Nowadays, smartphones and tablets have become indispensable companions in everyday life, helping users throughout the day, even when traveling, for example, in public transport, or when traveling by train. or by plane.
However, their versatility, also due to their small size, becomes an obstacle when you try to transform them into machines for productivity or for viewing multimedia content.
And then a portable screen could come to the rescue. We tested the Tbao T15, an external touch screen display, which promises to make all commuters happy. Here are features and how it works.
First of all, the aesthetics. Upon opening the package, also thanks to the housing built into the monitor, the Tbao T15 looks almost like a Microsoft Surface. Or at least, that's the feeling it returns. It looks like a huge 15.6-inch tablet.
And instead, it is an external screen, a portable touchscreen monitor ready to be connected to PCs, notebooks, but also Android smartphones that support Desktop mode, such as the latest Samsung, or even Huawei and Honor devices, or even consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, which makes portability its strong point.
The idea of the device is to offer the user, even when traveling, or in any case outside the home, the convenience of a large screen on which to work, or play, or view multimedia content or play. Or why not, for all graphic designers, it could be valid as a second monitor, to be placed alongside your laptop, or main PC, to work on different projects.
Aesthetically it is a pleasant product, very minimal and modern, with square and angular features. It measures approximately 35.60 x 22.40 x 0.90 cm and weighs almost 1 kg. It is therefore not very light, but if you consider that it offers a 15.6-inch diagonal, the weight and dimensions are more than justified. After all, it fits in any notebook bag, or in any case in a suitcase. In addition, it has a built-in cover, which makes it easy to transport.
As for connectivity, TBao T15 offers two USB-C ports, one of which is used for power supply and charging, while the other allows connection to compatible USB-C peripherals, therefore to smartphones with Desktop Mode, but also to laptops, like Macbook 12, Macbook Pro, the latest Macbook Air, but also iPad Pro, and many other Windows notebooks, such as Huawei's Matebooks, Microsoft's Surface and, in general, any laptop with USB-C connectivity that acts as a system video output.
There is also a mini HDMI port, for connecting the monitor to notebook and PC, via an HDMI cable. Finally, there is also a MicroUSB for connecting the mouse and keyboard.
Technical features
Tbao T15 is a low cost external monitor, with a rather low list price, equal to about 170 euros, except for promotions that vary from day to day. Tbao T15 features a 15.6-inch full HD IPS touchscreen display. It is a very large surface, which allows you to fully enjoy games and especially films and photos.
It has a frame of just 5 millimeters, therefore particularly small, well optimized, naturally wider on the lower part, where there will be internal connecting circuits and cables. It covers a range of colors that are not very high, of 72%, while the horizontal and vertical viewing angle is 178 degrees.
It offers a contrast of 800: 1, with an aspect ratio of 16: 9 and a response time of 30 m / s. It has a brightness of 250cd per square meter and uses LED backlit display technology.
Beyond all the data on the card, what will interest the user is the live rendering. Surely Tbao T15 is not a high-end monitor, and it is immediately perceived, especially when it is combined with a medium-high-end notebook as a second screen.
For example, we tested it with a Teclast F15, a notebook that certainly cannot be considered a premium product, but which boasts a FullHD monitor that is certainly more performing than this external device.
By placing the two monitors side by side, which also have an identical diagonal, that of the notebook offers a sharper, better contrasted, more defined image, while the image on the Tbao appears slightly more faded, not very contrasted and in general more “washed out”.
Be careful, however, by this we certainly do not mean that Tbao has insufficient quality. Also because, the above tends not to be noticed if only this external monitor is used, without direct comparison with a notebook alongside.
Similarly, even when transmitting the image from an Android smartphone, the quality of the screen will be appreciated more, without comparison. The monitor can be used safely, offering the user sufficient quality, and in line with the price offered.
Good viewing angles, as well as good is the yield while watching a video on Youtube, Netflix, or similar platforms. After all, we must not forget that Tbao T15 will allow you to watch a movie on the big screen while you are on a plane or train, which is why it is absolutely possible to justify an image quality that is not perfectly crystal clear as it could be on a top quality notebook. from 1000 and pass euro.
The brightness is not excellent, and even when you increase it to the maximum, you will notice a not too high level. Also in this case, it is mainly noticeable in the case in which the Tbao is approached to a notebook or in any case to a brighter screen, while it is not particularly annoying when using it as the main monitor to watch a movie or browse photos.
Coming certainly to the “pros” of this monitor, in addition to the price already mentioned, also the presence of an internal battery, which will allow the device to work even in the absence of connection to the electrical outlet.
And this is probably the main use of the monitor, which can be placed on the train or on the table of the plane to enjoy a movie, just like when you are at home. Of course, when you use it at home or in the office, you can connect it to the power, so you don't have to worry about autonomy.
The manufacturer ensures 3 hours of continuous video playback, but honestly we have ascertained less, also in consideration of the fact that we immediately decided to set the brightness to maximum.
The Tbao T15 screen is also complete for the integrated stereo speakers, even if the 3.5mm jack input is missing, which in reality could be felt as an important gap. The quality of the speakers is in line with that of any mid-range laptop. The sound is slightly cold, there is no bass, but the volume is still consistent, and allows you to easily watch a movie.
As anticipated, however, considering that the main use could be to watch movies on the move, the presence of a headphone jack could certainly help the user, so as to watch movies even in places where you are not alone. To do this, then, you will always have to use the jack of the peripheral connected to the monitor, or the bluetooth of the smartphone to connect wireless headphones.
Returning to the comforts and pros, however, appreciable is the folio cover integrated with the monitor. This, on the one hand, protects the monitor while on the move, but also offers the stand function, which allows you to position the monitor at three different angles.
Conclusions
The Tbao T15 monitor is truly versatile. It can be used on the go, to watch a movie or TV series while on the train or in the office, but can also be used as a second productivity screen.
Again, imagine that you have a second home by the sea or in the mountains, and without a screen to connect your game console. In short, there are many desirable uses for this peripheral, and the fact that it costs very little, at the moment only 125 euros, is an advantage that should not be underestimated. The quality is sufficient, however appreciable in this price range.
It costs only 167 euros and can be purchased directly at this address in the EU version with battery.
The 125 euro version without battery can be purchased from here.
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