Every workspace can use a second monitor. Problem is, not every workspace has the room to accommodate that second monitor. But what if your second monitor is small enough to actually squeeze into the most crowded desks? That’s the idea behind the MScreen, a compact monitor with a profile that can integrate into the most limited workspaces.
Designed with a short and wide rectangular form factor similar to ASUS’ ProArt, the display has a profile that can fit under your existing monitor, giving you a convenient place to put a second screen even in small and crowded desks. Even better, it’s designed to fit in standard tablet stands, allowing you to easily plug it into your setup without the need for specialty accessories.
The MScreen is an ultra-wide monitor with a 32:9 aspect ratio, essentially making it a miniature version of the standard ultrawide displays that’s become popular for gaming, video editing, and various types of multimedia work. It has a 60Hz refresh rate, 16.7M colors, and 1,920 horizontal pixels, so picture quality should be comparable to any modern display, as well as a fully-laminated SuperClear IPS panel that allows for glare-free viewing with accurate colors from wide angles. A mini-HDMI slot allows you to connect it to any PC or laptop, with a standard monitor function that should allow it to work with, pretty much, any operating system that supports video output.
It comes in two sizes: 14.1 inches and 8.8 inches, so you can get something small or something even smaller, depending on how much space you have on the desk. For reference, the 8.8-incher looks about the same size as two iPhone 13s taped together by the ends, so this should be easy enough to accommodate in anyone’s setup. The 14.1-inch model has a 1,920 x 550 resolution, 100 percent sRGB coverage, and a 1200:1 contrast ratio, while the 8.8-inch version has a 1,920 x 480 resolution, 50 percent NTSC coverage, and an 800:1 contrast ratio.
The MScreen’s profile, which is 14 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches for the 14.1-inch model and 9.4 x 2.7 x 0.63 inches for the 8.8-inch model, should make it compact enough to slide under most monitors in landscape orientation. In case it doesn’t, you can also use the optional bracket to mount it on the side of your current monitor in portrait position. If your existing monitor stand isn’t compatible with the bracket, the device should be light enough that you can also attach it to the side or top of a monitor using double-sided tape, giving you multiple options for integrating it in your setup. Since it connects to the video source over HDMI, you still need a way to power the monitor. That’s why it comes with a micro-USB slot, so you can connect it to a compatible power source.
While the small size won’t allow you to use it the same way as a standard-sized second monitor, it does allow you to offload a good chunk of your workflow. You can, for instance, use it as a dedicated screen for your social media feeds, a toolbar area for any application you’re using, or a timeline section for your editing software, among other things.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the MScreen. You can reserve a unit for pledges starting at $96.