ASUS ZenScreen MB166C Portable USB Monitor- 15.6 inch, Full
ASUS ZenScreen MB166C Portable USB Monitor- 15.6 inch, Full HD, IPS, USB Type-C, Flicker Free, Blue Light Filter, Anti-glare surface
ASUS Flicker-free technology
ZenScreen MB166C features TÜV Rheinland-certified ASUS Flicker-free technology to reduce flicker, ensuring comfortable viewing experiences. This technology helps minimize eyestrain and other ailments typically associated with extended hours of viewing.
| Weight: | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions: | 1.18 x 36 x 22.6 cm; 1.5 Kilograms |
| Brand: | ASUS |
| Model: | MB166C |
| Colour: | Black |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | Asus |
| Dimensions: | 1.18 x 36 x 22.6 cm; 1.5 Kilograms |
Avevo bisogno urgentemente di un secondo monitor e questo prodotto mi ha offerto una soluzione altamente pratica. Il design elegante, con rifiniture raffinate e la robustezza del materiale metallico, lo rendono adatto agli ambienti professionali. La semplicit d’uso data dalla porta USB Type-C, insieme alla comodit della trasmissione dati e dell’alimentazione tramite un unico cavo, lo rendono immediatamente operativo come monitor secondario. Devo dire che la risoluzione dello schermo non estremamente alta per possibile migliorare la visione regolando le impostazioni con i tasti collacati in basso a sinistra (anche se l’interfaccia del men delle impostazioni un p datata e non molto intuitiva). Inoltre non molto leggero per il trasporto, per la variet di opzioni di posizionamento lo rendono molto versatile. Considerato tutto penso che acquistare questo prodotto sia stata comunque una buona scelta per le mie necessit professionali.
Trs bon cran, le fait d’avoir un seul cble pour la fois alimenter et envoyer l’image c’est juste trop cool.
La qualit est vraiment pas mauvaise mais je trouve qu’on voit trop les pixels …
La pantalla es muy comoda y no necesita transformador de corriente, se alimenta por el mismo cable USB tipo C desde el cual recibe la seal del pc. Es muy ligera y fcil de guardar yo la uso para teletrabajar y tener un apoyo visual ms amplio. A m me ha gustado mucho. Trae su propia funda para guardarla.
I’m not a home-office person and prefer to go to cafes to work. I wish this display had more resolution, but other than that it’s perfect. Lightweight, easy to install and no connection issues or whatsoeve
S’allume ds qu’on connecte le cable USB-C
L’alimentation et le signal DP (display port) passent par le mme cable
On ne peut pas plus simple
L’image est d’excellente qualit
Attention le PC doit disposer d’un port USB-C avec signal DP
Producto de calidad, acabados y funcionalidad, la posibilidad de rotacin de la pantalla ofrece bastante flexibilidad para trabar con documentos. Por sacarle un pero la rosca para fijar la pantalla a un trpode es de plstico con el uso y con el tiempo es posible que se pase de rosca hubiera sido perfecto que fuera metlica por lo dems de 10
Nada mal, lo negativo deja de dar imagen de vez en cuando cuando enciendes el ordenador y el monitor, solo desconectas y vuelves a conectar funciona, pero del resto funciona sin problemas.
Gaming laptop is excellent and the screen on the laptop is where gaming is done, however this as a side screen for other activities, excellent.
Price point is superb, no power cables, just a usb-c to usb-c monitor to laptop. That’s it. One cable.
I recently bought a 13inch Asus Zenbook and wanted to complement the smaller screen with a larger one for multi-tasking. This has worked effortlessly and has made my work so much more efficient. I decided to try this model with its own internal battery and that has proved to be a good decision. Highly recommended.
Took a little longer than I anticipated to set up and the Asus website could have been clearer when downloading the driver to the Mac, but once set up it is a simple plug in and play.
Given it uses the laptop for power the screen is good and just what I need for work.
Disappointed that I clicked for a usb-c cable for use with the Mac and was sent a standard cable so will need to use an adapter.
Fonctionne trs facilement, bonne qualit d’image. Seul tout petit bmol : la position des prises sur le ct conduit des fils un peu envahissants. mais c’est une trs bonne solution pour avoir un grand cran sur un PC mobile.
This display slips into a bag easily, and does not weigh much.
The stand doubles as a cover so the glass panel is well protected in transport. The build is good and it does not feel like it will damage easily. The controls work well.
The colours are quite good out of the box and the resolution is good for the size.
I don’t always find the right position for the stand, then the display is not supported and falls flat. But the stand is effective when correctly assembled.
Connectivity is limited. There is only one USB-C connection on the bottom left. The box contains a USB-C cable and a USB-A to USB-C adaptor. The display can be powered through USB-A but you will need Display Port Alt mode support through USB-A to actually use it.
Auto-rotate does not work with my Mac or with my Linux work laptop. It looks like it requires installing a Windows driver.
Manual rotate works fine, but on Mac I have to select the resolution before rotating because 1080×1920 (vertical) is not listed as an option. That is a minor issue that I blame on Apple, not on Asus.
If you want a lightweight portable display with less than 15in size, that is the one to get!
Buena calidad, aunque no es super brillante, es muy util y funcional en interiores, pero en exterior con mucha luz el brillo puede ser insuficiente.
Pena que ASUS no venda un soporte compatible para este modelo y solo lo venda junto con modelos mas caros
I currently own a high powered gaming laptop which i used for most of my day to day stuff like web browsing, video watching etc – however due to the ever in creasing cost of energy and the fact a gaming laptop is super power hungry i decided to look at alternatives. I did initially consider a small less powerful laptop but then i discovered that i could plug a touch screen monitor into my Samsung phone and use the Samsung Dex application, which is a an OS variant which works like a desktop. Having tried Dex on a normal PC monitor i liked the format and decided just to look for a portable monitor instead.
The Asus stood out to me for several reasons, firstly the thin and leigh weight design and in addition to this i need a monitor with speakers, the final clinch point for me was that the Asus has a built in 5000mAh battery which would mean it wouldn’t require an additional power adapter to work with the Dex software.
When i received the monitor immediately i could tell i had made the right choice, it looks and feels like a premium product. Designed in a space grey aluminium with minimal bezels – it looks super smart. Included with the monitor is a power adapter, Ball point pen, USB C-C video lead and a USB A to C adapter + HDMI-HDMI mini lead.
I fully charged the monitor using the included USB C cable which took just under 1hr. Plugging it into my phone resulted in the screen springing to life and displaying the Dex software. The touchscreen was responsive and accurate and allowed me to navigate the desktop without any issues whatsoever. The screen is a matt finish which i prefer, thus not reflecting any ambient light at all – the draw back of this is Wow is this thing a fingerprint magnet! When the screen is illuminated you cant see the prints, but turn it off and it looks a mess! Using the built in battery i was able to achieve just under 4hrs usage before the monitor flashed up with the battery symbol advising me to charge. This is ample for my evening browsing needs. Videos on the monitor again look great – it has a full 1080p resolution, images are sharp and crisp. The menu options for the monitor are very good – several pre-set screen setting, although i did find the brightness and contrast ratios were a little off, but you can manually change these to your own preference. The built in speaker on the display, whilst not the best is adequate for watching videos etc in a non crowded environment.
I did find a couple of negatives re the device, there is only one USB c socket this means you can’t charge the device and continue to use it at the same time – for my application i don’t want the monitor drawing power from my phone so my usage time is limited – if they had an additional USB C socket this would solve this issue for me. If you are connecting a normal PC/Laptop/Docking station then you would be able to pass through charge but this isn’t what my intended purchase was for. The only other port you have is a mini HDMI port. The second negative was the magnetic cover which doubles as a stand – it’s complicated! I had to refer to watch an online video to work it out believe it or not! It’s magnetic, but the magnets are not great, and i found the monitor occasionally slipping when resting on my lap. On a flat surface if was fine. You can also use the monitor in portrait mode using the included ball point pen as a stand – this was clunky for me though and i wasn’t a fan, notwithstanding my opinion, it did actually work well.
In summary i love this monitor – it is perfect for my requirements and works brilliantly with Samsung Dex capable phones. Yes it’s expensive compared to other touch screen monitors of the same size, but for me the premium price is worth it due to the build quality. I would definitely recommend this product to others looking for a portable premium touchscreen monitor.
I hope that you found my review helpful.
Pros – a decent sized screen for not too much money
– one cable to power it and transfer data between laptop and screen (no power supply needed)
-no noticeable lag between laptop and screen
-slim and very smart in appearance
-also works with my MacBook Pro (2020)
Cons – the colour rendering is not good (no problem for my home working – but I’ve noticed that when I use the “highlighter” pen on the laptop, orange looks red and red looks purple. DO NOT let this put you off, most people won’t use it for gaming or TV.
-DO NOT trust the slip case. Here’s why. It folds into a triangle to form a basic stand but the screen falls of it. And it has a velcro opening at BOTH ends of the case and tonight when I put it in the case, the other end was open as well and the screen slid straight through and landed on the carpet. My fault for not noticing, but still…..
All in all, I’m very happy with it. I saved a few quid by buying a reconditioned, “open box” one and it was missing the cable – so it cost me another tenner to buy a cable (I didn’t have time to contact customer services to report it, I needed it too soon to wait for a reply. Thank you, Prime delivery). Aside from that a reconditioned one was a good choice and is immaculate (even though I was warned it might have some cosmetic damage)
It also works as a monitor for my photography to see an instant bigger image when out and about (but remember the colours are not brilliant). Good for checking focus is sharp though.
Primarily I am using it as a third screen on Dell XPS 8930 desktop using the Displaylink drivers. Also on a Dell laptop with USB-C Alt Mode (which means it supports Display Port over USB-C so no Displaylink drivers needed). I have used it with a Galaxy Tab S7 and Note 9 but see the caveat about these, later.
Pros
Light weight
Clear screen
Fairly simple to use
Well built
The “pen” actually works
Automatic rotation also works and is useful (once software is installed – it won’t work without it)
Quite portable
Cons
Whilst a decent screen it is not the brightest (but it is not awful)
Vividpixel is useless so turn it off
USB-C port location can be a bit fiddly but I understand why it is in this position
If your machine does not support USB-C DP Alt mode, then the screen will advise you but installing the Displaylink drivers, either direct from the Displaylink site or via the ASUS support downloads will sort that for you. In this mode you can also use the supplied USB-C to USB-A adapter.
I also use a Logitech unifying dongle for keyboard and mouse. I found that if I used the same group of USB ports for both there was jitter when using the mouse. I moved the screen cable to a port at the back and the issue disappeared. If you are using such devices in bluetooth mode you will be fine.
The screen is noticeably less bright than my Dell monitors but on a par with the older laptop screen. Whacking brightness up makes things more tolerable and I don’t consider is a problem as the ASUS is very much a 3rd screen
The build quality is good. The supplied magnetic type cover/stand works well enough. There is scope to adjust the screen positioning into 2 or three angles, but normally I just stick to the one I am comfortable with. Using the cover you can prop the screen in portrait more. It’s a bit cumbersome but it can be done. Using the supplied (or any other) pen as a prop does actually work, however, I’ll stick with the cover.
I have no issues using it as a 3rd screen or attaching it to the laptop as a second.
I have managed to get it working with both a tablet and a phone. The important point to note, is that you may find the power output from phone or tablet a bit too low. If the screen is set to high brightness there may not be enough oomph to drive the monitor. If you switch the monitor to dim (and you need the monitor to be powered to do this!) you can make the screen work. I find I can get to about 50% power before things get flakey.
In DEX mode you can get two individual displays but obviously this version of the ASUS is not touchscreen. I use a switchable bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so not a problem.
I have tried the tablet with Displaylink Presenter software from the play store, which is not great. You get a mirrored screen which I find not very useful. However, I tried this using a powered hub and the screen worked at full brightness quite successfully.
The monitor comes with ASUS Vividpixel turned on. I had an ASUS monitor before and found this option an abomination. I’d recommend at least trying with it turned off.
Would I pay full price for it? I am not sure. I’d be tempted but would probably resist. That said, if space were an issue or I travelled a lot then things would be different.
All-in-all I am very happy with my purchase. At full price I’d give it perhaps 4 stars.
If you are trying to decide on one there are a few things to consider:
– Do you want (mini)-HDMI connection or just USB-A/C? Non PC (laptop) devices (e.g. consoles like Nintendo Switch or older phones) cannot connnect with USB-C directly even though they may have USB-C port.
– Can you manage with just USB-C support or do you need USB-A for older laptops?
– Do you need an internal battery or is laptop/phone battery enough to power the screen for your use?
– Do you want glossy (arguably better colours) or matte screen (less reflections but can appear grainy)?
– Do you want touch? Do you currently use touch on your laptop?
I would suggest:
– IPS screen rather than TN for much better colours.
– USB-C and A at least if you are not planning to use consoles but if you can afford it get mini-HDMI as well just in case your usage changes.
– No internal battery as it makes it heavier plus long-term question on life/replacement/etc.
I got the MB16AC for the wife (to use with her old work laptop with TN screen) that has USB-A only (4th Gen Core era) and it works great:
– USB-A requires DisplayLink drivers but Windows Update has no problem downloading them and they work fine. You should get an USB-C to A adapter in box.
– USB-C using DP (DisplayPort) Alt(erante) mode is better if you have a more modern laptop with USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. This also works great.
– I did not get a cable (warehouse deal) but I used an Amazon Basics USB-C 3.1 cable + adapter and that worked great. I will though buy a “proper” Amazon Basics USB-C to USB-A 3.1 cable (aka 5Gbe) cable so that there is no adapter. For future proofing consider the USB 3.2 (aka 10Gbe) just in case you want to use it for something else (e.g. a disk).
– You also get a ball-point pen which you can use to prop the screen up using the “hole”. And that works great! I would suggest a metal Parker pen though 😉
– Monitor is quite thin & light but still 800g. The “origami” magnetic case is pretty cool. Note not all models have this.
– Connecting to an Android phone (Samsung Note 9 USB-C) also worked fine – engages Samsung Dex (aka Android desktop) – while using the phone as the touchpad! It is quite cool but perhaps not as useful as it sounds.
Some things could be better:
– As I mentioned, no HDMI support, a HDMI to USB-C adapter does not work. In any case something like a Switch would require power pass-though to engage.
– Also note that the few USB-C hubs on the market may not pass DP Alt mode for a screen – and just be for data and perhaps power pass-trough.
– Without USB-C power pass-through, you may quickly run out of USB-C ports – e.g. if you wanted to connect a disk to transfer some files too.
– Finally IMHO, FDH/1080p on a 15″ is a bit “rough” these days as the DPI is pretty low – if you deal with primarily text. Fonts are a bit fuzzy if you’re used to high-DPI phone/tablets or even laptop screens. Perhaps not 4k but 1440p should be more appropriate for 15″ screen.
All in all, for the deal price it is good but perhaps I would not pay full price for it. But if you need it you need it.
Pros
– You connect the monitor to the laptop and it is turned on straight away with no setup required, working like a treat with both my machines (one Dell, the other Surface).
– It feels solid and looks expensive (:P)
– You can adjust the brightness etc. by the two buttons at the bottom of the screen.
– It is extremely light and very thin. definitely super portable!
– The cover serves as a stand as well – another super convenient function for a portable monitor!
Cons
– For some machines, you need to get to the Asus website to install the updated driver before you can connect this to your laptop; but v straight forward if you know what you are doing! there is a Youtube video that guide you on where to go etc. if you do need some direction
– I didn’t notice this when I put the order in otherwise I might re-think … this one only has one port – Type C, and the screen is powered by your laptop solely. So if you want to connect this to your mobile, it won’t work, as your phone is not powerful enough! and if your machine is on batter saving mode, the screen won’t work either.
All in all, I still find this a super useful tool during travel and remote working. Love it.
I’ve got it to connect to Android phone, Raspberry Pi and Windows 10 (as a temporary replacement). It has 2 input ports – the micro HDMI and USB-C, and while with Android you can use just USB port to have image, sound and touch, with Raspberry and Windows you would need to connect to micro-HDMI, additionally connecting USB port to power source.
Package contains USB-C to USB 3 adaptor, so you can connect it to computers which have no HDMI / USB-C ports. It doesn’t have HDMI adaptors, though – so, if you have full HDMI or mini HDMI – you need to buy them separately. The only HDMI cable provided is micro-HDMI to full HDMI, so your adaptor should have female full HDMI, and male mini or micro HDMI.
In Windows 10 it works without any additional drivers, and installing software from Asus website doesn’t add anything of value. When connecting it using both HDMI and USB-C, it provides touch functionality, but the USB port is fiddly – sometimes I notice, in menu, that it has less than 100% of energy remaining, and that means it disconnected from USB at some point. The battery is quite good and will allow a few hours of work or play.
Picture quality is rather average. It works as an ordinary low tier monitor, like the first LCD monitors of the past. It’s suitable for gaming, if you are desperate.
Back-lighting is really bad – there is no pure black on this monitor. But you aren’t going to use it as primary monitor, right? Either way, if you are designer and picture quality has to be perfect – this model won’t fit the bill.
When connecting to Android, it mirrors the screen, including its orientation. The image quality, obviously, is significantly inferior, but it’s only in contrast. So, theoretically, you can transform your phone into temporary workstation having this screen and bluetooth keyboard.
Speaking of which, the magnetic cover for the screen is also the stand, and it’s not the most reliable one. If you have tablet stand – use it instead, or gravity may make adjustments to your screen.
Getting into menu may be a challenge at first, mainly because Asus decided to go full IKEA and has no words in the quick manual shipped with the screen. It looks exactly like IKEA leaflet. The menu button works as joystick, so it may cause some frustration.
Sound quality through HDMI is totally OK, while through USB it felt like the quality was decreased, which probably is the case. Still OK for watching movies.
Overall – it’s OK screen to have when you have some headless devices where screen would be needed occasionally, or for presentations. Worth the money, and perhaps exceeded my expectations. Don’t use it as your primary screen. For life expectancy – check 1-star reviews, mine is too new to figure it out.
First, Asus has multiple completely different screens in one listing here. The different size names correspond to completely different model numbers. Make sure you research each model before purchasing to know what you’re getting.
I’m a tech contractor that often works from hotels, on the road, on airplanes-etc. I run a Windows work laptop (with a USB-C port) and an older 2015 Retina Macbook Pro (with thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.0 ports).
I initially purchased the ASUS MB169C+ due to reviews here, but quickly found that while the screen worked fine on my windows laptop via a USB-C to USB-C cable, connecting it to my Mac with an Anker Powerline USB 3.0 to USB-C cable (as recommended in other reviews here) didn’t work. The screen requires too much power to operate on USB 3.0 and you get a flashing white light to signify this when plugging it in to any machine via a USB 3.0 port, which makes it a bit useless unless your laptop has USB-C ports. That screen got sent back to Amazon.
I then purchased the ASUS MB16AC, which advertised support for USB-C and USB 3.0. Plugged it in to both my Macbook Pro and my windows laptop with the Anker Powerline USB 3.0 to USB-C cable and it turned on instantly and works perfectly. I didn’t use the included USB-C to USB 3.0 adapter due to other issues other users have experienced here with display flicker. The Anker cable worked perfectly the first time round.
-BUILD QUALITY-
The MB169C+ is a plasticky monitor with a black plastic front bezel that looks like a thin version of a regular desktop monitor. The back is plastic with I assume a faux-brushed metal cover to make it look more high-class. The included stand is badly designed with velcro and fabric tabs to prop the screen up. It doesn’t inspire confidence that the screen won’t fall over.
The MB16AC is built like a premium device. Brushed metal front with a really tiny bezel. The back is brushed metal and feels high quality. The included stand is a well-designed magnetic case that clicks into place reassuringly when you prop the monitor up on it.
Both are extremely light and thin. Perfect if you need a large screen available on-the-go.
-IMAGE QUALITY-
The MB169C+ has a full HD 1080P matte screen, which is good if you work outdoors or in areas with bright lights and glare.
The MB16AC has a full HD 1080P gloss screen, but is still visible outdoors quite well.
-VALUE FOR MONEY-
The MB169C+ might be cheaper than the MB16AC, but it feels less like a rugged portable monitor and more like a panel that’s liable to break at any time. The MB16AC however feels like it’s well built and will withstand being transported in a bag, rucksack or similar. Additionally, the MB16AC allows connectivity with older non-USB-C monitors with the inclusion of USB 3.0, which is extremely important if your laptop doesn’t have any USB-C ports.
Out of both screens, I would highly recommend spending the extra money on the MB16AC. Don’t waste your time with the MB169C+ unless you really like the look of it’s front bezel or you only have USB-C computers and want to save a bit of cash.
If you want more information on the other models Asus offers, go to YouTube and watch reviews on them there. This is a good lineup of portable monitors, but they are all significantly different from each other.
UPDATE
3 months later and my MB16AC has proven to be an invaluable purchase. Still works perfectly. No dead pixels or connectivity issues. The included origami case has done a good job of protecting it in my rucksack. I’d highly recommend it.
Decided to purchase what looked like the newer model with an in-built battery (MB16AHP) to add another screen to my portable setup. That seems to only work on HDMI with my Macbook since the USB port is USB-C only (or if it is USB 3.0, it doesn’t seem to like the latest Displaylink drivers). I’m debating returning the MB16AHP and purchasing another MB16AC because the MB16AC simply works whereas connecting the AHP model requires plugging it into HDMI and another USB source to maintain power when the inbuilt monitor battery dies.
If you have a USB-C machine and have no need for USB 3.0 support (or want HDMI), get the MB16AHP. If you need USB 3.0 support (and don’t care about HDMI or an in-built battery), get the MB16AC
I also should correct the other review that mentioned many freezes and bad lag until they bought an Anker cable. I also bought the Anker cable but needn’t have as the cable+adapter the screen ships with works fine with no massive lag (apart from the tiny amount from the AirPlay protocol) and no freeze issues – running fine at full HD resolution so you actually don’t need any extra cables.
It’s worth adding that I am running a 15″ MBP with (broken) Retina display running High Sierra. It’s also worth noting that rather than downloading the latest software from Asus’ website, you can instead go to the official DisplayPort website and display the specific one for your OS X version (i.e. High Sierra has different drivers to Mojave).
If you are using USB-A to USB-C you NEED this software as what it is doing is “tricking” OS X into providing AirPlay data through the USB-A port….so the MBP is actually treating the ZenScreen as an AirPlay device but through a cable rather than WIFi.
If, on the other hand, you are using a newer TouchBar MBP with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to USB-C direct then you don’t need any additional software and it will work ‘as is’ out of the box and treat the ZenScreen as a separate screen not an AirPlay display. This means with newer MBPs you can fully turn off your existing screen and use the ZenScreen alone.
On top of this, if you’re using an older MBP like me with USB-A, don’t be tempted to buy the Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) adapter and connecting via that as that adapter will not transmit any displayport data so it won’t work. In fact, only this AC model or the top AP model will work with a USB-A MBP (which is why I bought it – didn’t need the battery power the AP version has so got the AC).
The rotation function also will not work with OS X but I don’t need that functionality so don’t mind.
Everything else works fine and the screen is thin and looks great and is bright enough for me. It is a bit heavy when being used with laptop on your lap but if being used as an extended screen is a great vfm alternative to a full monitor.
Highly recommended.
Many of the issues I was experiencing with using the screen over USB-A have been solved by using a proper-spec USB-A 3.0 to USB-C cable, instead of the supplied USB-C cable and adaptor. I am using an Anker Powerline+ cable and now the issues with glitches and lag seem to be completely resolved. Also, the screen seems to be a little brighter. Interestingly, if I use the adapter and supplied cable to charge my Galaxy S8 if doesn’t support fast charging. Asus really should have included a proper USB-A to USB-C cable but the Anker one was only 7.
*** UPDATE ***
After a lot of internal debate and research about adaptors, etc. I decided not to return the screen as I now know it is a technically possible to drive the monitor from a pre-2015 MacBook Pro via mini Displayport and bypass the USB drivers. Displayport will not power the screen but it should be possible using a mini Displayport cable to USC-C plugged into a USB-C hub that has power pass-through (with a USB-A to USB-C cable transferring power. I am just waiting on the adaptors and cables to arrive and will update this review with my experiences.
*** Orginal Post ***
Have been waiting several months for this to be released, but sadly the reality doesn’t live up to the promise.
Main Issues:
1. Brightness
I was aware that due to being USB powered, the screen wouldn’t be as bright as my MacBook Pro but the actual brightness is only about 50-60% of the MacBook (both set to 100% brightness). Also, however you configure it there is just no whiteness to this display. A plain white Word doc page that looks like a clean white on the MBP is mid grey on the Asus. I am a pro photographer and graphic designer and if I was to estimate the relative shade, I would say it was about 15-20% black. This makes it all but useless for any photo editing and seriously compromised for general design work.
2. USB Drivers
Unless you have a 2016/2017 Mac with USB-C that can directly drive the monitor from the video card, you have to use a USB-C to USB-A adaptor and USB video drivers to get everything working. This is where things really start to fall apart as the drivers are VERY BUGGY! Lots of flashing around windows in Mail, Safari and Chrome and you get a lot of artefacts left on the screen when you are moving windows around. The load it puts on your CPU is incredible and trying to use Adobe Illustrator CC soon had the fan running on full and the top of the keyboard area heating up very quickly. This eventually made trying to work on the document like wading through mud. I would be seriously concerned that running that way for an extending period of time would cause the laptop to overheat and would reduce the lifespan of the computer.
I am running a fully tricked out MacBook Pro 13″ 2015 (i7 3.1Ghz). I also have a Samsung 24″ external monitor that has none of the lag issues that the Asus shows. I know this is down to the USB-A drivers, but I am not looking to upgrade to a USB-C Mac for at least 12 months.
Looking at the product descriptions and marketing materials, there is no mention of the brightness issues or the fact it will severally tax your processor if you are not connecting via USB-C. I really wish this had worked out better, as I still need to find a workable portable solution for when I am on the road without my external monitor.
I think if it was just one of the above issues, I could have probably lived with it but not both. The picture is nice and sharp, it is very well designed and looks great. It reminds me of USB powered DJ controllers that can work only bus-powered, but some of the features are limited (like the brightness of displays/buttons). It would have been perfect if they had an extra power or USB input to increase power to brighten the display when needed.
My primary purpose was for extra screen real estate – primarily for spreadsheet work. If you are a multi tasker then more screen estate generally correlates to more productivity – of course excluding the moments while you saviour your screen watching 4k demo videos!
My screen arrived with a next day delivery from Scan Computers (via Amazon), the packaging was rather jazzy, almost like an oversized mobile phone box. The accessories included were,
The screen itself, an ASUS pen (great marketing follow through, so you can prop up the screen with the pen), a USB A to USB adaptor, a USB C cable and a magnetic multi position flip case.
As I handled the the screen on first touch, I was in awe on how well made and beautifully designed the screen was. The screen is extremely thin and light with a gloss glossy finish.
I connected the screen to my late 2016 Macbook pro with touch ID and using the supplied USB C cable, the screen was instantly recognised and worked out of the box.
The 1080P resolution was sharp and vibrant for a USB powered screen. This was the original attraction for my purchase – connection via a single cable. The pen slot may seem like a novelty factor but my use so far has proved that this feature is remarkably functional – the supplied case/stand whilst multi purpose is heavy due the the magnets that enable the different positions.
Pros
– Probably the best USB powered screen on the market, beautifully designed and after 3 attempts ASUS have finally got it right
– Sharp and crisp display ,1080P resolution, portrait and landscape modes, brightest bus powered monitor
– Relatively wide viewing angles
– Plug and Play
-Thinnest and lightest USB powered display
-Compatible with Windows and Mac
-A full 15 inch screen with extremely small bezels
-Highly configurable menu to adjust screen settings
Cons
– Expensive
– No HDMI (could have flexible uses)
– Not as bright as powered monitors
– Blue light filter feature unproven if this really actually has any effect on easing strain on eyes (not enough research)
– Menu buttons fiddly
I will be testing the screen with a HDMI to USB C adaptor to see if a HDMI signal can pass through to display this source – perhaps to power a games console or a Raspberry PI.
After reading reviews for too long – I thought I would write my first!
A highly recommended purchase.