If you’re looking for a cheap portable monitor for travel, then I definitely recommend the AOC 16T35 for $60 (was $90) at Best Buy. This is a very limited-time deal though, which runs out soon.
We tested the AOC 16T3EA, which is identical in size, weight, and screen, awarding it 4.5 stars and a Highly Recommended badge in our review.
Now, the AOC 16T35 is a significant upgrade that’s actually cheaper to buy. Notably, it boasts two USB-C ports rather than one, an additional mini HDMI port and, addressing one of our issues with the stripped back version, it has built-in speakers. They’re not ultra loud, but I always find it’s better to have them if you’re just jumping on a quick video call.
Should you buy it?
✅ Buy the AOC 16T35 if…
You’re looking for a budget portable monitor that delivers a good display for office tasks. In our tests, we found it made viewing and editing business documents “absolutely superb.”
❌ Skip the AOC 16T35 if…
You’re a creator. While the FHD display makes it a great business companion, we found the limited color accuracy holds it back from being a recommended pick for creative professionals.
Why we recommend it
In our review, we called AOC’s portable screen “a solid, lightweight option for working on the move.” And that was for the pared back AOC 16T3EA.
This is a much better offer at a much better price. The AOC 16T35 increases USB-C ports from one to two, adds a mini HDMI, and includes built-in speakers. If you were choosing between the two, I wholeheartedly recommend the 16T35 model.
The portable monitor performed well in our tests particularly for business-oriented tasks like viewing PDFs, browsing, checking emails, and running office software.
We found it very easy to set up, and we appreciated the amount of control you have over the display in the OSD.
It’s not suitable for professional creative tasks, given the color accuracy – although, if you’re just using it to expand screen real estate while editing photos for your social media page, it’s more than suitable for that. Just don’t go using it for editing features or print-ready marketing materials.
In fact, in our testing, we specifically highlighted that: “Overall, the monitor performed well, with a clear display and a beautiful matte finish that made it ideal for office work and browsing the internet. In creative use, it was also a good option for palettes, as well as email, documents, and anything else that didn’t require absolute colour accuracy.”
Price Context & Historical Value
At $60, this sits firmly at the budget end of the best portable monitors we’ve tested. Considering what you get here – a second screen with three actually useful ports, a clever kickstand, and built-in speakers, this is an easy recommendation. A lot of cheap portable displays that hover around the $50-60 mark – particularly the non-branded ones – lack all of these features.
The Catch: What to know before you buy
Obviously I’ve mentioned the color accuracy issue already. But if that forms any part of your workflow, avoid this monitor. And look for one with a higher resolution, too – 2K should do nicely.
The other issue is the speakers. While I always appreciate them, it’s fair to say the ones equipped to the AOC 16T35 aren’t especially powerful. They’re fine for video calls or checking videos, but I’d recommend investing in a proper external speaker if you’re relying on audio in your job.
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