Let's be real—these days, our laptops and phones just aren't enough. Whether you're cramming in work at a coffee shop, setting up a home office in a hotel room, or trying to turn a tiny apartment into a gaming den, extra screen space is like gold. That's where portable monitors come in. They're the unsung heroes of on-the-go productivity, the secret weapon for digital nomads, and the ultimate upgrade for anyone who refuses to be tied to a desk. But not all portable monitors are created equal. Some feel flimsy, others have dim screens that wash out in daylight, and too many skimp on the features that actually matter—like a responsive touchscreen. Enter the Xianxie M1, a 24.5 inch portable monitor that promises high brightness and a smooth touch experience. After using it for three weeks straight, I'm here to break down whether it lives up to the hype.
Unboxing a new tech gadget is always a little thrill, right? The Xianxie M1 arrives in a sleek, minimalist box—no frills, just a clean design with the monitor's silhouette on the front. Slide off the top, and you're greeted by the monitor itself, wrapped in a soft cloth bag (nice touch, Xianxie—no scratches here). Underneath, you'll find the essentials: a 65W power adapter, a USB-C to USB-C cable (for both data and power), an HDMI 2.1 cable, a detachable kickstand, and a quick start guide. No extra fluff, which I appreciate—who needs a bunch of useless accessories cluttering up their bag?
Lifting the monitor out, the first thing I noticed was the weight. At 2.3kg, it's not the lightest portable monitor I've tested (some 15.6 inch models hover around 1.5kg), but for a 24.5 inch screen, it's surprisingly manageable. Think of it like carrying a thin laptop—you won't want to lug it around all day, but it's easy enough to toss in a backpack for a weekend trip or a day at the coworking space.
Let's talk about looks. The Xianxie M1 goes for a modern, understated vibe. The frame is made of aluminum alloy, which gives it a premium feel—no cheap plastic creaks here. The front is dominated by the 24.5 inch screen, with slim bezels on three sides (the bottom bezel is slightly thicker, but still not obtrusive). It's not *completely* bezel-less, but for a portable monitor at this price point, the bezels are narrow enough that you won't get distracted by them during use.
The back of the monitor is where things get functional. There's a textured plastic panel with the Xianxie logo, and a recessed area for the kickstand. The kickstand itself is made of metal, folds flat when not in use, and adjusts to three angles: 15°, 30°, and 45°. I tested all three, and found the 30° angle perfect for typing on the touchscreen, while 45° worked best for streaming movies. It's sturdy, too—I wiggled the monitor a few times, and it didn't budge. No wobbly stands here, thank goodness.
Ports are located on the left side, which is a smart choice—cables won't dangle in front of you when the monitor is on your desk. You get two USB-C ports (one for power input, one for data/DisplayPort Alt-Mode), an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. The USB-C ports support Power Delivery (up to 65W), which means you can charge your laptop *and* connect the monitor with a single cable. That's a game-changer for anyone who hates cable clutter (so, all of us).
Here's the headline feature: the Xianxie M1 boasts a peak brightness of 500 nits. For context, most portable monitors top out at 300-400 nits, and even some high-end laptops struggle to hit 500. Why does brightness matter? If you've ever tried to work outside or in a sunlit room with a dim monitor, you know the answer—glare turns your screen into a mirror, and you end up squinting to read text. The M1 solves that. I tested it on my balcony on a sunny afternoon, and the screen was still crisp and readable. No more hiding in the shade to get work done—progress!
Resolution-wise, the M1 rocks a 2560x1440 (QHD) panel, which is a step up from the 1080p you'll find on many portable monitors. On a 24.5 inch screen, QHD means text is sharp, icons are crisp, and even small details in photos or spreadsheets are easy to make out. I spent hours working on Google Docs and Excel, and my eyes never felt strained—no pixelation, no fuzzy edges. It's not 4K, but for a portable monitor, QHD strikes the perfect balance between sharpness and battery life (4K would drain power faster, and most laptops can't push 4K to an external monitor smoothly anyway).
Color accuracy is another highlight. The M1 covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, which is great news for photo editors, designers, or anyone who cares about vibrant, true-to-life colors. I edited a batch of vacation photos in Lightroom, and the greens of the forest and blues of the ocean looked just as vivid on the M1 as they did on my desktop monitor (a 27 inch 4K IPS panel). Even streaming shows—*Stranger Things*, *Succession*, you name it—benefited from the wide color range. Reds popped, dark scenes had depth, and skin tones looked natural, not washed out or oversaturated.
Viewing angles are solid, too. Tilt the monitor to the side, and the colors don't shift or fade—another win for IPS panels (the M1 uses an IPS panel, which is standard for good viewing angles). I even propped it up on my bed and watched a movie from a reclined position, and the screen stayed bright and clear. No more "sweet spot" viewing—this monitor works from just about any angle.
Now, the moment we've all been waiting for: the touchscreen. The M1 features a 10-point capacitive touch panel, which means it should handle everything from tapping icons to pinching to zoom, and even drawing with a stylus. Let's break down how it performed in real-world use.
First, I tested basic tapping. I opened up a web browser and clicked links, typed on the on-screen keyboard, and navigated through menus. The cursor landed exactly where I tapped—no lag, no misfires. Even small buttons in apps like Photoshop (think: the "undo" icon or brush size slider) were easy to hit. That's a big deal—there's nothing more frustrating than a touchscreen that makes you tap twice to get it right.
Next, I tried swiping and scrolling. Scrolling through social media feeds, long articles, and PDF documents was smooth—no stuttering, no lag between my finger moving and the screen responding. I even played a quick game of *Subway Surfers* (don't judge), and the touch controls were just as responsive as on my phone. The monitor registered swipes and taps instantly, which is crucial for gaming or fast-paced apps.
Multi-touch gestures worked like a charm. Pinching to zoom in on photos or maps was precise—no overshooting or lag. Rotating images with two fingers was smooth, and scrolling with two fingers (like on a laptop trackpad) felt natural. I also tested a basic stylus (the kind you'd use on a tablet), and while the M1 isn't pressure-sensitive (so no fancy art projects), it tracked the stylus accurately for note-taking or drawing simple diagrams. If you're a student or someone who takes a lot of handwritten notes, this could be useful—just don't expect Wacom-level precision.
One minor quibble: the touchscreen works best with the monitor in a more upright position. If you tilt it too far back (like the 15° angle), your finger can catch on the edge of the screen. It's not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind when adjusting the stand.
A portable monitor is only as good as how well it fits into your daily routine. Over three weeks, I used the M1 for everything from work to gaming to streaming. Here's how it held up:
As a remote writer, I spend most days juggling Google Docs, Slack, and a dozen browser tabs. The M1 doubled my screen space, turning my 13 inch laptop into a dual-screen setup. I kept my email and Slack on the laptop, and my document/editor on the M1—it was a game-changer for productivity. No more alt-tabbing between windows, no more squinting at tiny text. The touchscreen came in handy here, too—I'd tap to switch tabs, scroll through articles, or adjust the volume without reaching for my mouse.
Video calls were another highlight. The M1's QHD resolution made faces sharp, and the high brightness meant I didn't look like a shadowy figure even in dim lighting. I even used it as a second screen for presentations—propping it up so clients could see slides while I talked. No more huddling around a tiny laptop screen—success.
Okay, I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I do enjoy the occasional round of *Fortnite* or *Stardew Valley*. The M1's 60Hz refresh rate is standard for portable monitors, and while it's not 144Hz (which serious gamers crave), it's smooth enough for casual gaming. I connected my Nintendo Switch via HDMI, and *Zelda: Breath of the Wild* looked stunning—bright, colorful, and responsive. The touchscreen even worked with the Switch (though most games are better with a controller, let's be real).
Streaming movies and shows on the M1 is a joy. The QHD resolution and wide color gamut make for an immersive experience, and the 24.5 inch screen is big enough to feel like a mini TV. I binged an episode of *The Bear* on Hulu, and the dark kitchen scenes had great contrast—no crushed blacks, no loss of detail. The built-in speakers are… fine. They're not going to ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ a soundbar, but they're loud enough for casual viewing, with decent mids and highs (bass is lacking, but that's par for the course with portable monitors). I usually paired it with my Bluetooth headphones, which worked seamlessly via the monitor's Bluetooth 5.0.
Portable monitors live and die by their battery life, and the M1 doesn't disappoint. It packs a 7800mAh battery, which Xianxie claims lasts up to 8 hours of video playback. I put that to the test with a mix of use cases:
Charging is quick, too. With the included 65W adapter, the battery goes from 0-100% in about 2 hours. If you're in a hurry, a 30-minute charge gets you to 50%, which is handy for a quick top-up before heading out.
To give you a better sense of where the Xianxie M1 stands, I compared it to two popular portable monitors in the same size range: the ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC (25.6 inch) and the Lenovo ThinkVision M14t (23.8 inch). Here's how they stack up:
| Feature | Xianxie M1 (24.5 inch) | ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC (25.6 inch) | Lenovo ThinkVision M14t (23.8 inch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 24.5 inch | 25.6 inch | 23.8 inch |
| Resolution | 2560x1440 (QHD) | 1920x1080 (FHD) | 1920x1080 (FHD) |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 300 nits | 400 nits |
| Touchscreen | 10-point capacitive | No touch | 10-point capacitive |
| Connectivity | USB-C (2), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm | USB-C (1), HDMI | USB-C (2), HDMI |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours | Up to 5 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Weight | 2.3kg | 2.5kg | 1.8kg |
As you can see, the M1 has a clear edge in brightness, resolution, and battery life. The ASUS model is bigger but lacks touch and has lower brightness, while the Lenovo is lighter but sticks to FHD resolution. If you want a balance of size, brightness, and touch, the M1 is the way to go.
After three weeks of testing, I can confidently say the Xianxie M1 is one of the best portable monitors I've used—especially for the price. It nails the basics: a bright, sharp display, a responsive touchscreen, and solid battery life. But what really sets it apart is that 500 nits of brightness. If you're someone who works outdoors, travels frequently, or just hates squinting at a dim screen, this alone makes the M1 worth considering.
It's not perfect—no monitor is. The lack of built-in speakers is a bummer, and artists will want a pressure-sensitive screen. But for most people—remote workers, students, gamers, or anyone who needs extra screen space on the go—the M1 delivers. It's a versatile, well-built monitor that doesn't compromise on the features that matter most.
So, should you buy it? If you're in the market for a portable monitor and value brightness, touch responsiveness, and a large, sharp screen, absolutely. The Xianxie M1 isn't just a portable monitor—it's a productivity tool that adapts to your life, whether you're at home, in a coffee shop, or halfway across the world. And in today's world, that's priceless.
