This time I am reviewing the Siaviala S8 Pro, a triple-screen laptop monitor extender the brand sent me to try. It is a 14 inch, 60 Hz, 1920 by 1080 FHD setup that clips around your laptop to give you three screens, and folds back down into something the size of a laptop. I will show you how it works, the setup catch to watch for, and how I have been using it as an architect over the past few weeks.
How I have used it
For multitasking it is excellent, no more constant switching on a single laptop screen. As an architect I keep the 3D model on one display and technical drawings on the others, whether that is Photoshop, AutoCAD, or something else. When a task does not need my full attention, I put a video on one screen and work on another, and for downtime I will game on the Switch on one screen and watch something on the other.
As an architect and content creator I am happy with it. It is easy to set up, lightweight, good-looking, and well made. As we say in French, que demande le peuple, what more could you ask for. The one thing I would flag is the M1 hub, otherwise the multi-display productivity is a real boost.
Let me know what you think, the link is in the description if you are interested, and ask any questions in the comments. You can also find me on Instagram.
In the box
It arrived well protected, with the portable monitor in a case, the user guides, and a generous set of cables: two HDMI, two USB-C, and one USB-A to USB-C. The good news up front, every cable you need is included, so there is nothing extra to buy.
Design
It is a black-grey unit with a matte anti-glare surface, and your laptop sits in the middle. Folded, it really does look like a small laptop, which makes it easy to carry, and it is genuinely lightweight. There is a kickstand on the back that pulls out and rotates down onto the desk, the middle piece stretches to fit your laptop screen, and two side pieces hold everything in place. The kickstand sets the angle.
Setup, and the catch to know about
There is a power button and three USB-C ports on the back, and the cable setup depends on your laptop. Two fully functional Type-C ports means two USB-C cables. One functional Type-C means one USB-C and one HDMI. No functional Type-C means two HDMI. I am on a MacBook Air with two USB-C ports, so two USB-C cables, one per display.
Here is the important catch. If your MacBook has an M1 chip, like mine, Apple only supports two display output channels, the built-in screen plus one external, so out of the box only one of the extender screens will work. The fix is a small H5-T hub that lets M1 users run all three displays. It is not in the package, because you only need it on M1, an M1 Pro or other laptops do not. You install a driver and then it is plug and play. Worth knowing before you buy if you are on an M1.
Beyond that it is broadly compatible, Mac, Windows, Android, Linux, Switch, and Chrome OS. You can plug in a phone or a Switch, and even run two separate devices at once, I had my laptop extended onto one screen and my Switch on the other. Connect it to an external power supply and it will also fast-charge your laptop.