Spending your weekend working overtime in a hotel, staring at a 13-inch laptop screen for two hours until your eyes feel as sour as a squeezed lemon; trying to play Overcooked with friends at a party, only to find the TV hijacked by a bunch of rowdy kids; or even at a café, struggling to manage a split-screen on a tablet where the icons are so cramped your fingers feel like they're tripping over each other... In moments like these, don't you find yourself daydreaming about a "portable big screen" to save the day?

Truth be told, what you actually need is a monitor that knows how to "go solo." It has long outgrown its role as a mere PC accessory. Instead, it’s evolved into a versatile powerhouse—part gaming rig, part binge-watching station, and part mobile workstation.

Let’s clear up a common misconception: a monitor doesn’t have its own CPU, memory, or operating system. Think of it as a "translator"—its job is to take video signals from another device and "translate" them into images on the screen. That "other device" could be a game console, a smartphone, a camera, or even a USB drive. As long as the device can output a video signal, the monitor can do its job.

In other words, a monitor has never been "dependent" on a computer. We’ve just spent decades habitually tethering them together, which created this misunderstanding. It’s a lot like headphones: you can pair them with your phone via Bluetooth or plug them into a record player with a cable. Which one you choose simply depends on what you need at that moment.

While it’s technically true that any monitor can work without a PC, that doesn't mean you should try to make every screen go solo. In fact, for certain types of displays, staying tethered to a computer is exactly where they belong. It really comes down to the design of the hardware:

These monitors are built for a permanent setup. They rely on wall outlets for power and are usually quite bulky. They are perfect for long-term connection to a PC or a home console. For instance, if you’ve built a high-performance rig with a 27-inch 4K screen for Cyberpunk 2077 or professional photo editing, the monitor’s "immobility" is actually an asset. After all, nobody wants to lug a tower and a giant screen on a business trip.

These are specifically designed to thrive away from a computer. Most support USB-C "One-Cable" connection (handling both video and power) and can even be powered by a portable power bank. Imagine you’re on a business trip and want to play your Switch on a decent screen in your hotel room, or you’re filming a video and need a real-time monitor to check your shots—this is where the portability and flexibility of a portable monitor become essential.

To put it simply: A standard monitor is your "fixed workstation," while a portable monitor is your "mobile toolkit." Your choice depends on whether you need a permanent powerhouse or a screen that can save the day anywhere.

How exactly does the "solo" capability of a portable monitor solve real-world headaches? Here are a few scenarios that might feel all too familiar:

For students in cramped dorms, there’s often no room for a bulky PC tower. For business travelers in hotels, you might want to relax with Animal Crossing on your Switch, only to find the TV is outdated or awkwardly placed. This is where a portable monitor with USB-C "One-Cable" support saves the day. Plug your Switch directly into the screen with a single cable, and suddenly you have a 15-inch gaming rig. You can enjoy your "island life" right from the comfort of your bed.

Trying to handle complex documents on a tablet can be a nightmare—once you split the screen, the text becomes as tiny as ants. Even on a laptop, a single small screen forces you to constantly alt-tab between windows. A portable monitor instantly expands your digital real estate. Whether you connect it to your smartphone or a mini-PC, you get a "dual-screen" setup on the go, making it a breeze to write reports while cross-referencing data.

When filming video, relying on the tiny built-in screen of a phone or camera to judge composition is a gamble—you’re always worried about missed focus or incorrect exposure. A lightweight portable monitor solves this effortlessly. Taking certain Arzopa portable models as an example: they support HDMI input, allowing you to connect your camera for a high-definition, real-time view of your shot. It’s far more efficient than squinting at a tiny camera display while crouching in the dirt.

To check if your monitor is compatible with your devices, look at the types of ports they have. If both the monitor and device have the same type of connector, like HDMI or USB-C, they should work together. You can also check the monitor's user manual or the manufacturer's website for more details.

Smart monitors have built-in features that make them special. They can use Wi-Fi to stream shows, have apps like Netflix or YouTube, and sometimes even let you play videos from a USB or SD card. This makes them more versatile compared to regular monitors!

There are many reasons you might want a monitor without a PC! For entertainment, you can watch movies or play games using other devices. It's also great for presentations or viewing photos. Monitors expand what you can do with devices without needing a bulky computer.