Ricoh Ricoh 150BW 15.6" Multi-Touch Wireless Portable Review
The Ricoh 150BW packs a vibrant OLED screen into a super-light frame, making it a great travel companion. But is its dim brightness a dealbreaker for daytime use?
The 30-Second Version
The Ricoh 150BW is a premium portable monitor with a great OLED screen and useful wireless casting. It's incredibly light and perfect for on-the-go productivity, but its brightness is just okay. It scored 89.1/100 for portability in our tests. Worth it if you need a high-quality travel screen.
Overview
The Ricoh 150BW is a portable monitor that's all about flexibility. It's a 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen that weighs under two pounds, so you can toss it in a bag and get a second screen anywhere you have a USB-C port or a Wi-Fi signal.
It's built for productivity on the go, not for high-end gaming or color-critical work. The specs are solid for the category: a 1080p OLED panel with a 1ms response time, built-in speakers, and a simple fold-out stand. It's a straightforward tool to extend your workspace.
Performance
For a portable monitor, it scores well. Our database puts its overall performance in the 86th percentile against other portables, which is solid. The OLED panel means you get those deep, inky blacks and vibrant colors, though the 300-nit brightness might struggle in direct sunlight. The 60Hz refresh and 1ms response time are fine for general use and light media, but this isn't a gaming monitor. It's fast enough that you won't notice lag while dragging windows around, which is the main job here.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely portable and lightweight at just 1.6 pounds. 100th
- OLED screen delivers great contrast and color for the size. 86th
- Wireless Miracast support adds real cable-free flexibility. 81th
- Simple USB-C connectivity means one cable for power and video. 76th
Cons
- Brightness is only 300 nits, which can be dim in bright rooms.
- The built-in stand only offers tilt, no height adjustment.
- 60Hz refresh rate limits its use for fast-paced gaming.
- Scored lowest in our creative category (54th percentile) for pro color work.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Performance
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Response Time | 1 |
Color & HDR
| Brightness | 300 nits |
| Color Gamut | 1.07 Billion Colors (8-Bit+FRC) |
Connectivity
| USB-C | 1 |
| Speakers | Yes |
Ergonomics
| Height Adjustable | No |
| Tilt | Yes |
| Swivel | No |
| Pivot | No |
Features
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 kg / 1.6 lbs |
Value & Pricing
Priced between $365 and $460, it's not the cheapest portable screen you can find. But you're paying for that OLED panel and the wireless capability. If you need a super-light, good-looking secondary display for business trips or coffee shop sessions, the price makes sense. If you just want any old extra screen to sit on your desk, you can find cheaper 1080p IPS options that don't move the needle much.
Price History
vs Competition
It's playing in a different league than those giant, high-refresh gaming monitors listed as competitors. For a true portable, it's a strong contender. Compared to a basic portable IPS monitor, the Ricoh's OLED screen is a clear step up in image quality. Against something like an Asus ZenScreen, you're trading higher brightness and sometimes a built-in battery for the Ricoh's wireless features and OLED contrast. It's a trade-off: better blacks versus easier viewing in bright light.
| Spec | Ricoh Ricoh 150BW 15.6" Multi-Touch Wireless Portable | Samsung Odyssey Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo G9 Curved Gaming Computer | MSI MPG MSI 32" UHD 4K 240Hz with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro | ASUS ProArt ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32UCDM 31.5" 4K HDR 240 | LG UltraGear LG UltraGear 45" WUHD DUAL MODE 4K 165Hz FHD 330Hz | Dell UltraSharp Dell UltraSharp 27" 4K HDR 120 Hz Monitor with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.600000381469727 | 57 | 32 | 31.5 | 45 | 27 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 7680 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 | 5120 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Panel Type | OLED | VA | OLED | OLED | OLED | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60 | 240 | 240 | 240 | 165 | 120 |
| Response Time Ms | 1 | 1 | — | 0.10000000149011612 | — | 5 |
| Adaptive Sync | — | FreeSync Premium Pro | G-Sync Compatible | Adaptive-Sync | G-Sync Compatible | — |
| Hdr | — | HDR10+ | HDR | Dolby Vision | HDR10 | HDR |
Common Questions
Q: Does it have a built-in battery?
No, it does not have a built-in battery. It needs to be powered via its USB-C port, either from your laptop or a power bank.
Q: Can you use the touchscreen over the wireless connection?
No, the touchscreen functionality only works when connected via the USB-C cable. Wireless Miracast is for video and audio only.
Q: Is it good for photo or video editing?
Not really. It scored in the 54th percentile for creative work in our database. The OLED looks nice, but the 8-bit+FRC color depth and 300-nit brightness aren't ideal for professional color accuracy.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need a monitor for color-accurate creative work. Its low score in our creative category means there are better portable options for photographers or video editors. Also, if you plan to use it mostly in a super bright office or outdoors, the 300-nit brightness will feel dim. And hardcore gamers should look for a portable screen with at least 120Hz.
Verdict
Buy this if you're a digital nomad, frequent traveler, or hybrid worker who needs a high-quality, lightweight second screen that's easy to set up anywhere. The touchscreen and wireless features are legit bonuses for presentations or just keeping your laptop bag lighter. It's a specialized tool that does its job very well.