Tested: This wild gadget turns your laptop into a triple-monitor powerhouse

Price When Reviewed

$529

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Portable shows for laptops had been simply starting to take off…after which the pandemic hit. Today, with two years to enhance the design, producers have moved on to moveable twin shows like FOPO’s 13.3-inch “triple” moveable monitor for laptops — and the idea, a minimum of, is among the most badass laptop computer equipment you should purchase.

Essentially, the FOPO 13.3-inch “triple” show provides two further 1080p 13.3-inch shows to your laptop computer, swiveling in from both aspect. If you’d just like the enchantment and threat of proudly owning one in all these triple shows summed up, right here it’s: If the show suits your laptop computer and if you’ve gotten the fitting ports and if the show survives the journey, it’s a terrific addition to your in a single day bag or backpack. Just ensure you examine all of the packing containers.

FOPO provided its 13.3-inch “triple” portable IPS monitor (S16) for evaluate, and although the $529 worth appears extreme, it’s additionally price noting that particular person moveable shows price roughly $200 or barely much less. A unified “triple” show combining two collectively could also be price the additional cash. Browsing Amazon.com, you’ll see just a few of those “triple” moveable shows, that are basically brackets or frameworks mounting a small moveable show on both aspect of your laptop computer, creating a complete of three screens. Though the manufacturers differ — OFIYAA, FICIHP, and SideTrak, which makes use of a barely totally different design — all of them supply the identical enchantment: If you’ve gotten a couple of show at dwelling, you’ll see the identical profit from moveable shows on the street, too. These, in fact, slide into your bag.

Here are the fundamental specs of the 13.3-inch triple show (mannequin S16) as provided by FOPO. Most of those specs embody some essential wonderful print, which we’ll talk about as we undergo the evaluate.

FOPO 13.3-inch Triple Portable Monitor (S16) primary options:

Displays: two 13.3-inch non-touch (1920×1080) IPS panels (60Hz)

• 220-350 nits rated
• 800:1 rated distinction ratio
• 74% NTSC rated colour gamut
• 25ms/30ms response time

Inputs (per show): 1 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), 1 USB-C (energy solely), 1 miniHDMI

Dimensions: 14.1×9.2×1 in.

Weight: 2.87 lb

FOPO’s “triple” monitor mounts the 2 shows on both aspect of your laptop computer’s display screen, supporting them through a plastic framework or bracket that slides collectively utilizing a rack-and-pinion gear, greedy your laptop computer on all 4 corners. Setting it up takes a minute or two of fiddling, for the reason that framework basically hangs off the highest of your laptop computer’s display screen, and is secured by a pair of tabs on the backside two corners. Laptops with sturdy supporting hinges might be able to help the two.87-lb “triple” show by themselves. Otherwise, a skinny popout kickstand may also help help the contraption in the event you want to work with the show reclined.

Having used FOPO’s “triple” show for just a few days, we are able to verify that the idea is sound. If you’re the kind of one who believes that their productiveness will increase by having the ability to see extra screens (or display screen area) directly, than this FOPO show suits the invoice. True, Windows already helps choices for single-screen work, together with notifications and digital desktops. However, the aspect screens work completely for e mail, chat, and different peripheral functions, leaving the primary display screen to your major process.

Each display screen has a major vary of movement; the left display screen swivels as much as 235 levels, whereas the fitting swivels 180 levels. Because of the best way the screens are oriented, that implies that the left show can swivel all the best way to the “back” of your laptop computer, reworking it right into a supplementary show for displays in a pinch.

Before contemplating FOPO’s 13-inch moveable show, nonetheless, you ought to be conscious of some important caveats that gained’t impression whether or not you can purchase it, however whether or not you’ll be able to truly use it. Unfortunately, we’d do you a disservice if we didn’t observe these excessive up within the evaluate.

Important concerns

When evaluating FOPO’s design, an important measurement isn’t listed among the many specs: The dimensions of the laptop computer you already personal, which might be encased by the “triple” laptop computer framework in any respect 4 corners. You’ll must personal a laptop computer that falls throughout the following sizes:

• Length: 11.4-16.4 in. (291-417mm)
• Height: greater than 9 inches (230mm)
• Thickness: lower than 0.28 in. (7mm)

Do not casually learn this and assume, everyone has a laptop computer that’s between 11 and 16 inches. Laptop shows are measured through the diagonal, and whereas a 13-inch Razer Book measures a enough 11.6 inches lengthy, the display screen ratio pushes it under the required 9 inches excessive, at 7.2 inches. It gained’t match. Likewise, the thickness of laptops is often measured whereas closed. In this case, it’s the thickness of the highest half, during which the show is mounted, which issues. Thinking about mounting two shows alongside your Surface Pro 8? At 0.37 in., that pill is simply too thick. Plan out your buy, or threat sending it again.

Mark Hachman / IDG

FOPO lists a lot of supported laptops in its Amazon itemizing, which shouldn’t be taken as gospel. If you personal a laptop computer that meets the specs (Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio appeared to work nicely, in my case) you ought to be okay. You’d be nicely served to seek the advice of your laptop computer’s handbook or its on-line specs before you purchase, or pull out a ruler as a substitute.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Secondly, you’ll additionally must know the ports your laptop computer makes use of. This is a good-better-best state of affairs. If you personal a laptop computer with two USB-C Thunderbolt ports (both Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4) you’ll be capable of merely join every port to the corresponding port on the show — the included pair of USB-C to USB-C cables will provide energy in addition to information, and that’s that.

If you lack these ports or your laptop computer has a single non-Thunderbolt USB-C port or a single HDMI port, you’ll have to make use of the 2 pairs of included cables (USB-C to USB-A, or HDMI to mini HDMI) to ascertain separate video and energy connections to every show. You may have to attach the included 2-amp energy adapter, too. Essentially, you’ll be able to find yourself with cables snaking throughout your desk in the event you personal an older laptop computer.

One quirk of the design (which seems to be the identical for competing triple-display producers, too) is that FOPO didn’t take the time to regulate the button structure for the 2 shows. In different phrases, the buttons are organized appropriately on the left-hand show, and upside-down on the opposite.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The third and remaining caveat includes the design of the FOPO show, and the way it’s packaged. FOPO apparently opted for a folding design, reasonably than thicker “sandwich” possibility. That means if you fold the show down, one display screen is folded inward, defending it, however the different is uncovered to the skin world. We’d advocate shopping for a laptop computer display screen or even perhaps packing the FOPO “triple” show within its field whereas touring. That makes it a bit much less moveable, however will assist shield it. (FOPO additionally consists of two display screen protector movies contained in the field for added safety.)

Mark Hachman / IDG

Performance: Don’t overlook your laptop computer charger

Stepping by means of all of those caveats is exhausting. Fortunately, truly utilizing the FOPO 13.3-inch moveable monitor is far less complicated.

The triple show does take a minute or two to arrange, whereas guaranteeing every nook of the laptop computer’s display screen finds its corresponding area of interest throughout the bracket. Fortunately, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio I used as a take a look at mattress included a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports. Don’t fear in case your laptop computer locations each ports on one aspect, because the USB-C cables are lengthy sufficient to accommodate this.

The bracket seems to be constructed of plastic, placing a stability between weight and stability. There’s positively some wiggle within the chassis, however every show’s hinge is robust sufficient to protect the display screen orientation. On the Studio, nonetheless, the kickstand didn’t at all times attain lengthy sufficient to help the laptop computer, although Microsoft’s construct high quality appeared over-engineered sufficient to help it. I do have considerations in regards to the long-term impression of the bracket’s weight on a laptop computer’s display screen glass, however I merely can’t take a look at whether or not they’re unfounded or not.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Don’t count on uniformity between the 2 shows. The vary of luminances FOPO quotes must be a clue; the fitting show output a snug 311 nits at most brightness, whereas the left show put out a surprisingly excessive most of 426 nits, primarily based on our colorimeter. Those are each greater than sufficient for the 260 nits or so we deem appropriate for on a regular basis work.

Not surprisingly, nonetheless, the colour gamut was nothing to write down dwelling about: a measured 74 % of the sRGB gamut, and 55 % or so of AdobeRGB. Each display screen has its personal {hardware} changes for brightness, distinction, colour temperature and extra. There’s additionally an possibility to reduce blue mild and even a so-called HDR mode, although there’s no official certification that we might discover. Don’t count on an excessive amount of right here.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Naturally, the extra screens devour further energy, and powering them with out an exterior energy draw can have a profoundly unfavorable impression on battery life. Using our customary battery rundown take a look at (display screen set to a set brightness stage, enjoying again a single looped 4K film with earbuds plugged in) the Surface Laptop Studio’s battery life dropped from practically 13.5 hours (809 minutes) to 181 minutes, or about 3 hours. That’s an over 75 % lower. Oof. Stay plugged in whilst you’re utilizing FOPO’s screens.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Conclusion: A distinct segment product, however an honest one

FOPO provides you loads of causes not to purchase its “triple” show, from its energy consumption, the uncovered display screen design, the match, even its foolish identify. Honestly, although, we are able to’t assist however prefer it. On Amazon, the place FOPO (and it rivals) can management their listings, the producer is extraordinarily express in regards to the required dimensions of the laptop computer. As extra laptops undertake Thunderbolt, too, the enchantment of this show will widen. Most of all, now we have reservations about how the display screen is uncovered to the skin world, and suspect that some kind of sleeve or case might be added in over time.

To be honest, the extra screens are just a little unfriendly in a espresso store and even in a communal workspace. (Manspreading, meet nerdspreading.) On the opposite hand, it will appear completely cheap to tote a light-weight, moveable, long-lasting pocket book from assembly to assembly, then join the FOPO “triple” show (and the laptop computer charger!) for some productive late-night work.

So FOPO’s “triple’ show is, for us, a distinct segment product. That’s not a criticism — it addresses the necessity for added screens on the go exceedingly nicely. We’d simply advocate that in the event you purchase it, you accomplish that with eyes extensive open. And, ahem, a ruler close by.