The AetherSpark 16.1 inch laptop screen extender is a portable 1080p monitor that folds out of a laptop, and it is the kind of desk accessory that looks like a gimmick until you use one for a week. The pitch is simple: a second screen for a laptop that only has one, at seventy-six dollars. The reality is more specific than that, because this is a 16.1 inch 1920×1200 panel in a 16 to 10 shape, and that shape is the whole design decision.
The Short Version
A detachable 16.1 inch 1920×1200 portable screen at seventy-six dollars.
| Amazon rating | 3.9/5 |
| Best for | Somebody whose work needs two windows at once and who travels with a laptop. |
| Skip if | A desk that already has a real monitor, and anyone with no free USB-C port. |
How it was tested, and where the method is written down: How We Review.
The Spec
| Screen size | 16.1 inches, 1920 x 1200 native |
|---|---|
| Panel | FHD IPS, 178 degree viewing angle, 2000:1 contrast |
| Eye care | low blue light, anti-glare, flicker free |
| Connection | HDMI and USB Type-C, one HDMI port |
| Fits | 13.3 to 17.3 inch laptops, Windows, Mac and Chrome OS |
| Stand | detachable, the screen and the stand separate |
| Price | $75.99, rated 3.9 out of 5 across 841 ratings |
The Screen
Sixteen point one inches at 1920×1200 is a 16 to 10 panel, and that is the detail that decides whether this works. It is the same shape as a 16 inch MacBook screen and a 16 to 10 laptop, so it sits beside the laptop with the bezels roughly matched instead of towering over it. A 15.6 inch 16 to 9 extender would be shorter and would not line up. The panel itself is a decent 1080p IPS with 178 degree viewing angles, 2000:1 contrast, and low blue light, anti-glare and flicker free modes, which is a normal-good portable monitor spec sheet.
The Stand
The detachable design is the newer version of this product and the reason it is worth a second look. The screen and the stand come apart, which means the panel can be used with a different support, or the stand alone can be used to hold something else, and the whole thing folds down for a bag. A fixed non-detachable portable monitor is a rectangle you have to live with. This one has a little more give.
The Connection
HDMI and USB Type-C, with one HDMI port, and it works with Windows, Mac and Chrome OS. A single HDMI means you are using one port for video, and on a USB-C laptop you are probably going to need a separate cable for power or peripherals unless your machine has both. That is the practical cost of adding a second screen to a thin laptop, and it is the same cost as any portable monitor, not specific to this one.
Who It Is For
Somebody whose work involves two windows at once and who travels with a laptop. That is the person the second screen is for, and at 1920×1200 the extra space holds a document beside a spreadsheet, or a code editor beside a browser, without either one being shrunk into uselessness. The claim on the listing is up to 200 percent efficiency, which is marketing for the obvious, but the arithmetic is right if you were one window short before. For a desk with a real monitor already on it, this is a travel accessory, not a second display to sit beside the big one. And at 3.9 out of 5 across 841 ratings, this is the least universally loved product on this site, so read the reviews before you order.
The Verdict
Seventy-six dollars for a 16.1 inch 1920×1200 portable screen with a detachable stand and HDMI and USB-C is a fair price for the thing it does, and the 16 to 10 shape is the right call. The rating is the honest part: 3.9 out of 5 across 841 ratings is a good product with a real complaint behind it, and the listing itself is thin on detail, which is usually a sign of a budget panel. If you have been getting by on one screen and you travel, this is the cheapest way to stop doing that. Check the reviews for the specific complaint, because the 3.9 is telling you something.
Common Questions
Will a 16.1 inch screen extender fit my laptop?
It fits 13.3 to 17.3 inch laptops, and it works with Windows, Mac and Chrome OS. The 16 to 10 shape is designed to line up with a 16 inch laptop screen, so the two bezels sit close to even rather than one towering over the other.
What resolution is the AetherSpark extender?
1920 by 1200 native on a 16.1 inch FHD IPS panel, with 178 degree viewing angles and 2000:1 contrast. It also has low blue light, anti-glare and flicker free modes, which is the standard eye care set at this price.
Does it need a separate power supply?
It runs over HDMI and USB Type-C with one HDMI port. Depending on your laptop you may need a second port for power or a dongle for peripherals, so check what you have free before ordering. That is a laptop limitation rather than a fault in the screen.
Can you use the screen without the stand?
Yes, that is the detachable design. The screen separates from the stand, so the panel can be mounted on something else or the stand used on its own, and the whole thing packs down flat for a bag. It is the feature that separates this version from a fixed-frame portable monitor.
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