For me, a second monitor is a must-have to keep all my tabs and apps organized while I’m working. That’s why I was excited to review the Lepow Z1-Gamut 15.6-inch monitor. Having a lightweight portable monitor to take with me wherever I may work for the day makes life easier. Of course, the real test is ensuring it’s easy to use and powerful enough for regular use.
Overview of Features
The 15.6-inch screen offers a clear view, even with multiple people viewing it at once due to the 178-degree visual angle. If you’re doing a small presentation, you won’t have that annoying glare or fade.
The 2020 Lepow Z1-Gamut is designed with an embedded quantum-dot enhancement film to upgrade the color gamut by 60 percent, showcasing a wider and richer color experience. The FHD 1080 IPS screen features a 1920 x 1080 resolution with an incredible response time with no noticeable lag.
At just 0.34 inches thick, it fits neatly inside a 15.6-inch laptop case to carry along with you. It won’t weigh you down either at just 1.7 lbs. Straight out of the box, I was impressed with how easy it is to carry this monitor with you.
There are also two speakers built in. While it won’t replace any high-end speakers, the sound isn’t bad. Plus, there’s a 3.5 mm output to connect headphones or a speaker.
It’s designed to connect to laptops, mobile devices, and gaming systems. This gives you a versatile monitor for a variety of uses.
In the Box
Lepow immediately impressed me by including protection for the monitor. Usually, you have to buy everything separately. However, the Lepow Z1-Gamut includes a screen protector and a cover that converts easily to a stand.
Of course, you also get three cables to connect to a variety of devices and a USB plug to connect to an external power source. That’s ideal if your device doesn’t include a full-featured USB-C port or a USB-A port for power.
The cables include:
- Mini-HDMI to HDMI – for video
- USB-C to USB-C – for video and power (if your device supports power through USB-C)
- USB-C to USB-A – for power only (If you don’t have a USB-C port but do have a USB-A port on your device, you can power the monitor with this cable and use the HDMI cable for video.)
Everything you need to use the monitor is included. While I did start using the monitor before putting the screen protector on, I’d suggest putting it on first. The hardest part is just lining everything up, but it’s no more difficult than putting a screen protector on a tablet or phone.
Exploring the Monitor
The case doubles as a stand, though Lepow does make other stands if you’re looking for something different. However, I found the included case/stand to be strong enough for my needs. It’s sturdy and doesn’t slide easily.
The magnetic ends hold the case securely in place and even help support the monitor when using the case as a stand. There are two angles to choose from to best meet your needs. What I like is never actually having to take the monitor completely out of the case. All you have to do is open, move the monitor into one of the two ridges and you’re all set.
Both sides include ports and speakers. The right side includes the power button, roll key (for brightness and volume control), and a USB-C power supply port. Please note that this particular port is only for power, not video and power. The roll key doesn’t move easily, preventing you from accidentally changing the brightness or volume so easily.
The left side includes the 3.5 mm audio output port, USB-C port (video and power), and a mini-HDMI port.
Easy Setup
My laptop’s not new enough to have a USB-C port, but I do have an HDMI port. The manual recommended connecting to a power source first. For me, that meant using the USB-C to USB-A cable to power the monitor. Then, I connected the mini-HDMI to HDMI cable for video. The display appeared immediately. All I had to do was adjust the magnification and extend the display versus duplicating it.
I also tested it with my phone. The full-featured USB-C port worked great. I only had to use the one cable for my phone and tablet. I also loved that while I had a video from my phone playing on the monitor, I could use my phone for other things.
You don’t need to install any extra software or drivers to use the monitor. It’s simple plug and play.
Clear, Crisp Picture
I know a picture of a picture on a screen doesn’t really show how vibrant the colors are, but the colors were actually brighter and more vivid on the Lepow Z1-Gamut than on my laptop, which is a 2018 model. I noticed differences in the depth of color between the two.
If you need something to extend your games to see them better, you’ll be in great shape here. The response time is fast, and your games will look much better than they do on your tiny phone screen.
Landscape and Portrait
I’m mainly using the monitor as an extended screen for my laptop. However, if you’re using it with a phone, you’ll be happy to know that it will work in portrait and landscape mode to better fit the app you’re using. It’s a nice plus that not every portable monitor offers.
Final Thoughts
The Lepow Z1-Gamut portable monitor makes a great impression from the moment you take it out of the box. It’s wrapped in a protective case and ready to use.
The picture quality really helps to set it apart. While it doesn’t have the best sound quality, it’s more than enough for games, YouTube videos, movies, and even playing music while you’re working.
Overall, it’s a great option for a second screen. It’s portable, easy to connect, and works with a wide range of devices. Just remember, there isn’t a battery, so you will need a way to power it, whether with your main device or an available outlet.
You can buy your own Lepow Z1-Gamut monitor today for just $199.99.
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Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.