The MSI Pro MP161 E2 ($129.99), a 15.6-inch portable monitor, comes in at a budget price and offers both USB-C and HDMI connectivity. It has a flexible kickstand that integrates a tripod socket, and its IPS screen offers excellent contrast and adequate maximum brightness. The panel itself is the main shortfall of this budget option; its limited sRGB color coverage makes the MP161 E2 best for workaday tasks, rather than photo editing or movie watching.

Design: Bring Your Own Power Supply

The E2 has typical specs for a portable monitor, sporting a 15.6-inch full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) in-plane switching (IPS) screen at a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. It is housed in a matte-black frame, with minimal bezels on the top and the sides and an inch-thick one at the bottom.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

For connectivity, the E2 has two USB-C ports and one mini HDMI port on the right side. When connected to a laptop via USB, the monitor draws power (as well as receives data and video) from the computer. You can also power the E2 via an AC adapter (not included) connected to the monitor via a USB-C cable.

The E2 includes USB-C-to-USB-C and mini HDMI-to-HDMI cords, both of which have sturdy right-angle plugs.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Also on the side, you'll find a power button and a rocker switch that controls the E2's ample on-screen display (OSD).

A flexible kickstand that supports a variety of tilt angles is fastened to the back of the E2. By rotating the stand, you can set up the monitor in either landscape or portrait orientation. You'll also find a 1/4-inch threaded hole for attaching the monitor to a tripod (not included).

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

A pair of built-in 1.5-watt speakers provide fairly soft, slightly tinny audio. MSI backs the MP161 E2 with a three-year warranty, which is generous for a budget monitor.

Testing the MSI Pro MP161 E2: Strong Contrast, Pale Colors

I did our color and brightness testing using a Klein K10-A colorimeter, a Murideo Six-G signal generator, and Portrait Displays' CalMAN 5 software. MSI rates the MP161 E2's luminance at 250 nits (candelas per square meter); my testing tallied a modest 202 nits. This should be adequate for indoor situations like hotel rooms, although bright conference rooms with many windows and overhead lights might make it difficult to see the E2.

The MP161 E2's advertised contrast ratio is 800:1; I measured it at a considerably better 1,392:1. Most competitors have rated contrast ratios between 600:1 and 1,000:1.

(Credit: Portrait Displays)

The MP161 E2 has limited sRGB color coverage for a portable monitor, covering just 62.8% of that space in my testing (see the chromaticity chart above). The triangle represents the colors that comprise sRGB—essentially, all the colors that can be made by mixing different percentages of red, green, and blue. The white boxes show where the data points would be for a monitor that covers the full sRGB space, and the circles represent our own measurements. Several of our test points are well within the triangle, showing a crimped color gamut, particularly near the red/purple/blue part of the spectrum. Notice, though, that the blue circle is slightly outside of the triangle.

This color signature is very familiar, a pattern that we have seen in numerous portable monitors, particularly ones we tested from 2019 to 2022—we suspect that most of the core panels in these monitors are the same. Although color coverage in portable monitors has generally been much better recently, usually exceeding 90% for sRGB, we still occasionally see panels with color coverage similar to the MP161 E2's, including the Arzopa A1, which tallied 63.3% sRGB coverage. Although they're not great for entertainment or photo work, such panels are fine for general-purpose use, and they sell for less than more color-accurate monitors.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

In addition to our formal image testing, I viewed our usual selection of film clips and photos on the MP161 E2. The monitor is OK for watching short video clips, but I wouldn't use it for movies. Colors didn't pop—especially reds, oranges, and pinks, which were on the dull side. Colors in photos also often looked muted. The panel does a good job of retaining detail in both photos and videos.

Verdict: A Well-Priced Portable Panel for Everyday Tasks

The MSI Pro MP161 E2 can serve as an extra screen for your home setup or when you're on the road, and is fine for workaday use: Think office documents, web browsing, and the like. Although the panel has good contrast, its limited sRGB color coverage makes it less than ideal for working with photos or watching movies. It is similar to the Arzopa A1 Portable Monitor in price, connectivity, and color coverage; the E2 is not as bright, but it has a better stand and can be mounted directly to a tripod.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

For a bit more money than you'd pay for the E2, check out the Editors' Choice-winning ViewSonic VG1655. It covers just 61.1% of sRGB, but it redeems itself with a very good OSD that you navigate with a mini-joystick controller. Another Editors' Choice-winning ViewSonic portable display, the VX1655-4K-OLED, has an OLED screen with superb brightness, contrast, and color coverage, and a price to match.

If you must stay in the under-$150 range, however, the MSI Pro MP161 E2 is a good cost-effective auxiliary panel for travelers with basic business or personal computing needs.