People use their tech on the go more than ever and it always seems to feel like an inferior experience. Whether you are gaming on vacation, editing on location or working remotely, you’re usually dealing with lesser gear like smaller screens with worse resolution, all for the sake of convenience and portability. Well, one of those inconveniences just got a whole lot more convenient with the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor.
In the box, you get the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor, a protective cover, an HDMI to Mini HDMI Cable, two USB-C to USB-C cables and a 30W power adapter. The display itself is 18” with 2K (2560×1600) resolution and up to a 144Hz refresh rate (when hooked up through USB-C, the provided HDMI to Mini HDMI cable will get you to 120Hz).
The display itself has a matte screen to ease the strain on your eyes and has very thin bezels on the top and sides of the monitor to get the most real estate out of the UGame K118. On the side, you have two USB-C ports and a Mini HDMI Port to support multiple inputs. One of the USB-C slots can be used to power the monitor with use of the provided power adapter, but when I hooked up my PC and my Macbook Air directly to the monitor, it was powered by that connection alone.
Also on the side, you have a menu navigation button and 3.5mm headphone jack. Menu navigation gives you a lot of options, including activating Freesync for PC gaming or adjusting the aspect ratio between 16:9 for media and 16:10 for everyday use. You can switch between your sources or set it to auto when a new device connected to the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor is powered up. If cable length is a concern, you can flip the monitor so the ports are facing the other side.
“The UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor delivers a crystal clear picture.”
Lastly, the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor has VESA mounting capabilities, so you can put it up on any kind of stand. Given its weight, just over 2.5 lbs, it can go up on virtually any type of stand while being very easy to manoeuvre no matter what your setup is. However, you may not need it, since its cover folds to be a stand itself.
Compatibility is a big feature with the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor. I was able to successfully connect it to my PC for an additional 144Hz monitor for my setup and my Macbook Air to organize better when I am editing, which feels impossible to do on a single screen based on my workflow. My Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra connected directly to the monitor via Samsung Dex.
Plus, all of my consoles connected with no issue, particularly my Nintendo Switch, which connects without the need for the dock, allowing you to plug the USB-C cable directly into the Switch (granted, this means you can’t keep the switch powered, but connecting via the dock will still allow that). Other devices, like the Steam Deck, are also compatible with the monitor.
The UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor delivers a crystal clear picture. Some people may not like the eye-saving features as they seem to make the picture somewhat less vibrant. I, personally, don’t care about that as it’s serving a noble purpose (saving my peepers) and still maintains its colour accuracy. The speakers are less than ideal, not giving out a super high volume nor particularly rich audio, but when using your headphones, everything sounds good.
The 144Hz refresh rate of this portable monitor is incredibly impressive, adapting to productivity, video playout and gaming alike. The UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor’s 9ms response time would be a bit of a low point for serious gamers, but I would argue that this is no gamer’s primary gaming monitor. It would primarily be for those who game on the go but want a bigger screen than their laptop affords them, so the response time is a small sacrifice, but it is still labelled a 144Hz gaming monitor by Uperfect.
“The thing that I can’t talk about enough is how portable the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor is.”
The thing that I can’t talk about enough is how portable the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor is. At 11mm, less than 3mm thicker than my S24 Ultra, 3mm thinner than my Nintendo Switch OLED and incredibly light, it’s easy to pack away for a trip, be it for business or pleasure. The cover keeps it well protected and slips into most spaces, even backpacks. I can slip it into my laptop sleeve along with my laptop, which will make travel an absolute dream. It’s also perfect to bring for the kids on a trip, day trip or otherwise to give them an alternative form of entertainment if you get stuck somewhere.
At $299 USD, you can find many gaming monitors that would better suit your needs at a traditional setup, and if you are patient enough to wait for a sale, you can get even better bang for your buck. So this price tag can feel like a lot to ask for a monitor that can be seen as a utility rather than a part of your everyday needs depending on your use of the UPerfect UGame K118 Portable Monitor.
I could make the argument that it takes much of what you get from those monitors and packages it much smaller to make it a more versatile device, worthy of being a monitor in your setup but capable of going anywhere with you, and I could justify the price to my wallet. I would say that if you need a new main monitor for your desk, this isn’t your best choice. If you are only in need of a portable monitor, this is definitely one to consider, and if you want a monitor that can do both, acting as an extra monitor in your setup and able to be taken on the go, this is a big recommendation.
