So, I stumbled upon this interesting portable monitor, which is unusually large to be called "portable", but considering there are users who would want something that can be useful for both travel and regular use, the UMax 24 looked interesting. I have reviewed a few UPERFECT portable monitors, including the Dual-Stack UStation Delta Max, which is one of the best options for work and gaming.
However, UMax's big 24.5-inch screen size makes it an interesting option for daily usage if you are considering a versatile option for your desktop and travel. Personally, I wanted to see if I could replace one of my 24-inch monitors with this one and have some more flexibility, or not, and after having used it for two weeks, here is how I feel about the monitor. But before that, we will take a quick look at the unboxing and specifications.
Packaging and Contents
UPERFECT's packaging is always top-notch, and the box was obviously quite big this time. Thankfully, there are always many cables included with the monitor, and you get a user manual as well.
- UMax 24 monitor
- 2x USB Type C to USB Type C cables
- 1x Mini HDMI to HDMI cable
- Power Adapter
- User Manual
Specifications
| Type | Portable monitor |
| Resolution | 2560x1440p |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz |
| Response Time | 10ms |
| Panel | IPS |
| Screen Size | 24.5-inch |
| Contrast | 1000:1 |
| Brightness | 320/360 nits |
| Color Gamut | 100% sRGB |
| Viewing Angle | 178/178 degree |
| Display Ratio | 16:9 |
| Touchscreen | Yes, 10-point Touchscreen |
| HDR | Yes |
| AMD FreeSync | Yes |
| Speakers | 2x 1W |
| Rated Power | 18W |
| Weight | 2.46 Kg |
Build Quality
The UMax 24 feels solid out of the box. It's made of a durable metal frame and feels more premium than UPERFECT's smaller offerings. However, the build quality isn't as solid as the UStation Delta Max, which feels like heavy-duty equipment. Honestly, the UMax 24's build quality is as good as it should be, and you won't find any bending or flimsy parts.
There is a dedicated kickstand on the back, which allows tilting to a good extent, and even if you decide to have a shorter angle between the kickstand and the body, you will find no wobble. UPERFECT says that the stand allows "height" adjustments and "rotation", which isn't true since you need to have a dedicated VESA stand or arm to have those adjustments.
The bezels aren't very thin. The bezels measure less than 1 cm on the sides and top, but the bottom bezel appears to be a bit more than 1 cm.
Connectivity and Setup
For connectivity, there are three ports in total: 1x Mini HDMI and 2x USB Type-C ports. One USB Type-C port is used for powering the monitor, which you can either do with the included adapter or any other power source that can provide at least 20W of stable power. The other Type C port can be used for display output, but this one comes in handy for enabling the touch display if you connect it to your PC/laptop.
The Mini HDMI to HDMI cable will be used for display purposes as well, and as you can see, I have connected the UMax 24 to my PC via the HDMI connection and have enabled the touch feature by connecting its USB Type-C port to my motherboard's Type-C port. The monitor then automatically detects the source and displays your content.
On the right-hand side, you will find several small silverish buttons to navigate in the OSD menu, where you can find a lot of settings to set the display properties as desired. We will talk about that in the next section, but let's take a look at the image quality first.
Image Quality and Features
The UMax 24 boasts 1440p resolution, and at a 24.5-inch screen size, the pixel density is almost 33% higher than a 24.5" display with 1080p resolution. This makes UMax 24 a great display for sharper and vivid image quality. But that's not the only thing that makes the UMax 24 stand out. Since it's HDR compatible, you will clearly see sharper details when comparing HDR content played on UMax 24 to non-HDR compatible monitors.
The monitor boasts a 100% sRGB color space, which makes it quite color accurate, and therefore, it's ideal for color graders and content creators as well. UPERFECT has used an IPS panel, but unlike regular IPS monitors, portable monitors usually have a much higher response time. This is where the UMax 24 can't compete with even cheaper IPS displays, which typically bring 1-4ms of response time, since UMax 24 brings 10ms GtG response time.
It's still better than most portable displays, particularly monitors like Umax 22 and 23 from UPERFECT, and it isn't necessarily a big con. The viewing angle is 178°, which is ideal as well, but when viewing it at like 30° angle from either side, the display shows light grey vertical lines on the opposite side on like 30-40% of the screen. However, they disappear when you are past a 60° angle, which is weird. Thankfully, the lines aren't too obvious and aren't visible except on a white background.
One more visible issue was the significant bleeding on the top, and I haven't had this much backlight bleeding on any monitor till now. I hope that this isn't the issue with the majority of the models manufactured, because it is quite unpleasant sometimes.
One of my favorite features about the UMax 24 is its touchscreen functionality. Remember that the monitor is available in both touch and non-touch variants, and spending another $60 is really worth it. The touch functionality is as responsive as on a smartphone, and it's pretty accurate. Moving things on a 24.5" display is much easier than on a 13-inch touch display, and it is a convenient feature that increases productivity.
Moving to the OSD menu, you can navigate to multiple sections using the provided buttons or through the touchscreen. You will find options to adjust basic screen parameters like brightness, color balance, volume, as well as options to enable/disable HDR, eye comfort, and several such features.
Gaming on UMax 24
The UMax 24 lacks fast response, which I talked about earlier, but in gaming, you can hardly tell the difference when comparing it to a much faster IPS panel. Of course, if you are a serious competitive gamer, you may see the difference, but I was able to differentiate only when I tested both side by side. The UMax 24 shows more blur when it comes to fast-moving objects. So, it's not fit for those who are seeking only highly competitive gaming features, but if you play all kinds of titles, I didn't have any major problems, considering I switched from a 1 ms display to this one.
One thing I really liked about UMax 24 is how incredibly vivid the details were, and I can really see sharper textures and accurate color reproduction. Since the display can run at up to 165Hz refresh rate, the fluidity is excellent as well. However, via mini HDMI connection, I was able to get a max 144Hz@1440p resolution, which is still quite close to 165Hz in feel, and playing games like Battlefield 6 was incredibly fun.
The Verdict
The UMax 24 might be a large "portable" monitor, which in reality isn't really that portable; it's a much better alternative than regular 24-inch displays that are bulky and need to have a dedicated stand at all times. UMax 24, on the other hand, can utilize its built-in kickstand, which doesn't even take an inch of additional space. You will still require a quite large backpack to carry it, and considering it nearly weighs 2.50 kg, I don't think I can call it very portable.
UMax 24 is ideal for desktop usage, and at the same time can be brought much easily than traditional monitors. Its HDR compatibility, high refresh rate, accurate color reproduction, and comparatively low response time make it perfect for both work and gaming. Highly responsive touchscreen functionality is yet another notable feature, which makes you faster at certain things and brings convenience to your fingertips.
I think for its price tag of $599, it's certainly expensive, and at this price, you can have a 27-inch 1440p OLED monitor. But remember, this isn't your traditional desktop gaming monitor, and there are certain limitations you will always have with a portable monitor. Currently, the UMax 24 is available on a deal, selling at $489, which sounds much better given its features, and you can check out more details on the official website.
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