SideTrak Swivel Pro HD LTTL131 13.3"

The SideTrak Swivel Pro HD is a uniquely portable, attachable monitor with a clever swivel hinge and solid connectivity. But its 1080p 60Hz panel and sluggish response time are a letdown, especially at its $800+ asking price. Unless the swivel design is a must-have, skip it.

The SideTrak Swivel Pro HD is a 13.3-inch attachable monitor that clips right onto your laptop and rotates a full 360 degrees. It's a clever solution if you're constantly juggling spreadsheets or reference docs in coffee shops and co-working spaces. But the panel itself is just a basic 1080p 60Hz TFT with a 12ms response time, so don't expect eye-popping visuals.

At 700 grams and using a single USB-C (or Thunderbolt) cable for both power and signal, it's incredibly grab-and-go. The 400-nit brightness and 100% sRGB coverage keep it usable in most indoor lighting. Still, this is a niche accessory, and you'll pay a premium for that swivel hinge.

Our database puts this display's raw performance near the bottom, which is honest about what you're getting: a 1080p 60Hz panel that's fine for static productivity but struggles with even light gaming or fast motion. The 12ms response time means visible ghosting, and the 60Hz refresh feels choppy next to the 120Hz+ screens on most modern laptops. On the plus side, color accuracy is solid at 100% sRGB and 400 nits of brightness keep it legible, but that contrast ratio doesn't hold a candle to any decent IPS or OLED panel.

This thing runs anywhere from $800 to nearly $1,100 depending on where you shop, and that's a tough pill to swallow. For that money, you could buy an ultrawide desktop monitor with far better specs or a top-tier portable OLED. You're paying almost entirely for the attachable swivel design. If that form factor is non-negotiable for your workflow, it might be justifiable, but for most people it's a very expensive second screen.

Compared to the heavy hitters in our monitor database like the ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG or LG UltraGear 45GX900A-B, the SideTrak gets crushed on display quality and gaming performance. But those are big desktop panels meant for a desk. The Swivel Pro HD plays a different game: it's an add-on display for your laptop lid. Among attachable monitors, it's one of the most compact and well-connected you can find, but the panel itself is entry-level. Even against other portable monitors like the MSI MAG 272UP or Gigabyte M Series OLED, you're trading image quality for that 360° hinge.

Skip this if you need high refresh rates, low response times, or HDR for gaming or media. Also, if you're just looking for a second screen and don't need the attachable swivel hinge, a standard portable monitor will cost far less and often deliver a better panel. And if you're a creative who relies on color accuracy, the contrast ratio and peak brightness won't satisfy.

This is for the person who absolutely needs a side-mounted laptop monitor and values the swivel feature above all else. Road warriors who present on the fly or share their screen often will love the form factor. Everyone else should look at standard portable monitors or just use an iPad as a second screen and save a bunch of cash.