HP E14 G4 Portable Monitor: A Complete Review
Computer displays have gotten sharper, brighter, and more ergonomic over the years, but fundamental innovations have been few and far between. Monitor design has remained largely the same: they typically rely on a base that can be too large and unwieldy to transport regularly.
As screens get thinner, more lightweight, and more powerful, a new type of external display has emerged: the portable monitor.
Portable monitors are designed for on-the-go laptop users who need extra screen real estate that can be reliably transported. Without the need for a bulky stand, portable monitors can be set up in seconds, no matter the size of your workspace.
But an additional display can be used for more than just more screen space. Let’s explore some of the different types of people that can benefit from a portable monitor, specifically, the HP E14 G4 portable monitor.
Who needs a portable monitor?
Laptop displays have traditionally been less powerful than a standard computer monitor, although that gap has all but closed these days
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As laptop technology improves, more and more people are relying on them to work, learn, and play remotely - wherever and whenever they want. Some mobile workstations compete with or even outclass desktop PCs in certain areas.
Still, laptop users looking for more screen space didn’t have a lot of options beyond lugging around an additional computer monitor, which aren’t very portable and must be mounted on a bulky stand.
That is, until the recent advent of portable monitors, displays which, as the name implies, are designed to be as convenient as a handheld device, while retaining as much display power as possible. This creates extra screen real estate without the hassle of using a full-size monitor.
With that in mind, almost anyone can benefit from a portable monitor.
Students and parents
Younger students are relying on computers for remote learning more than ever before. If your child is homeschooled or learning from home, a single laptop screen can limit collaboration. Using a portable monitor as a second screen means you won’t have to be standing over their shoulder to help them with their work.
For students of all ages, a second monitor can make note taking and studying significantly easier. Use one screen for your source and one for your notes, and you won’t have to click back and forth between them or split valuable screen space with two different windows.
Business owners and professionals
Having an ultra-portable display connected to a laptop can be helpful for business owners and professionals alike. You can quickly share things with customers and clients and easily make presentations without having to worry about compatibility with other displays.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a personal monitor, there’s no need to look any further than the HP E14 G4 portable monitor.
Introducing the HP E14 G4 portable monitor
The HP E14 G4 Portable Monitor continues the HP tradition of quality and convenience at an affordable price. This 1920 x 1080 full high-definition (FHD) screen measures 14 inches diagonally, and with a thickness of just 4.75 mm, you can fit it in your laptop bag without issue.
It’s big enough to provide significantly more screen real estate without taking up too much physical space. The simple but strong integrated kickstand folds out for minimal intrusion, no matter the workspace.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about bulky power adapters. The HP E14 G4 portable monitor plugs directly into your laptop via the included USB-C cable. Your machine will provide the power to the device, so you won’t need to find an extra outlet to power your monitor.
And if your machine uses a USB-C cable to charge, don’t fret. The HP E14 G4 has two USB-C inputs with passthrough so you can charge your device and power the monitor all at once.
Considering its size and portability, you might be wondering how the E14 G4 stacks up in terms of display power.
Standout features
The E14 G4 portable monitor provides superior picture clarity thanks to its IPS screen. IPS stands for In-Plane Switching, and it is a type of LCD (liquid crystal display) panel that has some significant benefits over traditional TN (twisted nematic) computer monitors.
It’s hard to understand the differences without getting a little technical. Both IPS and TN monitors utilize a polarizer to electrically charge liquid crystals into place, creating an image. The differences come from where the polarizers are placed within the display.
If that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to you, don’t worry. All you need to know is that an IPS screen provides sharper visuals, enhanced color accuracy, and a much wider viewing range. In other words, you’ll be pleased with the display power of this portable monitor!
The E14 G4 features an 800:1 contrast ratio, which measures the difference between the brightest white and the darkest black pixels in the display. The higher the contrast ratio, the more vibrant and pronounced a monitor’s picture.
A monitor’s brightness can be measured in nits, which helps gauge the maximum brightness of the display. At a maximum of 400 nits, this screen is bright, but you won’t have to worry about eye strain thanks to the built-in low blue light mode.
Also worth mentioning is the monitor’s pixel pitch, which measures the distance between each pixel on the screen. The larger the pitch, the more pronounced the pixels will be. This means the closer to the screen you are, you’ll want a smaller pitch to ensure sharpness and clarity.
This shouldn’t be a concern though: the E14 G4 features a pixel pitch of 0.161. With its anti-glare screen, the E14 G4 is good for close-up and distance viewing.
Other technical specifications
While the E14 G4 isn’t designed with gaming in mind, gamers and video editors should know the monitor features a 60 Hz refresh rate. It’s perfect for virtually all general use cases, except for those looking for high-frame-rate performance in games. Still, the monitor does feature support for various common resolutions, which can be helpful for gamers in adjusting game performance.
You can also control various monitor settings via on-screen buttons for brightness, power management, and image color.
Conclusion
It should be clear that the HP E14 G4 is one of the best options for those looking for a portable display. It packs just enough power to cover a wide variety of general use cases, while remaining light and portable. And at such a competitive price, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal on extra screen real estate for your laptop.
