Imagine checking into a hotel room after a long day of travel, unpacking your bags, and realizing you have a golden window of downtime to catch up on your gaming backlog. You pull out your Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, sit on the edge of the bed, and squint at the compact screen. It is functional, sure, but it is hardly the immersive escape you were looking for.
Australian consumer electronics stalwart Laser has decided to challenge that dynamic. By introducing an ultra-lightweight 14-inch portable monitor that breaks through the double-digit price milestone, they are shifting secondary screens away from expensive corporate statements and turning them into accessible lifestyle gear.
The real surprise? It handles everything from spreadsheets to Mario Kart with unexpected ease.
Why Does This Screen Exist?
Laser has built a four-decade reputation by tracking down trending, high-end technology concepts and redesigning them to fit everyday household budgets. This latest release targets a massive shift in how we live, work, and play: the rise of the truly fluid workspace and mobile entertainment hub.
With a huge chunk of the workforce splitting time between home, the office, and travel destinations, our desks have shrunk, but our multitasking and entertainment needs have not. Laser recognized that while people want more screen space on the go, nobody wants to lug around a heavy piece of glass that requires a tangled mess of proprietary power adapters.
To give everyone options, the local brand has introduced three distinct models to the market:
- Laser 14” Portable Monitor (PC-14PTMB-004): The entry-level model tested here, on a launch special for $99 (usually $149).
- Laser 15.6” Portable Monitor (Non-Touch): A slightly larger standard option priced at $129 (usually $169).
- Laser 15.6” Portable Monitor with Touch Screen: The advanced version featuring full touch navigation for $159 (usually $199).
The Mechanics: How It Performs Day-to-Day
Unboxing the 14-inch model reveals a remarkably generous package. Aside from the screen, you get a user manual, a mini-HDMI to standard HDMI cable, and a high-quality USB-C cable.
The primary selling point is the single-cable simplicity. If you own a modern laptop, smartphone, or a handheld PC like the Lenovo Legion Go or Steam Deck, you simply plug the USB-C cable into both devices. The monitor springs to life instantly, drawing all its operating energy directly from your host device. There is no need to hunt for a spare wall socket or carry a bulky power brick.
The Strengths
For a device sitting under the hundred-dollar mark, the visual quality is pretty surprising. The panel utilizes IPS screen technology running a crisp Full High Definition resolution (1920 x 1200 pixels). The choice of a 16:10 aspect ratio provides a little extra vertical space, which makes reading lengthy documents or tracking long data sheets incredibly comfortable.
But where it gets genuinely fun is casual gaming. Plugging a Nintendo Switch into the mini-HDMI port (or hooking up a handheld PC via USB-C) gives you an instant 14-inch gaming station on a hotel desk. The 60Hz refresh rate handles everyday titles smoothly, and because it is an IPS display, the viewing angles are excellent, meaning you can easily share the screen with a friend for some local multiplayer action without the colors washing out. An integrated kickstand also allows you to prop the unit up horizontally but flipping it vertically ment leaning it on something.
The Weaknesses
Naturally, achieving a price point under $100 requires some practical compromises. The external body is constructed entirely from matte black plastic. While this keeps the monitor remarkably light at just 560 grams, it does not provide that reassuring, premium feel found in metallic options. However I never felt the need to be gentle at all when unfolding the integrated rear stand and could throw it around a bit (within reason).
Plus the display brightness tops out at 250 nits. This is OK for an office, a café, or an airplane tray table, but it will struggle against direct outdoor sunlight. Lastly the built-in dual speakers are very thin, they are completely fine for a quick video call or basic game sound effects, but you will definitely want to keep your headphones handy for an immersive audio experience.
How Does It Stack Up Against the Market?
The portable monitor landscape is generally split into two distinct tiers. On the high end, premium brands offer beautiful aluminum builds and glossy glass finishes, but they will easily cost you anywhere from $400 to $500. On the budget end, you are usually left navigating online marketplaces filled with dodgy unknown imports that lack local consumer support or any real quality.
Laser has carved out a highly practical middle ground. It does not try to look like a luxury fashion accessory. It is a pure utility tool. While it lacks the premium feel of high-end glass and metal displays, it handles the exact same tasks for a fraction of the cost, backed by a traditional 12-month warranty and local customer service. Spending time with this screen makes you realize that when you are focused on finishing a project or beating a game level, the massive price difference remaining in your bank account feels much better than an aluminum frame.
The Final Verdict
The Laser 14-inch Portable Monitor is an absolute bargain at its $99 launch price, and it remains a highly competitive option even at its standard $149 retail price. It successfully opens up a piece of technology that previously felt like an expensive luxury to everyday students, remote workers, and mobile gamers. If you treat the lightweight plastic housing with a reasonable amount of care, this simple device will quickly become one of the most useful accessories in your daily travel kit.
Verdict: Recommended
Grab one at the The Good Guys, Harvey Norman
