The Zissu’s Portable Monitor is a competitively priced USB-C monitor with a seemingly better design for professionals or gamers on the go. This category has seen an uptick in growth since flexibility is now a key requirement for workers who are not tied down to an office cubicle. The Zissu’s Portable Monitor at a glance is a more attractive option to alternatives with flip covers, but does it have the performance numbers to back that up?
Zissu’s Portable Monitor Specifications
- Screen Size: 14 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 220 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: No
- Connectivity: USB-C x 2, Mini HDMI x 1, 3.5mm jack.
- Dimensions With Stand(WxHxD):13.98″ x 8.74″ x .16″
- Weight: 1.70 lbs
Design and Features
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor looks identical to a tablet like all its competitors, but it’s more comparable to the Lenovo M14 when it comes to design. The product has a matte black chassis which is easy to clean so you can always maintain that new look. The display is bezel-free on thin sides, but you will still see panel borders when its in use.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor dimensions are modest and within a few millimeters of examples like the Auzai ME16Z01. However, it’s heavier by almost half a pound since it has a built-in stand instead of the usual flip-top cover. It adds more thickness to the lower part of the display, but it’s a negligible sacrifice even if you lose the protective cover since its more stable.
Build quality for the Zissu’s Portable Monitor is great since the chassis doesn’t feel flimsy while the stand’s hinges are smooth and solid. We didn’t notice any cosmetic defects on the monitor, and it is well-protected in the package. The seams are perfectly matched, so you won’t see gaps or sharp edges on the device even if it’s not from a top-end brand.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor uses a built-in flip stand instead of a folio-type cover which is both good and bad. It’s great because you don’t have to struggle with propping the display up and worrying that it will topple over. However, the folio cover would be useful to protect the screen from bumps and scratches, which is something Zissu’s failed to address in the package.
This mechanism gives you a bit of tilt adjustments which is limiting, but acceptable considering how portable monitors are used. You won’t need to buy a non-VESA clamp-type mount for this model if it is used as intended, although we can see it as a cheap secondary for desktop setups as well.
You will only find a soft cloth pouch and the cables necessary for the Zissu’s Portable Monitor, so the former is your only choice for protection. Some options now offer protective films with the package since its usually difficult to find an aftermarket option that fits perfectly.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor has two USB-C ports a mini HDMI slot, and a 3.5mm jack for your audio inputs. What’s brilliant about monitors like this is you can use it with a single USB-C cable that will draw power from your laptop while transmitting the display signal. You also have the option to plug it into a wall socket using the secondary USB-C port and use either the mini HDMI or the other USB-C receptacle.
It’s convenient that way, but we know many will prefer that the monitor doesn’t draw power from the laptop’s already limited battery. Some brands like Asus have options with built-in batteries, but they are heavier and they cost more. It is up to you how you can maximize the Zissu’s Portable Monitor, but it’s a good thing they designed options into it.
However, another annoying fact about Zissu’s Portable Monitor’s package is it doesn’t include a wall charger in the box. You’d have to find something suitable, but even your IPad or any tablet’s charger will do. You can also just plug in your laptop and use this monitor with a single USB-C cable just to keep it topped up, but it defeats the purpose of going with a portable if you are regularly stuck to a wall socket.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor does have speakers which is a nice touch for mobile gaming or movies. However, the sound quality is tinny or underpowered, and most built-ins on laptops will sound better and clearer. It’s great that its already included at the very low price point, but we reckon the pair won’t get much use due to its limitations.
Display and Performance
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor utilizes a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 30ms response time. The backlight is limited to 220 cd/m2, while the contrast ratio is listed at 800:1. This model also advertises HDR capabilities, but its specs will already tell you that it can only accept HDR signals and translate it as best it could with limited or no improvements at all.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor looks crisp and clean just like a laptop screen so seeing pixelation is less of a hassle. This makes it superb for all types of uses, including movies and document processing which won’t require scaling to make things legible. Placing it to the side of your laptop gives you the feel of an ultrawide since it extends your workspace horizontally, and we think that’s invaluable if you want to drastically hasten your workflow while on the go.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor promises accurate color coverage and HDR capabilities, but its 66% sRGB coverage is too narrow for the latter. Color accuracy is dismal at a DeltaE of 6.13 which is too high with noticeable errors in shades like red and yellow. The screen’s color temperature is quite warm, and there is little we could do about it since there aren’t a lot of options in the OSD.
Contrast is also limited to 650:1 at 30% brightness, but setting the screen that way would make it too dim for well-lit rooms or outdoor environments. Gamma sits closer to a 2.3 curve, so the screen can sometimes appear slightly darker in some cases. At least the screen’s matte AG coating fights off glare effectively, but it’s sometimes insufficient in compensating for the backlight’s limits.
Panel uniformity for the Zissu’s Portable Monitor is decent save for a minor leak at the right-hand side of the display. The adjacent quadrants are slightly affected, but it doesn’t skew the color uniformity too much to make a visible difference. Take note that this varies between every unit due to the nature of IPS tech and tolerances, so there are better or worse units out there.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor is poor at motion handling due to its very high response time. Games with action sequences can show noticeable blurring and ghosting, but casual titles from consoles like the switch won’t post a problem. We don’t consider this a negative for the product since portables aren’t really designed for gaming.
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor doesn’t support FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility, but that’s fair and acceptable since the intended users won’t get to utilize it anyway. Portable consoles like the Switch also cannot use it, so its pointless to add it to a product like this. We couldn’t measure and calculate input lag accurately, but the gadget feels comparable to a 10ms 60Hz monitor for your desktop.
Thoughts on the Zissu’s Portable Monitor
The Zissu’s Portable Monitor is a well-designed and attractive portable monitor that’s available at a very low price point. We like the metallic chassis and the flip-out stand which is considerably more stable and intuitive than the usual folio cover. The device is sleek and not too heavy so it will fit in any laptop bag, but the lack of screen protection might mean that you will scratch it at some point.
The physical features of the Zissu’s Portable Monitor are less of a concern since it’s a budget option. However, what’s most disappointing is the screen’s poor image quality which could be corrected right at the factory. The Zissu’s Portable Monitor is a cheap solution to extend your desktop space or your gaming experience while you are out and about, but it doesn’t provide the best possible imaging performance which matters to the discerning consumer.
Pros:
- Attractive Minimalist Design
- Slim and Lightweight
- USB-C Connectivity
- Easy to Use – Plug and Play
- Big and Clear Screen
- Affordable
Cons:
- Limited sRGB coverage and Contrast
- Poor Default Color Accuracy
- No Wall Adapter Included
- No Screen Protection Included
-About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
yufeifei says
Consider getting this monitor.
https://jp.kiperline.com/products/kl-skyline-gen-9-monitor
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Yufeifei! We’ll try to secure a sample, but no guarantees since its currently only available in the Japanese market. Cheers!