When it comes to additional displays for laptops, there aren’t many options. The most common solution is simply purchasing a standalone monitor to use alongside your laptop; however, Mobile Pixels’ Duex Plus provides a unique solution.
The Duex Plus is a portable monitor housed in an aluminum shell that can be attached to the back of a laptop or another flat surface. The way it attaches is simple yet ingenious, using magnets. Not only does this method make mounting quick, but it can also be easily removed if necessary.
The Duex Plus can then be extended to function as a secondary display with a minimal form factor, and it offers different adjustable configurations. To me, the Duex Plus has been specialized and optimized to the highest extent for its use case: laptops.
Duex Plus Specifications
The overall build quality is superb. The monitor features a sleek aluminum frame that cleans easily and is well-made. While handling it, I noticed it could get noticeably smudged with fingerprints, but it is easily cleanable.
The emphasis of the Duex Plus is largely on its portability and adaptability. When considering other portable monitors, its strengths lie in its low weight (1.3 lbs), low power draw (4.5 W), attachability, and various configurations.
The Duex Plus can be placed in the following configurations:
- Portrait – As shown in the picture above, portrait mode is great for vertical videos, reading, and working with documents.
- Presentation – This is done by flipping the monitor 180 degrees on the frame, making it flush with the back of the laptop. This configuration is ideal for presentations and meetings.
- Landscape – The default configuration, acting as an additional display.
It is worth mentioning that the monitor can be placed on a kickstand, but it requires a separate purchase which is why I didn’t include it.
Moving on to the screen itself, it has a standard 60 Hz refresh rate and FHD 1920×1080 resolution. Tasks such as work, entertainment, or gaming will be more than sufficient. The Duex Plus also uses an IPS screen type with an adjustable peak brightness of 300 nits.
| Screen Size | 13.3-inch |
| Aspect Ratio & Resolution | 16:9 at 1920×1080 |
| Screen Type | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Energy Consumption | 4.5 W |
| Brightness | 300 nits |
| Ports | 2x USB-C |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs |
Additional Devices
While primarily designed for laptops, the Duex Plus can also be used with a wide range of different devices. During testing, I mounted it onto a 34” ultrawide monitor by daisy-chaining the USB-C port, connected it to an iPad, and a Nintendo Switch.
Any device that supports display over USB-C can be connected directly to the monitor. Some devices, such as the Nintendo Switch, will need the monitor to be powered separately. However, if you want to connect it to a device that does not support display over USB-C, you can purchase a USB-C adapter to connect the monitor through HDMI or DisplayPort instead.
Verdict on the Duex Plus
Overall, the Duex Plus is a wonderful solution for expanding your laptop’s display capabilities. I would argue that the Duex Plus is the best option available for laptop displays. While it isn’t the cheapest option ($250 as of this writing), it is something I could see becoming essential once you have it.
Pros
- Lightweight & sturdy
- Massive productivity increase
- Many configurations
- IPS display
- Low power draw
- Compatible with multiple devices
Cons
- Wobbly on the magnets
- No included stand
- No included USB-C adapter (for using older devices)
If you liked this review, be sure to check out our other monitor reviews such as the Acer Nitro XZ342CU V3 Review!
