Are two screens one too many?

I'll be the first to say that I'm more excited by the prospect of dual-screen laptops and computers than foldable phones. However, the current crop of dual-screen laptops—like the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and Asus ZenBook Duo—are expensive and somewhat half-baked in terms of functionality and usability. If you want to experience this kind of increased productivity without breaking the bank, you might be better off with a dual-screen portable monitor. I've spent the last week testing the Acer PD163Q, a portable monitor that offers two 15.6-inch displays in a fairly compact form factor.

Acer's portable dual-screen monitor pairs with your great laptop to create a great remote productivity setup. The portable monitor's displays have a resolution of 1080p, 60Hz and connect with a single USB-C cable. That might not be perfect for color-accurate work or gaming, but it's more than adequate for basic productivity tasks. After trying out Acer's portable monitor extensively, I think it's a solid and fairly priced dual-screen solution. I'm just not sure I, or most people, really need three screens on the go.

About this review: For this review, Acer loaned us a portable dual monitor (PD163Q). The company had no influence on the article and did not see its content before publication.

Dual screen monitor

Acer PD163Q 15.6-inch FHD 1080p Foldable Portable Dual Screen Monitor

For those who need as much screen space as possible while on the go

330$ $350 Save $20

Acer's portable dual-screen monitor offers two 15.6-inch displays that you can connect to your laptop with a single USB-C cable. It's a relatively inexpensive way to effectively triple the screen real estate of your MacBook or Windows laptop. The 1080p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate aren't outstanding, but the 250 nit brightness is good enough and the whole package is great for productive work.

Per

• 1080p screen resolution and 60Hz refresh rate are solid for productive work
• You can connect the monitor to your device with a single cable
• It is relatively affordable for what it offers

Disadvantages

• The case seems to be extremely susceptible to fingerprints and scratches
• Initial setup can be difficult for people who are used to plug-and-play portable monitors
• The form factor may not offer enough value for the extra size

Prices, specifications and availability

Acer's Portable Dual Screen Monitor (PD163Q) costs $350 and is available on Acer's website and Amazon. At the time of writing, this monitor is discounted to $330 at both retailers. It uses USB-C and HDMI, which means it will work with most inputs, but you will need to install Mac or PC drivers to properly utilize both screens.

What I like

This display gives you the space, resolution and brightness to expand your workflow on the go

This portable monitor features two 15.6-inch displays, both IPS panels with 1080p resolution and 60Hz refresh rates. They use the 16:9 aspect ratio, which might seem a bit odd to people used to 16:10 laptops. In my experience, the Acer displays look better on Windows than on macOS, as the latter has issues scaling third-party displays. If you have a high-end laptop, you'll find that the 1080p resolution and/or low refresh rate are worse than your built-in panel. However, this dual-screen portable monitor is more about offering a larger and more versatile workspace than scoring points on the spec sheet.

A built-in stand protects the ports and buttons on Acer's portable monitor when it's stowed away. Once you pull it out, you can position this accessory in a variety of ways. You can use it in what I call “laptop mode,” where the bottom display lies completely flat on a surface. Or there's “book mode,” which lets you use the two screens vertically. My preferred use for these types of displays is “workstation mode,” where the two screens are stacked and raised horizontally for optimal viewing.

Acer's portable dual monitor is sleeker and more refined than competitors, such as the Jsaux FlipGo I reviewed earlier this year. However, the FlipGo has a higher peak brightness than the Acer equivalent, at 400 nits versus 250 nits. Thankfully, Acer's dual monitor is also easy to see outdoors.

It is a true one-cable solution

Acer gives you plenty of I/O options for the portable dual monitor, starting with two USB-C ports. With the right cable and hardware, a laptop can provide display inputs to the Acer monitor through a single cable. I used an M2 MacBook Air with a Thunderbolt 4 cable to connect to the Acer dual monitor, and it worked perfectly. At least after I installed the right drivers.

Normally, you would have to install drivers from a website to use a dual-screen monitor like this one from Acer. The company has taken a different approach here and instead loaded the drivers onto the monitor itself. It works like a USB drive and after you plug the monitor into your computer, the drivers will pop up for installation. DisplayLink Manager is not used, but Acer's drivers allow base model Macs to output to both monitors, bypassing the usual limitations.

What I don't like

I have some concerns about the durability of this portable monitor

Acer's portable dual monitor is almost a complete package and resembles a 16-inch laptop when closed. It's even less than an inch thick, making it easy to store. However, the fit and finish of the portable monitor could be improved. The stand could be sturdier and the build quality definitely needs improvement.

The device attracts fingerprints, and no matter how often you clean it, in no time there will be fingerprints all over it. More importantly, after a week of normal, careful use, I noticed a few light scratches. This is unusual for the products I test, and I suspect that the zippers on my laptop bag accidentally scraped some of the paint off the Acer portable monitor. Either way, the longevity of this device could be an issue.

I am not convinced about the portable dual monitor as a useful form factor for remote productivity

I own a Yoga Book 9i and absolutely love it, but for some reason I couldn't enjoy the dual portable monitors in the same way. For me, a second screen is absolutely crucial for productivity, but a third is almost redundant. While using the dual Acer portable monitor, I used my MacBook's display for my writing and photo editing work, the top Acer screen for research and note-taking, and the bottom one for trivial things like Slack.

This is not the fault of the Acer portable monitor, but perhaps a general problem of dual-screen portable monitors. The extra bulk from the extra screen may not be worth the larger screen area. I'm sure some will find a way to use all the space, but it's worth checking before buying if that's what you do.

Should you buy the Acer portable dual monitor?

You should buy the Acer Portable Dual Monitor if:

• You need to add two additional screens to your mobile workflow
• You want to connect a dual monitor to your laptop or desktop with a single cable
• You need a solution that is slim enough to fit in most laptop bags

You should NOT buy the Acer Portable Dual Monitor if:

• You are better off with a standard portable monitor with one screen
• You need a durable portable monitor that is better suited to the life of a digital nomad
• The price of over 300 USD is too high for an accessory

If you're new to the world of great portable monitors, jumping straight into a dual-screen model might not be the best idea. Instead, you might want to get a traditional model and see how it affects your workflow before buying a more expensive and bulky dual-screen portable monitor. However, if you're sure you'd benefit from more screen space, Acer's Dual Portable Monitor is a solid option for around $300.

Dual screen monitor

Acer PD163Q 15.6-inch FHD 1080p Foldable Portable Dual Screen Monitor

For those who need as much screen space as possible while on the go

330$ $350 Save $20

If you feel like you need two additional 15.6-inch displays to increase your remote productivity, Acer's portable dual-screen device meets those needs and more at a relatively affordable price.