ARZOPA Z1C Plus 17.3-inch Portable Monitor: features, specs and who it suits

The ARZOPA Z1C Plus is a 17.3-inch portable monitor that adds a second screen to a laptop, phone or games console wherever you set up. It has a 1080p IPS panel, a built-in metal kickstand, and USB-C and mini HDMI inputs, in a body 0.36 inches slim that weighs about 2 lb (roughly 0.9 kg).

What 17.3 inches at 1080p means

The screen measures 17.3 inches diagonally in the common 16:9 format. ARZOPA says its visible area is 23% larger than a 15.6-inch screen, a size many laptops use, which gives more room for side-by-side windows, a game or a film.

The resolution is 1080p, or 1920 x 1080 pixels. Spread over 17.3 inches, that's about 127 pixels per inch. Text and icons appear larger than on a small high-resolution laptop screen, which many people find comfortable to read, although fine text looks a little less crisp up close.

Colour, contrast and viewing angles

ARZOPA rates the panel at 103% of the sRGB colour range. sRGB is the standard colour space for the web, most photos and everyday apps, so a figure around 100% means everyday content is shown with its full range of colour. Colour range isn't the same as colour accuracy, though; anyone doing colour-critical photo work typically calibrates a screen with a hardware tool.

The contrast ratio is 1000:1, a typical figure for IPS panels. IPS panels are known for wide viewing angles, here 178 degrees, so colours and brightness stay consistent when you look from the side, which helps when two people share the screen.

The built-in metal stand

A built-in metal kickstand tilts from 0 to 80 degrees and holds the screen in landscape or portrait mode. Portrait suits spreadsheets, long documents and code, which run down rather than across; your computer's display settings rotate the picture to match. Because the stand is part of the monitor, there's no separate case to carry just to prop it up.

USB-C, mini HDMI and display modes

USB-C and mini HDMI ports connect the monitor, plug and play, to laptops, phones, games consoles and more. You can duplicate your main screen, extend the desktop across both, or use it as a second screen.

Single-cable USB-C works only if the device's USB-C port supports video output, often labelled DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt or USB4; not every laptop or phone does. Mini HDMI suits devices without video over USB-C, such as many games consoles. Portable monitors connected over HDMI usually need power from a separate USB-C source, so check the manual for what this one needs. When a laptop powers the screen over USB-C, expect its battery to drain faster.

Who it suits

It suits laptop users who want a second screen when they travel or work away from a desk, and anyone who wants a larger screen for gaming or films on the go.

What to check before you buy

• Your device's ports: confirm that its USB-C port carries video, or that you have an HDMI output and a matching cable.
• Power: check how the monitor is powered when connected over HDMI, and whether your laptop can power it over USB-C.
• Bag size: a 17.3-inch screen needs a large laptop bag or sleeve; the listing gives about 15.5 x 9.6 inches (39 x 24 cm).
• Sharpness: 1080p across 17.3 inches favours size over fine detail.
• What's in the box: check which cables are included.

The short version

• A 17.3-inch 1080p IPS portable monitor in a 16:9 format, about 23% larger in area than a 15.6-inch screen.
• 103% sRGB, 1000:1 contrast and 178-degree viewing angles.
• Built-in metal kickstand: tilts up to 80 degrees and works in landscape or portrait.
• 0.36 inches slim and about 2 lb.
• USB-C and mini HDMI, with duplicate, extend and second-screen modes.

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