ARZOPA Z1FC Gaming Monitor Review - Portable 144Hz Gaming for $129.99

TweakTown Rating: 90%

Our Verdict

ARZOPA's Z1FC portable gaming monitor is extremely lightweight at just 1.7 pounds, and with its 144Hz refresh rate and 1920 x 1080p resolution, consumers now have a high refresh rate gaming display to consider that is both portable and compact, plus not overly expensive.

Pros

• Extremely light
• 144Hz refresh rate
• Sturdy design
• USB-C ports
• Reasonable price

Cons

• Anti-glare coating
• No true HDR performance
• No battery

Should you buy it?

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Introduction & Specification Details and Close-up

Portable monitors are becoming increasingly prominent within the tech space as monitor technology becomes cheaper and more sophisticated, enabling brands to incorporate the necessary components and specifications into a display that offers a great value proposition for consumers.

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While portable monitors are typically used by creators, and specifically users who carry laptops and need a little bit of extra desktop real estate on the go, we are starting to see the push into portable gaming monitors. One example is the new offering from ARZOPA, a 16.1-inch 1920 x 1080p resolution monitor that features a 144Hz refresh rate. The ARZOPA Z1FC (black) is priced at just $149 as currently listed on Amazon at the time of writing, but is sold on the ARZOPA website for $179.

The gray version, which is identical to the black version specification-wise, is currently listed on the ARZOPA website for $129.99. Today, we are going to be taking a close-up look at the Z1FC to determine what type of consumer would benefit from picking up one of these portable displays. We will be evaluating the display to discover its strengths, weaknesses, and most impressive aspects. Before we get into that, I should mention the Z1FC supports: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1/2, Steam Deck, PCs, smartphones, and more.

Specifications

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Design

The Z1FC is a portable monitor that features a premium aluminium chassis that offers a sturdy yet sleek feel in the hand. The choice to go with an aluminium chassis has two benefits: it maintains a very premium look and feel, while also keeping the weight down to a minimum, which is crucial for a portable monitor. Additionally, having an aluminium chassis means heat dissipation is better than plastic alternatives, while also being resistant to bending or flexing.

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Coming in with a weight of just 780 grams, or 1.7 pounds, I can see why ARZOPA opted for this material choice and give them major points in doing so, as the Z1FC is impressively light, yet durable - exactly what you want out of a portable monitor. Moreover, the Z1FC measures just 9.3mm thick, allowing it to easily slip into a laptop bag or a sleeve.

Keeping to the physical design of the display, the Z1FC features very narrow bezels, with a slightly thicker bottom bezel that discreetly houses the "ARZOPA" logo. The top and side bezels measure at just 0.5mm, while the bottom bezel measures at 20mm.

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Moving to the left-hand side of the Z1FC, you will find the connectivity ports, and here is where things get interesting. ARZOPA has equipped the Z1FC with the following connectivity options: 2x USB-C and 1x Mini HDMI. The combination of these three ports enables a wide variety of use cases for the monitor. For example, taking advantage of the USB-C port, a user can plug the Z1FC directly into their PC via another fully featured USB-C port and use the Z1FC as a second, or even primary display. What is great about the Z1FC is the USB-C ports, and the provided USB-C cable can carry a video signal directly along with power, removing the need for a second cable.

This means the Z1FC can be plugged directly into a laptop/device with a corresponding USB-C port that can provide enough power, and not have to also plug in an additional USB-C cable strictly for power. The same can't be said for the Mini HDMI port, which, when used, will mean the user has to plug a USB-C cable into a power source to power the monitor, as the Mini HDMI port can't carry enough power over the cable to power the display. Notably, not all USB-C ports will be able to power the Z1FC and display out; it will only be USB-C ports that are "Fully Featured," meaning Power Delivery, data transfer, and video signal compatible.

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All of these connectivity options are located on the left-hand side of the display, and above them are the On-Screen Display (OSD) controls, which are an up/down button rocker for navigating, a power button, and the menu/select button. On the right-hand side of the display is the built-in speaker hole, and after testing the speakers, I can say they aren't fantastic quality, but they do the job for any pop-up gaming experience or video watching. You can't really expect too much out of this relatively small form factor in terms of sound quality, but what you do get is totally passable.

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Moving to the back of the Z1FC, there is the kickstand. This integrated kickstand folds flush with the back of the monitor when not in use, maintaining the sleek profile. When opened, it offers around 80 degrees of tilt adjustment that can be easily angled to the desired degree. The stand is also made of aluminium, adding to the overall sturdy feel.

The Z1FC doesn't feature an internal battery, and while that does make it less portable than other portable monitors that do feature a battery, the trade-off is that the Z1FC is much lighter. So, as a potential buyer, you will need to decide between a portable monitor that features a battery and is heavier, or a portable monitor that doesn't have a battery but is instead much lighter.

Panel Breakdown

The panel within the Z1FC is an IPS panel that offers a variety of customization options via the integrated OSD options. Users will get a contrast ratio of 1000:1, 300 nits of brightness, 16.7 million colors, color temperatures up to 6800K, a resolution of 1920 x 1080, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and a 4ms response time.

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ARZOPA doesn't list whether the response time is measured in MPRT or GtG, but third-party testing indicates the response time lands around 4ms. That is quite slow for a gaming monitor, but considering the form factor, size, and power for this monitor, I would find that acceptable given the situations the Z1FC would be used in - portable gaming, presentations, laptop work/video watching.

With a 16.1-inch screen and a Full HD resolution, the Z1FC has a 137 PPI, or Pixels Per Inch. The recommended PPI is anything over 100. So, we are sitting pretty in terms of image clarity when it comes to resolution. Throughout testing, I found the Z1FC to provide a crisp image in both video and text-based testing. While the Z1FC didn't perform the absolute best, its results were totally passable, leading me to be able to comfortably recommend it for portable work use. Color performance was great too, while definitely not as rich as an OLED display, the Z1FC provides an adequate color profile that is suitable for games and work-based processes.

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ARZOPA states the Z1FC screen features a matte anti-glare finish, and while I did notice the finish, and can verify the company isn't lying about it being present, I can't say it's very anti-glare. As you can see in some of the images of the Z1FC, there is quite a glare, particularly when light is directly hitting the display.

For this reason, and the fact that the Z1FC only has 250 - 300 nits of brightness, I would advise against the Z1FC being used in any situation where direct light is hitting the screen. The anti-glare coating does dissipate the light across the panel and reduces reflections, but this dissipation results in the image being washed out. The Z1FC is ideal for indoor use, not outdoor.

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With a 144Hz refresh rate, the Z1FC is more than adequate for console use, making it ideal for all current-gen consoles, including the recently released Nintendo Switch 2. However, to use the Z1FC with a console, you will need to use the Mini HDMI port, as consoles can't provide enough power over USB-C. This means to game portably with, say, a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, you will need to carry a power bank to provide the console with enough power to run the display.

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A last note on the panel is the touted HDR sticker found on the marketing for the Z1FC. This is purely marketing, and doesn't represent any meaningful HDR image quality whatsoever. The Z1FC does recognize an HDR10 signal, but the display lacks local dimming and high peak brightness to actually produce an HDR image. This is not an HDR display at all. Ignore that marketing when making a purchasing decision.

Performance

There are a variety of different use cases with the Z1FC, with this portable monitor being truly versatile in its nature. Firstly, the Z1FC and its 144Hz panel mean it can comfortably be plugged into a PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion GO, laptop, and a PC. In each of these situations, the Z1FC can be used for a variety of different tasks. For example, if you are traveling and want a bigger display to enjoy a title with a friend, the Z1FC can be pulled out and connected via the applicable connectivity option and enjoyed in almost any location.

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Moreover, if you are at home and want a small additional display to your primary monitor for perhaps video watching while you are working on your primary monitor, a Twitch chat if you are a streamer, or want to setup a temporary gaming station in the family room and don't want to take over the home TV, the Z1FC can works perfectly in that situation. Having access to a portable 1080p 144Hz display that is extremely light and durable means it's easy to travel with and provides more than enough power for any portable gaming setup.

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There is also the productivity possibility of the Z1FC. Due to the Z1FC being able to connect via USB-C, users can turn their gaming monitor into a productivity powerhouse when the time comes. Business travellers, students, or general hybrid workers can plug in their laptops and use the Z1FC as a presentation display.

Moreover, work-oriented tasks that benefit from extended desktop space, such as Slack, Discord, Teams, or Zoom meetings, will enable a user to have their document, spreadsheet, or email on their primary display and their communication application on the Z1FC - or vice versa. Writers, such as myself, also benefit intensely from portable displays such as the Z1FC, as we can have the source material for what we are writing about on one display and the document we are writing into on our primary display.

Final Thoughts

So, should you buy the Z1FC? I would recommend the Z1FC to anyone who is on the move constantly and is after a light display with a high refresh rate. More specifically, anyone who flexes between gaming and work-based activities on the go. Work by day, game by night.

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With the Z1FC being an extremely light but powerful portable display, I can see it being a great addition to someone who is moving location constantly, but is in need of desktop real estate and a bigger screen than what they currently have. For example, doing Zoom meetings in a hotel room and then taking their laptop to a coffee shop for some writing. Then back to the hotel room for a relaxing gaming session.

That user would get the most out of the Z1FC. However, I can also see the Z1FC being a great addition for an at-home PC user who is just looking to get a cheap second or even third monitor for their setup. The Z1FC could be used for a dedicated Twitch chat, Spotify window, or spreadsheet monitor. For $129.99, you can't really ask for much more than the Z1FC.