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We recommend buying a portable monitor that has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB Power Delivery. The DisplayPort Alternate Mode turns the USB-C port into a video input, and USB Power Delivery can be used to power the portable monitor. This enables a single-cable connection between the portable monitor and a laptop, desktop, or tablet with USB-C.An ideal portable monitor should pair USB-C with a backup video input, such as HDMI or DisplayPort, for connecting devices that lack USB-C. Most portable monitors offer this feature, but the HDMI or DisplayPort input is usually a sma

The best ultrawide monitor for most people is the Alienware AW3423DWF. It costs less than $1,000, but this 34-inch OLED has incredible contrast, depth, and vibrancy. This makes for an amazingly immersive experience in movies and games, the latter of which is helped by the display's 165Hz refresh rate and support for adaptive sync.

HDR isn’t a must-have for an ultrawide gaming monitor, but it’s a nice addition. Gaming is a great use case for HDR—arguably the best, in fact—and it can deliver improved image quality. We recommend buying an ultrawide gaming monitor with HDR support if your budget is $500 or more. 

The best portable monitor for most people is PCWorld's midrange pick: the HP Series 5 Pro 514pn, which has an edge of others in its price range thanks to its stylish, slim, and light design and outstanding color accuracy. Sure, you can find portable monitors for less than this monitor's $300 asking price, but you won't get the same premium experience that this 14-inch 2560x1600 IPS Black panel offers.