22-Inch Portable Monitors Under $400: Best Budget Picks for 2025
Portable monitors have become increasingly popular with the shift towards remote work, cloud-based apps, and on-the-go productivity, but the landscape is changing, and there’s now a large selection of affordable 22-inch portable monitors. Balancing large-format display advantages with light, portable design is no longer a tradeoff, and in 2025, the best 22 inch portable monitors under $400 are outperforming traditional ultrawide monitors that cost twice as much. In this article, we will cover the 22-inch portable monitor category in more detail, discuss its key benefits, and highlight the best picks.
Why Pick a 22-Inch Portable Monitor Instead of a Smaller Model?
As is the case with desktop monitors, the majority of portable options remain in the 13-17″ range, making them perfect for adding a second screen in tight office setups and providing great portability to fit in the smallest of bags. However, when 22-inch portable monitors first appeared on the market, they felt like an oddball choice that often sacrificed either high resolution or extensive connectivity in exchange for extreme portability. With 2025 being a perfect example of that category maturing, the latest 22-inch portable models are superior to their predecessors, offering a great balance between all the features and benefits users care about most. ergonomic chair
A 22 inch monitor is the perfect compromise between small mobile displays and bulky large desktop monitors, as it:
Provides a Desktop-Like Screen Real Estate
The modern 22 inch monitor is a dream come true for dual monitor office setups as it can often double the user’s screen space and offers very similar usability to a traditional desktop setup.
Enhances Multitasking and Cross-App Productivity
Being able to open two apps or documents side by side and easily switch between them is invaluable for productivity, and 22-inch portable monitors offer that with excellent freedom to set up the working environment.
Improves Media Consumption and Entertainment
Streaming movies, video conferencing, and even photo editing are more enjoyable on a large display that won’t require repeated scrolling and window adjustments.
Is Often Very Affordable
The most compelling reason for potential buyers to choose a 22 inch portable monitor over a 27-inch desktop one is the significant savings, especially as the best 22-inch portable monitors under $400 outperform many premium ultrawide monitors today.
Best Features of Portable Monitors to Consider Buying
Before we dig into the best models of 22 inch monitors, here are some features that every user should consider when buying a portable monitor:
1. Resolution
The larger the screen, the more the user is likely to care about the visual fidelity of the display, so resolution is of paramount importance for larger portable screens. The de-facto minimum for a 22-inch portable display in 2025 remains Full HD 1080p, although some units support higher 2K or 4K resolution.
2. Touchscreen Support
Portable touch screen monitor 22-inch are also a great choice for the most common touchscreen-related workflows, such as:
Digital Drawing for Artists and Architects
Stylus support can dramatically improve an artist’s ability to use a digital display, and a 22-inch portable touchscreen can be a game-changer if combined with a stylus, and a good case or bag to fit them all.
Digital Handwriting and Note-taking
Apps like GoodNotes or OneNote provide excellent tools to emulate the feel of writing on paper, and a good portable monitor with touchscreen can easily replace a notebook.
Touch gestures in Productivity Apps
Touch-enabled portable monitors are also perfect for using touch gestures to navigate apps and for some additional on-screen flexibility, and a portable monitor 22 inch is the perfect canvas to support them.
3. Connectivity
While many portable monitors with USB-C and HDMI may work right out of the box, others can have a range of limitations and additional restrictions, so some users will also want to check the following, even with the best portable monitors under $400:
USB-C PD support (Power Delivery) and HDMI
USB-C PD will allow a 22-inch portable monitor to work as a battery replacement for a laptop if it has enough capacity to charge the device while in use.
DisplayPort Alt-Mode and Thunderbolt 4 (4K@120Hz support)
If the user wants to push the screen refresh rate to 120Hz or higher, the portable monitor will need DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 4 support to push that extra bit of bandwidth.
4. Panel Quality, Refresh Rate and Response Time
Refresh rate (R/R) and response time (RT) will mostly concern gamers and creative professionals working with media editing.
Screen Response Time
The screen’s response time is a frequently overlooked aspect of display quality that can still matter, and while users may not need super-fast 1ms options for productivity, at least 5ms is recommended, even for budget displays.
Screen Refresh Rate
Refresh rate, while once a niche feature of niche professional monitors, has now become widespread and important for at least some workflows, even among the best budget monitors, as the latest consoles and high-end PCs allow fast frame generation, and a high refresh rate will reduce eye strain and deliver a smoother, more pleasant viewing experience.
Best Portable Monitors 22-Inch Under $400
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best picks in the category that are currently available for under $400:
UPERFECT 22-Inch Portable Monitor
When we first wrote this piece last year, one of the best 22-inch portable monitors was this budget-friendly large display from UPERFECT. Offering Full HD resolution with great brightness levels, solid connectivity, thin bezels, built-in dual speakers, and excellent portability, it remains a compelling option to enhance the user experience, whether for work or play, today.
Why we love it: A feature-rich budget option that’s still one of the best 22 inch portable monitors under $400.
22-Inch Portable Touch Screen Monitor
Portable touch screen monitors 22-inch will add an extra dimension of flexibility, which is especially noticeable with large displays as their real estate is more effectively utilized and it’s a lot easier to work on a large display rather than a small screen.
Why we love it: Interactive 22-inch portable monitors are available at an affordable price, and most support full productivity mode.
Budget 4K Portable Monitor
Budget 4K portable monitors like this 22-inch option are also a great choice for video editors and graphic designers, as well as those who are simply looking for a next-level image quality on the go, as higher resolution means sharper text and more visible details.
Why we love it: This 22-inch 4K portable monitor is affordable, powerful, and provides one of the best value propositions in its class.
Portable Monitor for Gamers
Portable monitors for gamers aren’t always a perfect solution to issues like limited availability of 120Hz displays in the mobile and ultra-portable market, but they can be a great choice, especially for those who want to use a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox on the go or want to set up a personal gaming station at home.
Why we love it: Portable monitors are a great way to have an immersive gaming experience with a big screen.
Portable Monitor for Remote Work and Students
Remote work and hybrid or on-the-go studying are incredibly important and valuable, and a portable monitor can be a great productivity booster in both use cases, especially if it’s a touchscreen model like the ones we reviewed above.
Why we love it: Students, especially those in the creative industries, benefit the most from high-quality portable displays.
Comparison: 22-Inch Portable Monitors vs. Smaller Models
| Feature | 15-17 Inch Models | 22-Inch Models |
| Portability | Extremely lightweight, fits in any bag | Slightly bulkier, but still portable |
| Productivity | Limited for multitasking | Excellent for multitasking and side-by-side apps |
| Entertainment | Good for casual viewing | More immersive for movies and games |
| Price | Usually cheaper | Slightly higher, but still under $400 options available |
The smaller the portable monitor, the easier it will be to carry around, but a 22-inch screen also doubles or triples the available screen real estate, making it a much more desirable option.
Who Should Buy a 22-Inch Portable Monitor Under $400?
Business Travelers
Working on the go, in coffee shops, or hotel rooms should be a routine, not an exception, and a 22-inch portable monitor is one of the best ways to bring a large, PC-like desktop experience anywhere in 2025.
Gamers
Gamers, especially those who play on consoles or portables, can also benefit from a 22-inch portable monitor to improve immersion and portability, as their consoles can easily drive the larger displays, while newer PCs can also leverage high refresh rates on selected games.
Students
Especially in more creative majors, a portable monitor, ideally one with touchscreen support, is an invaluable tool for digital drawing, note-taking, or just presenting work while on the go.
Remote Workers and Digital Nomads
Remote workers and digital nomads often have to travel or work in unusual locations and 22-inch portable monitors are perfect for this.
Content Creators
Video editors, graphic designers, photographers, 3D artists, or anyone working with media or detailed assets can all benefit from larger displays.
Conclusion
With mobile apps, remote work, and on-the-go productivity becoming increasingly important in modern workflows, portable monitors offer the perfect chance to improve users’ work, and 22-inch portable monitors in particular. In 2025, the category has matured enough to present viable options to enhance work or play in multiple scenarios, and that’s where the latest picks are coming from – their user reviews should allow anyone looking to add a second screen or upgrade their setup to pick the right device with confidence.
