ASUS ZenScreen Touch - Review
My laptop, that I have had for several years, is finally starting to show its age, so I began to investigate options for replacing it. The options available were either, similar in spec to what I had, or they were vastly overpowered and made for gaming and while I am a big gamer, I do not need that in a laptop. So, I started thinking about getting a Mac Mini and a small screen I could take with me, when travelling, the problem was that most screens are by their nature, large, thanks to stands and casing, but that was when I discovered the ASUS ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT and while not the most expensive, they were more than I had thought, so I reached out to ASUS, to see if they would loan me one and I am glad I did.
The reasons as to why I am glad, are threefold, first is that the screen is portable and I don’t mean in a sense like every other screen is technically portable, but I mean that it is physically designed to be taken around with you. The second reason is that it has its own internal battery, meaning it wouldn’t run down my laptop if I was on a plane and the final reason was that it was versatile, allowing for connections from a range of devices, but let me explain each, in a little more detail. First the portability of it, this was perhaps the main reason that it grabbed by attention, the screen is light, even with the included 7800 mAh battery, it does not even crack 1kg. This is a real bonus, because when I had it next to my laptop, I was able to carry it and not feel like I had doubled the weight of everything, even when I placed it in my backpack, it was hardly noticeable, in terms of its additional weight.
Of course, being portable is just a blessing, the functionality is what sold me on this screen, of course it is a screen, so you can see things on it, and you are likely thinking that that is all you need. The fact that it works as a standalone screen is amazing, but it was the extras that sold me on it, for example the screen size is a very impressive 15.6inches, which doesn’t seem like a lot, especially compared to desktop screens that generally start at 21inches, if not higher, but the size here again works in its favour. Beyond that though, the screen is also touch enabled, meaning if you have a device that supports a touch screen, like my Surface laptop, you can continue to use the ZenScreen in the same way. There have been times, over the years, when I have reviewed laptops that have not had touch screens and being so used to it, I always felt like I was missing something, here I reached out to touch and as my fingers made contact, my first thought was ‘oh yeah, it isn’t my laptop screen’ but it works, just like it did on my laptop.
The extra bonus here though is that the ZenScreen can also support almost any type of device, that outputs a video signal, i.e., your Xbox or Android tablet. This meant that I was able to plug in Xbox Series S to the screen and get a full HD signal, with sound as the screen contains speakers, allowing me to game anywhere. Now I didn’t take my Xbox console with me to other locations, but it worked as expected and while I can’t imagine taking a full console with me when I travel, knowing that the screen supported it was great. So, the Xbox makes use of the Micro HDMI, which requires a Micro HDMI cable, thankfully there is one included in the box, for other devices, such as Android tablets, or PCs with a USB-C port that support display out, you can use the USB-C port on the screen. Just know that with most devices using that connection, you will need software to enable some features, Windows didn’t have any issues with displaying or using the touch, but in the manual provided by ASUS they explain Android needs an app.
Something else contained within the box is a carry case and while case may not be the best word for it, the item does allow you to transport the screen, keeping things away from the display, but also doubles as a display stand. The case looks very much like some of the Apple iPad options, with a cover that flips around to the other side, allowing for the display to pop out and connect with the base of it. The case does allow for a few orientations in terms of displaying the screen, but you will likely only use the one, but it is nice to have the option for others. My only point of concern with the case, was around the strength of the magnets that hold it all together, I was sent two screens, but had issues with the first and with the case there, the magnets were not really holding things in shape, the way they did on the second. Given that the screens have only been around for a little while, this is concerning, the last thing I would want, is the screen to fall over when in use. Now ASUS do provide a pen, not a stylish, just a regular pen, that does allow for a more stable stand, you just place it into the hole on the device, but that is not a long-term solution, more of a ‘that’s cool’ thing.
Something else to consider is that while it does support many devices, the HDMI connection makes use of a Micro HDMI cable, which is an annoyance that is hard to comprehend, purely since a regular HDMI port is roughly 4.5mm tall and as the screen is 9mm, there is space for it. I am sure the folks that designed it could have fit in the larger and more common port, rather than going for the smaller and harder to locate cable, but that is where we are at. The other issue with the screen, is related to the control nub, I say nub, because it might look like a stick, it doesn’t really move. The nub serves a purpose, allowing for navigation in the on-screen menus, but that is really it, while it does its job, it also is large and not something you would use that often, in fact, an app on a phone or computer, would have been much better for it, than the nub. Honestly, unless you are plugging the screen into countless devices that require you to switch screen modes, game to movie, or manually adjust brightness or contrast, you are not going to use it, which makes it feel like a superfluous addon.
One final thing, battery life, the screen is powered by a 7800 mAh, which is enough for around 4 hours of use, that number is provided by ASUS, in my use of the screen, I was able to get on average around 3.5 – 4 hours, when using it at a decent brightness level. Of course, each person will have their setup run a little differently, so you might get a little more out of it, or a little less, though I would ensure that if you are running it for games, or other high refresh materials, you work out another option for sound, as that will also increase battery usage. None of this is an issue if you are running it from a power point, but as the screen is portable, that just means you will not have to worry about it all the time. Speaking of speakers, the ones included are just 1W each and while there are two for stereo sound, the maximum volume they can produce is not the best, again, it will cover the basics no problem, but best to not use them for gaming or watching a movie on.
The ASUS ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT is one impressive piece of tech, weighing less than 1kg and not even 1cm thick, it packs a modest display that offers up exactly what it lists on the box. The overall dimensions make it the same as most laptops and because it is so thin, it should fit right next to your laptop in any carry bag you use. While most folks who aim to use it with a PC, will go the USB-C option, the reliance on a Micro HDMI port for other connections, is just frustrating and begs the question why. If you are someone who travels a lot, has a roaming desk in an office or just likes the idea of portable gaming, I really suggest you take a good look at the ZenScreen, for those looking for a more permanent secondary display, there are other options, from ASUS and elsewhere, that are more likely to suit what you need.
The Score
8.0
Review unit provided by ASUS
The Pros
+Works as expected, plugged in most devices and got a signal without issue
+The size is odd, it looks big, but weighs so little
The Cons
-Micro HDMI is honestly a weird choice, making it hard to justify
-The included case uses magnets that don’t appear to hold up in the long run
