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Portable monitors are a pretty specialized kind of thing. After all, most people just manage with the inbuilt display on their laptop, and those who need more screen space usually just buy a traditional monitor that stays in one place.
With a few exceptions, it’s only those of us who travel a lot, work out of cafes and co-working spaces, or don’t have a dedicated computer desk at home that ever seriously look at buying a portable monitor.
They’re a tough product to get right, since they need to be small and light enough to travel with yet big enough to be useful, strong enough to handle being moved around all the time, and clear and bright enough to be usable in a range of conditions.
That’s a big ask, but even so, the increase in remote working and dropping cost of display panels has lead to a bit of an explosion of companies producing these kind of monitors in recent years.
A good example is Arzopa, a brand that only started in 2020, but that has quietly put out over half a dozen portable monitors since then, plus a few related products like digital photo frames.
Today I’m taking a look at the Z1RC, the company’s current flagshop model. The pricing seemed very reasonable, which either meant great value for money, or a low-quality device that I’d use briefly and then never touch again.
Only one way to find out!
What’s In the Box
Arzopa Z1RC portable monitor and the three cables it comes with
The Z1RC came in a compact, sturdy cardboard box with minimalist branding. Most of the space inside was taken up by the monitor itself, along with some basic instructions and three different types of cable that cover most scenarios:
USB C to USB C
HDMI to Mini HDMI
USB-A to USB C
There’s no power supply included, either built into the monitor or supplied separately. Depending on what you’re plugging it into, that may mean you need to provide your own. More on that below.
Design and Specifications
Power, OSD, and volume/brightness buttons on the side of the Arzopa Z1RC
This 16″ monitor has a native resolution of 2560×1600 pixels (2.5K), which is sensible for a monitor this size. It’s a fairly plain black rectangle, with a thicker bezel on the bottom and thinner ones on the other three sides.
At under 800g, the Z1RC is easy to pick up and hold in one hand. It feels well-made despite that low weight: there’s no flex in the alloy case, even when holding it by one of the short edges.
All of the ports and controls are along the left edge in landscape mode. Assuming you’re using a laptop, the supplied cables are long enough to easily reach those ports regardless of whether you prefer your second display on the left or right.
At the top there’s a power button, volume and brightness rocker, and a button to bring up the on-screen menu. The input ports are at the bottom: 2x USB C, and a Mini HDMI.
If you thought the front was plain, the rear is even more so: there’s nothing there except a specifications sticker and an adjustable stand that’s better than you’ll find on many portable monitors costing a lot more.
Rear view of the Arzopa Z1RC
The stand moves through 80 degrees and has just the right amount of firmness: easy to pull out and adjust, but staying put after that. I’d like it to be a little wider for extra stability, but so far it’s been absolutely fine, at least on solid tables and desks.
It’s not as good on softer surfaces like a sofa or bed, but let’s face it, how often are you actually going to be using it like that?
While most people will probably use the monitor in landscape mode, it comfortably sits vertically as well. It doesn’t auto-adjust its orientation when you rotate it, though, so you’ll need to do that through your OS display settings.
That’s mildly annoying if you’re switching back and forward all the time, but otherwise not a major issue.
There’s a pair of one-watt speakers built in, which is a nice touch and not one you always find in cheaper portable monitors. They’re plenty loud enough, but don’t expect miracles: bass, in particular, is noticeably lacking.