Once in the OSD, you’ll find the standard picture controls (brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc.), along with options for color temperature, sRGB mode, and DCI-P3. There are further settings for overdrive, enabling AMD FreeSync, and switching HDR modes.
The Z3FC features a slightly larger panel size than what we typically find on portable monitors – it measures 16.1 inches across instead of 15.6 inches. And with that extra size also comes additional pixels. Instead of the standard 1920 x 1080 resolution that is the norm in this class, the Z3FC bumps it to 2560 x 1440. The monitor also features a matte, anti-glare finish.
Arzopa also ups the ante with refresh rate, as the Z3FC triples the segment-standard 60 Hz refresh rate to 180 Hz. However, there is a caveat: 180 Hz is only available when using the USB-C ports. If you opt to connect using an HDMI cable, you’re limited to a still respectable (for a portable monitor) 144 Hz refresh rate. The Z3FC also supports AMD FreeSync, allowing it to pair with a handheld gaming PC like the Lenovo Legion Go .
Arzopa specs the Z3FC’s IPS panel with a contrast ratio of 1,200:1 and a maximum brightness of 400 nits. However, in the default display mode, we only managed a maximum brightness of 287.7 nits. Even in the FPS display mode, maximum brightness reached 322.6 nits in our testing.
The Z3FC made up for its brightness shortfalls in our instrumented color tests. Here, the monitor covers 115.7 percent of sRGB and a respectable 82 percent of DCI-P3. While it’s not going to give OLEDs a run for the money in overall picture quality, the Z3FC looks good, overall, to my eyes across multiple devices (Mac Mini, Legion Go, HP Omnibook X).
Like the cheaper A1, the Z3FC features two 1-watt speakers – one on each side of the panel. The speakers are perfectly suited for joining Google Meet or Microsoft Teams meetings, or watching your favorite influencer on YouTube.
However, music isn’t exactly the forte of the Z3FC. While the volume is loud and there’s very little distortion when cranking to near 100 percent, there’s a distinct lack of bass, and both speakers sound tinny overall. What’s passable for regular speech falls flat for most music that I listened to, including a nearly 20-minute live jam session of Seek Up by Dave Matthews Band.
At the nearly $150 price point, I expected a bit better sound from the Z3FC, but instead, they’re no better than the speakers on the sub-$100 A1.
If all you want is a cheap portable monitor that will suit you well for expanding your available screen real estate past your laptop screen, Arzopa will gladly sell you the A1 for well under $100. However, if you want something with more performance credentials and a better overall screen, it’s hard to say no to the Z3FC. With its 180 Hz maximum refresh rate (via USB-C) and a higher-resolution 1440p panel, it’s a boon for mobile gamers.
With a price tag approaching $150 , the Z3FC is stretching into the upper end of the affordable portable monitor segment. However, it’s still well below that of more premium options from companies like Espresso. I just wish that Arzopa could have found a way to squeeze in better speakers for the price.
Brandon Hill is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware. He has written about PC and Mac tech since the late 1990s with bylines at AnandTech, DailyTech, and Hot Hardware. When he is not consuming copious amounts of tech news, he can be found enjoying the NC mountains or the beach with his wife and two sons. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-19/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Brandon Hill Social Links Navigation Brandon Hill is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware. He has written about PC and Mac tech since the late 1990s with bylines at AnandTech, DailyTech, and Hot Hardware. When he is not consuming copious amounts of tech news, he can be found enjoying the NC mountains or the beach with his wife and two sons.
usertests I have a cheap 1080p60 portable display and something like this would probably be my next step up. Is it common for these to not have a headphone jack? It could be nice to have, especially if you plug into a phone without one. Reply
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/portable-monitors/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/portable-monitors/arzopa-z3fc-16-1-inch-portable-monitor-review#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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