HP Series 5 Pro 514PN Portable Monitor Review: Premium performance and price

I haven’t had many HP portable monitors come across my desk over the years, but the company’s latest offering definitely makes a lasting impression. The new HP Series 5 Pro 514PN hits all the right notes with a thin-and-light 14-inch form factor, an aluminum-alloy chassis, and an IPS Black panel (the first I’ve seen on a portable monitor) that delivers brilliant color and contrast.

In a segment where OEMs are quickly racing to release portable monitors that focus primarily on value (with some dipping into the $50 range), the Series 5 Pro is a more premium choice, priced at $299.

Design of the HP Series 5 Pro 514PN

The 514PN has a very clean design, with a svelte aluminum-alloy chassis measuring 12.62 x 8.21 x 0.35 inches and weighing 1.4 pounds. It has a premium look and feel, which is commensurate with a portable monitor that costs $299. There’s a built-in kickstand that takes up roughly half of the display's back panel. The kickstand has a stiff hinge that allows the 514PN to lie back at your preferred viewing angle. In addition, because the kickstand spans nearly the full width of the display, it can prop up the 514PN in landscape or portrait orientation.

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There are two USB-C ports on the monitor, supporting 65-watt Power Delivery (which I verified worked perfectly with an HP OmniBook X) and DisplayPort 1.2 connectivity. HP wisely includes a USB-C cable with one end that has a 90-degree connector. This helps to keep the USB-C cable from sticking straight out the top of the monitor when used in portrait mode, and instead allows it to more discreetly run horizontally along the top of the monitor.

Speaking of pack-ins, a grey magnetic cover is included to help protect the display when traveling. It’s not as all-encompassing as some of the more substantial pouches that protect the entire monitor, but it’s better than no protection at all. Perhaps HP was just trying to minimize the 514PN’s size profile for travel, but a full pouch/case would be a better solution to protect this pricey accessory.

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There aren’t really any other major standouts on the 514PN, aside from dedicated + and – buttons for brightness control and a power button situated directly below. I’ll also note that the color and size of the 514PN is a perfect match for my personal HP OmniBook X Snapdragon X laptop (right down to the placement of the HP logos on the back of the devices). The only mismatch is that my OmniBook X has a glossy display, while the 514PN has an anti-reflective coating.

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Curiously, the 514PN doesn’t feature built-in speakers or HDMI connectivity, which are notable omissions for a portable monitor sold through HP’s business solutions division.

HP Series 5 Pro 514PN Specifications

HP Series 5 Pro 514PN On-Screen Display and Software

At first glance, it might appear that the 514PN doesn’t have an on-screen display (OSD). And I assumed as much, since there’s no OSD button and only two physical buttons for display brightness.

However, I consulted the user manual, which explained that the OSD is activated by pressing and holding the “increase brightness” button for two seconds. This opens the color mode menu; you can then select a mode using the plus button and confirm your selection with the minus button. The color modes include: Warm, Neutral, Cool, Native, Night, HP Enhance+, and Custom RGB.

There’s no built-in accelerometer, so you’ll need to head into Windows display settings to change from landscape to portrait orientation. You’ll also be able to change other settings natively in Windows, like the resolution (the 514PN has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600) and refresh rate (the 514PN tops out at 75 Hz, which is slightly above the segment-usual 60 Hz).

HP Series 5 Pro 514PN Image Quality

The 514PN uses an IPS Black panel with Neo:LED and an anti-reflective coating, and it’s excellent. IPS black technology delivers a significant increase in contrast ratio compared to traditional IPS panels. IPS panels used in portable monitors (and laptops) typically have an average contrast ratio of 1,000:1, but the 514PN doubles that metric to 2,000:1. In practice, you will see darker blacks (instead of skewing toward gray) and better color accuracy.

Our instrumented testing showed that the 514PN tended to display colors as a bit oversaturated, covering 193.9 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 137.3 percent of sRGB. The numbers that the 514PN put up were more in line with what we’d see in an OLED panel. The brightness numbers from our light meter came in at 352.4 nits, putting it just behind the ViewSonic TD1656-2K (363 nits) and further behind the Dell Pro 14 Plus (409 nits).

I watched a few movie trailers on the 514PN and was amazed at the deep black levels and rich colors. I watched the trailer for Crime 101 and came away impressed by how well the monitor resolved darkened scenes without appearing like a sea of dark greys (much of the trailer shows action taking place at night).

The 514PN has a native panel resolution of 2560 x 1600, putting it on even footing with the TD1656-2K. However, the HP has a slight advantage in maximum refresh rate, topping out at 75 Hz instead of 60 Hz. I appreciated the extra horizontal and vertical resolution when working on spreadsheets, as most portable monitors – especially the budget models – have a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 (or 1920 x 1200).

Bottom Line

The HP Series 5 Pro 514PN is a remarkable entry into the portable monitor market. It might not be the thinnest or lightest in its class, but it’s well-built and looks great next to your laptop. In addition, the IPS Black panel is gorgeous, with deep blacks and vibrant colors. When using the 514PN as a secondary monitor, you’ll appreciate the added resolution that the native 2560 x 1600 panel offers over less expensive 1080p peers. In addition, the two USB-C ports do support 65-watt Power Delivery, allowing you to power your laptop through the 514PN, cutting down on cable clutter.

However, you won’t find HDMI connectivity here, nor are there integrated speakers. But the most significant barrier to entry will likely be the price. $299 is a lot to spend on a productivity-focused portable monitor, but it offers better value than the similarly priced Espresso Display 15, which has a 1080p panel. The tougher competition comes from the ViewSonic TD1656-2K, which also features a 1600p display and 65-watt PD, but crams in touch support, macOS support, and so-so speakers. If touch support and internal speakers aren’t a big selling point for you, it’s hard to argue against the 514PN for customers looking for a premium portable monitor.