ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6 Inch 1080p USB-C Portable Monitor

I don't buy a lot of products that exceed my expectations, but this one certainly has. It is amazingly lightweight, offers crystal clear text and images, and is very quick and easy to set up in coffee shops and similar places. It connects to a laptop via a single USB-C port and boots up in seconds. Windows immediately recognizes it as an external display with no fiddling of settings. Contrary to the documentation, with displaylink adapters you can plug this into ports which do not supply video and it works! You get a warning message briefly pop up, but I've had zero issues doing this. I even watched Netflix on this with it plugged into a USB-3 port (with a USB-C to USB-3 adapter) which did not offer video-over-USB, and the video was smooth. The use of a pen as a kickstand is an interesting decision, but in practice it actually works well. The display itself is not very bright so not sure in an overly lit room how well this will work. But for people looking for a portable second display I have never seen a better product at any price point. You can set your laptop and this down on a table and within 10 seconds have a multi-monitor setup anywhere. Very cool. One tip: The Lacdo 14-15 inch laptop carrying bag is a great accompaniment to this. It is just big enough to hold this, while being just wide enough to fit a slim laptop as well. I use that bag to carry my Lenovo Yoga 720 13" laptop along with this monitor. Works great.

I've had several mobile monitors that utilize DisplayLink over the years, this is my fourth so far. In the past, I started with the 14inch Lenovo LT1421, I went to 15.6 inch HP, then finally to the 14 inch HP S140u before moving to the ZenScreen. Each had their upsides but all had basically the same downside, resolution and color quality. For comparison the only one fair to benchmark the ASUS ZenScreen against (from what I've used) is the HP S140u as that is still available for sale by HP. The ZenScreen is worlds better. First off, with such thin bezels on 3 sides of the ZenScreen, you get 15.6 inches of screen instead of 14 inches of screen for almost the same total size, a huge plus. Secondly, the ZenScreen actually fits better in my bag even though it is marginally bigger overall; it is very thin for being a monitor and most important to me is the thickness is consistent across the unit. The HP had a rounded back that made it less convenient to have in my laptop bag and created a strange "bulge" when all packed up. That, plus the ZenScreen is just a bit lighter, was a win on its own. The most important factors here though are resolution and color quality. The resolution is full 1080p which is far better than what I've used in the past. There is no resizing of documents etc when you drag something over from your primary laptop monitor (granted their may be a little bit depending on the resolution of your laptop but at 1080p this is very minimal and hardly noticeable from other models, such as the HP S140u I've dealt with). I realize ASUS has other screens with 1080p but their stands before the ZenScreen are so ridiculous and non-user friendly, I always avoided them. On that point, the stand on this screen is pretty smart. Some point this out as a flaw but honestly in the mobile monitor space, no one has a perfect solution (the S140u wasn't bad as it had a similar concept, but still I think ZenScreen is superior). The stand is effectively the case that wraps around the unit and with a few simple folds, strong magnets hold it in place as a stand. There are two degree's you can have it at (at least, with the fold option I prefer - I guess there are a couple in the instructions only one of which I remember) and they seem to be all I need (I really only change the angle if I am experiencing glare); Oh, and you can also use a pen if you prefer to prop this up - I've yet to use this as the case is so quick and effective to fold, but an option none the less. As for color quality, I am not an expert on the levels etc but this screen, although the colors are a little different from my laptop, are the best I've experienced in a mobile monitor; there are settings you can play with native to the screen that allow you to adjust certain aspects which was key in getting the colors to line up pretty well. Again, not perfect compared to my laptop monitor but close enough where after the first week of using it, I didn't even noticed anymore. All in all, this monitor is easily worth the $250. In my experience, it is the best I've used and I'll use it until something eventually is more sophisticated, but I suspect this won't be for a while as this screen (compared to others I've used) seems ahead of the game.

This is just what I needed. I have a 14" custom gaming laptop, which I use for work. I need that kind of horsepower for drafting, and the small size for portability as I travel a fair amount. When drafting on the laptop, I fill up the small screen with just tool palettes, and can't see what I'm working on. This monitor runs off my USB-C port, which I wasn't using for anything anyway. I can put all my tools on the external screen, and work on the built-in monitor. It's a super-easy, plug-and play setup. The included cover folds into a stand, but it's kind of lousy and takes up a large footprint. There's a goofy angled hole in the lower right-hand corner of the monitor, and a metal pen comes with it, which is designed to fit in the hole and make a kickstand-type stand. It works quite well. I bought a $10 slim laptop case for further protection of the monitor, as my stuff takes a beating when traveling. I do find the monitor to be something of a video resource hog when running my drafting program. Even with 32 mb RAM and a 6 gb video card, sometimes things don't refresh properly later in a lengthy work session. The occasional save/close/reboot works wonders. This probably has far more to do with the drafting program than this monitor. All in all, this solved a problem I'd been dealing with for years. Not everybody needs this, but I sure do, and I'm extremely pleased with it all in all.

This portable monitor has an excellent display and was easy to connect with USB-C. It's lightweight, works perfectly as a second screen, and is great for both travel and working remotely.

This has been great buy for an additional monitor. Its slim so I can fit into a laptop bag with ease and the protective sleeve will keep the screen from getting scratched. First, the good: This has agreat picture and brightness. It also has the ability to change settings of the screen like a normal monitor. It's very clear and is large enough that it's not hard to see or read text. I LOVE that all you need is to connect the USB-C cable to your laptop for this to work (also has a USB-C to USB adaptor of your computer doesn't have a USB-C port). No additional power cable is needed. Simply set it up in the protective folio style case and plug it into the laptop and that's it. I have used this on a Lenovo laptop for work and my personal Dell XPS 15 with no issues. The folio case seems like it is pretty good quality. It's thick enough to offer good protection but still this enough to stay portable. Now for the"could be better/bad": May just be my personal preference, but I'm not a fan of the magnetic style folio case. The monitor can slip out if enough force is presented. While it's strong enough to hold it in place when set up, I feel like if it's jostled around enough, it will fall out. Would rather see it held a different way, rather than magnetically. Additionally, the flap that covers the screen while not in use does not hold firmly while closed over the screen. If its not in a laptop bag or backpack in a tight-ish space, it's likely that the case will open and expose the screen. All in all, the folio case is kind of bad and I'm not a fan. It also doesn't give you a lot of choices in terms of viewing angle, so you may need something to place under the front or back to prop it up to the right viewing angle. Can't really classify this as a "bad", but the supplied USB-C cable does not feel like it's great quality. It's pretty stiff and not sure how well it will hold up after being coiled up a few times or stuffed in a bag. However, it hasn't failed yet and it's something that can be easily replaced. The Verdict: I'm happy with the purchase so far. Its a great portable screen for the money. The picture is crystal clear and brightness is superb. The ease of just plugging in one cable and having a working secondary monitor makes this worth it. I have been using it every day for the past couple of weeks and haven't had any issues. I am really enjoying this portable monitor. If anything changes, I will update this review.

Important distinction: this is for the USB-C ZenScreen. These three models should really be separate listings. With that out of the way, I picked this up to have a secondary screen while traveling for work and I've been really pleased with it so far. Worked instantly with both a 15" MBP and two thunderbolt-3 equipped Windows machines. Just make sure your ports are compatible (look for the DisplayPort or Thunderbolt logo if you're unsure). The biggest benefit of this over the USB 3.0 (type-B) models is that this monitor will get driven by your machine's GPU, so it's perfect for playing games in a hotel or similar situations. Short conclusion: if you have a need for something like this, and your computer is compatible, definitely pick one up. If you want the longer breakdown, keep reading. Screen: I don't have any color accuracy or coverage information, but next to several other IPS monitors it looks above average. At 1080p on a 15.6" screen it's not going to keep up with a high-end laptop these days, but games, pictures, movies, and text all look as good as you can ask for given the specs. It gets decently bright, but the surface is a bit more reflective than I'd have preferred. The different display modes are present, but the menus are clunky enough that once you find your preferred one, you'll generally want to stick with it. Design: The top and side bezels are small and not distracting. The bottom chin is a bit more visible, but since it houses the buttons and power connector, this is understandable. As a side effect, it also makes it so that the bottom of the actual screen is almost perfectly at the same height as a MacBook Pro, so that's arguably a plus. Weight is as good as you can expect given the screen size. If you're trying to minimize weight, you probably shouldn't be packing an extra monitor in the first place. But if you're already packing a 15" laptop, the extra weight won't be a deal-breaker. In hand it feels really solid. If Asus made a 15" tablet like this, it would get full marks from me on construction. The Stand: The smart cover is pretty good. Protects the screen and back from scratches in transport. When set up horizontally it has two different angles it can sit at, once you figure out how to fold the magnetized sections into place (the Amazon product image was helpful there). The pen and hole on the other hand, is pretty silly. There's no locking whatsoever, and it just takes one bump to topple it. But hey, free pen! Also a word of caution about USB-A mode: Rather than providing two separate cables, Asus instead includes an adapter with male USB-A on one end and a type-C port on the other. While this is probably fine for this specific device, do not use this adapter with other type-C devices or accessories. You could easily fry your laptop or phone. Better to just get a type-A to type C USB 3.0 cable, there's plenty of good and cheap ones available.

Reading reviews I was worried about the cover/stand being bad. I quickly realized what people were describing the first time I put it on. The magnets line up enough when it's on backwards to nearly function, but function poorly. Flipping the cover around solved it completely, the magnets are strong, line up extremely well and stay in place in a variety of positions. If that's a concern, ignore the other reviews, it was user error. I'm a software engineer who works remotely, so sometimes I'm at a kitchen table, a normal desk, a recliner/rocking chair, a hammock, a boat, etc... This monitor is great in every place except the hammock since there's no real good position to keep the laptop and extra monitor... not a fault of the monitor obviously. Color and clarity is great for software engineering, web browsing, and general use like that. I could see if you were doing a lot of graphic intense gaming, it might not be good, but I even run my google hangout and Zoom video conference meetings on that screen, while running IntelliJ, 30+ Chrome Tabs, Slack, Jetty, and a few Docker images. For my purposes of video conferences and googling solutions for development, it works great. It's not quite as bright as my macbook pro's retina screen, but it's sufficient for development purposes. Angle of view is pretty good too, I can turn it to nearly 180º and to show someone something and still see enough of what's on the screen to point things out. It does get darker when you do that, but it's no worse than the macbook's screen I'm extremely happy overall with this screen. I also have a 22" on an Uplift Desk, but find myself liking the mobility this screen gives me. On my older MacBook Pro (13" from 2015) I did have to download and install a driver to make it work using their USB to USB-C adapter that came with it, but on my newer MBP (15" from 2017) it worked right away using one of the built in USB-C ports.

A little pricier than I was originally comfortable with, I decided to take a small risk and trust in the faith that I personally have in the Asus brand. I work with a mid level HP laptop, so I was a little worried about compatibility but it eventually installed the appropriate drivers(by itself i might add). I did install the Asus software for some firmware and settings help but that software can be removed once you have the scene you prefer. By default this thing outputs at 50%, this is likely to keep it from draining your battery to quickly(and thus leave a negative review) This can be changed in the program and I would encourage people to do so. In my use case, I am never away from power for more than 3 hours at a time. If I'm in a place that is so remote i don't have reliable power, i can't imagine having a use case for a 2nd monitor to my laptops. Maybe it is different for someone else, but this is perfect for when i go on the road and still need to luxury of multiple monitors for multitasking, which is critical to my workflow. Overall, if you are finding yourself struggling to work remote because of the limited real estate you get from a single laptop monitor, you really should pick one of these up. Quality is fantastic and it being plug and play for me has been huge. Comes with the cables you need, and it all fits in my 15" folio case. The magnet cover of this thing is VERY strong, and i am highly impressed with the built quality overall. It's been a short time that I've had it, but the first impression do NOT make me regret my purchase. Worthwhile if you have the use case and the money to spare, as it IS a luxury.

The monitor has good build quality. Plug and play, no issues in connectivity using Type C cable. Works equally well with USB A cable when drivers are installed. Very portable being lightweight. The color reproduction is not great but good enough for general use as an extended display.

If you're sitting on the fence on whether to pay the premium for an ASUS zenscreen or save a few bucks and settle for one of those cheaper OEM alternatives, I'd highly recommend you to just get the ASUS. I too, went for the cheaper ones, and ended up hating the quality and returning them. This model from ASUS works as advertised - build quality is fantastic, screen quality and color are also much better compared to the cheaper OEM models.

El monitor cumplió con mis expectativas. Es muy ligero y fácil de llevar en la mochila, incluso en el mismo compartimiento que la laptop. No tuve problema en conectarlo al puerto USB-C, aunque la lap que tengo supuestamente no era compatible. Para mayor comodidad adquirí un cable extensor y no hubo problema de compatibilidad. La calidad de despliegue es muy buena y el brillo y contraste son excelentes. La funda es resistente y funciona bien como base. El driver necesario para que la pantalle cambie entre orientación vertical y horizontal tiene algo de fallas en Windows 10, aunque la rotación se puede cambiar desde el panel de configuracion de Windows. En general estoy muy satisfecho con la compra.

i got it replaced and with same issue. That is SOOOO bad. do not buy this item if you really want a working screen

con esa pantalla conectada a un puerto USB, mas otra conectada al puerto HDMI de mi portatil, tengo tres pantallas; era el objectivo comprandola y lo he conseguido