Tested: Asus' 27-inch portable monitor is king of its niche

Price When Reviewed

$465.99

Best Prices Today: Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF

Have you ever needed to purchase a conveyable monitor that’s huge? Really huge? Like, 27 inches huge?

I’d guess that, for most individuals, the reply is “nah.” But I additionally know from expertise that demand exists for a giant transportable show that can be utilized in conferences or moved simply between workspaces in an workplace. If that’s you, the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF may be the monitor you’ve at all times needed.

Read on to be taught extra, then see our roundup of the best portable monitors for comparability.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF specs and options

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF would possibly seem like a typical 27-inch monitor at a look. It has an IPS show panel and a decision of 2560×1440, which is typical for a mid-tier LCD monitor.

• Display measurement: 27-inch 16:9 side ratio
• Native decision: 2560×1440
• Panel sort: IPS-LED
• Refresh fee: 100Hz
• Adaptive sync: Yes
• HDR: Yes, HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black
• Ports: 1x USB-C with DisplayPort and 70 watts of USB Power Delivery, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack
• Audio: 2x audio system, 1.5 watt woofer
• Additional options: C-clamp fashion ergonomic stand, built-in kickstand
• Price: $449 MSRP

However, the MB27ACF is something however regular. It’s really a 27-inch transportable monitor with a built-in kickstand. That means it may be used wherever there’s room to sit down it (and an AC outlet, as a result of whereas the monitor is transportable, it nonetheless requires energy).

That’s to not say you’ll be able to’t use it like a standard monitor. On the opposite, the flexibility to deal with it like each a conveyable monitor and a desktop monitor is the whole level. It even ships with an ergonomic stand that makes use of a C-clamp to connect to a desk.

Pricing begins at $449, and it seems to retail at (or barely above) that value proper now. That’s lots for a 27-inch 1440p monitor, although the dearth of opponents with an identical options helps the MB27ACF carve its personal area of interest.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF design

Unboxing the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF instantly exhibits it’s not like most displays. It has a particularly slim profile, made barely thicker solely by the built-in kickstand on the again. The kickstand can fold flat when utilizing the monitor with the included ergonomic stand, or fold out to let the monitor stand by itself. In this fashion, it features very similar to smaller transportable displays, with one key exception: The MB27ACF requires an exterior AC energy brick, so that you’ll want a close-by wall outlet.

The monitor additionally comes with an ergonomic desktop stand designed for fast attachment and removing. Unlike most stands that sit on prime of your desk, this one connects through an included C-clamp, which saves desk house. The stand’s wedge-shaped mount makes it easy to slide the MB27ACF on or off in only a second, and at solely 6.5 kilos, the monitor is gentle and simple to deal with.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

That’s to not say the stand is ideal. Adjusting the peak requires urgent a lever, which isn’t a serious inconvenience however feels barely much less refined than what you’d count on from a premium ergonomic stand. The stand additionally has a unfastened really feel in comparison with the sturdier mounts discovered on different workplace displays on this value vary. It wasn’t a problem on my desk, however on a much less steady floor it might permit the monitor to wobble greater than you’d like.

And the choices don’t finish there. The monitor additionally consists of two metallic brackets designed to screw into the again of the show and hold excessive of a cubicle wall. It’s a really particular mounting choice, however one which may very well be helpful in sure workplace setups. These brackets connect to a 75x75mm VESA mount, so you too can use the MB27ACF with any appropriate stand or monitor arm of your selection.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Taken collectively, these mounting choices make the MB27ACF a flexible monitor. They additionally assist justify its excessive MSRP for a 1440p IPS show. The monitor is able to deal with a number of use instances with out shopping for further equipment.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF connectivity

While design is a power of the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF, connectivity is a transparent weak point. The monitor gives simply two video enter choices: a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and an HDMI 2.0 port. That’s not a lot for a desktop monitor, although it’s about common for a conveyable show.

The USB-C port does present as much as 70 watts of energy supply, sufficient to cost most midrange Windows laptops and practically all MacBooks. I had no bother working a single-cable reference to each an HP Omnibook 5 and a MacBook Air 15, with loads of energy to maintain them charged.

Interestingly, it’s attainable to energy the MB27ACF with solely a USB-C connection, however Asus states that doing so limits that most brightness to 85 nits. That’s dim, so I doubt it will likely be helpful in most conditions.

Port placement might also be a problem. All the connections are on the left aspect of the monitor, slightly than the rear, which implies the cables will at all times be seen. This design is handy for transportable use, the place you’re incessantly plugging and unplugging, however much less perfect in case you plan to maintain the monitor on a desk full time.

A 3.5mm audio-out jack and the barrel-style energy enter are additionally positioned on the left, which means you possibly can find yourself with as many as 4 cables dangling off that aspect of the show.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF menus, options, and audio

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF’s on-screen menus are managed by buttons on the suitable aspect of the monitor, together with a menu button and two navigation buttons. I discovered them a bit finicky and I usually hit the fallacious button. Fortunately, the monitor helps Asus’ DisplayWidget software program utility, which permits many settings to be adjusted straight in Windows or macOS.

The menus provide a great vary of picture high quality choices. In addition to a number of preset picture modes it consists of 5 gamma settings that focus on particular values, together with colour temperature changes. However, the temperature settings are labeled solely as “warm” or “cool” slightly than exact Kelvin values. The monitor additionally has colour calibration choices, although in follow the MB27ACF’s picture high quality doesn’t justify use in demanding skilled workflows.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The monitor additionally has a pair of audio system and a tiny 1.5-watt woofer. Together, they supply respectable audio with a great vary and minimal distortion at greater volumes. The sound received’t impress, but it surely’s higher than typical for an workplace or productiveness monitor, and high-quality for video calls or exhibiting a video clip in a gathering.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF SDR picture high quality

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF is supposed primarily for workplace productiveness. As a consequence, it supplies a reasonably fundamental 27-inch 1440p IPS panel. That places a ceiling on how good the monitor’s picture high quality will be, and it arguably doesn’t even attain these restricted heights.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

First up is brightness, the place the MB27ACF supplies a most SDR brightness of about 328 nits. As the graph exhibits, that’s not unhealthy, but in addition not nice. This degree of brightness is okay for many conditions and is aided by the monitor’s anti-glare end, which retains reflections to a minimal.

Still, transportable displays just like the MB27ACF are possible for use in rooms with little or no gentle management, like a company convention room. In these conditions the monitor will possible be used close to its most brightness and in some instances might seem a tad dim.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Monitors with an IPS panel are inclined to have a restricted distinction ratio, and the MB27ACF isn’t any exception, although it really performs a tad higher than I anticipated. Many IPS displays meant for workplace productiveness hover nearer to a 1000:1 distinction ratio.

Still, the MB27ACF’s restricted distinction comes with penalties. The monitor lacks depth, significantly in darkish scenes, the place it may possibly seem hazy and grey. Most direct opponents endure the identical drawback, nonetheless.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The MB27ACF’s colour efficiency is modest. It has a large sufficient colour gamut to look vivid in shiny and colourful content material, but it surely in any other case can seem under-saturated and uninteresting.

The colour efficiency on faucet is actually enough for workplace productiveness and just like many different mid-range IPS-LCD displays. However, it’ll rule out content material creation for anybody who desires to work in a wider colour gamut like DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB. Which, in 2025, covers many artistic professionals.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Color accuracy is kind of good, nonetheless, which implies the colours which can be displayed seem as they need to. Most trendy shows rating effectively right here, however the MB27ACF is above common. It supplies a sensible picture and I feel it may very well be used for images, artwork, or video in case you can keep on with the common-or-garden sRGB colour gamut.

The MB27ACF delivered average leads to gamma and colour temperature. I measured a default gamma curve of two.1, which is barely off the goal of two.2 and means the picture seems a bit brighter than it ought to. The default colour temperature was 6700Okay, which is a tad cooler and extra sterile than the goal of 6500Okay. Neither variance is main, however choosy viewers are prone to discover it.

Sharpness is respectable, however not a perk. The MB27ACF’s 27-inch 1440 panel packs about 110 pixels per inch. That would’ve been nice 5 years in the past however at the moment, with 27-inch 4K displays extensively out there at decrease costs, the MB27ACF’s decision is enough at finest.

On the entire, it’s clear the MB27ACF’s uncommon portability requires a compromise in picture high quality. That’s to not say the monitor appears unhealthy. It’s greater than enough for typical workplace productiveness, and I believe most customers trying on the monitor received’t be too bothered by the actual fact its picture high quality is unremarkable for the worth. Still, it’s vital to grasp that you would be able to purchase a monitor with a lot better picture high quality in case you don’t want the M27ACF’s versatility.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF HDR picture high quality and movement

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF doesn’t help HDR. While that may look like a detrimental, it’s really optimistic. Why? No monitor on this class can present a great HDR expertise, and many who have supposed HDR help are promoting a characteristic that doesn’t work because it ought to. Keeping HDR off the spec sheet means Asus isn’t attempting to idiot anybody.

While the MB27ACF lacks HDR, it does present a 100Hz refresh fee and Adaptive Sync for improved movement readability. Though actually not a gaming monitor, the MB27ACF does present noticeable movement readability and responsiveness positive factors over a 60Hz show. It’s in all probability not a serious benefit for the monitor’s meant use. Still, I at all times desire to see a refresh fee past 60Hz.

Should you purchase the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF?

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF is a flexible 27-inch transportable monitor with built-in kickstand that additionally ships with a desk stand. This versatility is uncommon and makes the monitor helpful in case you usually need to share your display screen with colleagues or give displays at work. I may also see the monitor used as a kiosk or a devoted convention room show. Unfortunately, the monitor’s versatility requires compromise in connectivity and picture high quality. Its MSRP of $449 can also be excessive for a 27-inch 1440p show. However, the MB27ACF has only a few opponents, and those who do exist (just like the LG StandbyMe) are much more costly. That makes the MB27ACF the king of its area of interest.