ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC
Extend your mobile workspace.
Portable USBconnected displays aren’t anything new. However, ASUS’s latest model sports an 800:1 contrast ratio, an IPS panel and a USB-C port. A USB-A adapter is also bundled for older computers. The single cable carries video and power.
A dedicated display like this is a great way to get a second screen where you wouldn’t otherwise be able to — like on a laptop. Its 16:9 ratio feels quite natural, plus you don’t have to install any software — both Windows and Mac computers should just recognise it as a DisplayPort-connected screen straight away, meaning you can get to using that second monitor quickly and easily.
The 15.6-inch size and 1080p resolution are comfortable, even though the ZenScreen is clearly not in the same league as a high-end LCD monitor.
The IPS panel is also less capable where colour rendition is concerned; a side-by-side comparison of WebKit’s wide colour gamut demo ( bit.ly/2qVRuUv) reveals the subtle red‑on‑ red pattern that was clearly evident on our test MacBook’s Retina display to be sadly invisible on the ZenScreen.
There’s a power button at the bottom right of the display, and two more buttons at the bottom left for navigating menus. The more advanced controls include a four-level blue light filter that adjusts the colour output and eight presets for specific tasks, including game, reading and theatre modes. If those modes don’t address a task you perform, you can save up to four customised personal profiles to get them just right for your needs.
Another interesting addition to this screen is the corner hole. This has been designed so that you can place a strong metal pen through this hole, enabling the screen to be propped up and used in portrait orientation. The jury is out, at present, as to whether this is a better method of achieving portrait orientation over something like a flip-out leg. The protruding cable, when used in portrait mode, is rather unsightly, however, and could prove a deal-breaker if you’re particularly anal about cable management.
It also comes with a foldable case that not only protects the screen but can also prop it up to a different angle for landscape use.
Sadly, the auto-rotation feature doesn’t work with macOS, but works smoothly with most other Windows laptops.
At the end of the day, this is an affordable way to extend your workspace when you’re away from your home or office, with picture quality that’s good for general tasks, but less so for pro visual work.
“A dedicated display like this a great way to get a second screen where you wouldn’t otherwise be able to — like on a laptop.”