The Elecrow CrowView Portable Display Gives Laptops Extra Screen Estate [Review]

Let’s face it. The era of being okay with just a single screen to work on is over. Unless you have a huge ultra-wide screen stretching from one side of your desk to the other, the best productivity is possibly using multiple displays when working on a computer. But if you’re on the go or try to work from the couch at home, there’s no setup to dock into that connects you to an array of screens. But if you want to eliminate this kind of limitation, you should look at a portable, attachable extra laptop display.

We previously worked with Elecrow to test their CrowPi2 STEM Laptop, and this time, we move from STEM and coding more towards a product to help you with productivity. Elecrow has provided us with a test unit of the CrowView, portable display, and laptop screen extension to get a first-hand experience for this review. We appreciate the opportunity because it’s always best to try things out yourself, and we do it so you don’t have to. We hope that you find our Elecrow CrowView test and review article useful.

Who can benefit from the CrowView portable monitor?

The CrowView portable display is particularly beneficial for individuals who need an extension of their visual workspace. This extra screen can significantly improve work efficiency if you frequently juggle multiple tasks and applications. But it’s not just for work. Gamers could also possibly benefit from the expanded screen space, especially when using compatible consoles. Moreover, CrowView is a boon for those requiring multiple screens even when not docked into their office workspace.

Whether you’re working from a café, traveling for business, or prefer the flexibility of changing work locations, CrowView makes it possible to take your multi-screen setup with you. I know multitasking is not a real productivity aspect, but having at least two screens in front of you to work with is so much better than working on just a single screen. This is the advantage in a nutshell: CrowView gives you that office productivity boost even if you’re not on a fully-fledged office desk.

How to use the CrowView, and what options do you have?

The Elecrow CrowView portable monitor impresses with its versatility and adaptability thanks to various flexibility features. One of the key features is the adjustable clip that allows for a rotation of up to 230°, offering a range of viewing angles to suit your needs, whether you’re presenting data to colleagues or watching a movie on a long flight. The monitor also offers the convenience of Plug & Play, eliminating the need for complicated setups or installation of additional drivers. All it takes is a simple connection using either the USB Type-C to Type-C cable or the HDMI plus the USB Type-C cable for a power source.

Not only does this make the CrowView highly user-friendly, but it also means that the monitor is ready to use whenever and wherever you need it. The magnetic fix feature adds to the monitor’s flexibility, securing it when closed or used for face-to-face presentations. This ensures stability and ease of use even in dynamic situations, providing a seamless user experience. The CrowView also allows you to clone your screen when presenting or sharing content or extend your workspace across two screens, offering a larger canvas for those multitasking moments. When it comes to usage modes, the CrowView leaves no stone unturned.

It can be used in right clamping, left clamping, or face-to-face mode, offering a solution for every scenario. And if you prefer a vertical screen, the upright mode lets you use the built-in stand to prop the monitor vertically, perfect for tasks like coding or reading long documents. You can use another stand for added stability if you’d rather use it as a standalone monitor in a regular horizontal ratio. When it’s not in use, the monitor can be moved into a storage position, making it compact and easy to transport.

Pros and cons to consider

I wouldn’t say that the cons are critical, but to be fair, we listed the aspects that we liked most and some things that could be considered cons, even if they might not bother you too much.

Pros

• Portability: Just take the CrowView with you if you’re traveling or on the go. All you need is a cable and your laptop, and you’re done. Nice.
• Compatibility: Connect with a Windows laptop, a Macbook, or any other video source that supports HDMI or USB connectivity.
• Flexibility: You can use the clamp to attach the CrowView screen to your laptop in several ways, including a vertical mode for all who prefer that for their secondary screen. You can also use it as a standalone screen to playback video data from another source.

Cons

• Sound issues: Audio is routed to the headphone jack of the CrowView by default, so it needs to be reconfigured after plugging the display in if you want to hear audio from your primary laptop speakers and not from headphones. This could irritate new users who aren’t used to tinkering with the configurations of their laptops.
• Mechanisms: Clamps are soft-padded to protect the laptop frame and screen, but there are still edges that could become a problem. If you are careful, it works, but I could imagine there could be cosmetic damages if the CrowView was suddenly or carelessly removed from the laptop. Depending on how big or small your laptop display’s bezel is, this could mean a risk or not for you.
• Not for big-screen laptops: There are some design limitations, such as not being able to set up two side displays next to your primary laptop screen if you bought two CrowView units or using the solution on a laptop with a screen larger than 16.5″. I don’t know how it could be done better, but having a cable from the laptop to the CrowView adds some cable clutter.

More technical details

If you’re interested in the tech specs, facts, and figures, you can also look at the two lists we compiled for you below.

Technical Specifications

• Model: CrowView
• Panel type: IPS Panel
• Screen size: 35.56 cm (14-inch)
• Active display area: 30.99 cm x 17.40 cm (12.20 x 6.85 inches)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• Brightness: 400 nits
• Product dimensions: 35.51 cm x 21.69 cm x 2.11 cm (screen thickness: 0.99 cm) (13.98 x 8.54 x 0.83 inches)
• Weight: 0.798 kg (1.76 lbs)
• Material: ABS + PC
• Compatibility: Fits laptops between 33.02 cm – 41.91 cm (13 to 16.5 inches) with a screen thickness of 4-8mm

What’s in the box?

• 1x CrowView monitor
• 1x USB-C to USB-C cable
• 1x USB-A to USB-C cable
• 1x HDMI-compatible to mini HDMI-compatible cable
• 1x Power adapter (5V/2A)
• 1x User manual

Is the CrowView worth getting?

The value proposition is evident, and I already enjoyed using the CrowView device for writing this article, indeed comfortably on the couch in the living room, and didn’t feel the single-screen panic that I usually have when trying to do serious work on a laptop. The Elecrow CrowView usually costs about 170 USD on their website, but it’s currently available as a holiday promotion for only 152.12 USD, so there are some savings to be made if you decide to purchase this portable screen immediately.

The resolution of the display is fine for most purposes, the brightness is fine, the quality of the image is fine, it’s great that it supports both HDMI and USB video, and if you’re a little bit careful while setting up the clamps on your laptop, you’ll get a huge value for less than 200 bucks. I think that if all the points we discussed sound like something you’d benefit from, the Elecrow solution is a safe bet for you. Check out our unboxing clip below if you want to see more of the CrowView.

YouTube: Unboxing the Elecrow CrowView Portable Screen – A Practical Laptop Accessory

Photo credit: The images shown have been taken by Pupu Liang and Christopher Isak for TechAcute.
Editorial notice: We received a test unit to work on this Elecrow CrowView review article but have not received any money for the coverage. We won’t receive any money if you purchase this product, but we hope we provided you with all the right information to make an educated purchasing decision. Update 22nd of December: Previously, we said that the clamps are unpadded, but after checking with Elecrow, we learned that the clamps indeed are padded for protection, and while there might be room for improvement, we felt that this should also be reflected correctly in the text of the article.