Innocn 15A1F review: A portable monitor that packs unbeatable value

Price When Reviewed

319.99

Best Prices Today: Innocn 15A1F

Portable displays have a repute for mediocre picture high quality, however enhancements in show panel expertise and falling costs promise higher outcomes. The Innocn 15A1F is proof of this. It delivers excessive brightness, infinite distinction, and robust shade efficiency at an MSRP that undercuts its opponents by $50 or extra—and, when on sale, it’s as much as $200 lower than alternate options from better-known manufacturers.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best portable monitors to study competing merchandise.

What are the Innocn 15A1F specs?

The Innocn 15A1F’s specs are typical for a funds or midrange moveable monitor. It has a 15.6-inch OLED panel with a decision of 1920×1080 and 60Hz refresh charge. The monitor’s connectivity can be typical for a conveyable monitor, with two USB-C ports alongside one Micro-HDMI.

• Display measurement: 15.6-inch widescreen
• Native decision: 1920×1080
• Panel sort: OLED
• Refresh charge: 60Hz
• Adaptive Sync: None
• HDR: Yes, HDR10
• Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x Mini-HDMI
• VESA mount: None
• Speakers: None
• Price: $319.99

Innocn positions the 15A1F as a substitute for the Innocn 15K1F, which, in accordance with the corporate, is now not being stocked and can quickly be unavailable (if it’s not already by the point you prepared this). The specs of the brand new 15A1F are much like the outdated mannequin, however the MSRP has dropped to $319.99 from $399.99, and the 15A1F is at present obtainable on Amazon.com for $149.99.

Innocn 15A1F design

The Innocn 15A1F’s title would possibly sound much like the outgoing Innocn 15K1F, however don’t be fooled. The new mannequin’s design has little in frequent with its predecessor—and that’s for the perfect.

Build high quality is a plus. Innocn pairs an aluminum rear panel with edge-to-edge glass up entrance. The consequence seems much like an Apple iPad Pro, full with rounded corners that make the show comfy to carry and transfer. The metallic physique feels inflexible and opulent, too.

Innocn makes the bizarre option to ditch a show cowl with built-in kickstand and as a substitute makes use of a magnetic stand that clips to the again of the monitor. The clip-on stand is extra secure than a keyboard cowl, which ensures the show doesn’t fall over when jostled. It additionally supplies a wonderful vary of tilt adjustment.

Viewsonic’s ColorPro VP16-OLED is much more versatile. It supplies vital tilt adjustment and lifts the show above the floor of your desk. But Viewsonic’s stand is a beast, resulting in a hefty complete weight of 4.8 kilos. Innocn’s 15A1F is much lighter at simply 1.6 kilos.

Of course, utilizing a clip-on stand as a substitute of a canopy with built-in kickstand leaves the show’s shiny floor weak, so most homeowners will need to purchase a third-party case or cowl. You’ll additionally have to maintain monitor of the clip-on stand when it’s indifferent.

Those nitpicks apart, the Innocn 15A1F’s new design is a win. It’s enticing, purposeful, and lightweight—all essential traits for a conveyable monitor.

Matt Smith/Foundry

Innocn 15A1F options and menus

The Innocn 15A1F’s connectivity is much like most moveable displays. It has two USB-C inputs with DisplayPort alternate mode and USB Power Delivery, plus one Mini-HDMI enter. All of the required cables, together with adapter cables, are included within the field, making it simple to connect with a USB-A or HDMI port.

A USB-C energy brick is included to supply energy for the monitor. It received’t be mandatory in case your desktop or laptop computer has a USB-C output that provides sufficient energy to deal with the monitor, which requires roughly 15 watts.

The monitor’s brightness, distinction, quantity, show mode, and extra options are managed utilizing the facility button and the quantity rocker. A brief press of the facility button will show the on-screen menu when the moveable monitor is on, and the quantity rocker is used to flip forwards and backwards between choices. It’s a clumsy setup however frequent for moveable displays.

Matt Smith/Foundry

The 15A1F supplies a wholesome vary of picture high quality choices together with a number of shade temperature modes and the power to calibrate shade and gamma, though gamma calibration doesn’t embody any exact gamma goal. Demanding professionals or content material creators will need to see extra, however that is near nearly as good because it will get for moveable displays. Viewsonic’s ColorPro VP-16 OLED is the one moveable monitor we’ve examined that gives considerably higher picture high quality customization.

Speakers are included and, in contrast to most moveable displays, they’re usable. Maximum quantity is excessive sufficient to supply a listenable expertise in a small room with little background noise, and dialogue proves crisp and straightforward to know. The audio system lack bass, which suggests music and flicks can sound muddy and hole. Still, the Innocn 15A1F’s audio system can work in a pinch and so they’re superior to most moveable displays.

Innocn 15A1F SDR picture high quality

The Innocn 15A1F’s specs are much like each its predecessor, the Innocn 15K1F, and Viewsonic’s ColorPro VP16-OLED. My exams discovered the brand new 15A1F performs nearer to the VP16-OLED than its predecessor, scoring essential wins in brightness and distinction.

Matt Smith/Foundry

The 15A1F supplies a most brightness of 378 nits. That’s basically similar to the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED and a giant improve over the older 15K1F, which solely hit 290 nits.

It’s an essential win. Brightness is vital for moveable displays, as they’re typically utilized in conditions the place mild management isn’t obtainable.You don’t have the choice to decrease the shades if you end up sitting on the sunny facet of a espresso store or airport foyer.

The monitor’s brightness nonetheless has limits. It’s not comfy to make use of outside on a sunny day and will be overwhelmed by direct daylight from a close-by window. However, the 15A1F performs in addition to will be anticipated from an OLED moveable monitor. Those who want a good brighter show ought to persist with a top-tier IPS monitor, such because the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG.

Matt Smith/Foundry

Contrast is one other win for the 15A1F, which supplies an successfully infinite distinction ratio. This happens as a result of the monitor’s minimal luminance is zero nits throughout all brightness settings.

Infinite distinction is typical of OLED panels, however not each OLED monitor achieves it. This contains the older 15K1F, which had a most distinction ratio of 18,600:1. The 15A1F’s improved efficiency places it on par with the Viewsonic VP16-OLED and most desktop OLED displays.

Matt Smith/Foundry

Color gamut outcomes present extra excellent news, because the 15A1F delivers 100 p.c of the DCI-P3 shade gamut and 94 p.c of AdobeRGB. These outcomes don’t meaningfully enhance on the 15K1F and likewise fall a tad behind the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED, which supplies 100 p.c of DCI-P3 and 97 of AdobeRGB.

With that stated, the 15A1F’s shade gamut outcomes are wonderful total and clearly beat moveable displays with out an OLED panel, such because the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG. The 15A1F’s robust shade gamut supplies a punchy, saturated look that’s nice for having fun with photographs, films, and video games.

Matt Smith/Foundry

The 15A1F’s shade accuracy is cheap at a median shade error of two.51. That’s a effective consequence, and never vital sufficient to trigger any fast concern, however demanding customers could discover just a few flaws. The shade error is most important in blue, which appears to have a barely brighter, neon-like look than desired. This is an period the place the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED outperforms.

Fortunately, the 15A1F scores nicely in different picture high quality metrics. It returned a gamma curve of two.2, which is exactly on our goal and signifies that content material seems roughly as shiny as meant. Default shade temperature got here in at 6700Ok, which is simply a hair off the goal of 6500Ok. The picture can seem a tad cooler and extra sterile than best, however I doubt most homeowners will discover.

Sharpness is stable, as nicely. 1080p decision would possibly sound mundane in 2023 however, when utilized to a 15.6-inch panel, it supplies a pixel density of 141 pixels per inch. That’s solely a tad behind a 27-inch 4K monitor, which crams in 163 pixels per inch. The 15A1F’s sharpness received’t go away you floored, but it surely seems crisp whereas having fun with Netflix and legible when studying small fonts.

In brief, the Innocn 15A1F seems improbable. It’s not fairly nearly as good because the Viewsonc ColorPro VP16-OLED, which supplies higher shade efficiency, however the Innocn 15A1F is a detailed second, and fewer discerning customers are unlikely to note a lot distinction. That’s a formidable consequence, as Innocn’s monitor is $50 lower than the Viewsonic when offered at MSRP, and as much as $200 much less when on sale.

Innocn 15A1F HDR picture high quality

The Innocn 15A1F can deal with an HDR10 sign, however displaying HDR takes a bit extra work than with most displays. The monitor didn’t swap to HDR show mode routinely, which meant I needed to flip it on manually within the monitor’s settings.

HDR picture high quality is lackluster. The monitor’s most brightness of 378 nits, although wonderful for an OLED moveable monitor, is much under the 1,000 nits (or extra) that’s best for HDR content material. Detail in shiny scenes and shiny highlights, like a neon check in a darkish alley, don’t shine as they need to.

The monitor’s lackluster HDR is disappointing however unsurprising. I’ve but to check a conveyable monitor that gives a top quality HDR expertise.

How is the Innocn 15A1F sport efficiency?

Gamers could also be disenchanted by the Innocn 15A1F’s 60Hz refresh charge and lack of assist for Adaptive Sync, FreeSync, or G-Sync. Gaming clearly isn’t the precedence, and people in search of improved movement fluidity and readability will see higher outcomes from cheaper moveable gaming displays just like the Azorpa G1 Game.

It’s not all unhealthy information. The Inncon 15A1F’s picture high quality is superior to most moveable gaming displays, so gamers who crave improved distinction and shade efficiency, or hardly ever play fast-paced titles, could want the 15A1F. OLED additionally advantages from decrease pixel response occasions, which in flip reduces movement blur. Because of this, the 15A1F’s movement readability is barely higher than most moveable displays with a 60Hz refresh charge, although nonetheless far wanting 144Hz alternate options.

Should you purchase the Innocn 15A1F?

Innocn’s 15A1F is a wonderful moveable monitor. It delivers enticing picture high quality, sturdy design, and a flexible clip-on stand that retains the monitor secure and supplies a variety of tilt adjustment. It’s not the only option for fast-paced video games, because it lacks a 144Hz refresh charge and Adaptive Sync assist, but it surely’s best for content material creation, productiveness, and basic use. Innocn’s aggressive MSRP of $319.99, which regularly drops as little as $149.99 on Amazon.com, additional sweetens the deal. Shoppers who need nice picture high quality at an inexpensive worth will love the 15A1F.