We’ve seen the high screen trend coming up, but we don’t know if everyone would get this high. PC monitors that are taller than their width have made a resurgence this year as they provide more vertical space for viewing long documents, articles, spreadsheets, social media and news feeds. But this 420×1920 monitor takes tall screens to the next level.
As Gizmodo noted today, the screen is owned by Elsonic, a sub-brand of the Japanese company Nojima, which started with LED lamps but now makes TVs and other tech products. The EK-MD088 introduces a new category of PC monitors: Ultra High. Undoubtedly, ultra-wide monitors have gained popularity among productivity junkies who need to surround all their tabs and gamers who want to get lost in their virtual world. But an ultra-high monitor satisfies that insatiable need for scrolling. The product page highlights web browsing, Twitter, and browser games as examples of use.
The display measures just 8.8 inches, so it’s best used as a portable or secondary monitor. It charges via USB-C but cannot output video through the port. The monitor uses mini HDMI for video signal transmission. This gives it a bit of versatility in the sense that it can connect to things that don’t have USB-C, like the Raspberry Pi and older systems. But as more computers start to ditch HDMI and the monitor already has a USB-C port, it looks like a missed opportunity.
Built like a skyscraper in New York, the EK-MD088 takes up minimal space. Its base is approximately 3.07 inches × 0.83 inches (78 × 21 mm) and it rises 9.76 inches (248 mm) above the sky. The display should be a handy portable monitor (assuming you can find a case to match its dimensions), as it only weighs about 0.43 pounds (198g).
A resolution of 420×1920 gives a TFT panel an aspect ratio of 7:32. While 16:9 is still the most common ratio, 16:10 is gaining popularity, and we’re also seeing even higher 3:2 ratios, such as in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. Think the return of the tall screen is just a phase? Don’t be afraid. Screen EK-MD088 ready to adapt; its stand also allows you to switch to landscape mode, according to the product page.
As you’d expect with such a small screen, the EK-MD088’s pixel density is quite high at 223.3 ppi.
Elsonic’s listing doesn’t address color capabilities, but says the screen has a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a typical brightness of 300 nits. There are two buttons on the side of the screen that let you choose between six brightness settings.
At the time of writing, it looks like the monitor will only make it to Japan. It’s expected to be released in “early February,”the product page says, and is priced at 14,800 yen, which is around $128.21 at the moment (not including shipping costs) – a lower price for those who crave high lifting the monitor.