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Ananta 17.3-inch Touchscreen Portable Monitor Review: Huge Screen, Small Size

Well balanced. For a portable monitor, the Ananta integrates more ports and OSD features than expected. There's not a lot to dislike about the monitor especially when compared to other portable monitors out there on Kickstarter.

Currently in its Kickstarter phase, the Ananta 17.3-inch portable monitor promises to be one of the few in its size class to offer touchscreen capabilities in a very thin form factor. The manufacturer claims it to be a "powerful" tool for artists, designers, photographers, business users and even gamers.

Additional specifications and details on the Ananta monitor can be found here.

More portable monitor reviews:

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
06/2020
Ananta 17.3-inch Touchscreen Portable Monitor
,
1.2 kg5.9 mm17.30"1920x1080
06/2020
AirTab Portable Monitor 15.6-inch
,
940 g4.9 mm15.60"1920x1080
05/2020
MEMTEQ Type-C Portable Monitor Z1
,
770 g8.8 mm15.60"1920x1080
01/2020
Auzai ME16Z01 Portable Monitor
,
650 g9.4 mm15.60"1920x1080
12/2019
C-Force CF016xT
,
990 g9.5 mm16.10"1920x1080
08/2019
Lepow Type-C Portable Monitor X0025I0D4P
,
770 g8.8 mm15.60"1920x1080

Case

Monitor feels stiff and of higher quality than most other portable monitors we've encountered
Monitor feels stiff and of higher quality than most other portable monitors we've encountered
Monitor is mostly plastic, but the glass front adds rigidity with very little creaking or warping
Monitor is mostly plastic, but the glass front adds rigidity with very little creaking or warping
The IR receiver can be seen here on the bottom right
The IR receiver can be seen here on the bottom right
Textured case protects screen and back from fingerprints. 1612 g with case on or 1170 g with case off
Textured case protects screen and back from fingerprints. 1612 g with case on or 1170 g with case off
Case uses only magnets with no adhesives. The magnets are strong are reliable
Case uses only magnets with no adhesives. The magnets are strong are reliable
If angle is too wide, the case and monitor will begin to slip. Fine adjustments can be difficult depending on the table surface
If angle is too wide, the case and monitor will begin to slip. Fine adjustments can be difficult depending on the table surface
Monitor is thicker along the bottom where the motherboard and ports are located. 5.9 mm at thinnest point and 10.1 mm at thickest
Monitor is thicker along the bottom where the motherboard and ports are located. 5.9 mm at thinnest point and 10.1 mm at thickest
394 mm / 15.5 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 5.9 mm / 0.2323 inch 1.2 kg2.58 lbs373 mm / 14.7 inch 219 mm / 8.62 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 990 g2.18 lbs368 mm / 14.5 inch 225 mm / 8.86 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 770 g1.698 lbs368 mm / 14.5 inch 225 mm / 8.86 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 770 g1.698 lbs353.7 mm / 13.9 inch 229.5 mm / 9.04 inch 9.4 mm / 0.3701 inch 650 g1.433 lbs355 mm / 14 inch 245 mm / 9.65 inch 4.9 mm / 0.1929 inch 940 g2.07 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

There are more ports here than most other portable monitors. One USB Type-C port is dedicated for power while the other is for data and video. If connected to a PC via HDMI, the touchscreen or USB-A port on the external monitor will be disabled; users must connect to a PC or smartphone via USB-C in order to activate these specific features of the monitor.

The three buttons along the right edge for the onscreen display settings are firm with great feedback when pressed.

Top: No ports
Top: No ports
Right: USB Type-A, OSD/volume/brightness buttons
Right: USB Type-A, OSD/volume/brightness buttons
Bottom: Rubber footing
Bottom: Rubber footing
Left: 3.5 mm headphones (no mic), USB Type-C (data), USB Type-C (power input), HDMI-in
Left: 3.5 mm headphones (no mic), USB Type-C (data), USB Type-C (power input), HDMI-in

Accessories

The following are included in the box. Interestingly, there is no user's manual.

  • 15 W AC adapter
  • USB-A to USB-C cable
  • USB-C to USB-C cable
  • Active stylus pen (w/ AAAA battery)
  • Remote control (w/ button battery)
  • Protective case
  • Plastic stand
  • HDMI cable

Display

Display quality is excellent and comparable to many mid-range multimedia laptops. Contrast ratio is respectable at approximately 900:1, colors are deep, and response times are decent. Its main drawback is the relatively dim backlight of only 245 nits compared to 300 nits or higher on most laptop displays. Expect some glare from the glossy display if in a brightly lit room or office. It's definitely not an outdoor monitor despite the portable nature.

Another drawback is the backlight bleeding as shown by our image below. The light bleed is unfortunately noticeable when watching movies or videos with black borders.

Glossy edge-to-edge glass. Bottom bezel is thick
Glossy edge-to-edge glass. Bottom bezel is thick
Narrower bezels on sides and top
Narrower bezels on sides and top
Crisp subpixel array
Crisp subpixel array
Moderate-heavy uneven backlight bleeding
Moderate-heavy uneven backlight bleeding
221.2
cd/m²
239.5
cd/m²
215.5
cd/m²
225.5
cd/m²
244.6
cd/m²
219.8
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
244.6
cd/m²
228.8
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
RTK3B3A tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 244.6 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 230.7 cd/m² Minimum: 23.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Contrast: 906:1 (Black: 0.27 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.08
ΔE Greyscale 6.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
69.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
77.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
78.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.24
Ananta 17.3-inch Touchscreen Portable Monitor
RTK3B3A, , 17.30, 1920x1080
AirTab Portable Monitor 15.6-inch
15.60, 1920x1080
MEMTEQ Type-C Portable Monitor Z1
15.60, 1920x1080
Auzai ME16Z01 Portable Monitor
15.60, 1920x1080
C-Force CF016xT
16.10, 1920x1080
Lepow Type-C Portable Monitor X0025I0D4P
15.60, 1920x1080
Display
-44%
-43%
-34%
-13%
-44%
Display P3 Coverage
78.8
40.72
-48%
42.03
-47%
48.53
-38%
64.2
-19%
41.31
-48%
sRGB Coverage
100
61
-39%
63.2
-37%
72
-28%
96.4
-4%
62.1
-38%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
77.6
42.11
-46%
43.44
-44%
50.2
-35%
66.3
-15%
42.71
-45%
Response Times
-35%
-63%
-31%
30%
-21%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
38.4 ?(20, 18.4)
36 ?(18, 18)
6%
52 ?(26, 26)
-35%
38.8 ?(20.8, 18)
-1%
20.4 ?(12, 8.4)
47%
30.8 ?(16.8, 14)
20%
Response Time Black / White *
26.8 ?(18, 8.8)
31.2 ?(19.6, 11.6)
-16%
42.5 ?(25.2, 17.3)
-59%
25.2 ?(16, 9.2)
6%
16.4 ?(10.8, 5.6)
39%
23.6 ?(12.4, 11.2)
12%
PWM Frequency
24510 ?(20)
1042 ?(20)
-96%
1000 ?(31)
-96%
201.6 ?(23)
-99%
25770 ?(42)
5%
1000 ?(23)
-96%
Screen
-23%
-23%
-61%
6%
-54%
Brightness middle
244.6
206.5
-16%
198
-19%
300.7
23%
214.3
-12%
193.9
-21%
Brightness
231
198
-14%
198
-14%
267
16%
206
-11%
192
-17%
Brightness Distribution
88
88
0%
85
-3%
77
-12%
90
2%
88
0%
Black Level *
0.27
0.33
-22%
0.2
26%
0.66
-144%
0.23
15%
0.75
-178%
Contrast
906
626
-31%
990
9%
456
-50%
932
3%
259
-71%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.7
4.25
-15%
6.9
-86%
10.26
-177%
4.34
-17%
6.66
-80%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.36
18.11
-93%
15.9
-70%
22.93
-145%
6.45
31%
18.75
-100%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.08
4.08
-32%
4
-30%
5.05
-64%
1.12
64%
3.83
-24%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.1
3.1
49%
5.5
10%
9.5
-56%
5.5
10%
7.6
-25%
Gamma
2.24 98%
2.31 95%
1.59 138%
1.51 146%
2.51 88%
2.04 108%
CCT
8089 80%
6994 93%
7310 89%
8200 79%
7115 91%
8567 76%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
69.8
38.7
-45%
40
-43%
45.8
-34%
60.6
-13%
39.3
-44%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
60.8
-39%
62.9
-37%
71.5
-28%
96.2
-4%
61.8
-38%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-34% / -29%
-43% / -34%
-42% / -51%
8% / 7%
-40% / -47%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is wide for a portable monitor. The Ananta covers sRGB in its entirety compared to 60 to 70 percent on most other portable monitors for deeper and potentially more accurate colors.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further measurements with an X-Rite colorimeter reveal an overly cool color temperature out of the box. Calibrating the panel ourselves addresses this to improve both grayscale and colors noticeably. We recommend applying our calibrated ICM profile above or playing with the preset color settings through the OSD to get the most out of the display.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
26.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18 ms rise
↘ 8.8 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 62 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
38.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 18.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 52 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 24510 Hz ≤ 20 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 24510 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 20 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 24510 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Wide IPS viewing angles. Colors and contrast degrade only if viewing from extreme angles
Wide IPS viewing angles. Colors and contrast degrade only if viewing from extreme angles

Emissions

Temperature

Expect surface temperatures to be around 32 C nearest the USB-C ports. This is much cooler than what we recorded on the recent C-Force C-SMART.

Speakers

Audio quality is decent considering the thin form factor and light weight. We had anticipated the volume to be too low, but we find it to be good enough for Youtube videos and gaming. Bass is poor as expected meaning these speakers should be a last resort for music and movies.

Stereo speakers face toward the rear instead of the front, so audio can seem muffled
Stereo speakers face toward the rear instead of the front, so audio can seem muffled
Pink noise at maximum volume. Bass reproduction is poor, but volume is not bad
Pink noise at maximum volume. Bass reproduction is poor, but volume is not bad

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The monitor consumes about 4.7 W when on the lowest brightness setting and 12.6 W when on the highest brightness setting. It requires more power than what most USB-A ports can provide and so we're glad that the packaging includes an AC adapter.

It's possible to have just one USB-C cable for both power and display if your PC or smartphone supports it. However, expect brightness to be a little dimmer and battery life to drain more quickly on your laptop or smartphone.

Power consumption on lowest brightness setting
Power consumption on lowest brightness setting
Power consumption on highest brightness setting
Power consumption on highest brightness setting

Pros

+ thin, light and portable for a 17.3-inch touchscreen monitor
+ rigid build quality; edge-to-edge glass front
+ both HDMI and USB-C connectivity
+ easy-to-use onscreen display
+ remote control included
+ high quality IPS display
+ full sRGB coverage

Cons

- black-white and gray-gray response times could be faster
- stand doesn't grip well if angle is too shallow or wide
- speakers fire from the back instead of the front
- PWM present at lower brightness levels
- poor color temperature out of the box
- moderate uneven backlight bleeding
- no 144 Hz option

Verdict

In review: Ananta 17.3-inch Touchscreen Portable Monitor. Test unit provided by Ananta
In review: Ananta 17.3-inch Touchscreen Portable Monitor. Test unit provided by Ananta

We've tested a fair number of portable monitors thus far and most of them have been unimpressive. Many would have brightness issues, limited OSD features, limited port options, and even hardware issues like non-functioning SD card readers or unresponsive buttons. Thankfully, this Ananta monitor exhibits none of these problems to be one of the better and more reliable options. It's surprisingly lightweight considering the screen size and it still manages to integrate desirable features like touchscreen support, multiple port options, full sRGB coverage, and even stereo speakers.

We would like to see 144 Hz options, a brighter backlight, and faster response times in the future to attract a wider gaming audience. The stand is somewhat finicky and the backlight bleeding could also be improved. Repositioning the speakers to face forward instead of backward would almost certainly improve audio quality as well. Otherwise, there's not much to complain about the core features, ports, and performance of this monitor. 

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Ananta 17.3-inch Touchscreen Portable Monitor Review: Huge Screen, Small Size
Allen Ngo, 2020-06-19 (Update: 2020-06-19)