cocopar Portable Monitor - Upgraded 17.3 Inch 1080P FHD IPS HDR 100% sRGB FreeSync USB-C Gaming Monitor with Type-C Mini HDMI for Xbox PS4 Laptop PC Mac Surface, VESA mountable

Pros:Double your screen real estateCan Power the monitor via USB-C without extra power source *May need power in certain circumstances*Magnetic screen protector/standHD vibrant colorsCons:Speaker Volume weakNo stand-alone volume buttonWhether completing work documentation, various work-related tasks, researching topics, streaming, or gaming, I likely spend more than 14 hours a day in front of a computer/tablet. With a growing need to multitask, one of the most considerable productivity upgrades was a second monitor. The dual monitors allowed me to open more panels and decreased the need to move back-and-forth between frames. Thus, it was an easy decision to upgrade my home setup by adding a portable monitor to my home computer.UNBOXING:The USB-C Portable Monitor arrived in a 15 3/4 inches long by 10 9/16 inches wide by 2 11/16 inches thick clean white retail box. The cover displayed an attractive silvery-metallic “Portable Monitor,” while the top/front panels provide the same information in bold black font. The left side panel was left unadorned, while the right-side panel provided a product SKU barcode. The bottom panel provided the Portable Monitor name along the top left of the panel and contact information along the bottom of the panel. I appreciated the clean white background, the shimmery metallic font, and liked the contrasting black-on-white theme.I lifted the top panel of the box, removed the thin white foam padding, the 13 3/4 inches wide by 7 3/4 inches tall (15 3/4 inches diagonal) screen protector, then the 2 pounds 6.7 oz portable monitor from the box. With the main product removed from the packaging, I lifted the 3/4 inches thick foam spacer and found a secondary foam layer with three cutouts. Along the top left of the panel, I found a 2 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches tall cutout, which contained the black-colored 1 7/8 inches tall by 1 5/8 inches wide by 1 inch thick Type A Wall adaptor with USB-A output. Just beneath the cutout, I found a second cutout, which measured 5 5/8 inches wide by 4 inches tall. The medium-sized cutout contained a black-colored, flat-style 39 3/4 inches long USB-A to USB-C power cable, and a matte-black 47 1/2 inches long rounded-plastic USB-C to USB-C cable. The final cutout was the largest of the three and measured 5 7/8 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches tall. The cutout contained the product user manual, 3-year warranty card, an upgraded accessories panel (monitor stand, portable battery, dongle adapter, streaming stick), two packets of screen protector installation kits (2 15/16 inches wide by 1 15/16 inches tall cardboard presser/scraper, a dust absorber, three guide stickers, and a 3 7/8 inches square microfiber cloth), and a 48-inches long micro-HDMI to HDMI cable.Installation:The 19-page instruction manual proved to be quite valuable. The first two panels provided similar information to the included accessory panel and added a protective sleeve to the possible upgrades. The third panel provided a list of the table of contents (About the Monitor, Using the Monitor, Troubleshooting, and Warranty and Support). The first segment, “About Your Monitor” (pages 1-3), provided a list of packaging contents (as listed above), then provided a helpful paragraph about each of the items. The second page provided a detailed product specifications panel (15.6inch screen size, IPS screen type, 1920×1080 resolution, 16:9 Aspect Ratio, 100% sRGB, 16.78 Million color depth, 9300K temperature, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 178 degrees horizontal and vertical viewing angle, 60 Hz refresh rate, 1.6 pounds, 14.8 x 8.8 x 0.2-inch dimensions, HDR support, Free Sync Support, 6W power consumption, Mini HDMI/3.5mm Audio Jack/USB-C port x 2 connectivity, 1W x 2 built-in speakers). The third panel provided a left and right side view of the monitor and the corresponding ports (3.5mm Audio Jack/Menu/Power/exit buttons on the right and mini HDMI, plus two USB-C output ports on the left). Similar to the previous panels, the instruction manual did a great job at detailing the features in prose format.The next panel provided utility information for the portable monitor and information about the ports (Mini-HDMI, USB-C (supports PD2.0 5-20V), USB-A (wall adapter). The subsequent three panels labeled “Connecting your Monitor” provided various picture/prose connection options. For a Laptop/PC with Type-C ports, use the included USB-C to USB-C cable and power adapter. For a Laptop/PC with HDMI ports, use the HDMI cable for A/V and use either the USB-A to USB-C between computer/monitor, or use wall power if needed. If the computer has a miniDP, you may need to purchase an adaptor. You can connect the device to modern gaming systems via HDMI and wall power, or you can connect the current generation portable gaming system via USB-C cable and wall power. You can connect the monitor to USB-C capable phones similar to the laptop example above, or you can purchase a separate adapter/dongle for phones that use proprietary charging ports.The user manual instructions proved to be quite detailed regarding the on-screen display (OSD). The panel provided a menu layout and reviewed the brightness/contrast, color settings, audio settings, other settings, and input source. You can use the menu/+/- button on the right side of the monitor to enter the OSD menu, use the +/- toggle to move up/down within the list, and then press the button to activate your selection. You can adjust each of the parameters, select between 4 image modes (Standard/Game/Movie(MY FAVORITE)/photo), adjust the screen tint ( 9300k, 6500k, sRGB, User), Hue, saturation, low blue light, and the color gamut (sRGB, Adobe RGB, DPI-P3, Native color). The low blue light mode reduces the ambient blue light, which breaks down natural melatonin, the sleep hormone. By reducing blue light, the monitor becomes less stimulating and may improve sleep. If you navigate to “Audio Settings,” you can mute on/off, or increase/decrease the volume. Under “Other Settings,” you can adjust the aspect ratio to full screen or 16:9, turn freeSync on/off, adjust the language,, adjust HDR to auto/off/2084, or reset to factory default. Through this panel, you can also adjust between the input sources Type-C or HDMI. The last few panels provided a detailed overview of the duplicate/extend/second screen options and provided a few troubleshooting steps.Testing:To test the monitor, I paired it with my 15 Laptop. I removed the magnetic cover from the monitor screen and laid the monitor down face up. I used screen cleaner/microfiber cloth to clean the surface, and I removed the thin layer from the top of the screen protector. I then laid the screen protector down onto the screen surface. I found a few bubbles along the outer edges, I lifted the edge of the screen with tweezers, then used the dust-absorber to remove as many of the bubbles as possible. Despite several attempts, I had about ten tiny bubbles along the periphery that would not go away. I did not feel that this was a negative aspect of the product, rather a problem with my installation technique. I plugged the power adapter into a standard wall outlet, the USB-A to USB-C cable from the adapter into the lower USB-C port, and the USB-C to USB-C cable between the monitor and my computer. I navigated to the System preferences on my laptop, then Displays. I moved the computer display and accessory monitor display from left to right, or I could hold the option key and drag it onto the computer monitor display to mirror the image. I did not find that feature useful unless I wanted to specifically show someone else what I was doing on the computer.When I moved files/folders to the second screen, I immediately realized the screen felt a little dark. I pressed the menu option, changed the brightness from 30 to 100%, and immediately appreciated the improvement. I liked the ability to control/adjust the settings, but I would have preferred a preset feature/memory and the ability to decrease the brightness. My Laptop provided sufficient power via USB-C to power the second monitor without a secondary power supply. However, If I plugged a pair of headphones into the 3.5mm port, I found that the power was a bit lacking. In that case, I needed to plug the monitor into the included USB-A/Adaptor to add the required power. I loved the intuitive button combination, the mini HDMI out, the added USB-C, the cable’s length, the magnetic stand, and the quality of the display. I did not miss that the screen was not a capacitive touch surface, but I had a similar issue with my computer. As I moved between my tablet and my laptop, I forgot that the screen was not touch-sensitive.I watched several movies through popular streaming services and enjoyed the quality of the videos. The sound was a bit lackluster, and I found headphones improved that limitation quite easily. I changed the mode to gaming mode and plugged my handheld gaming console into the USB port via USB-C and enjoyed the larger/portable screen. Similar to the video viewing experience, I enjoyed a lag-free gaming session. However, I did not like how the gaming mode changed the imagery to a more blueish hue. Instead, I turned it back to movie mode, and found the imagery more vibrant and warm.If I had a few wishes for the screen, I would have liked a stand-alone volume toggle that was not linked to the single button and more powerful speakers. Despite the request, I believe that the company created an amazing device and the OSD button/menu tree was well laid out and easy to navigate. I was pleased that they included the screen protectors and found the small bubbles beneath the screen protector did not detract from my viewing/streaming. Whether you wish to add an extra screen to your desktop, to a laptop, for a standard home gaming system, or for a portable gaming session, this extra screen will not let you down.

Updated review - I did return the monitor since it was the last day to get a refund, but customer service reached out to me and replaced it anyway, even with the refund given. They wanted me to have a good experience. They stand by their product and want their customers to be happy. So the new monitor has worked great. I am using it every day. That said, I think one of the cables isn't working because it wouldn't find the signal. I was using the USB-c to usb-c display cable (the cables they include are clearly labeled for convenience!) but today I switched the HDMI to HDMI cable that they include and voila, connected again like magic.This monitor has such great reviews and I do read the bad reviews to try to get a more balanced viewpoint...so the first time I used the monitor, my experience was excellent. Second time was today (so twice I have used it in less than 30) and it started flickering on and off, disconnecting and reconnecting, and it did it nonstop. It was completely unusable and made my laptop that it was connected to unusable as well because when it flickers, it glitches whatever I'm doing on my laptop, whether that's typing or playing audio or reading a pdf file. So it's not like you can keep working and ignore it because it kept messing up my work. I am still in my return window and it's going back. So just fyi...I don't know if all those good reviews just don't get updated after the screen sputters and flickers or there are just a few bad apples of screens and I got one of them, but it's a no for me on a replacement considering other folks have experienced the same issue.

This is a first impression, which I intend to update as I gain more time using the product. I don't normally post reviews this quickly, but now that I have the product I can answer some pre-sales questions for others that were not clear to me from the product page.I am a computer engineer using a 17" mobile workstation for 3D interactive development (rendering, simulation, visualization, etc.) as well as software development and occasional video editing. Two screens are almost essential for the kind of work I do, and these tools work much better if all screens have the same native resolution. Since my primary display is 4K, I wanted to upgrade my portable monitor to match this.Some clarification of technical specs, based on questions I had before ordering:1. If using the USB-C port for combined power and data, you do NOT necessarily need a separate power supply (connected to the USB-C "power only" port on the monitor), BUT this depends on how much current your host system can supply. On my mobile workstation, this monitor works perfectly with just one USB-C cable connected for power and data, even with the brightness at 8 or above. Presumably, the manufacturer's comments about needing a separate power connection at higher brightness refer to using this product with a cell phone, tablet, or smaller laptop that can't supply enough USB-C power. Check the manufacturer's specifications for your system to see how much USB-C power it can deliver.2. By default, the brightness level is reset to minimum every time the monitor is disconnected or powered down, but there is a menu option to "save brightness". If this is set to ON, the monitor remembers your brightness preference between uses. They probably default to setting it at minimum to prevent it from failing to work if it's moved between devices with different USB-C capabilities.3. The HDMI port is full-sized, not mini, and it *does* work at full 4K if your computer meets the required HDMI specification level. If the HDMI port and the USB-C data port are connected simultaneously to the same system, Windows (and maybe other o.s., but I haven't tested yet) will detect this (incorrectly) as two different monitors, or at least that's what happened for me. To use the HDMI port for data and USB-C for power, move the USB-C cable to the "power only" port on the monitor.INITIAL REVIEW AND COMMENTS* The build quality is high, but lightweight. Components are fit and finished with precision, but the enclosure is thin and light. It's the usual tradeoff between ruggedness and carry weight. So far I think they have struck a good compromise here, but this is not "built like a Sherman tank". Connectors and buttons seem to be typical for mobile devices. I would recommend carrying this monitor in a rigid case, or placing it alongside the laptop or tablet in a backpack or bag, to avoid flexing. Its thin profile is fantastic for mobility but inherently easier to bend -- and flexing or bending is very bad for display panels and the circuit boards that control them.* The USB-C and HDMI ports have a nice, crisp contact feel when they are connected, which suggests good retention properties and provides a tactile indication of the cable's connector being fully seated.* The folding protective sleeve is made of a durable-feeling leather-like material and should hold up well in daily use. The edges will probably experience some cosmetic wear effects over time, but I don't see anything here that concerns me about functional durability.* My system (a Dell Precision mobile workstation with NVidia GPU) instantly recognized this monitor at full 4K native resolution. No drivers were needed under Windows 10 Pro. I'll be testing with Linux on the next couple of weeks, but I do not expect any issues. It "Just Works".* The color quality and brightness exceeded my expectations. I have a hardware colorimeter but haven't calibrated this monitor yet. Comparing it visually against the calibrated (and excellent) primary display, I would say they are closely matched in color tone. Under cool LED office lighting, I run my main display at about 70%, and the Cocopar can visually match this with a setting of 80%, so there would be a decent amount of "headroom" for someone who prefers a brighter screen or is working in high ambient light (but probably not in direct sunlight).* The VESA mounting holes (75mm spacing) are threaded into the metal shell of the monitor, but there are no corresponding holes in the folding cover, so it is necessary to remove the cover before VESA mounting the monitor (or drill the VESA spaced holes yourself).* The cover attaches magnetically, and powerfully so. It almost feels as if the cover is glued in place, but it's actually quite removable. Don't store it next to a payment card with a magnetic stripe, or near your collection of vintage music tapes or floppy disks.* It's not relevant to product quality, but the attention to detail Cocopar put into their package design gives a very good first impression an suggests (hopefully accurately) an attention to quality in the product itself. The monitor arrived in a lift-top box of heavy card stock, padded by custom-fit closed cell foam inside, and wrapped in a plastic film liner.* I found the setup menus to be easy to figure out but slightly cumbersome to use because of the close spacing of the tiny buttons. Fortunately, this is a minor issue for most people who aren't constantly fiddling with the settings.* The package includes two USB-C cables, a small plugin USB-C charger, and an HDMI cable. It doesn't seem to have a Mini DisplayPort cable, probably because there are so many options for what people might need at the other end of that one. There is also a USB to USB-C cable that is clearly labeled "power only" (no video).SUMMARYSo far, I'm favorably impressed and look forward to using this product. It was expensive, but for my professional requirements the variety of input ports and the display fidelity justify the cost. Assuming its durability holds up under daily use, this was a good choice.