UPerfect UColor O2 16-inch 3K OLED portable monitor review: Gamer specs on lightweight screen

At a glance

Expert rating

Benefits

• 3K OLED display (2880 x 1800 @ 120 Hz)
• Light
• Integrated foldable travel case and stand
• 16:10 screen ratio

Our Verdict

If superior color accuracy and clear visual effects are your requirements, this 16-inch 3K OLED offers you plenty of high-end specifications for such a portable display.

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Best prices today: UPerfect UColor O2 Monitor 16-inch Portable 3K OLED Display

The UPerfect UColor O2 is an extended second display that you can use with your MacBook’s built-in display to more than double the screen space to view open windows at the same time, such as for documents or supporting applications during a video call or presentation. Or you can watch a movie with more visual comfort than even a 16-inch laptop.

Sure, you can go big, really big, with a 40-inch widescreen monitor like the Alogic Edge, but a screen that you can take with you and hide away when you don’t need it is much more flexible.

This UPerfect’s UColor O2 16-inch portable monitor is simple to set up and offers a higher screen resolution (3K) than most portable monitors we’ve tested. It works with MacBook, iPad and iPhone, or with PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch or DVD player if you prefer.

Practical aspects: portability and protective cover/stand

Weighing just 1.59 lb (720 g), the ultra-thin UColor O2 will be barely visible next to your laptop in your backpack or briefcase, although you’ll need to remember to pack a USB-C cable (one is included in the box) and perhaps a charger if you use the display for an extended period of time.

It measures 14 x 9.5 x 0.26 inches (35.4 x 24.2 x 0.65 cm), with the lid/stand only adding a little more to such a small package.

The removable Smart Cover both protects the screen during transport or storage and doubles as an easy-to-install foldable stand, much like a protective iPad case.

If you want to save valuable desk space, it features a VESA compliant stand (75 x 75mm), allowing the monitor to be mounted on a wall, stand or desk arm and then adjusted to your needs.

Simon Jarry

We installed the 16-inch monitor on a stand so that it could hover above the screen of our 14-inch MacBook Pro. UPerfect also offers a 14-inch UColor O2 version.

Simple Installation: How easy is the UPerfect UColor O2 to install?

The UColor O2 can connect to your device via USB-C (compatible with MacBook’s Thunderbolt) or mini-HDMI if you prefer. Two USB-C cables – one for video signal and one for power – are included, as well as a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable.

Setup is simple, and you can set the resolution and refresh rate as well as arrange the second monitor in System Settings > Mac Displays.

Simon Jarry

How good is the OLED display for work, gaming and video?

The UPerfect UColor O2 is a 16-inch OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panel with a 16:10 ratio. It supports 3K (2880 x 1800) resolution at an impressive 120Hz refresh rate that eliminates stuttering and smearing and will delight gamers and video viewers.

The pixel density of 212ppi is appreciated.

OLED is generally considered better than LCD/IPS in terms of image quality. Since each pixel emits its own light and can turn itself off completely, OLED delivers deeper blacks and brighter, more accurate colors. Response time (1ms) is faster, reducing ghosting in motion. And viewing angles are better, with colors remaining accurate from almost any angle: on LCD screens, they can fade or change hue.

If you leave images on screen for extended periods of time, IPS displays might be a better choice as they don’t suffer from the image burn-in that can affect OLEDs with static content. IPS panels often achieve a higher peak brightness, but the UColor O2 delivers 500 nits of brightness that eclipses most portable displays we’ve tested.

In comparison, the 15.6-inch pluggable USB-C portable HD display offers a luminance of 300 nits, and the popular ViewSonic VA1655 maxes out at 250 nits.

The 16:10 screen format provides a wider vertical field of view than standard 16:9 displays, allowing you to view more content at the same time. 16:10 provides approximately 10% more vertical space on the screen, reducing scrolling of documents and web pages. 16:9 is the industry standard for TV, movies, and gaming, so 16:10 could be a disadvantage for gamers despite this monitor’s other professional specs.

Simon Jarry

How is it powered and does it support direct charging?

OLED displays require higher power than lower display types, so the monitor may need to be connected to a power source.

The display itself can be powered by the connected laptop, or you can connect a charger or power bank to one of the display’s USB-C ports. A 30W USB-C wall charger is included in the box but can use any Mac laptop charger if you want.

Some displays allow direct charging, so you don’t need a separate power cable for the MacBook, but this is not a feature of the UColor O2 display. The 15.6-inch Plugable laptop can transmit up to 85W of power to the laptop.

There’s also no built-in battery that would allow you to use the screen for longer on the go, but that would have added considerable weight to the monitor, making it less portable.

Simon Jarry

Is the UColor O2 worth the price?

The UPerfect UColor O2 16:10 3K/120Hz Display is priced at $629.99/£473.52, but there appears to be a permanent discount, which stood at $379.99/£285.61 at the time of this review. You can buy cheaper portable monitors, like the $239 plug-in USBC-PDMON, but you’ll sacrifice specs like 3K screen resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits brightness.

Check out our other reviews of the best portable monitors for Mac for more options.

If you prefer a much larger, less portable screen, check out our roundup of the best monitors for Mac.

Should you buy the UPerfect UColor O2 16:10 3K Monitor?

If you’re looking for a second screen for basic productivity tasks, a cheaper but lower resolution IPS display such as the Plugable Portable might make more sense.

If superior color accuracy and clear visual effects are your requirements, this 16-inch 3K OLED offers you plenty of high-end specifications for such a portable display.