If you’ve already decided you need a portable monitor... great choice. Now let’s make sure you pick the right one.
Brightness plays a bigger role than most people realise. It affects how you see, how long your battery lasts, and where you can actually work. And since most people compare new tech to what they already know (their laptop, desktop, or even phone) that’s exactly where we’ll start.
How is brightness measured? With ‘Nits’, of course!
What are nits? Nits measure screen brightness. 1 nit = 1 candela per square metre (like 1 candle’s brightness across that area). The more nits, the brighter the screen but where there is more brightness, there also more power consumption so when you’re working off the battery of a laptop, there’s a compromise…
Why higher brightness matters:
In bright environments, you need sufficient screen brightness to maintain contrast and visibility. Think about how your phone automatically increases brightness when you step outside, the same principle applies to portable monitors.
The right brightness choice depends on balancing your typical work environment, device capabilities, and personal preferences. Our standard 300-nit range excels in controlled indoor environments and offers excellent battery efficiency, while our Pro range provides the flexibility and brightness needed for challenging lighting conditions and professional applications.
How you work, what you do on your screen, and where you need to work are all important factors to consider. So, let’s weigh things up:
Where you work matters for brightness
- Indoors: Office and home office - Most laptops lower their brightness indoors to save power and most office monitors on your desktop will run at a basic level of between 250 – 350nits. You’re in a brightly lit environment and you’re looking into a display for long periods; brighter screens can also cause eye strain if used for long periods so adjustments can sometimes help depending on the work you’re doing, and the detail required on-screen.
- Indoors: Cafes, libraries, co-working space – There’s more variation to environments like cafes but 300 nits upwards should be sufficient, but the added brightness of 400+ nits may start to become a factor worth considering.
- Outdoors and high brightness environments: You’ll want 400+ nits so your screen remains visible. Perfect for creators, photographers, or business professionals on the move.
Brightness affects battery
Brighter displays consume more power. Ifyou're using a portable monitor at full brightness for long periods, ensure your laptop or power source can handle it.
Laptops with larger batteries (e.g.,MacBook Pro) will typically support longer sessions with brighter displays than ultraportable laptops like the MacBook Air.
Match brightness for comfort
For side-by-side use, align the brightness of your monitor and laptop for a consistent, comfortable viewing experience.
In presentation mode, crank up your espresso Display while keeping your laptop dim to highlight key content.
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Comparing Display Standards:
- Budget Laptops(150-200 nits): Most modern or premium portable monitors provide a significant brightness upgrade over entry-level laptopscreens.
- Mid-Range Laptops (250-400 nits): Perfect match for our standard 300-nit range, with the Pro range suitable for users wanting extra brightness flexibility.
- High-EndLaptops (400-800+ nits): Ideally paired with our Pro range monitors for consistent brightness across both displays.
- Standard Desktop Monitors (200 nits average): Both our standard and Pro ranges offer superior brightness compared to typical desktop monitors.
- Professional Desktop Monitors (400-800 nits+): Our Pro range complements well with professional-grade displays used in creative workflows.
Does brightness impact color quality?
Not directly. Brightness doesn’t change color gamut. But higher brightness enhances perceived contrast. This means it’s easier to distinguish subtle differences between colors when the screen is brighter, which is important for high-value content.
If you want more information about color and our display range, head on over to this article.
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