Multi-monitor setups are pretty common these days. In the past only certain professionals had any use for them, but now most people are using laptops; plugging in a larger additional screen when home is almost a requirement for comfortable productivity.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have that same additional desktop real estate when out and about with your MacBook? If you have one of the latest models of MacBook that sports a USB-C port or two, then you are in luck. There’s a new generation of USB portable monitors that take advantage of the speed and power the new USB standard provides. This means you don’t need additional power and there’s no lag or bandwidth issues to speak of. These new screens are incredibly thin and light. Usually it’s pretty easy to slip them into the same bag you use to carry your MacBook.
Before we go any further, you should know that recent iPad models with iPadOS can work as a touch-enabled additional USB screen. So if you own one of those iPad models with the “Sidecar” feature, you don’t really have a reason to buy one of these, unless you don’t want to lose the use of your iPad while using your MacBook.
With that public service announcement out of the way, let’s look at what’s on offer for space-starved road warriors.