Expert testers loved that the SideTrak Portable Monitor was light and hailed it as the perfect secondary display for users who are constantly on the move but would want to stay productive. The display features a Full HD resolution for relaying sharp text and images, however, reviewers felt that its poor black levels, lack of HDR support, limited color accuracy, and low peak brightness might deter some buyers.
Picture Quality
Blacks
- The SideTrack Portable Monitor left testers with mixed feelings regarding how well it could display black colors. Testers felt that its low brightness limited how well it could display black shades and noted that it would make viewing it in a darker room quite tricky.
Brightness
- Expert reviewers did not like the low brightness levels on the SideTrack Portable Monitor. They found that it averaged a peak brightness level of 139.9 nits, which they agreed would make it pretty challenging to view especially in a well-lit environment.
Color Accuracy
- The SideTrack Portable Monitor does not have the best color accuracy. Product testers were not impressed with the display’s dull colors and confirmed that it wouldn’t be fit for color-accurate work.
Color Gamut
- Unlike the Lepow Lite H1, product testers were disappointed with the limited color gamut of the SideTrack Portable Monitor. During their tests, the monitor averaged a paltry 69.4% of the sRGB color space. This was no match to the 99.1% coverage exhibited by the Samsung U32J590, making it a much better alternative for professional photo and video editors.
Color Gradient
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor struggled to accurately depict colors, especially during transitions. This left experts dismayed, as they felt that most dark colors looked dull and inaccurate.
Color Uniformity/Variance
- Certified testers agreed that the SideTrak Portable Monitor had below-average color uniformity. They noted that its color range needs more improvement. Users who want to enjoy a more uniform color representation would be better off with the ViewSonic Elite XG270QC, as it has up to six-color temperature options and more intricate color settings.
Contrast
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor boasts an 890:1 contrast ratio, which analysts thought was relatively low. As a result, they noticed that the portable monitor struggled with dark colors, making it unfit for dark room viewing.
Resolution
- Experts felt that the 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution of the SideTrak Portable Monitor was relatively standard, as it was good enough to relay sharp images. They noted that despite its limitations in brightness and uniformity, its Full HD resolution would still make it good enough for users who only need a secondary display for increased productivity.
Refresh Rate
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor had a pretty low 60Hz refresh rate, but this did not faze reviewers. They agreed that the low refresh rate was enough for everyday office work, but it wouldn’t be high enough to prevent screen tearing when gaming.
Glare and Reflections
- Certified experts did not like that the SideTrak Portable Monitor was not bright enough to combat glare and reflections. As a result, they advised that users keep the SideTrak monitor well away from windows during use.
HDR
- Just like the Wacom Cintiq 16, the SideTrak Portable Monitor does not have any support for HDR content. Reviewers were unhappy about this as it meant that it would not produce vivid images when used for watching videos, and would likely disappoint users who would want to use it for movie watching.
Image Flicker
- Expert reviewers did not make any comments regarding image flicker on the SideTrak Portable Monitor. Users did not seem to have any issues either, as they did not report any instances of eye irritation or strain after prolonged use.
Image Retention
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor did not display any signs of image retention during the critic’s testing.
Local Dimming
- Top testers did not find any local dimming feature on the SIdeTrak Portable Monitor. They said that this would have done a lot to improve the display’s black levels.
Design
Aesthetics
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor impressed reviewers with its unique design. They loved how easily it attaches to a laptop through a strong magnetic connection and semi-permanent metal plates and that it would only require a USB C connection to connect to a laptop. They noted that this allowed for efficient multitasking, as it served as a seamless extension of the laptop’s monitor.
Build Quality
- Analysts from PC Mag loved the SideTrak Monitor, as they felt that it had good build quality and that it was a durable product. They had an easy time setting it up and were convinced that users who need a dual-screen would appreciate how easily it folds and extends out.
Portability
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor weighs a paltry 1.65 pounds, making it pretty easy for experts to move around. They appreciated how well the monitor stayed intact despite its side attachment and loved that it could also be set up in portrait mode.
Size
- Product testers were quick to note that the SideTrak Portable Monitor could only be attached to laptops that have 13-inch to 17.5-inch screens. They were satisfied with its 12.5-inch screen size, as they were convinced that this was large enough to help increase productivity.
Stand and Mounting
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor does not require a stand unless it is being used in portrait mode. Expert testers felt good about the freedom to choose whether or not to mount it to the laptop side or have it in portrait mode on its side.
Features
Connectivity and Inputs
- Critics did not like that the SideTrak Portable Monitor had minimal connectivity options. They felt that users might not appreciate its single USB C port.
Controls
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor does not feature any controls, much to the dismay of expert reviewers. They were only able to adjust the settings on the portable monitor through the connected laptop’s display menu.
Bluetooth
- There is no Bluetooth compatibility on the SideTrak Portable Monitor. This is common with monitors today.
Menus
- The SideTrak Portable monitor had a very easy-to-navigate menu. Experts initially had to download drivers for its built-in DisplayLink technology to adjust the display, but everything else was seamless once they did.
Microphone
- There is no microphone on the SideTrak Portable Monitor, so product evaluators could not comment on it.
Speakers
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor does not have speakers.
Webcam
- There is no Webcam on the SideTrak Portable Monitor, so reviewers could not comment on this feature.
Gaming
G-Sync/FreeSync
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor does not feature any G-Sync or FreeSync technology support, but this did not phase experts. The portable monitor is mainly meant to enable efficient multitasking and isn’t optimized for gaming.
Adaptive Sync
- Product testers did not mind the absence of Adaptive-Sync technology on the SideTrak Portable Monitor. They felt that this was okay since they understood that the monitor was not meant for gaming.
Input Lag
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor did not elicit any comments concerning its input lag. Experts felt that this was dependent on the laptop that it was attached to.
Response Time
- Critics felt that the SideTrak Portable Monitor’s 30ms response time was okay for regular use. However, they noted that the display would show a significant amount of ghosting when viewing fast-paced scenes.
Text Clarity
- The SideTrak Portable Monitor had decent text clarity. Analysts attributed this to its Full HD LCD resolution and even noted the slight improvement once they switched on WindowsClear Type.
Viewing Angles
- Top product testers loved that the SideTrak Portable Monitor had decent viewing angles. They concluded that this was a result of its IPS panel. They also appreciated that the display could be rotated up to 270° to be shared with other viewers.
