Arzopa Z3FC Color Performance
We decided to use our Datacolor SpyderPro (Amazon Affiliate) to see what kind of color performance we get with these monitors. This is not the fanciest test equipment by any means, but we just wanted to get some general sense of performance.
Above we have the Color Gamut, and below we have the Color Accuracy from said Datacolor SpyderPro.
The Arzopa Z3FC is able to display 99% of the sRGB color space, which is a great start. For color accuracy, a dE under 3 is perfectly respectable for an uncalibrated monitor, and by and large, the monitor hits that mark with an average error of 1.20. With that said, however, the monitor’s cyan reproduction is a noticeable outlier, with a delta error of over 6.
As a quick comparison point, here is what we saw from the Arzopa Z1FC 16.1in 144Hz Portable Monitor, a $109 portable monitor we previously reviewed:
And the color accuracy:
Here is a comparison to the $260 Dell 14 Pro Plus:
and color accuracy:
Lastly, here is a comparison to the $49 MNN M156F01:
And color accuracy:
Compared to its sibling, Arzopa’s own Z1FC, the Arzopa Z3FC fares a bit better. Grayscale errors are significantly reduced, and color errors at least a bit closer to the mark (with the exception of that stubborn cyan). This leaves it with an average dE of 1.20, versus the Arzopa Z1FC’s 2.12 dE. The Arzopa Z3FC also outperformed the Dell 14 Pro Plus in color accuracy with an average dE of 1.20, versus Dell’s dE of 2.35.
The Dell 14 Pro Plus tested the best for color gamut. It tested 100% sRGB, 77% AdobeRGB, an 77% of P3. The Arzopa Z3FC comes very close at 99% sRGB, 78% AdobeRGB, an 79% of P3.
Power Consumption, Brightness, and Contrast
We have found that the monitors often do not scale power and brightness in line with what the settings may indicate. That is important because as a portable monitor, it may be run off of a battery making power and brightness an important trade-off. Here is what we captured for monitor power on the Type-C power input at different brigtness levels.
- 0% (47.2 nits) is 5.9W
- 25% (141.4 nits) is 7.8W
- 50% (232.0 nits) is 9.8W
- 75% (320.0 nits) is 10.8W
- 100% (409.0 nits) is 11.8W
In case you were wondering about what we saw for the brightness and contrast:
This is not the lowest power panel, but it is also not a 100W+ monitor.
Final Words
There are lots of portable monitors available today. Among them, the Arzopa Z3FC 16.1in 180Hz 2.5K Portable Monitor is one of the cheapest portable QHD monitors available. With the addition of a 180Hz refresh rate, it is able to further stand apart from the crowd. Consequently, at its $143 retail price (at the time of writing), the Arzopa Z3FC can be a great value, offering quite a bit of functionality for the price.
Sizing up how it compares to some of its competitors, the Z3FC finds itself in pretty good standing. We recently tested the Arzopa Z1FC 16.1in 144Hz Portable Monitor as well, a somewhat less advanced monitor that sells for around $109. Compared to that monitor, the $34 premium for the Z3FC gets you a higher-resolution QHD display and a higher 180Hz peak refresh rate, versus the FHD/144Hz Z1FC. They tested very similarly for color gamut and slightly in favor of the Z3FC when it comes to color accuracy, a dE of 1.20, versus a 2.12 dE for the Z1FC.
Meanwhile, the color gamut and color accuracy results are in line with the Dell Pro 14 Plus Monitor, which is nearly twice the price. All of which makes the Arzopa Z3FC look like a particularly good value, as it offers a higher resolution and a higher refresh rate than Dell’s 1920×1200 pixel monitor.
The worst thing we can say about the Z3FC, then, is that the quality and features do come at a price. A true entry-level monitor, such as the MNN M156F01, is going to be as little as one-third of the cost, giving up a slew of features to hit that price tag. If you just need a bit more portable monitor space, that is a serviceable option. Whereas the Z3FC delivers much more than the bare minimum, it comes at a premium price.
Overall, the Arzopa Z3FC 16.1in 180Hz 2.5K Portable Monitor offers a ton of value at its current price point. Especially for users searching for a mid-tier portable monitor that can bring some quality without breaking the bank, the Z3FC warrants a look.
Where to Buy
If you just want to pick one of these up, here is the Amazon affiliate link to where we purchased this unit.
