InnoView PM408

Pros

• Sharp and smooth for gaming
• Wide color gamut
• Single-cable connection

Cons

• Low-quality speakers
• Max settings require auxiliary power

The InnoView PM408 promises a clear and sharp picture for gaming, and it delivers. This portable monitor has a fast refresh rate, it's slim and lightweight, and it can run entirely off a single cable. It has two USB-C ports, in case you need auxiliary power, and there's an HDMI port for wider compatibility. It's priced at $230, but I've seen it discounted as low as $160.

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A solid screen for work and play

The 16-inch screen's image quality is solid, particularly for a monitor of its price. Its brightness only peaks at about 275 nits, but with a matte finish it's generally easy to see the screen. The contrast ratio is also typical for an IPS screen, narrowly exceeding 1,000:1. And the 2,560x1,600-pixel resolution offers great pixel density. 

All of this is paired with a wide color gamut that covers 100% of both the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. For movies, games and even work, that extra color just makes visuals all the more engaging. 

The 240Hz refresh rate is wonderfully smooth, and the monitor's FreeSync technology allows it to support a variable refresh rate. I tested it with a session of the kung-fu action game Sifu and found no noticeable issues. I spotted some faint ghosting, but the trails were short and didn't significantly detract from the visual quality while gaming. 

Weak speakers and predictable power issues

The speakers are fairly measly, and caused power issues. When I ran them at full volume while maxing out the display settings on a single USB-C connection, the monitor began to power cycle, or repeatedly turning itself on and off. Lowering the volume was enough to keep the screen running, though. 

This isn't totally unusual behavior. Many monitors that can run on a single cable encounter problems, depending on the settings and the power output of the device they're connected to. So be prepared to use auxiliary power. 

The PM408 has a simple design with a lightweight metal frame that feels reasonably sturdy. That's better than I expected for the price. Its metal stand allows you to prop it up at a wide range of angles. Unfortunately, the controls are awkwardly positioned around the back edge of the display, making them hard to press and navigate. 

InnoView didn't include a sleeve or cover, which is important for a portable monitor that may live in a bag or backpack. You do at least get USB-C cables and an HDMI cable included with the screen.

An impressive monitor for the money

All told, the InnoView PM408 is an impressive portable monitor, combining simplicity and a good-looking display for gaming into a value-minded package. Whether it's used for gaming or work, the PM408 has plenty to offer.

How we test monitors

Measurements for the InnoView PM408 were taken using a Spyder X2 Ultra colorimeter using DataColor's Spyder X2 software for SDR. Color accuracy measurements results are reported in Delta E 1976 using Datacolor's 48-color patch test.

On the most basic models we may only test brightness, contrast and color gamut. With more capable displays we may also run tests of user-selectable modes for gaming or color-critical usage, uniformity and so on. We may also run tests to verify how white point accuracy varies with brightness. We also use Blur Busters' motion tests to judge motion artifacts (such as ghosting) or refresh rate-related problems that can affect gaming. 

We tested HDR using VESA DisplayHDR Test app's patterns to display 100% and 10% windows for brightness measurements and RGBW values. These were also measured using the Spyder X2 Ultra to get CIE xyY color values to compare against the DCI-P3 color space's xyY color values to calculate HDR gamut coverage using this gamut calculator.

Keep in mind that individual results can and often do vary from a manufacturer's reported results for a variety of reasons.