Lepow Lite H1 portable monitor review: Strong steps forward in every aspect except one

Back in 2019, we reviewed the 15.6-inch Lepow USB-C portable monitor and found it to be useful but with several limitations. In particular, its colors coverage and brightness levels were very limited when compared to even the displays on cheap laptops. For 2021, the manufacturer has launched a new 14-inch USB-C portable monitor that directly addresses some of these criticisms.

First, the pros. The monitor covers nearly all of the sRGB standard for significantly better colors than the older 15.6-inch model. Colors and grayscale are surprisingly accurate as well with average DeltaE values of just 2.05 and 2.3, respectively, before any end-user calibration attempts. Combine this with the high >900:1 contrast ratio and decent response times and you a monitor that works better than average for both content creation and gaming purposes.

Unfortunately, a couple of aspects bring the whole thing down. In particular, maximum brightness is too dim at only 160 nits to be even dimmer than the older 15.6-inch model which was already not bright enough to begin with. The displays on most budget laptops average around 200 nits meaning that this 14-inch Lepow is noticeably dimmer than even the cheapest models. The glossy panel accentuates this disadvantage as glare becomes inevitable and almost impossible to avoid.

We suspect that the limited brightness is due to the limited power supply of the monitor. The unit ships with a USB-C AC adapter that's rated for an output of only 10 W (5 V/2 A). Had the manufacturer designed the monitor around a more capable power source, then the maximum brightness could have likely been improved.

The second major drawback to the monitor is its faux leather folio case which doubles as a stand for portrait mode and landscape mode. While it works as intended, it's very finicky to use and not as stable as we would like. The cables will almost always get in the way as well especially since the ports are now on the rear of the monitor instead of its edges.

The Lepow Lite H1 has some of the best and most accurate colors we've seen for a portable monitor in its price range. However, you're going to want to make sure that you have ambient lighting under control in your office or work desk before purchasing.

The Lepow monitor is now available on Amazon for $199 USD or less if on sale.