Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG review: A pricey but alluring portable monitor

Price When Reviewed

$399

Best Prices Today: Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG

A conveyable monitor is a superb journey companion and very best second monitor for cramped work-from-home setups, however the picture high quality of price range fashions can depart one thing to be desired. Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG supplies an upgraded expertise with superior brightness, distinction, and colour efficiency—however the upgrades don’t come low cost.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best portable monitors to study competing merchandise.

Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG specs

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG is a bit completely different from most moveable screens out there at this time. It has a 16-inch 16:10 show panel, as a substitute of a 15.6-inch 16:9, and a decision of 2560×1600. Asus additionally upgrades the refresh charge to 120Hz.

• Display measurement: 16-inch 16:10 widescreen
• Native decision: 2560×1600
• Panel sort: IPS LCD
• Refresh charge: 120Hz
• Adaptive Sync: None
• HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 licensed
• Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, earphone-out jack
• VESA mount: None, tripod mount out there
• Speakers: None
• Price: $399

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG will retail at $399, which feels steep for a transportable monitor that lacks an OLED panel. Shoppers might examine it side-by-side with Viewsonic’s ColorPro VP16-OLED, which generally retails for $399 on-line.

Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG design

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG’s kickstand units it other than most moveable screens. The stand folds down from the underside of the monitor and finally ends up sitting flat on a desk or desk. It’s considerably just like the Viewsonic ColorProfessional VP16-OLED however, not like that different, Asus’ stand doesn’t improve the peak of the monitor. The stand design is secure and permits for a wider vary of tilt adjustment than most moveable screens. It additionally helps use in portrait orientation.

Photo and video editors who need to preview their work will admire the monitor’s tripod stand, which lurks on the underside of the kickstand. Unlike many moveable screens, Asus’ stand doesn’t double as a protecting show cowl, however Asus features a protecting carrying case.

Matt Smith

The monitor’s kind is a bit much less spectacular than its operate. Plastic dominates the chassis, and its rigidity isn’t any higher than alternate options offered for half the value. An ornamental lip on the decrease bezel presents a little bit of aptitude, but it surely’s shiny and will trigger glare in vivid rooms. I anticipate higher at this worth.

Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG options and menus

Matt Smith

Connectivity contains one full-sized HDMI 2.0 port and two USB-C ports with DisplayPort Alternate mode. The USB-C ports energy the monitor from both a related machine or the included USB-C energy brick. A 3.5mm audio-out jack rounds out the choices.

The ports are typical for a transportable monitor, with one exception: the full-sized HDMI port. Many rivals, particularly these that are inexpensive, use a Mini or Micro-HDMI port. That means you’ll want an applicable cable to hook up with the monitor. It’s not an enormous challenge, however a full-size HDMI port makes connecting a tad simpler.

Asus exceeds expectations with the monitor’s on-screen menu system, which supplies a greater variety of choices than most moveable screens. A fast, responsive joystick on the monitor’s proper flank is used to navigate the menus.

Asus supplies quite a few image-quality modes and changes for colour, saturation, and colour temperature, though a few of these settings are solely out there in particular image-quality modes. Still, Asus’ menu system far exceeds price range screens just like the Arzopa A1 Gamut and comes near the costlier Viewsonic VP16-OLED.

Speakers aren’t included. Most moveable screens embrace audio system, however the high quality is inevitably disappointing. I don’t assume Asus’ resolution to ditch them is an issue.

How is the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG’s SDR picture high quality?

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG is geared in the direction of professionals who incessantly journey, however its picture high quality really exceeds their wants. It supplies a vivid, crisp picture with good colour efficiency. The monitor can deal with many pictures, videography, and digital artwork workflows, and appears enticing when it’s time to chill and luxuriate in a sport or Netflix.

Matt Smith

Brightness ranks among the many monitor’s strongest qualities, with a most brightness of 479 nits in SDR. As the graph reveals, that’s larger than any moveable monitor we’ve examined this 12 months.

It’s not a trivial benefit. Portable screens are extra seemingly for use in conditions the place mild management isn’t out there. The MB16QHG’s brightness will make it extra comfy to make use of in these conditions.

Matt Smith

Contrast is first rate, although the MB16QHG’s efficiency is dependent upon your perspective. It’s superior to different moveable screens with an IPS LCD panel, such because the Azorpa A1 Gamut and AOC I1601FWUX. But OLED moveable screens, such because the ViewSonic ColorProfessional VP-16 OLED and the Innocn 15K1F, present a greater sense of depth and dimensionality.

The diploma to which this issues is dependent upon your use. The MB16QHG appears to be like nice when displaying vivid, colourful content material, as this obscures its comparatively weak distinction. OLED, which might dim every pixel individually, is a better option when you take pleasure in, or work with, darker photos, video games, and movies.

Matt Smith

It’s the same story in colour gamut. The MB16QHG compares nicely to different IPS LCD screens, however not as nicely towards OLED alternate options. Still, the MB16QHG manages to show a powerful 98 % of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, which is sufficient for {most professional} pictures and videography.

Matt Smith

Color accuracy is advanced, because the MB16QHG is merely okay at default settings. It appears to be like enticing, however testing revealed colours have been blown out and overly vibrant. The drawback is an unlucky alternative of default colour mode. The monitor ships in Scenery mode, which ups the colour saturation to an unrealistic stage.

Fortunately, the monitor’s colour accuracy is improved in different modes (Standard Mode supplies a mean colour error of simply 1.46), and the menu system presents loads of alternatives for calibration.

The monitor does nicely in colour temperature and gamma with a studying of 6500Okay and a pair of.2 respectively. Both readings are exactly on our most popular targets. They point out the monitor’s picture appears to be like practical and that content material is roughly as vivid as its creator meant.

Sharpness is one other perk, because the monitor supplies a decision of 2560×1600. That works out to a pixel density of roughly 188 pixels per inch—larger than a 27-inch 4K monitor. Small fonts look crisp and high-resolution video reveals loads of element.

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG isn’t probably the most enticing moveable monitor round—that honor goes to its OLED rivals—but it surely earns excessive marks in brightness, colour efficiency, and sharpness.

How is the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG’s HDR picture high quality?

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG helps HDR enter and carries VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. That would possibly sound promising, however HDR efficiency doesn’t maintain up.

Brightness is an issue. The monitor approaches 500 nits in HDR, however that’s nonetheless not sufficient to ship a high quality HDR expertise. Complex high-contrast scenes, just like the black gap from Interstellar, present that a variety of luminance element is crushed. Bright areas of a scene seem as a uniform, vivid glow that lacks element. This happens partially as a result of the monitor isn’t vivid sufficient to make the brightest parts of the scene distinct.

The monitor’s HDR help is a perk if you want to view an HDR video or picture however lack a laptop computer with HDR help. Just maintain your expectations in examine.

How is the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG’s movement efficiency?

Surprisingly, the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG delivers a refresh charge of 120Hz. That’s akin to many moveable screens meant for avid gamers. The enhanced refresh charge improves movement fluidity and readability in video games, but in addition proves helpful when scrolling via textual content or photos.

Gamers shouldn’t get too excited, nevertheless, because the monitor sadly lacks Adaptive Sync help. Its absence permits display tearing in video games which don’t produce a body charge equal or above the monitor’s 120Hz. To be truthful, although, many moveable gaming screens additionally lack Adaptive Sync, so the MB16QHG isn’t at an obstacle.

Is the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG value it?

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG is a flexible moveable monitor for productiveness, common use, gaming, and most content material creation. The monitor’s IPS panel can’t examine to OLED moveable screens, nevertheless—an issue, because the MB16QHG is priced to compete with them. Asus strikes again with superior sharpness (most OLED alternate options are 1080p) and a 120Hz refresh charge. I believe OLED is healthier for most individuals, however the MB16QHG is a stable choose when you want a transportable monitor that’s brighter, and sharper, than OLED supplies.