Hello everyone, Pete here, and this $200 plus monitor with a huge UPERFECT GR185BF 18.5 inch, 120 Hz refresh rate display is epic with the Xbox Alli, RG Ally, and indeed all of our PC gaming handhelds.
Let's blast through the top 20 key aspects of it, including how well it handles retro gaming and also top-end gaming too, how well it works with other devices, what its biggest strength is, and also the three biggest negatives of the monitor too.
Plus I'll share the three types of gamers who I think would particularly love this.
Key 1: First Impressions: Premium Packaging
So the first thing that hit me is that even though that this is a budget 200 pounds $1 portable monitor, is that the box gives off those minimalistic Apple-like premium vibes, which is Ace.
And this box is pretty huge too, giving an indication of how big this monitor is.
Key 2: Protective Case: Free Protective Carry Case
Act two is that this portable monitor comes with a free svelte protective case. The company UPERFECT really could have charged extra for this. So this is so appreciated with this being an added bonus.
And this case feels so great and premium. This will do a fantastic job of keeping the portable monitored snug when not in use.
Key 3: Design & Build Quality: Slim Design with Minimal Bezels
At 3, and seeing the monitor for the first time, it is wow, I love how there's barely any bezels on this.
And it's super thin to make it extremely portable despite its huge 18.5 inch size.
Key 4: Portability: Lightweight Construction
Linked to this at 4 is just how light this thing feels.
For those of us who will pop this into our backpack for use at cafes or at a friend's house or just out and about will especially appreciate this.
Key 5: What's Included in the Box
At 5 is what we get in the box, and of course we get the user manual, we get 2 USB.
DC cables, a mini HDMI to HDMI to plug into devices like a console or a Switch dock, and we get a plug socket, and I'll be really interested to see if this needs power or just runs off our i handheld OK.
Key 6: Kickstand: Surprisingly Sturdy Built-In Stand
At 6 is a feature I really loved in that the kick stand, which I thought would be cheap and pretty naff, as we say here in the UK, with this being a budget portable monitor, is actually super sturdy.
And the beauty of this is that we can adjust the angle of the monitor super easily.
Whether we're using this on a table or in my use case, which is just on my lap when gaming.
Key 7: Ports & Controls: Buttons and Connectivity
At 7 is the physical controls, and we get a power button, a menu push and scroll button, and also a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack on the right side.
And on the left side we get two USB-C connections, so one for our ally or the device and another if we want to plug in, and also the mini HDMI connection if you want to use this with a console or as I say, with a Switch dock.
Key 8: Rear Design: VESA Mount Support
At 8 is what's on the back, which is simply just 4 areas that we can plug in the screws that come with it, which is obviously for when we use the optional portable monitor stand called the U stand Mag Z1.
I plan to use this, as I say, just on my lap when gaming on my Xbox RX.
But if you're planning to use this stationary, like on a desk, then this is definitely worth picking up for sure.
Key 9: Biggest Strength: NXTLED Technology for Outdoor Use
At 9 is probably this portable monitor's greatest strength. As you'll see in this video, I'm purposefully using this outdoors here in my back garden, and there is zero reflections. And this is because it uses a technology called NXT LED which gives us improved visibility in any bright light environments. With reduced glare to make it easier on our eyes.
The promotional material highlights working in a bright office or a coffee shop, but the reason I personally wanted to test it out was outdoors in sunlight, as I game so much of the time in my back garden on my ally.
Key 10: First Gaming Test: Xbox Ally X Setup & First Impressions
Part 10 is the moment of truth in first impressions with my Xbox Ali X. Regular viewers to the channel know that I've been absolutely loving this emulation SD card I covered in my last video, packed with over 60,000 retro games. And I was super eager to test it out on this portable mon.
So, I grabbed the USB-C cable from the box, put one end into my ally, and the other end straight into the portable monitor, and I ran into two issues. The first is that this was not bright at all, which was disappointing. But the default is like 30% brightness for some reason. So, a quick dive into settings to crank it all the way up to 100% soon fixed this, thankfully.
And the second issue was that the scaling on my retro SD card was all wrong on the monitor. I unplugged the ally, then plugged it back in, but the scaling issue was still present, which sucked.
However, I closed up my retro SD card app called Retrobat, and the scaling was completely fine then, like here in Army crates. And I also tried the Xbox app too, which also had zero issues. So, I think that this is just because that we need to simply not have our app open before we connect. So, we just need to remember to open an app or game after to avoid this scaling issue.
Key 11: Display Quality: 1080p Clarity
The 11th key point is that I was really expecting to struggle with a lower 1080p resolution, with this being a more budget portable monitor.
But I was really taken aback by the clarity of the teeny tiny text here in the Xbox app.
That is still fantastic and definitely super legible and readable, even at 1080p on this large 18.5 inch display size.
And I'll talk about two different types of 4K port 1 monitors that I'd highly suggest if you have a bigger budget shortly.
Key 12: Retro Gaming Performance
Testing with RetroBat
OK, so let's do some emulation at 12. So I loaded up my retro SD card app called Retrobat after plugging in this time, which was now totally fine. And as you can see here, I've been going along and adding loads of incredible retro games to my favorites folder.
Super Nintendo: Aladdin
And let's start off with one of my absolute favorite ever retro games in Aladdin on the Super Nintendo. And this was a great experience on this portable monitor. I think that the lower 1080p display really suits emulation in particular. The colors on the contrast give a great time on this. Something that was very welcome was no noticeable lag too, which is super important for tricky platforming games like this, which can be pretty unforgiving at times.
GameCube: Simpsons Hit & Run
The next retro game I wanted to test out is probably my favorite ever in Simpsons Hit and Run from the GameCube. And this just looks absolutely superb and it's just such a joy to play on this expansive 18.5 inch display.
Like seriously, if you do get this portable monitor, then really make sure that this is one of the very first games that you play in it with the vibrant colors really popping off the screen. Playing this made me wonder yet again, why in this age of absolutely tons of remasters that we're getting, like why on earth has no developer done a remaster of Hit and Run yet. I really do think it would be incredibly popular.
Key 13: Outdoor Gaming Experience: Gaming in Direct Sunlight
Key 13 and I really do just have to stress again just how enjoyable this portable monitor is outside.
Like seriously, if you play your ally or other PC gaming handheld a lot in your garden, like I have this week during testing, as we've had an absolute heat wave here in the UK, then the NXTLED technology that I mentioned just before, that this monitor has truly does do away with all of those nasty reflections and glares that really do hamper our enjoyment and make us often lose our immersion in games.
Key 14: First Major Negative: Battery Drain
At 14, it's the first real negative though, that while it's awesome that this monitor works completely fine without needing to be plugged in, that it of course will drain the battery life of the ally pretty fast indeed.
We can of course just plug in using the included USB-C cable and plug. Or in my testing this week, I've been using this amazing 2500 milliamp power portable battery. And also this ultra slim 1000 milliamp power version too, both from IEU, which I'll leave a link to you for both below. So, that we don't have to mess around with plug sockets or extension cables outside.
Key 15: Gaming Features: 120Hz Refresh Rate
At 15 is that it's super important to point out that this is a full 120 Hz high refresh rate, which is super neat, with it targeting us gamers and it being promoted as a gaming monitor.
Key 16: Second Major Negative: Built-In Speaker Volume
At 16 is the second of the biggest negatives of this, in that turning up the volume all the way to the 100% max level, it still doesn't make it very loud due to physics in that it being such a super thin monitor. So, I've been using my AirPods Pro Gen 3, using Bluetooth. My Xbox RX to really get immersive audio when gaming on this.
Key 17: Game Pass Gaming
Testing Mixtape
For 17, I thought I'd try out some Game Pass games on this, starting with the awesome Mixtape.
This game, especially here in this awesome supermarket trolley level, looks absolutely fantastic. The colors really beamed off the screen, and again, control wise, it felt very smooth to play with no noticeable lag.
One of the things that made me laugh in this section of the game is the infamous OJ reference of the overhead shot. In his case, it was his white Bronco, and here it's the shopping cart.
Testing Subnautica 2
And I also tried some Subnautica 2. And the expansiveness of being underwater really was such a joy to experience on this huge monitor. I know many of you Ally owners are just like me, where we often do get tired of gaming on the Ally's 7-inch display.
And it's experiencing games like this on this gigantic 18.5 inch display on our lap right in front of us that really sucks us into these games' worlds and massively enhances the immersion, which is so, so good.
Key 18: Productivity: Work and Study
Key area 18 is productivity. Our Windows PC handhelds often and quite rightly do get mocked for coming pre-installed with stuff like Excel and PowerPoint. But many of you great viewers tell me that you actually do use your ally or PC handheld for productivity, whether it's for your job or as a student, as well as just for gaming. And having an expansive 18.5 inch display on a portable monitor like this really is fantastic for getting tasks done.
Whether it's creating Excel files like invoices, or indeed creating PowerPoints to present to our classmates or work colleagues.
Key 19: Device Compatibility: Works with Multiple Devices
Act 19 is quick test that this portable monitor works with pretty much any of our devices.
Like here I've got my Steam Deck OLED, and again, super vibrant games like Mario Kart 8 will look absolutely stunning on this display.
Key 20: Third Major Negative: 1080p Resolution vs. Higher-Resolution Alternatives
And at 20 is the third and final negative in that for some, 1080p resolution just may not be as crisp as you'd like it to be.
And that's where this UPERFECT BE133BU 13 inch OLED 4K portable monitor or this UPERFECT GR16HQ 16 inch 3K OLED version may be worth considering, both of which I've covered here on the channel.
This UPERFECT BE133BU 13 inch 4K OLED version feels quite tiny with 18.5 inch behind it.
But I do use this a lot when I want something super portable when I'm out and about, away from home and still want a great 4K OLED experience.
And I covered it in this video.
This UPERFECT GR16HQ 16 inch 3K OLED isn't too far off size wise, from an 18.5 inch just behind it.
And if you do have the bigger budget and really crave that bigger and glorious sharper 3K OLED screen, then this is absolutely one that you should consider, and I covered it in this video.
Who Should Buy This Monitor?
Gamer Type #1: Players Who Want a Bigger Screen
So I think that there are 3 types of gamers who would especially love this portable monitor.
The first is those of us who sometimes just get so frustrated of gaming on the Ally's tiny in comparison 7 inch screen.
As we've seen in this video, playing our games on this humongous 18.5 inch whopper of a screen really is a thing of beauty.
Gamer Type #2: Outdoor Gamers
The second is those of us who want to game on a portable monitor that does especially well in direct sunlight or in very bright areas like coffee shops or maybe our office with the monitor's unique selling point of the NXTLED technology, giving us much reduced glare and more comfort for our eyes.
Gamer Type #3: Budget-Conscious Gamers
And the third is those gamers of us who really are on a tight budget. You're really not bothered about 4K, so 1080p is more than fine for you. And the great thing is that with my exclusive code of Pete Talks Tech 40, you get $40 off, making it around 180 pounds in dollars, which is insane value.
Alternative Portable Monitor Recommendations
13-Inch 4K OLED Option
And if you do have a bigger budget and do want that UPERFECT BE133BU 13 inch 4K OLED, then with my discount code of Pete Talks Tech 40, that comes in at around 240 pounds and dollars.
16-Inch 3K OLED Option
And if you really want the very best and are ready to splurge out on that UPERFECT GR16HQ 16 inch 3K OLED 120 Hz, then my exclusive code of Pete Talks Tech 50 gives us $50 off. So coming in at around 450 pounds and dollars.
Final Thoughts
I'd love to hear what you think about this UPERFECT GR185BF 18.5 inch portable monitor and also which portable monitor are you thinking of buying or do you already have one? And as a thank you for watching this far, I'd love to share this awesome quote. Take our power back. Our thoughts are shaping our life more than our circumstances are.
Well, yes, one of the biggest revelations I've had in life is realizing that just because our situations may be really tough and hard going, doesn't mean that we have to be full of anxiety and be negative.
That yes, we actually have the power to choose to have a positive mindset to get us through those really tough times. And as an extra bonus treat for staying right to the end, here's our gorgeous rescue cat, and her name is Pancake.
And if you want to check out that incredible retro SD card I mentioned earlier, then click on the top right or that amazing UPERFECT GR16HQ 16 inch 3K OLED portable monitor on the bottom right.
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