Get both If you can. As in, get your company to pay for the most expensive of the 2, which is likely to be the desktop, and buy youself a portable screen for when you are travelling.
I am not a CRA, but I have this set up and works for me.
Basically, when I am at home I usually use the laptop connected to the desktop monitor and I would add the third, portable screen when the situation calls for it (I love the fact that the smaller monitor can be put in portrait mode).
In my case, the portable screen is an acceptable enough stop gap for the rare occasions where I am working from somebody else's house.
What's the size you'd be looking at for the portable monitor? I find mine, which is a 15.6", to be the right compromise between portability and "real estate". For reference, I got an Arzopa A1 for 80 Euros and it does its job. Do not expect top brightness or colour accuracy, but as a CRA I dont think that either is a priority for you.
Thanks! I actually just bought the [Arzopa A1](https://ph.shp.ee/vArVddW). I did mean dock as I’ve been using this [Baseus USB Hub](https://ph.shp.ee/eWUYYjv) for almost 2 years now and it’s saving my Mac ports.
I used to have a cheap usb hub that’s like an adapter for USB to USB-C, and i noticed my charging ports were losing connection. Hence the more expensive investment.
I’m not a cost person, but with my Holiday spendings 😮💨 i don’t think my wallet can take another hit
UPDATE: i Bought the [Arzopa A1 Monitor (15.6”)](https://ph.shp.ee/Y2phWVt) and good thing because M1 chip pala only allows 1 external display.
I’ve opened it and turned it on+connected. It feels so premium to me like I bought something high end. It’s heavy, sturdy, and the 3 cables it comes with are also thick and strong.
Might update on usage if someone asks, but I’m waiting to use for when I travel.
I travel with this one - works well with both my work & my personal device.
# ARZOPA Portable Monitor, 15.6'' 1080P FHD Laptop Monitor USB C HDMI Computer Display HDR Eye Care External Screen w/Smart Cover for Mac Phone Xbox Switch PS5-S1 Table
Got the same Amazon arzopa. I haven’t been using it for the last six weeks of Portugal in the second bedroom. This is my third time using it for extended stay. Works well for me tied to a MacBook.
Reading some comments, I may check out a 4K alternative
I have a simple amazon arzopa brand one and I love it. It was one of the things that got me on the road, resolving the issue of having a second monitor.
That said I can't really argue with the criticisms. It feels fragile, it takes a few moments to set it up, and the screen quality isn't great. But I put it it's in own laptop case and it hasn't broken on many journeys over two years. I stay in one place for a few weeks so the set up isn't too much of a headache. And the screen quality is worse than my home monitor, but more than enough for the benefits of effective work when travelling.
I would just go with a big laptop as the alternative if I had the choice what to buy. Used to work like that but the company insisted we work on macbooks and it just isn't big enough for single screen work. Getting a monitor in each location sounds like too much of a headache.
Top Portable Monitors on Reddit
1
ARZOPA
16.1'' 144Hz Z1FC
83% positive of 59 users
Budget 144Hz gaming display; poor colors for productivity
CalligrapherFew690
