“If only my notebook could have a second screen!” ”, all laptop users have thought this at one time or another. They were heard by The Portable Monitor, which adds two screens to a notebook!
Until December 24, Clubic opens a sound box every day Advent calendar 2023 : the opportunity to discover unusual or practical gadgets, gift ideas for yourself and your loved ones.
Buy the Flex 14” from The Portable Monitor
Despite an Anglo-Saxon sounding name, The Portable Monitor is not an English or American company, but a Belgian one. Its creators have set themselves the objective of producing good quality monitors, pleasant to use and above all mobile.
The latest addition to the family, the Flex 14” ticks all these boxes and even has the luxury of adding two external screens. Better yet: if the notebook has a USB-C port delivering 15 Watts, only one cable is necessary to transmit the image and the power supply.
Three configurations
As its name suggests, the monitors fitted to Flex 14″ have a diagonal of… 14 inches. They are mounted on a gray aluminum chassis with an impeccable finish. They are folded on top of each other to form a compact block making them easier to transport. The whole thing then weighs only 1.9 kg.
The hinges connecting screens allow three configurations. The most obvious is the left and right positioning of the notebook screen using the integrated kickstand. More original, the formation of a triangle allows interlocutors seated on either side of the notebook to see the contents of its screen.
This can be useful for running a PowerPoint presentation, for example. It is displayed simultaneously on both screens, with the presenter using the computer screen to control its progress while seeing the accompanying notes.
It is finally possible to use only one screen in portrait mode. The second acts as a support while being protected by the chassis. This layout may be of interest to developers or document layout.
In order to be properly supported, Flex 14” requires the installation of a specific driver. Available under Windows, macOS and Android, it does not require any special settings, but allows the computer to recognize both screens.
Beautiful screens
We are not going to overwhelm you (too much) here with technical information, but just talk to you about the minimum subsistence level. First of all, is your notebook compatible with the Flex 14″?
Yes, if it has a USB-C port. In this case, a single cable is enough. If it only has USB 3.0 ports, chances are two cables will be needed. All of this is detailed on The Portable Monitor website: we cannot recommend enough to take a look!
To fit correctly between the two screens of the Flex 14″, the width of the notebook must not exceed 40 cm otherwise it will encroach on the interior border of the monitors. Concretely, laptops up to 17 inches do not pose a problem, as long as the screen borders are reasonable.
Compatibility with specific devices such as Microsoft Surface Pro or MacBooks with Silicon M1, M2 and M3 chips is ensured. This is not always the case with competitors.
Quite logically, the power consumption of the Flex 14” has a significant impact on autonomy. Depending on the model, it decreases by 30% to 50%. We will therefore not hesitate to take the electric charger with you.
Each screen has a Full HD panel displaying 1920 x 1080 pixels in 16 million shades. The refresh rate is 60 Hz and the brightness is 300 cd/m2: enough to work comfortably in daylight.
Please note that the tiles have a matte finish, which avoids unwanted reflections. The image quality is good and can be adjusted using the OSD menu on each screen.
Lightweight, well designed and efficient, the Flex 14″ is one of those peripherals that becomes essential after you have used them for a few days. Its portability and design make it a product that you will not hesitate to take with you when traveling or visiting a client. Sold for around 400 euros, the Flex 14” is an investment that in our opinion quickly pays off!
Buy the Flex 14” from The Portable Monitor
Or…
By searching a little on the Web, you can easily find competing models for a sometimes lower price. However, they do not have all the attributes of the Flex 14” and in particular the use of a single cable for the two monitors. They are often smaller but can do the trick on a tight budget.
Find our selection of the Advent Calendar!
For the fifth year in a row, Clubic offers you an Advent calendar unlike any other. We have selected for you original, innovative or not always well-known products. While some are unusual and expensive, others are much more affordable while remaining original. In short, there is something for everyone.
All the products we present to you have passed through our hands. And when we say all, that’s really the case… even for those who benefit from sponsorship. If we recommend them to you, it’s because we liked them.
And for more unusual gift ideas, we remind you that the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Advent calendars are still online!
And for more unusual gift ideas, we remind you that the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Advent calendars are still online!
- 1er December: Fujifilm’s INSTAX PAL is not really a camera like any other. We tried it and we liked it… so we present it to you.
- December 2: Despite appearances, the QuietOn 3.1 are not headphones, but formidable noise attenuators. We tested them for a few months…
- December 3: We have selected for you four LEGO sets for adults that we particularly liked throughout the year.
- December 4: Give your home Wi-Fi a facelift with devolo repeaters.
- December 5: A simple game controller for smartphones, the Backbone One? Not really, its companion application offers interesting possibilities…
- December 6: The HOVERAir X1 is a fully automated flying camera capable of following you on your adventures.
- December 7: Do you like real toast? So Toasty One from Tineco is made for you… but not for your banker.
- December 8: Razer’s BlackWidow V4 Pro is the ultimate keyboard for gamers. We loved it!
- December 9: The Polaroid I-2 is not the easiest instant camera to use… and that’s a good thing!
- December 10: We have selected two remarkable speakers for you: one is mobile, the other is not.
- December 11: What if you pampered your iPhone a little? We have selected three original accessories for you.
- December 12: Razer’s DeathAdder V2 Pro is surely the most powerful mouse for gaming!
- December 13: Between an e-reader and a tablet, the Kobo Elipsa 2E is intended for anyone who takes notes.
- December 14: Razer’s Blackshark V2 Pro (2023) headset is designed for team gaming… but not only that!
- December 15: The Nebula Capsule 3 Laser portable video projector has many advantages to highlight.
- December 16: The Teufel Radio One is a clock radio unlike any other… and we loved it!
- December 17: The investigation games from the Bordeaux startup Détective Box are captivating and Machiavellian. It’s hard not to appreciate them!
- December 18: Designed by Lunii, Ma Fabrique à Histoire and FLAM should delight children… and parents!
- December 19: Strong’s SRT-420 is closer to a media player than a simple TV decoder. Plus a very low price.
This article contains affiliate links, which means a commission may be paid to Clubic. The prices mentioned are subject to change.
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