Barb Gonzalez

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Streams full-screen videos from Netflix and YouTube
Mirrors Websites
Control videos from computer or mobile device
Minus
Must go to Chromecast Website to learn when new apps become compatible
No central control panel or app
Clumsy to pause video streaming from a phone when a call comes in

THE VERDICT
For $35 and a little practice, this is the best streaming solution available to date.

The Google Chromecast was an instant hit when it came on the tech scene, selling out before its release date last August. At $35, it’s the least expensive way to stream movies and music to your TV and view photos from online. Unique in its approach to streaming media, the Chromecast dongle can stream from a Chrome Web browser (PC or Mac) and from certain apps on iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets.

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Colors pop in direct sunlight
Three-hour battery is enough to watch a movie
Comfortable leather handle makes it easy to carry
Easy to connect to a phone hotspot when on the go
Minus
Slow processor results in multiple button presses and long waits for loading
Doesn’t come with a car charger adapter
Picture can be washed out in bright rooms
Only HDTV, not 4K

THE VERDICT
The Skyworth 24P100 Companion Portable Display excels at its purpose. Inside this easy-to-carry, stable unit is a smart display that performs beautifully in the sun with rich color, good sound, and easy internet connectivity wherever you roam.

Certainly not everyone will share my enthusiasm for the Skyworth Companion Portable Display. Even if you don’t regularly camp or take long road trips—or need a display for presentations—its portability makes it easy to carry from room to room or outside to finish watching a game. It’s what the Companion was built for, and it does it well.