• Adding a portable dual-monitor setup makes a laptop comparable to a desktop.

• Video editors and power users benefit from the increased screen real estate that a laptop cannot provide on its own.

• A three-monitor setup improves workflow efficiency, especially for video editing and multitasking.

My laptop is as powerful as most desktops, but its smaller screen makes things difficult to do. Adding a dual-monitor portable setup flips the script, making my laptop more powerful than my desktop, even though it makes me look stupid.

Video editors, gamers, and photo editors are just a few power users who need more screen real estate than a laptop can provide. As a video editor and photographer, most of my work benefits from a larger screen, which tethers me to my desk.

Thanks to my new triple-monitor laptop setup, I’ve finally freed myself from the shackles of my desktop screen. You might see me at my local cafe; I’m the guy with the weird three-screen setup, but now that I’ve tried it, I’ll never go back.

Change workspace, change needs

I’ve been something of a remote worker throughout my career. As a technology magazine editor, I’ve sometimes driven up to 100,000 miles in a year. Laptops and tablets have been my primary computers, but until recently they weren’t my favorite.

Handheld devices were underpowered compared to desktops, and screens were too cramped to do serious work, especially video editing and photo editing tasks.

Fortunately, the processing power of laptops has caught up with that of desktops, but even the largest laptop screens are too cramped for some power users.

It is often difficult for me to work at a desk. Much of my work is done in coffee shops or at clients’ homes, and there’s no way to return to my home office to get things done.

I started using an iPad as a second screen thanks to the built-in screen sharing on macOS, but I found the iPad more useful as a second computer than a second screen and gave up on the idea.

Switch to one inexpensive portable secondary monitor It was much better, but I found there was still too little screen real estate for video editing work. The screen was difficult to align with my Mac, and I often had to position the second screen awkwardly when working on a small table.

To solve the “too much power, not enough screen” problem, I started using the KYY Laptop Screen Extensiona 14-inch FHD 1080P USB-C portable monitor. KYY sent me the device to review for my YouTube channel, but KYY isn’t the only company making accessory monitors.

ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16AHP 15.6″ Full HD IPS Eye Care Portable Monitor with Micro HDMI USB Type-C, Black

The 15.6-inch Asus ZenScreen Go is a Full HD (1920 x 1080) portable monitor with around 4 hours of battery life, USB-C and micro-HDMI connections, and a slim form factor.

A quick look at Amazon reveals dozens of these configurations from numerous manufacturers, and from the descriptions there appears to be little difference between them. Prices for these setups are almost universally under $300, so it may make sense to choose one of these solutions depending on who is running the promotion.

Three screen setup

The KYY Triple Laptop Screen Extender places a 14-inch 1080p IPS display on each side of my laptop. With USB-C, a single cable connects the laptop to the monitor for power and video signal. A power supply is required for extended use, but the display can be powered by a laptop via the USB-C cable in a pinch. I regularly spend several hours running the monitor powered solely by my MacBook Air’s battery.

The resolution of my MacBook Air is much higher than the 1080p of the triple screen. I use add-on monitors extensively for tasks where lower resolution panels are suitable. This is where I dock tool palettes, keep my scripts for reference, and open a browser window to fact check.

Sitting next to a Mac Retina display or other high-end monitor, the resolution of triple displays is clearly lacking in comparison. It is possible to increase the brightness and increase the contrast and sharpness, but these displays cannot compete with a precision 4K or 5K monitor. Of course, they are not intended to ensure fidelity or to be used for photo editing or artistic creation.

Some add-on displays attach magnetically to a laptop, but the MacBook Air is made of aluminum, which is not magnetic, so this option isn’t a solution for me.

The KYY Triple Monitor setup screens are raised off the table and aligned with the MacBook screen. The heavy stand keeps the monitors from moving, although they sometimes slide on a slippery surface, even with the heavy stand and rubberized feet.

Since the displays snuggle up against the laptop’s screen, they will fit almost anywhere the laptop fits. Having wing-shaped displays on either side takes up space, but there is room under the displays for a notebook or, if you’re in a cafe, a pastry.

The monitor setup is not lightweight. With an all-metal chassis and a metal kickstand supporting two LCD panels, it weighs several pounds on my laptop. A carry handle makes transport easy and folds up to protect screens during travel. Still, it’s heavy and bulky, and setting up at a client’s or coffee shop isn’t as simple as simply slipping your laptop into a carrying bag.

When folded correctly, the monitor can also be used as a single portrait display, and the setup doubles as a secondary monitor for my desktop Mac.

Real-world usage is better than expected

I feel uneasy about deploying a multi-screen setup in public for the first few minutes, but that feeling evaporates upon launch. Solve and move on to video editing.

I configured Resolve to run on two screens and display the Finder on the other screen. The setup allows me to move images from card readers into organized folders and then move those files into Resolve.

It’s not just great for video editing. While moving several different data sources into an Airtable database, I put Airtable on my laptop screen and used the side screens to access the different data sources. I’ve done the same thing with Excel and with text editors when writing articles and scripts. My sources are on the side displays, and I do my main work on the MacBook’s larger, brighter screen.

When I’m doing tedious tasks, I’ll often play a TV show or movie on one screen while working on the others. It’s amazing how much fun work is when a Avengers the movie is playing on a secondary screen.

The three-monitor system is even faster than my widescreen editing setup at home. Using a dedicated side display for moving files around in the Finder and the rest for editing is far more efficient than a single widescreen display.

In some ways, it’s an even better editing experience than working on my LG ultrawide monitor. This gigantic screen is great for expanding a video editing application or running multiple programs, but it’s prone to overcrowding. With my video editing tools open, as well as Finder windows, a browser, and an email application, open windows often overlap and need to be moved around.

Often I find it’s simply more efficient to use my laptop and the triple-monitor setup, but there’s another way triple monitors help declutter my ultra-wide screen. The monitors can be folded origami-style for use as a portrait display, extending the screen and the usefulness of my computer at the same time.

With the portrait mode screen, I can fit all my search windows and browser sessions on the side screen and use my main screen for a long work session. When I don’t need the extra space, I simply stash the monitor in my bag so it’s ready to use when I walk out the door.

Workflow is greater than the sum of the views

I had some reservations about using such a bulky and unsightly setup, but productivity quickly outweighed the concerns of my fragile ego.

Laptops are full of compromises to make them portable, and it seems like a “portable” external monitor setup would erase the benefits of a laptop. The combination of a laptop and external displays is still lighter than a desktop and its associated displays, and the ability to fold the monitor setup into a small package makes transporting it as easy as traveling. laptop packaging.

When portability and productivity are required, using a laptop and a triple monitor setup is the perfect compromise to bring a traditional desktop setup to your local coffee shop. I may be stared at, I may look weird, but I get my work done before I drink my second coffee of the day.

A setup using a single additional display is a good option for those who don’t need a large amount of screen real estate but want a little more real estate. I’ve seen an increase in people using secondary displays in public, and these are more convenient if video or photo editing isn’t a primary task.

Single-screen solutions are smaller and lighter than traditional KYY Triple Monitor Setup I also use. Since they’re even more affordable than triple-screen setups, being able to choose how much gear I need on any given day makes it worth it. The unique add-on displays offered by KYY and others can be found for less than $100, an easy investment considering the work and entertainment enhancements they provide.