GoKawiilWhile not a standout in actual performance, the Espresso Lite 15 portable monitor is a colorful option for users tired of dreary or dull designs.
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Espresso is an Australian tech company that produces a growing range of portable monitors and accessories. Over the years, we’ve had a chance to look lots of the company’s products, ranging from entry-level monitors to their high-end, touch-enabled 4K offerings.
Today, we’re looking at the Espresso Lite 15, which, as its name implies, is a 15-inch monitor (15.6 inches, to be exact). It sits below the Display 15, taking the mantle as the company’s cheapest portable monitor. At $249, the Lite 15 is also $50 cheaper than the Display 15, but does it offer enough to be ranked among the best portable monitors ?
Design of the Espresso Lite 15
The first thing you’ll notice about the Lite 15 is its color, which, on our review unit, is orange. I’m used to reviewing portable monitors in some shade of grey (i.e., silver, black, or grey). However, our orange review unit is a breath of fresh air in this space, giving it a more playful vibe than the typically “all business” monitors available on the market. But orange isn’t the only color available on the Lite 15: Espresso makes the monitor available in white, green, and purple. And if you intentionally want to be boring, you can also get it in black.
Espresso can offer these colors because it does not use the typical aluminum-alloy chassis as featured on its pricier models. The Lite 15 uses a plastic shell, which is not only lighter but also lends itself to the more cheerful colors. It also allows Espresso to reach the lower price point. With that said, the Lite 15 doesn’t feel cheap and has a nice, textured finish, making it easier to grip.
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That grippy finish comes in handy because the Lite 15 ships with Espresso’s Stand+, which attaches magnetically to the back of the monitor. The Stand+ attaches with a relatively strong force, so the textured case allows your fingers to get a better grip to pry it off. The Stand+ is adjustable for height and tilt. You can also rotate the Lite 15 from landscape to portrait mode thanks to the magnetic attachment point. It is made of aluminum, finished in black, and features a weighted base to prevent the monitor from toppling over.
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