from the monitor to power the PC, which is a nice advantage.
So we've touched upon this topic, but the Lepow monitor can get a video connection over USB-C instead of the mini-HDMI port. This is *not* related to the aforementioned DisplayLink technology, which again is a straight data connection over USB, using throughput that might be needed for other devices; rather, this is because USB 3.1 introduced Alternate Modes, which are other protocols routed over the USB-C connector (i.e. they aren't USB data links.) Practically speaking, there are 3 commonly used Alt Modes: Thunderbolt 3, which is *basically* PCIe (but admittedly is more complicated than that,) and HDMI and DisplayPort. The latter two are what are used to enable this type of portable display (although I've seen desktop monitors that use USB-C.) The confusion alluded to above is that devices, particularly laptops, don't generally advertise if they support HDMI, DP, or both Alt modes. Generally you can figure out if TB3 is there, and if the USB-C ports are data-only, power-only, or both, but I've had a very difficult time determining which video standard devices support, and that applies both to this monitor and the Chromebook I'm using it with. I can tell you that it absolutely works, which doesn't help you, the reader, in determining whether or not your device will also be compatible, but I would guess that the Lepow at least uses the HDMI Alt Mode since it also natively uses HDMI, and I have no idea if it also supports the DP Alt Mode as I don't have an output device that exclusively uses that interface.
So while I think I've forgotten a few things I intended to elaborate upon, I'll concede that I've rambled on for long enough. :) This is a nice portable monitor for its price, despite its imperfections. It's one that you should consider if you'd like a portable display for your Nintendo Switch, or a second display for your laptop during business trips.
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Customer Review: Easy to operate and good quality image
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Customer Review: A perfect alternate monitor for laptop
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Product Description
Lepow Business share screen
Lepow 15.6 Inch IPS Portable Portable Monitor
Easy Connection
The USB‑C/Mini HDMI port lets you connect the portable computer monitor with all kinds of devices, like a phone, PC, laptop or gaming consoles. You can also drag and drop files between the two devices, and edit them using the same keyboard. This cross-device collaboration makes life and work easier.
Portable monitor for laptop can be used in anywhere
Lepow USB C Portable Monitor
The portable monitor can be used in meeting sharing, as a phone extension, alternative to carplay in car, gaming play,etc.
What's more, two speakers offer a crystal-clear audio enjoyment when viewing videos and playing games. Also, you can use your own speaker for a better sound effect via 3. 5mm audio jack.
Quantum Dot Enhancement Film Technology with 72% NTSC
Brilliant Picture Quality
With its upgraded color gamut and brightness, Lepow 15.6 inch Full HD 1080P IPS screen delivers an unmatched visual experience that lets you see more details at a glance.
Lepow portable screen provides 1000:1 contrast ratio, 178° full vision angle lets your eyes maintain a constant focus across the entire screen, resulting in a more comfortable viewing experience.
Widely Compatibility
Smooth Gaming Monitor
Low input lag minimizes the delay between PS3/4, XBOX ONE or Switch, etc. input and Lepow external monitor response for a seamlessly smooth gaming experience.
Bring every frame alive, Restore ture color
Come with Accessories
Smart Cover Stand and Cable
The smart cover is an amazing companion for a portable monitor. It provides full-round protection for the device. And it can act as a supporting stand, you can adjust it to the perfect viewing angle.
Compare with similar items
This Item ![Lepow Portable Monitor Z1-Gamut Laptop Display 15.6'' FHD [Improved Color Gamut] IPS 1080P Ultra-Slim Type-C & HDMI Travel Monitor, Dual Speakers, Ideal for Laptops PCs Phones Switch PS4/3 Xbo](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pPLZ0RSZL._AC_.jpg) Lepow Portable Monitor Z1-Gamut Laptop Display 15.6'' FHD [Improved Color Gamut] IPS 1080P Ultra-Slim Type-C & HDMI Travel Monitor, Dual Speakers, Ideal for Laptops PCs Phones Switch PS4/3 Xbo |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | -22% $69.98 Typical: $89.98 | $99.99 | -5% $89.99 List: $94.99 | $207.99 | $499.99 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 21 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Picture quality | ||||||
| Brightness | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| For gaming | ||||||
| Screen quality | ||||||
| Sold By | — | MNN- | ReHisk Boston | Amazon.com | HALF TIME | Amazon.com |
| display size | 15.6 inches | 15.6 inches | 15.6 inches | 24 inches | 15.6 inches | 16 inches |
| resolution | 1920*1080 | FHD 1080p | FHD 1080p | FHD 1080p | FHD 1080p | 4K UHD 2160p |
| display technology | QLED | LCD | LCD | LED | — | LCD |
| hardware interface | mini hdmi, usb, hdmi, usb c | micro sdhc, microsd | hdmi, usb c | hdmi, usb c, displayport | usb, usb c | mini hdmi, usb c, 3 5 mm audio |
| viewing angle | 178 degrees | 178 degrees | 178 degrees | 178 degrees | — | 170 degrees |
| mounting type | Desk Mount | Desk Mount | Desk Mount | Desk Mount/Wall Mount | Tripod | Wall Mount |
Reviews with images
Great Value with Caveats
For the price ($170 after coupon and before tax), I'm very happy with the monitor.Build quality is great, and the monitor looks and feels refined. The monitor came bundled with a number of useful accessories (USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-A to USB-C cable and power adapter, HDMI to mini-HDMI cable, screen protector, and magnetic cover). Those accessories nicely complement the port selection (2 USB-C ports, mini-HDMI port, and 3.5mm audio jack).The monitor has been very easy-to-use with other compatible devices (note: not all USB-C devices or cables will work, so do your research). The monitor has been plug 'n play with both my Essential phone and my Dell XPS 13 (9360). I bought the monitor for use while traveling, and I'm happy to say I only need one compatible USB-C cable for both image transmission and power delivery. When connected to my desktop computer, I use the HDMI to mini-HDMI cable for the image and a USB-A to USB-C cable to power the monitor.Finally, I'll come to the negative portion of the review. I'm very skeptical of some of the specs for this monitor- particularly the brightness and color gamut. Compared to the other displays I use, the Lepow has a cooler, blue-ish color temperature. I've only calibrated it by eyeball, but I'd suspect actual measurements of the monitor's color accuracy would turn up poor results. I'm also skeptical that the colors would actually meet the 85% of the NTSC color gamut as advertised. Blacks are more a dark, dark gray than black, without calibrating the monitor in ways that further degrade the image quality. I don't think anyone is looking at using a cheap-ish portable monitor for professional graphics use, but if you are, definitely look elsewhere.My other monitors have stated brightness measurements of 350 or 400 nits. The Lepow is rated lower at 320 nits. To my eye, my other monitors can get much, much brighter to the point where I'm skeptical of the Lepow's stated brightness. Again, the Lepow is rated lower, and my eyeballing it is not at all scientific, but I'd guess it doesn't hit the specified brightness. In practice, I think the monitor is perfectly fine to use outside of very bright settings and is comparable to many laptops (e.g. I'd use the Lepow monitor in the same lighting situations as my XPS 13).Other than these issues with the monitor's color, I'm happy enough with the image quality. Viewing angles are consistent with specs and what you'd expect from an IPS panel. The matte display is not very reflective, and the image is sharp.I don't have much to say about the audio quality, as I've only used it briefly for the purpose of this review. Sound quality is poor, though consistent with laptop speakers. You're simply not going to get any sort of decent audio quality out of speakers in a portable monitor or laptop. That said, the speakers can work in a pinch.All in all, I considered giving this monitor 4 stars due to my skepticism of the color gamut, color accuracy, and brightness. That said, I decided to still give the monitor 5 stars due to the overall value of the entire package. In spite of the negatives in my review, I'm thrilled with my purchase, and I think the monitor is a great purchase at the price I paid.
Top reviews from other countries
JongHyun Choi
I got it in Canada earlier than I expected!
Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2021Sean Fernandez
Great for portable gaming on switch etc.
Reviewed in Australia on January 8, 2021
Sean Fernandez
Reviewed in Australia on January 8, 2021
Images in this review
