I'm rounding up all the best Black Friday portable monitor deals right here.
My team and I review all the best portable monitors, exploring specs, screen, and picture quality. For me, the Arzopa S1 Table is the best Black Friday portable monitor deal I've seen so far - this 15.6in display is discounted in the US (here) and the UK (here), offering a FHD screen for well under $100.
Throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I'll be on hand, highlighting my favorite models and biggest discounts on portable displays for gaming, productivity, and more. For extra savings on the latest technology, don't forget to visit our Black Friday deals hub.
Recent updates
22/11: Prices checked and updated - I'm seeing a few portable monitor deals are now cheaper than they were yesterday - I'll continue monitoring to see if prices fall further ahead of Black Friday.
Top Black Friday portable monitor deals in the US
- Amazon: Portable monitors at under $200
- Best Buy: Portable monitor deals from $100
- Walmart: Cheap monitors starting at $40
- Arzopa S1 Table with stand: was $80 now $73 at Amazon
- Asus ZenScreen MB16ACE: was $210 now $193 at Best Buy
- InnoView 18.5-inch Portable Monitor: was $180 now $139 at Amazon
Top Black Friday portable monitor deals in the UK
- Amazon: Cheap portable monitors under £100
- Box: Save up to £106
- Currys: Portable monitor deals from £82
- Arzopa S1 Table: was £140 now £90 at Amazon
- Asus ZenScreen MB166C: was £169 now £105 at Currys
- MSI Pro MP161 E2: was £99 now £82 at Currys
Black Friday portable monitor deals: Buying advice
How can I find the best Black Friday portable monitor deals
If you want a portable monitor deal for Black Friday or Cyber Monday, there are some simple and effective rules that you can follow to ensure you get the best deals.
The first thing you should do? Plenty of research. There are loads of intriguing and effective portable monitor products around, but you'll need to know what you want to buy in advance so you can jump on deals as soon as they appear. If you want a portable monitor, you'll need to consider their screen sizes, connectivity options and attributes.
You've got to do your research on retailers, too. All the big retailers watch each other's prices and match as often as possible, so you're likely to get a good deal no matter where you shop. But plenty of retailers also offer free gifts, discounted delivery, and product bundles to get an edge over the competition. Discover this information early and you can get even better value. Also be aware that Amazon frequently shows a discounted price - alongside a coupon box with even more money off. Just remember to click the box to take advantage of these savings.
Be prepared to look for great deals right through the end of November to December. Cyber Week may usually hold the top portable monitor deals, but the discount season lasts for weeks. And, as ever, keep this page bookmarked for the latest information on all the best portable monitor discounts.
There are plenty of other tips to bear in mind when you head online. It's worth using sites like PriceRunner to see if products are genuinely available with good discounts, and you can also create alerts for discounts on many sites, so you'll get an email if prices plummet.
Create your online shopping accounts in advance so you'll be ready to buy as quickly as possible, and consider leaving your new hardware in the box after you buy - you could find it cheaper later in the shopping season and return the original product for a refund.
What kind of portable monitor should I buy on Black Friday?
Portable monitors have loads of different uses, so they're extremely versatile, but they have many key attributes that you'll need to know about before deciding which one to buy.
A portable monitor is the perfect option for adding a second display while you work on the move - if you work remotely, for instance, or if you hot-desk at the office. They can even add full-screen functionality to mobile devices like smartphones or tablets, and they're handy if you want a second display but don't have the room for a full-size monitor. The extra screen can dramatically improve your productivity and make your computing life easier, so it pays to get the right hardware.
First, consider the size of screen you need. You can find portable monitors that range in size from 11.6in and 13.3in right up to 15.6in and 17.3in. Portable panels generally mirror the size options you'll find on modern laptops, and you need to think about how and where you'll be using the display. You may have the space for something bigger than your notebook's screen, but you might need something smaller and more portable too.
Increased size will lead to increased weight and dimensions, too, so that's worth considering if you want something that's particularly portable.
The level of quality on offer from the display could be crucial. If you only plan to use the portable monitor for web-browsing, communication tools and running Office apps then you can afford to buy a cheaper display without great color or contrast performance. But if you want to run creative and color-sensitive tasks on your portable panel, you'll need to spend more for a display that can produce a broader range of accurate colors. If that ticks the box for you, then you'll need a pricier IPS panel or one of the brand-new OLED displays that are just beginning to appear.
Similarly, examine the display's resolution: a 1080p screen is fine for everyday work and mainstream creative tasks, but a 4K panel will always supply a crisper and more spacious experience. Also consider if you need a touchscreen or not.
If you're planning to use your portable monitor for gaming, too, then you'll also want to check out refresh rates - when milliseconds count, the higher the better (a 360Hz refresh rate is best, but 120Hz-144Hz will be fine for most gamers, too). If you're only using your second display for professional or personal use, then a 60Hz refresh rate will be absolutely grand.
Bear in mind which displays come with the best ergonomic stand options - the ability to adjust the panel's position and angle is a huge boon. Others can attach to the back of your laptop screen with magnets, so you'll only have to carry one device around. Also make sure that any potential portable panel has the right connections to fit your laptop, and make sure it's got a protective case.
