Zion Pro AMOLED UHD Portable Monitor: A Gorgeous Portable Picture

The Zion Pro is a portable 15.6-inch AMOLED monitor with Ultra HD Resolution and a stunning image.

Zion Pro
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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The quest for OLED computer monitors is still ongoing. The ultimate goal, of course, is the wide availability of 25 to 32-inch Ultra HD screens in the same form factors as the LCD panels that are commonplace today. Progress has certainly been made. Large screen TVs have come down dramatically in price, and smaller screens in phones, tablets and laptops are sometimes graced with an OLED panel. The improvement in contrast and color saturation is not subtle. OLEDs look a lot better than LCDs.

Though the Zion Pro isn’t a desktop monitor in the traditional sense, it’s a step in the right direction. As a Kickstarter project, I consider it a humble beginning. But a closer look at its performance and capabilities should capture the attention of major display manufacturers. There is certainly a demand and a need for screens like this.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Zion Pro delivers infinite contrast courtesy of its deep black levels. Since it can address individual pixels and turn them off when necessary, no LCD can match its image depth. It also exceeds the color gamut of all but a few IPS monitors I’ve tested. With 110% coverage of DCI-P3, it delivers lush and vivid hues to all content. And its HDR performance is exemplary. Though it isn’t the brightest panel out there, it still produces blacks to die for and makes the most of the HDR standard. The only flaw there is that some content renders a little too darkly. A tweak of the EOTF luminance tracking would fix that.

Though the Zion Pro isn’t billed as a gaming monitor, it performs better than any other 60 Hz screen I can think of in first-person titles. Moving through finely detailed environments showed a little softness, but there was no ghosting or stutter. And even though there’s no Adaptive Sync, I didn’t see any frame tears.

As a Kickstarter project, the Zion Pro’s pricing is somewhat fluid. But at this writing, you can reserve one for a promised May delivery for around $600. That’s in the premium range for sure but not out of reach for those looking for a nice second screen. And its touch functions add value.

If you’re looking for one of the most stunning images possible on a video display, and a small screen is compatible with your activities, definitely check out the Zion Pro AMOLED Portable Monitor.

Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

  • helper800
    A portable 4k touchscreen OLED with 110% DCI-P3 color coverage at 400 nits? That's a homerun for sure even at 600 dollars. Where is the 27-32 inch 16:9 or 34 inch 21:9 version of this? 120hz? VRR? Please make my dreams come true!
    Reply
  • Sleepy_Hollowed
    Holy... this is an absolutely insane product that I almost want to buy on impulse, without actually having a need for it.

    If I traveled a lot, one or two of these would be mandatory for work and entertainment.
    Reply
  • hannibal
    Wel 27" is not portable anymore!
    :)

    The only problem is that this is KS, so you may get the product or you give money to hoax company... So you will buy $600 lottery ticket and hope for the best... KS is not somthing where you get money back, unless the company is honest... Even using credit card does not help, because you buy promise, not the product itself.
    There are some nasty examples: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/248983394/ossic-x-the-first-3d-audio-headphones-calibrated-t
    Reply