The moveable monitor class is flush with compelling choices, starting from funds entries just like the $199 Lepow C2 to the spectacular $600 Zion Professional with its 15.6-inch 4K AMOLED show. The KYY K3-3 hones intently to the funds realm within the pricing sphere for moveable displays however manages to ship a 4K decision which is way larger than the standard 1080p for displays on this value class.
KYY additionally consists of an origami-like good cowl within the case, a built-in speaker and a gaggle of cables to maintain you powered up and linked on the go. With an asking value of simply $249 (opens in new tab) as of this writing (and as little as $229 with extra reductions), the KYY K3-3 provides sufficient options and worth to compete with the finest moveable displays. Nevertheless, the monitor has some tradeoffs within the type of low most brightness and the shortage of a kickstand.
KYY K3-3 15.6-inch 4K Moveable Monitor Specs
Panel Sort / Backlight | IPS / WLED |
Display screen Measurement / Facet Ratio | 15.6 inches / 16:9 |
Max Decision & Refresh Charge | 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz |
Max Brightness | 400 nits |
Distinction Ratio | 1,500:1 |
View Angles | 178 levels (Horizontal and Vertical) |
Display screen Coating | Anti-Glare |
Ports | 1x Mini-HDMI, 2x USB-C (DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode), 1x Headphone |
Audio system | Sure |
Dimensions | 14.49 x 8.86 x 0.37 inches |
Weight | 1.7 kilos |
Design of the KYY K3-3
The KYY K3-3 might need a funds price ticket, however you definitely wouldn’t understand it from trying on the moveable monitor. It includes a stable design, however whereas the highest bezel is comparatively skinny, the aspect bezels are roughly twice as thick. And the underside bezel is even bigger (yet one more doubling in dimension), the place we discover the middle KYY brand.
I usually don’t discover logos mounted within the backside bezel offensive, because the typography is normally small and backed in muted colours that don’t draw consideration. Nevertheless, the KYY brand is giant, includes a daring font, and it’s vivid white. Whereas it attracts consideration to the branding of the monitor, it additionally routinely caught my eyes once I appeared on the monitor, which isn’t an excellent factor. I wish to be immersed in a panel when working, however the attention-grabbing brand was a frequent distraction.
Ports on the KYY K3-3
The correct aspect of the KYY K3-3 serves as house to a mini HDMI and two USB-C ports (DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode). You may energy the monitor immediately and drive video utilizing a single USB-C cable with a supported laptop computer. You can even depend on the included USB-C energy adapter (the USB-C cable is just not removable) when connecting the monitor by way of HDMI.
One of many two audio system additionally resides on the precise aspect of the monitor. Shifting round to the left, you’ll discover a 3.5mm headphone jack, a three-way scroll wheel, a single button and the opposite speaker. The scroll wheel and button are used to navigate by means of the on-screen show (OSD).
Stand / Case for the KYY K3-3
The monitor is constructed out of a troublesome and nice-feeling aluminum alloy materials. It positively feels extra stable with minimal flex in comparison with its counterparts on this value section. However although KYY didn’t skimp on supplies for the K3-3’s chassis, it positively lower prices by skipping a built-in kickstand. An built-in stand is preferable, because it’s one much less factor to fret about when touring and gives a extra secure base. With the KYY K3-3, we’re given a wise cowl that doubles as a display protector and a stand.
When used as a display protector, the good cowl works fairly nicely. It attaches magnetically to the again of the monitor and folds over to cowl the show whereas in transport. Nevertheless, utilizing the good cowl as a stand is just not very intuitive – I really needed to get away **gulp** the consumer guide to determine use it.
It’s a must to first connect the good cowl to the again of the monitor, then pivot the decrease two-thirds of the panel to a 45-degree angle. Subsequent, you fold the vanguard of the good cowl again and set the underside of the KYY K3-3 to relaxation it on that folded edge.
It really works, however it solely provides you one angle to reliably use with the show. The within floor of the good cowl is barely grippy, so you possibly can try to slip the show again for a extra upright angle. Nevertheless, we discovered it to be wobbly in these positions and any motion on my desk would trigger it to slip to its default place.
With that being stated, the KYY K3-3 is thinner than most displays on this class. That may be attributed to its lack of a kickstand. The monitor measures simply 0.37 inches thick in comparison with 0.46 for the Asus ROG XG16AHPE with its built-in kickstand and battery and 0.7 inches for the ThinkVision M14t.
KYY consists of loads of equipment within the field just like the good cowl, a USB-C wall adapter, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable.
On-screen Show for the KYY K3-3
I had a case of déjà vu when first interacting with the OSD for the KYY K3-3. It’s the very same interface that I encountered with the Lepow C2 — similar icons, similar colours, and related settings. Whereas the Lepow C2 used 4 buttons in a clumsy location to navigate the OSD, the KYY K3-3 makes use of a mixture of a scroll wheel and a separate button. Urgent the button as soon as brings up Fast Menu that toggles between the 2 USB-C and one HDMI inputs.
Knocking down on the spring-loaded scroll wheel brings up the Brightness Fast Menu, whereas pushing up provides you the Quantity Fast Menu. Urgent in on the scroll wheel brings up the complete OSD. Nevertheless, this “motion” button has a really lengthy throw and has a mushy really feel. I discovered that it took fairly a number of makes an attempt to register a button press. As soon as within the OSD, you navigate up and down utilizing the scroll wheel, and urgent in executes the command. The separate button backs you out of the OSD’s underlying menu system.
Picture High quality of the KYY K3-3
As we beforehand talked about, the KYY K3-3 is a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) show with a 60 Hz IPS panel. KYY claims that the monitor’s distinction ratio clocks in at 1,500:1 and that it could actually hit a max brightness of 400 nits. Sadly, the KYY K3-3 got here up nicely wanting its claimed brightness numbers in our testing. We’re used to seeing moveable displays fall quick by round 10 % in comparison with producer specs, however the KYY K3-3 couldn’t even muster up half of its claimed score, coming in at 155.2 nits. That put the monitor simply forward of the cheaper Lepow C2 however far behind the Dell C1422H and Lenovo ThinkVision M14t.
The KYY K3-3 pulls up the rear in measured coloration efficiency, hitting 67.4 % of the DCI-P3 coloration area and 95.1 % of the sRGB coloration gamut. As soon as once more, the KYY K3-3 got here up quick in comparison with the cheaper Lepow C2. Nevertheless, a monitor accessible at this value possible won’t be used for color-critical work. In on a regular basis utilization eventualities, the monitor met my expectations. The shortfalls in brightness ranges weren’t a difficulty in an indoor surroundings, with the slider cranked to the max. Reflections from overhead lighting weren’t an element at my desk, nor was mild coming by means of my eating room desk (possible aided by the anti-glare display coating).
As an informal Star Wars fan, I turned to Disney+ to look at the primary episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi. I performed scenes from the episode concurrently on my workhorse 14-inch MacBook Professional with its vibrant Mini LED show side-by-side with the KYY K3-3 and seen simply tiny variations between the screens intimately and coloration. Nevertheless, the colour palette for Star Wars movies and TV exhibits is not precisely what I might name expansive. There are quite a lot of earth tones and muted colours.
For a movie with a a lot wider coloration palette, I chosen one in all my favourite animated flicks of all time: Toy Story 3. I selected one scene specifically as a result of I am a sucker for having my emotional heartstrings pulled. The ultimate sequence within the film has Andy delivering his toys to Bonnie, and unbeknownst to him, Woodie is tucked away within the field. The scene is wealthy with coloration, from the luxurious inexperienced grass to Bonnie’s pink tutu, Andy’s metal blue eyes, and Jessie’s red-tinged hat. I am not going to say that I shed a tear for the hundredth time watching this scene, however it appeared wonderful and I could not consider that I used to be taking a look at a show that’s accessible for as little as $229 on sale.
I appreciated the added display actual property with the moveable 4K show. The KYY K3-3 was proper at house as an prolonged show for my MacBook Professional. I discover 1080p to be a bit limiting almost about the apps that I exploit in my day by day workflow. So, the KYY K3-3 helped present a bit extra respiration room for my continuously used apps like Microsoft Edge, Safari, Slack, Microsoft Phrase, Pixelmator Professional and NetNewsWire.
However whereas I used to be impressed total with the on a regular basis visible efficiency of the KYY K3-3, the inner audio system had been sadly less than par. Audio system on moveable displays are usually an afterthought, and that’s additionally the case right here. They will work in a pinch if you do not have something higher, however they’re woefully insufficient even in comparison with the audio system on most entry-level laptops. There is no sense of depth to the sound, and music playback was missing in dynamic vary and bass.
Backside Line
The KYY K3-3 is an attention-grabbing product, primarily as a result of it tries to pack in high-end specs like a 4K IPS panel at a bargain-basement value. KYY is just not solely profitable, as we noticed in our instrumented testing, however the K3-3 makes a daring assertion in precise on a regular basis use.
I used to be impressed by its efficiency as a productiveness and light-weight leisure monitor. Watching TV exhibits and stay content material on the show as I labored on my laptop computer was pleasurable. I wasn’t impressed with the built-in stereo audio system, however that comes with the territory with cheap moveable displays. Whereas I commend KYY for together with the good cowl to guard the K3-3 when transported, I want that it didn’t additionally double because the monitor’s stand. It’s finicky and never adjustable for angle. I might have preferred to have seen an built-in, hinged stand as we see within the numerous Asus, Lenovo, and Viewsonic counterparts.
When you don’t want the 4K decision, the Lepow C2 is a pleasant different for lower than $200. The Viewsonic VX1755 can be one other good possibility with a 17.2-inch 144 Hz FreeSync show, priced at $299.
Nevertheless, with an MSRP of $299, and an on a regular basis value of $249 (as little as $229 as of this writing), the KYY K3-3 represents a real worth play within the moveable monitor sector. We wouldn’t suggest it for color-critical work, however for those who’re merely on the lookout for a monitor that can increase your workspace with out robbing your pockets, the KYY K3-3 is a compelling product.