By The Arzopa Z1FC is marketed as a low-cost portable gaming monitor, and it performs admirably in that capacity. However, despite its marketing, the display is perhaps even more useful for everyday tasks and productivity. The Arzopa Z1FC is a portable monitor with a bright, high-refresh display that is reasonably priced and adaptable, despite its shortcomings.
Specs and Features
Although the Arzopa Z1FC is marketed as a portable gaming monitor, its features are suitable for some other purposes. It features an IPS LCD with 1080p resolution, numerous USB-C interfaces, and HDR compatibility.
Adaptive Sync is one function that the display conspicuously lacks. Given that Adaptive Sync is necessary for fluid gameplay in many circumstances, it is arguably best suited as an office and productivity monitor.
- 16.1-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio
- 1920 x 1080 native resolution
- Type of panel: IPS LCD
- 144 Hz is the refresh rate.
- Adaptive Sync: Not
- HDR: It is enabled.
- Ports: 1 mini-HDMI, 2 USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery 1.4 Sound: two one-watt speakers
- Extra features: Carrying case with two pockets
- One-year warranty
- MSRP: $199.99; reduced price: $169.99
At its lowest sale price of $169.99, the Arzopa Z1FC is reasonably priced, while at $199.99 MSRP, it is poor. The Z1FC is reasonably priced when it’s on sale compared to the alternatives, though some can be offered for less on certain days.
Customers should be aware that the Z1FC comes in two different variants. I looked over the carrying case variant, which is explained below. Additionally, it is available for purchase without the carrying case. Since it costs as little as $96.99 and looks exactly like the pictures, the version without a carrying case seems like a better value. However, as I haven’t tested it, the image quality findings here are limited to the case-equipped version.
Design
You may anticipate that the Arzopa Z1FC would have design and construction flaws given its pricing, however, that is untrue. The rear panel of the portable display is made of aluminum and is fastened to plastic bezels. The overall design is appealing and comparable to competing portable monitors at higher price points, despite the fact that it is not particularly noteworthy.
The monitor is kept steady on your desk by a slim aluminum kickstand that does its job well. The monitor is sturdy enough to stay upright unless you give it a gentle shove, but it can topple over if you knock into a corner. Similarly stable was portrait orientation. When not in use, the kickstand folds entirely flush with the back of the display, making it more portable.
Speaking of which, the Z1FC has exceptional portability. The monitor is about three-tenths of an inch thick and weighs only 1.7 pounds. If your laptop is packed in a backpack designed for a 14- or 15-inch laptop, you probably won’t even notice the additional weight.
Arzopa also comes with the greatest carrying case I’ve seen for a portable monitor. It has two interior pockets that can accommodate a laptop and a monitor, and it is composed of a stylish ribbed material. If you need to bring the portable monitor to a client meeting or to the office of your business, the padding is enough, but it is too thin for long-distance travel. Please understand that it won’t compete with a premium bag from a well-known brand. However, it’s excellent for a throw-in sold with a portable monitor.
Connectivity
The main video and power inputs for the Arzopa Z1FC are two USB-C ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery. You will need to provide your own USB-C power brick or rely on the power supplied by the device the monitor is attached to, as the monitor does not come with one.
The absence of a brick shouldn’t be a problem unless you intend to use HDMI, as the Z1FC has no trouble getting enough power and video from my 13-inch Microsoft Surface laptop and Apple Mac Mini M4.
Performance
With a few restrictions, gamers will appreciate the Arzopa Z1FC’s enhanced refresh rate.
For the price, motion clarity is good. When watching fast-moving objects or rotating the camera in a 3D game, the panel’s 144Hz refresh rate is substantially sharper than a portable 60Hz monitor. However, blur is still noticeable and might make it challenging to read moving text or small objects.
Your prior experiences will probably determine how you feel about the motion clarity. Individuals who are used to a 60Hz display will be impressed. But you’ll be let down if you’ve seen a 240Hz OLED (or better).
Unfortunately, the Z1FC does not have Adaptive Sync, which seriously undermines its gaming capabilities. Without it, you are forced to put up with annoying screen tearing, which is unsightly, or use in-game V-Sync settings to cap game frame rates, which, depending on the frame rate of the game, may result in less fluid and clear motion. Additionally, the Z1FC does not support any of the Adaptive Sync features found in modern game consoles.
While some price-competitive monitors include adaptive sync, the majority do not. The Aopen 16OG7QT and UPerfect 16 are two examples. However, I haven’t tested those models, so I can’t say how well they capture images in comparison to the Arzopa.
Conclusion
The Arzopa Z1FC is a solid option if you want an inexpensive portable monitor that covers the basics and then some. It delivers a bright, attractive image and decent motion clarity alongside an attractive exterior design. The Z1FC is a particularly sensible buy when it’s on sale for $170 or less, as its image quality can rival alternatives priced north of $300.
