As the mobile market on our technology is getting bigger and bigger, big monitors and dual screens are going out of fashion fast. When we talk about mobility, we want a few things, simplicity, functionality, and ease of use. For people who travel a lot and want that dual monitor experience because of work or just because they like it that way, they need to either sacrifice the functionality or their ease of use. However, for people who get to try the AOC i1601fwux they might like what it has to offer.
The AOC i1601fwux is an easy-to-use monitor that hooks up to your device using an USB-c port and nothing else. The only problem we found with it was a few technical issues, we hope will get ironed out in its future issues. So, let’s take a more detailed look at what this monitor has to offer.
Features
The Design
The design of this little portable monitor is slick and thin. The back is aluminum, and it has a solid size of 14.9 x 9.25 x 0.3 inches and weighs 1.8 pounds. Owners of tables may realize that it is even thinner than some of the famous tablet brands on the market.
The Display
The 15.6-inch display delivers a 1080p resolution. However, we have had a disappointing experience with it as it has given us a stellar picture quality. If you are on the road and looking for something to provide you with that second monitor feels, where you will fulfill your secondary needs with it, then this can work out for you.
However, if you are in the market for a monitor that can support your graphic design job, and one that will give you a crystal-clear picture, then you are out of luck. If you play the newest trailers in full resolution, you will see that the coloring is a bit off and that the picture can get a bit muddy in some situations. That is because these monitors are designed to be used as a second screen from the get-go.
They resemble the quality of the early LCD tv displays that were on the market a few years back. Another thing to keep in mind is – when we use laptops we usually don’t suffer from picture quality at small angles. This was a problem with the AOC i160. With just a 30-degree angle we would lose almost all the visibility of the picture, so make sure you keep it in front of you.
The Setup
Like we mentioned before, the monitor has a USB-C port that connects to almost anything that’s made post-2015, or in other words, the installation is easy as pie. The process goes something like this: connect the cable to your laptop device, power it on, and let the automatic driver update deal with everything else. We tested it on three different laptops, and it worked perfectly within minutes every time.
Now, we get to the bad part of the setup, which is the setup of the monitor on the table. To place it like it was intended it should be placed on a table where the back part will have a magnetized folding metal holder. The problem is that the magnets are so weak that the monitor will fall if you nudge it accidentally. That can work ok if you are in your hotel room or at your friend’s house, but if you are going full mobile like in a coffee shop or the outdoors, this won’t work as intended.
I will usually result in the monitor hitting the table and the magnetic back part detaching itself whenever some interference happens. So, you need a steady workbench to be able to use it. Either that or you need some ingenuity.
Interface
This was a tricky part, as we did like the interface but only to an extent. The problem starts with its power button. You see this monitor was done with simplicity in mind which is excellent in many cases, however, not when you force every option in one button.
So, for instance, if you wanted to adjust the brightness, you will have to play whack a mole with the power button, as if you press it long you get into the menu of your desired category and if you push it too quickly, you will cycle the options.
The problem starts when it registers that during your long press you let go of the button and pressed it again. That can be frustrating, to say the least. The USB-C port works flawlessly, but if you are missing a USB-C port, you won’t be able to use it, as it does not work with a USB 3.0.
Warranty
When you buy this monitor, you get the three years out of the box warranty, which is decent as most monitors either come with a two-year warranty and only some come with three.
Software
There is no additional installation software delivered with this purchase, so you don’t need to carry any extra cd-s or installations on your USB.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 14.8″ x 9.26″ x 0.33″
- Weight: 1.81lbs
- Screen Size: 16″
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Contrast Ratio: 700:1
- Connectivity: USB-C
Pros and Cons of AOC I1601FWUX
PROS
- Ultrathin
- Sharp1080p picture
- Accurate colors
- Lightweight
CONS
- Only 30-degree viewing angle
- Weak gray-scale performance
- Not very sturdy
Conclusion
In conclusion, we liked the monitor, and we found that it’s one of the best portable screens you can buy today. If you were to take our advice, we would have two separate explanations, which will depend on your needs. If you just want to buy a second monitor that you can use on the go, without any high-end need for such a monitor this can be what you are looking for.
However, if you want to buy a second monitor that you will need for work, or that you will use extensively in your every day, then you might want to wait for the next generation of this monitor. The monitor is not made in mind for everyone, but it is made for more casual use, and many people will be happy with it especially with the price, but not everyone. These types of monitors are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s only a matter of months before the next better one is going to hit the market with some new features. With that said, it’s still a screen that can help you get your work done almost anywhere.
