How to turn any laptop into a dual screen laptop
Web agency » Digital news » How to turn any laptop into a dual screen laptop

How to turn any laptop into a dual screen laptop

Laptops are portable miracle machines that let you work (or play) when and where you want. Unfortunately, their limited screens also limit your productivity compared to a dual-screen desktop. What if you could have it on the go?

Dual-screen laptops are cool (but expensive)

At the higher end of the laptop spectrum, we see a number of impressive laptop designs that incorporate multiple displays. The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has a glossy secondary touchscreen that pops above the keyboard when you open the laptop.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (2022)

Not only is the Zephyrus Duo 16 a premium gaming laptop, but its innovative integrated second display makes it a productivity behemoth, especially for creatives working with video, music, or graphic design.

The Lenovo Yogabook i9 packs a full vertical dual-screen setup into its svelte frame, with the option to turn it into a side-by-side portrait setup if that's your thing.

These awesome productivity and entertainment laptops come at sky-high prices, and do you really want to buy a brand new laptop just to add a second screen? The good news is that there are more than a few options for adding a second screen to your mobile laptop without buying a whole new laptop!

Use a portable monitor instead

Laptop monitors are basically laptop monitors without the laptop. They usually come in the popular 15,4 inch size, but are also available in other sizes. Some of these monitors have HDMI inputs or other traditional display inputs, but typically the monitor works via USB.

These screens don't have batteries and are thin enough to slip into the same bag or laptop sleeve you use for your computer. So it's as simple as removing the screen, plugging it in and getting to work.

Fit a laptop screen extension

Portable monitors are great for turning your humble single-screen laptop into a productivity behemoth, but they come with a downside when it comes to space. First, you can't use them on your lap, and second, you don't always have enough table surface for the monitor to stand on.

This is where a laptop screen extender comes to the rescue. It is a monitor system or a monitor mounting system that attaches the additional screens to the main body of the laptop. Thanks to this solution, the footprint of your laptop remains the same, since the additional monitors do not touch the floor.

yes we said monitors, as these extenders are also available in tri-monitor formats. Of course, this raises the legitimate question of whether your laptop can handle the weight of an additional monitor attached to it. In most cases, these monitors are so light that they easily fit within the weight capacity of the primary display, but if you're using an ultra-thin and light laptop, it's worth checking to see if it's officially compatible. If not, contact the manufacturer of the extender and ask if their product will work with your computer.

FICIHP Triple Screen Laptop Monitor

Why have an extra screen for your laptop when you can have two? The FICIHP offers a flexible way for road warriors and cafe coders to get a more productive workspace.

Turn your phone or tablet into a secondary screen

iPad with Apple Sidecar Pencil Drawing

If you already own an iPad or Android tablet, you can most likely use it as an extended USB or wireless display with your laptop. In the case of an iPad, you can use Apple's Sidecar, or with a third-party solution. Although, arguably, Apple's new Universal Control feature could be a more powerful way to combine an iPad and a Mac.

Android tablet owners unfortunately don't have such a simple solution, but some Android tablet brands, such as Samsung Galaxy tablets, offer similar solutions. Don't worry if your Android tablet doesn't have a brand-specific solution, because you can use apps like Duet Display with any tablet that meets the app's requirements.

Try a VR headset

The final way to add more monitors to your laptop might seem a bit left-handed, but you can use a VR headset like the Quest 2 to create a virtual workspace with multiple virtual desktops. In this case, you are not using your laptop monitor, but rather creating a virtual workstation without dragging multiple physical displays.

We don't recommend using this solution in public places like cafes or airport lounges, but if you have a private workspace like a hotel room, it's actually a pretty amazing solution. The two main apps to be aware of are Virtual Desktop and Immersed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★