This is a review of two monitors:
MNN Portable Monitor 15.6inch FHD 1080P (no model number listed) M156F01 is marked on the box
Arzopa Portable Monitor, 15.6'' 1080P model number: “S1 Table”
I ordered the Arzopa monitor first, as kind of an impulse buy. I was going to be traveling and wanted to take my mini Ryzen 9 PC with me, but it had no monitor. I found the Arzopa monitor had good reviews and the price was right so I ordered. Then later I discovered it was a MATTE panel. I’m not sure how I missed that earlier, but I would NOT have ordered it if I knew that it was matte.
Matte finishes on monitors are supposed to be easier on eyes as the matte surface supposedly reduces glare. But in my experience, there is a problem with this feature. First, any monitor positioned properly should never have a problem with glare. For example, you don’t position a monitor facing a large window or another source of strong light. If your monitor is positioned correctly, glare should not be a possible problem to be solved. Second, the matte finish on most monitors I have seen tends to greatly distort the picture quality. Imagine you are standing outside at noon, but the area you are in is foggy. The view you have of your surroundings (through a light fog) is similar to the picture quality of any matte finish monitor. At least, in my experience.
I was sitting in front of my two large (not portable) monitors, thinking about the mistake I made in ordering a matte finish portable monitor. And I realized…I was so used to using dual monitors that I would really want two monitors for travel, also.
I read some reviews of the MNN monitor and someone described it as a GLOSSY panel. Perfect. I decided to order the MNN to use as my “primary” travel monitor with the Arzopa to be used as my “second” monitor for a dual monitor setup while traveling. That led to mistake number 2. They are both matte finish. When I realized this, they had both shipped. And they were delivered very quickly , both arriving on the same day.
I decided to give these monitors a try, and I’m glad I did. While they are both described officially as “matte”, the picture qualify is closer to what I would expect from a true “glossy” surface computer monitor. And they both have much more than acceptable image quality.
So to compare them:
FEATURES:
Their features are identical other than their physical controls. For adjusting these monitors, there is a difference between them, and I PREFER one over the other, as far as controls go.
Arzopa has multi-function push buttons on the left to adjust settings like brightness/contrast.
MNN has push-buttons and a teeny tiny joystick on the right to adjust settings like brightness/contrast. I think this is an odd design decision for a -portable- monitor.
The Arzopa controls are both more intuitive and (I believe) probably more sturdy / more likely to be reliable over time. We’ll see if the tiny joystick of the MNN survives a few trips bouncing around in my checked bags.
DISPLAY QUALITY
I was very pleasantly surprised by the image quality of both of these monitors. I would rate them both a solid 9/10 on image quality. I’ve seen better, but only with OLED panels. Between the two if I had to pick a winner for image quality it would be the MNN. But the difference is so slight. I think they both deserve a “9”. While I can tell they are both matte (and I do not like that) the matte finish of these monitors is not as “foggy” as most matte monitors. It’s not matte enough to detract from the overall image quality, which is great.
The factory settings of both monitors had the brightness (black lefel) set too high. Brightness is what controls how “black” black items will appear. If the Brightness is set too high, then something which should be color black will appear to be gray or (worse) even light gray. After I turned down the brightness a bit on both monitors, the black level of both was very satisfying.
Speakers: I would never try to use speakers on a portable monitor, so I can’t comment on this. I don’t think the Arzopa even has speakers, but it doesn’t matter, as I would not use those.
STAND:
They have virtually identical magnetically attached pleather stands that can be used to support the monitors in vertical or horizontal orientation. The magnets on both are pretty weak. However, it should be adequate for use on a solid desk or table. You might not be happy on an airplane if you hit turbulence at all.
Summary and suggestion for improvement:
I would give both of these a 4-star rating on the Amazon scale. To earn a 5-star rating I would suggest:
1) Replace the magnetic stand with something that attaches to the monitor more firmly.
2) Include a USB-C cable with a right-angle connector on one end. For dual monitor use, these both have cables sticking out the left side. If you want to set them side by side, you need to keep them about 2” apart, because the cables interfere with setting them close together, like you want to. The most obvious solution would be a right-angle USB-C cable. I have ordered one. But it would cost nothing for Arzopa and MNN to include this.
3) Make the above changes without increasing the price. If you could do that, I would rate these monitors a solid 5/5. There are better monitors for sale. But for the stated purpose and price? These are close to what I would want. Very close.
FINAL THOUGHT: (Which One Should I Buy?)
There are many portable monitors available with plenty of options in the same relative price range. The two I am reviewing here are a couple of the most highly rated. If you are trying to choose between these two specific monitors, I would recommend you buy the Arzopa. While the MNN has slightly better image quality, they both have really good image quality. I think the design of the Arzopa is just a bit more appropriate for the stated purpose of being portable. If you are leaning toward the MNN however, I would not discourage you from buying it. If you’ve narrowed down your decision to these two specific monitors, I don’t think you can possibly choose “wrong” if you buy only one of them. They both exceeded my expectations.
