As promised, the Gemini portable 15.6 inch displays with built-in batteries are now up for pre-order through a Kickstarter campaign.
While these are hardly the first portable displays designed to connect to a laptop, tablet, or other mobile device to give you a dual-screen setup on the go, the Gemini Displays are interesting for a few reasons:
- They have built-in 5,000 mAh batteries for up to 5 hours of run time without drawing any power from your laptop.
- The displays have a bunch of ports that make them easy to plug into a variety of devices.
- Gemini displays come in two versions: one with a 1080p touchscreen display and another with a 4K non-touch display.
The Kickstarter campaign kicked off today and ends in about a month. The displays should ship in May, 2019.
The retail price for the full HD model is expected to be $299, while the 4K UHD version will go for $499. But you can reserve one for up to $200 less during the crowdfunding campaign.
The screens weigh about 2 pounds and have a built-in kickstand.
If you opt for the FHD model you get a USB-C port, dual mini HDMI ports, and two micro USB ports.
The UHD version has a USB-C port, a full-sized HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort, and two full-sized USB 2.0 ports.
Both versions have separate power jacks (you cannot charge the screens via USB-C, but if you plug in a phone or tablet you can charge your mobile device from the Gemini’s internal battery).
The displays support 300 nits of brightness and feature built-in stereo speakers.
I’ve been shopping for a portable monitor for a few weeks, but this monitor misses the mark in a few ways, but it seems cool enough that I might get one anyways. I’m looking for something between 13″ and 15.6″, and I want one that has an integrated kickstand that supports Portrait-orientation. I want portrait mode for coding.
The portrait mode on this display is a lame afterthought. It seriously looks like they said “hey it looks like it barely stands up on its side, lets show that in the video”. It looks like a light breeze could knock it forwards.
I’m also a little confused and disappointed with the port selection on the FHD model. Why would I want 2x Micro USB ports? Why would I even want 1x Micro USB? I’m assuming that the Full-size USB on the UHD model acts as a USB hub for the Type-C connector, which seems handy (you could connect the Type-C to your computer, and plug accessories into the display). I’m not going to carry an OTG adapter to connect a Wireless mouse dongle and have it hang off the side.
Also, whats with the Mini HDMI? I have resisted Mini-HDMI for almost 10 years. I will never use it, and I will never buy an adapter/dongle. There is clearly enough room for a full-size HDMI, why piss people off?
Having said all this, I just might buy one anyways. I don’t think we’ll see another display as feature-packed as this one for a while, and I just might abandon my idea of acceptable portrait-orientation. I almost want to get the UHD model just for the proper ports on the side.
Well, I guess the ports are just what the OEM display-controller board came with, and not something they seriously thought about. My guess is that they have a custom housing and a contract with a Shenzhen screen-manufacturer for a couple thousand displays (the kickstarter goal was just $10000, so they are not going for a market, they just need as much money as they can get from the kickstarter, to buy parts). Having said that I’m still backing them, because I could not find a comparable device on Ali or anywhere that ticks so many boxes as this one. My one complaint about the USB-C charging have been addressed too, so if this ships, I’m happy. Although I would not be surprised if a similar device would pop up on Ali on June.
I agree on most counts, but I have been following the portable monitor market for a couple of years now and this is the closest that someone has gotten to filling the boxes. Fortunately, portrait mode is not a use case for me so landscape orientation with the kickstand is good enough for my workflow.
I believe the thought process they had for the micro USB was for a thinner and lighter design for those who opted for the HD model. For what it is worth, other users besides yourself have been pushing for full-sized ports and they already have acknowledged this feedback and are taking it into consideration
As for the micro USB ports, I am getting the UHD model which has full-sized USB 3.0 and HDMI ports. On top of that, I am getting the touchscreen and USB-C power delivery upgrades. So this will be the perfect device for me, an individual who takes a 11-liter workstation in a travel bag for gaming on extended vacations and such.
So question… Can you plug in a USB PC Stick and turn it into a cheap touchscreen kiosk?
Yes. It’s basically a motorola lapdock, but touchscreen instead of a keyboard, and it has usb-c as an input besides hdmi.
Well, I backed them. I was looking for almost a year now for a cheap lapdock-style device for my Galaxy S8, but there was always something missing: either no touchscreen or low resolution, no USB-C or no battery. This finally ticks all the boxes: simple USB-C, touch, FHD, battery. I only wish it would take charge over USB-C too.
By the way, they hit their first stretch goal and now the UHD version comes with USB 3.0 ports.
I like the FHD model overall except the port setup is not the best….. I envision hunting for the adapters every time I want to use it – ugh. I deal with that enough as it is. Why not just use the full size port layout of the UHD monitor and keep the cost down? Full size ports FTW imho. I would have got the cheaper one in a hurry. Neat idea and certainly useful. I will watch with interest.