UMax 23 Review: A Slim 1440p Monitor Goes Everywhere With You

For a while now, I've been thinking about getting a second monitor,  mostly to help me be a bit more productive. But I didn't want another bulky screen just sitting on my desk, stationary.  I wanted something more flexible and portable, so that I could take with me if I decided to work from a café, a park, or wherever inspiration happened to strike. That's when I found the UPERFECT UMax 23.

Product Overview: What Is the UMax 23?

As you can see, it quietly just blends into my setup. And that is where this monitor comes in. This is UMAX 23, a 23.8 inch 1440 pixel 180 Hz refresh rate portable monitor.

Take note that there are two versions of the UMax 23.

We have the one with 1080p and 1440p. But this is how they look physically. You can just see very few differences, and when it comes to specs, they are pretty close, too.  While the 1440p version has:

• higher resolution
• better contrast ratio
• higher response time
• a way much higher refresh rate

If you're trying to decide which to get, those advantages for 1440p version might be the dealbreaker.

What's in the Box?

Now, when you unbox the UMax 23, you can get those straightforward accessories:

• 2 × USB-C to USB-C cables
• 1 × HDMI cable
• A few extra adapters
• 1 × 45W charging brick

Those extra adapters that I haven't personally found use for just yet. Maybe you can use them when your device interface does not meet the connection conditions.

Design & Build: Thin but Solid

Now, as you can see, it is surprisingly slim, like barely there kind of slim.

The finishing is also very clean and minimal. Behind that ultra-slim body is a surprisingly solid aluminum frame, which gives it a reassuring sturdiness. That same level of durability carries over to the built-in kickstand, which is also made of aluminum. You can adjust it to multiple angles depending on how you would like to work or depending on where you are using it.

Ports & Controls

On the back left, you're going to see two USBC ports. One is for power and the other is for the display. And there's also a fulls size HDMI port.

Now, on the right side, you're going to see a power button, a headphone jack, and a volume control knob that also doubles as the menu navigator.

There's also a VESA mount on the back. I mounted it with some extra screws I had lying around (none were included), and it worked perfectly.

Plug-and-Play Simplicity

As you can see, it is still pretty thin. Connecting it to my Mac Mini was like hot knife cutting through butter. With one USBC cable, I was able to power it on. And with the second one, it just worked. No settings, no tweaks, no downloads, just plug and play.

Colors are vivid but balanced

Now, let's talk about this display. It's a high definition IPS panel, and honestly, the colors are the first thing that are going to hit you. They are vibrant, vivid, and incredibly true to life, which isn't surprising because it is 100% sRGB. So whether I'm editing videos or just watching content or just browsing through the internet, the color reproduction is so on point.

Real-World Use

Our view angles are great too. It is really quite impressive. So from any angle I'm looking at my screen, I'm seeing almost the same vibrant vivid colors. And it's not just limited to connecting it to my Mac Mini only. I can hook it up with my laptop, with my iPad, with my tablet or other smartphones, so long as there is a USBC port in that device.

And no matter which of these devices or smartphones that you're using, you still get that very sharp 1440 pixel or 2K resolution and that super smooth 180 Hz refresh rate. But beyond all of these specs and everything I just mentioned, what really sold me for this monitor is how much it has personally improved my workflow.

Taking It Outside

Packing it was super easy, l just tossed it into the bag that came with the monitor. Then you can directly carry the bag with the monitor to any outdoor place you want to go, which is very convenient.

Honestly, it impressed me. Setting it up as usual was very quick. I just had to plug it in and play, and everything started working. And then also, the screen is super bright enough for shaded outdoor use. I didn't have to squint my eyes to see what's on the screen because the brightness level is very good. It also didn't feel fragile or demanding.

Like I said, the build is really sturdy. And that adjustable kickstand makes it easy for me to set it up almost anywhere and at any comfortable angle depending on how I am sitting. Just plug it in and before you know it, I got to work.

A Couple of Drawbacks

But here are two major drawbacks I personally experienced when using this monitor.

Firstly, even though it comes with built-in dual speakers, I find it okay to use here in the studio where it is very quiet, but in a noisy outside environment, it is not so audible. So, when you are working outside, you definitely would want to use plugged-in headphones or an external speaker if you have one.

Secondly, the default language for the menu settings is Chinese. So, navigating through it was a bit clunky for me. It took some trial and error for me to be able to figure things out, like the screen brightness and all of that. And honestly, at that point, I just avoided it altogether because, out of the box, it works really, really fine.

Pricing & Alternatives

Now, as at the time when I got mine, it's going for around $450.

And honestly, for that price point and for what it offers, it is very fair. UPERFECT also have other options in their store that you could choose to go for. If you want something that is way more sharper, you can go for the 4K versions of the monitors they have. Or if you care more about deep blacks and contrast ratio and all of that, then you want to go for the OLED option, which is available too.