If you travel like I do, you know how frustrating it can be to suddenly go from three monitors to one. Things that normally go fast, such as data entry or programming, become unpleasant. I’ve looked into various solutions to this problem, but they all have one disadvantage: they dangle perilously on the back of your laptop monitor. Even with a kickstand, this poses a genuine risk to the monitor’s hinges’ longevity, as well as being a split second away from tragedy if someone bumps the table. Maxfree might have the solution to that dilemma, and I was excited to put the F2 to the test.
The Maxfree F2 14″ Triple Laptop Screen Extender is a very portable and flexible triple monitor system with “improved cooling” capabilities. When it arrived, I knew a handful of those things the instant I opened the box. Let’s go into the specifics.
The Maxfree F2, as the name suggests, is a laptop extender that provides two additional displays in a small form factor. I can tell you from personal experience that having two more displays increases my productivity significantly. The F2 is already distinctive in the manner it conceals these two monitors. As I opened the box, I saw that the entire system is housed in a faux-leather carrying case with a double-stitched reinforced handle. In fact, they could have easily cut corners on the case, but they didn’t; it’s soft, attractive, and retains its shape, making it easy to pack for travel. Pulling on the exceptionally strong Velcro strip, I was able to pull the body’s solid metal construction out and begin deploying it.
The key selling point of the F2 is that the stand is exactly that: a sturdy aluminum support where your laptop will sit. The monitors no longer dangle off your primary display, but instead connect to two riser arms included with the enclosure. Pressing on the edge of the two monitors, which are housed within the body, releases them from their spring-release mechanism, ejecting them briefly from the device. This allows you to pluck them out and set them aside.
The body of the case expands by simply tugging on both sides; a guide plate indicates how far you can pull it. This lets you to install laptops ranging in size from 12″ to 17.3″, such as a Chromebook, Mac, Surface, or Windows device. I found that to be mainly true, but we’ll get back to it. From here, two arms can be rotated upward. This is where you will select your monitor orientation.
The Maxfree F2 comes with two 14-inch 1080p 60Hz displays, each weighing only 689 grams and measuring 9mm thick. These monitors include a matte screen encased inside a metal body with plastic embellishments that resemble carbon fiber. A kickstand is located in the center of the back of both monitors, allowing them to be positioned in widescreen configuration. Surprisingly, this does not rotate, so it can also sit vertically, but it is convenient that it can be used without the riser arms if desired. Each monitor has a pair of black rubber feet around its outside border. This is where they will make contact with the arm – their mountpoint. The rubberized feet offer strong friction contact, that they stay in place, and that you can easily confirm you have the orientation and position perfect – they are keyed left and right, so pay attention.
At one edge of the monitor, there are two USB-C ports and a Mini-HDMI port. There’s also a little rocker switch that serves as the power button. The speakers are hidden behind two small holes on the borders. The rubbery contact surface will be on the other side from the buttons, along with two small slits for installing the monitor. Everything is properly disguised and quiet, with the exception of the cabling, which we’ll discuss shortly.
The F2’s most surprising feature was its flexibility. If your device has a USB-C port (SuperSpeed or higher), you can attach a display to it. This means you may use it with a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, Nintendo Switch, Steamdeck, or even your smartphone. Simply plug in one of the included cables (they were kind enough to include two right-angled USB-C to USB-C cables, two USB-A to USB-C cables, and even two HDMI to Mini-HDMI cables). On most modern machines, a USB-C cable can be used as video output, but if that’s not the case, or if that port doesn’t supply enough power (5V/2A), you can use an HDMI cable. If you don’t have enough ports, mix & match. If you do have to use HDMI, you’ll also need to supply power via a USB-C connection, which means you’ll need two cables to that monitor, one for the monitor and one for an external power source – you’ll need to provide your own power brick to connect to the USB-C wire. If you do, you’ll most likely need to supply yourself with a longer USB-C cable for power, as the ones included (roughly four feet long) are designed for the path from the monitor to your device – the trip to a power supply on the floor will be much longer.
Connecting the monitor to the arm is straightforward. There are two little hooks inside the arm. The monitor’s aforementioned channel on either side of the foot will fit into those hooks, sitting comfortably and securely. This is when the arms’ versatility is revealed. With the monitor attached, you may rotate the displays approximately 270 degrees. This implies you can face them in the opposite direction. They can also spin a complete 360 degrees on the secondary plane while in the horizontal axis, allowing you to rest them flat on the surface or even backwards off the back of a desk. I can’t think of any use cases where that would be useful, but that doesn’t imply the F2 can’t do it. These arms are purposely stiff and difficult to move to keep the monitors stable. My HP 15″ laptop fits wonderfully on the F2; it’s virtually designed for it. The arms fit perfectly off both sides, and they appear to be a matching pair. My GIGABYTE AORUS 17H is exactly the maximum size (17.3″), yet the arms still move easily when the casing is fully stretched. In both circumstances, I never felt there was a risk of instability, and I’ve had people run into my desk without ever being concerned that the monitor would be damaged.
The F2’s adaptability is truly the standout feature. Because of the strong base that connects these monitors and arms, you can arrange them in a variety of ways. You can certainly have them sit on the desk with the kickstand, which is ideal for presenting to a client and allowing them to utilize their own monitor for design work, document preparation, and multimedia sharing. Alternatively, you can rotate them rearward in a triangle facing the rear. This means that everyone at a circular table can instantly see your monitor, which is ideal for intimate meetings where you need to communicate. The time and irritation saved by not having to constantly spin my laptop around is significant, and the F2 made it astonishingly simple.
The aluminum chassis, two monitors, and carrying case weigh around 5.7 pounds. That is undoubtedly heavier than the numerous kickstand alternatives available, but the piece of mind that comes with stability, good ventilation, and the total elimination of the danger of it breaking my hinges makes it a tiny price to pay.
The laptop’s base includes two little metal feet in the back and another two on top of the chassis. Clearly, the back feet are risers. I’m not sure what the metal tabs on the front are supposed to do. If they’re supposed to hold the laptop, they don’t (the rubberized surfaces along the top of the stand do, however). They could perhaps accommodate a larger laptop body, but my AORUS is the maximum size and fits on the body without protruding from the bottom. I’ve been using this device for weeks and still don’t understand what these tabs are supposed to do. They don’t cause any harm, but they also don’t seem to do anything.
If there was one wish list item for the Maxfree F2, especially considering the price, it would be a little hub built into the back. When the displays are vertical, the cable poking out the far side or the top is unattractive. It would be preferable to use a 90-degree offset to run them off the back and into a hub in the back of the device, with cabling flowing from that to the device for either a single or pair of cords to separate to walk away when necessary. This is just decorative, and serves no utility other than to prevent cables from becoming snagged.
The final step in any hardware review is always price and warranty. The F2 retails for $249.99, which seems reasonable for a robust aluminum chassis and two 14″ monitors. The carrying case allows the arms to stick out, which I wish it didn’t since I believe it could be a problem, so I end up placing the entire thing, bag and all, inside another carrying bag – a little annoyance but one that could be addressed. The only real axe I have to grind is that it only has a one-year guarantee. They do stand behind the device with a 30-day money-back guarantee, but I would have like a two-year warranty, or the ability to extend it. Given that this is an all-aluminum chassis, it’s unlikely to be an issue, but the screens do incorporate electronics. A little peace of mind can go a long way.
I’ve been taking the Maxfree F2 to a number of press events over the last few weeks, and not only am I impressed with it, but it appears that everyone else in the airport is too. There’s certainly a need for something solid that won’t dangle over the back of your main display and can be quickly packed away when it’s time to board. It’s also convenient to be able to pull out a single 14″ screen, deploy the kickstand, and watch movies on the fly – the pinnacle of portability for the digital nomad on the move. I wish the kickstands rotated.