Portable monitors are popular these days, mainly because of their convenience, portability, and the fact that you can connect a wide variety of devices to them easily. For instance, you can connect them to your laptop for a convenient second screen, or to your Nintendo Switch for a larger view of your game. If you have a Samsung device, you can use the display to enable Samsung DeX mode. For these reasons, having a portable monitor is great. So today, we’ll be looking at the Arzopa Z1FC 16.1” Portable Gaming Monitor. This is a thin and light portable monitor featuring a 144Hz refresh rate, USB-C and HDMI connections, and built-in speakers.
This is not my first time using a portable monitor, nor is it my first experience with Arzopa. In the past, I looked at the Arzopa G1 Game which I thought was very good. The Arzopa Z1FC is very similar but with slightly different specs.
For starters, the Arzopa Z1FC is very light, weighing just 1.7lbs. This is impressive for a display that is 16.1” large and only 0.3 inches slim.
The rim of the display seems to be aluminum while the back plate is plastic. The display is an IPS panel that is edge-to-edge aside from the bottom bezel.
On the left side of the monitor are all the ports and buttons. You get two USB-C ports and an HDMI port. Depending on the device you use, you may only need one cable to use and power the Arzopa Z1FC or two cables, one for power. Moving on, on the back of the monitor there is a durable metal kickstand that can extend up to 80 degrees.
EXPERIENCE
The Arzopa Z1FC works with a wide variety of devices. It’s easy to set up and most require just one cable for it to work. In the rear instance that it does need an external power source, you can just plug it in using USB-C. Here is a small list of items I tried with the portable monitor.
As a second display – Most people who are going to purchase the Arzopa Z1FC are probably going to use it as a second display with their laptop. In my case, I tested this with an Apple Macbook Air M1. What I really love is the fact that if you use this with your laptop and it’s equipped with a USB-C port, more likely than not, you’ll be able to use the monitor with just one cable without the need for a power cable. This is exactly what I was able to do.
iPad Air 5 – The iPad Air 5 comes standard with a USB-C port and works with second displays thanks to the M1 chip. It powers up the monitor and displays a picture on it. If you’re familiar with the M1 iPad, the external display shows an entirely new desktop that you can work off of that is very Macbook-like. If you use this with an iPad that doesn’t have an M1 chip, it will just mirror the display.
Samsung DeX – You can plug your Samsung Galaxy device right into the monitor and it’ll power up and show Samsung DeX mode. What’s neat here is no power source is needed, though you will need a wireless keyboard and mouse to make the most of Samsung DeX.
Nintendo Switch – It Works really well with the Nintendo Switch but requires external power for it to work correctly. It will not run on its own if it is only plugged in with one cable.
Those are just a few examples of what you can use the monitor for. For the most part, the monitor is a great addition. The only downside is that this doesn’t include some kind of cover protection for the display when you aren’t using it and want to throw it in a bag or something.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Arzopa Z1FC is a great portable display for those who want one for gaming on the go, mainly because of its 144Hz refresh rate. While it may be overkill for something like regular office and productivity apps on a computer, it’s perfect for fluid gaming. I like that it has two USB-C ports built in and a mini HDMI port. I also like the fact that it can be used without an external power supply, though this depends on the device you are using it with.
For the most part, I think this is a really well-made monitor with a really sturdy and solid kick stand. I just wish there was a built-in cover case for it. Aside from that, it’s priced well and you really can’t go wrong picking this up.
