We’ve looked at several Asus portable monitors over the past few months and they tend to take all the right notes when it comes to performance and features. While the ROG Strix XG16AHPE And ROG Strix XG17AHPE were geared more towards the gaming end of the portable monitor segment, the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is more focused on productivity and includes features we don’t often see in this segment.
The Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is equipped with a 15.6-inch, 60Hz Full HD IPS panel refresh rate, 5ms response time and a built-in 7,800mAh battery. The latest feature, coupled with built-in Wi-Fi, allows you to use the monitor in a wireless setup for screen mirroring with Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Android, and iOS devices.
If that’s not enough, ZenScreen Go MB16AWP includes a built-in accelerometer that supports automatic rotation from landscape to portrait mode (or vice versa). Even though it costs $ 469, ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is among the best portable monitors thanks to its rich feature set and vibrant colors.
Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP specifications
| Panel Type / Backlight | IPS / WLED |
| Screen size / aspect ratio | 15.6 inch / 16: 9 |
| Maximum resolution and refresh rate | 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz |
| Color depth | 8 bit |
| Maximum brightness | 250 nit |
| Response time | 5 ms |
| Contrast ratio | 800: 01: 00 |
| Viewing angles | 178 degrees (horizontal and vertical) |
| Screen coating | Antiglare |
| Ports | 1x Mini-HDMI, 2x USB-C, (DisplayPort 1.2 Alternate Mode), 1x Headphone |
| Built-in battery | 7,800 mAh |
| Loudspeakers | Yup |
| Dimensions | 14.09 x 8.84 x 0.45 inches |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs |
Design of the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
If one word could sum up the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP’s design, it would be “clean”. The monitor is constructed mostly of black plastic (more on that later). You’ll notice thin bezels along the top and sides from the front, while a much larger “chin” sits at the bottom. That chin features a brushed metal finish molded into the plastic. The 5-way joystick for the on-screen display (OSD) is on the left, while the power button is on the right.
ZenScreen Go MB16AWP has a plethora of connectivity options. Asus has included two USB-C ports (DisplayPort 1.2 Alt-Mode supported), a Mini-HDMI port and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side of the display. You’ll also find one of the two speakers mounted near the top, next to the headphone jack. The right side of the monitor is unadorned except for a matching speaker at the top.
Centrally located on the back of the monitor is a tripod mount (which can be used with any standard camera tripod) and directly below is an adjustable tripod. The stand and its hinges are the only parts of ZenScreen Go MB16AWP constructed of metal. As an added touch, Asus has included rubber feet at the bottom of the display and on the pull-out stand to prevent the unit from sliding across the desk.
We should note that Asus includes a handy carrying case / bag made from a blend of canvas and faux leather. There is also a piece of foam built into the canvas at the front of the case to protect the display from damage. The whole closes securely with Velcro and offers minimal protection for the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP during transport.
On-screen display for Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
ZenScreen Go MB16AWP uses my favorite method of controlling the OSD: a 5-way joystick. Like the Asus ROG Strix monitors I reviewed earlier, the OSD is chock full of settings so you can tweak the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP to your wishes.
There are no fewer than eight image setting modes and five levels for the blue light filter. You’ll also find your typical controls for brightness, contrast, saturation and color temperature, along with sharpness and aspect control settings.
As with other Asus portable monitors, the main OSD screen provides quick access to the current display mode, connection type, display resolution and battery charge status. With a single press on the joystick, you can quickly access the volume, brightness and input controls.
Integrated battery on the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
Asus is one of the future portable monitor manufacturers that consistently includes a built-in battery. In the case of the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP, this is a 7,800mAh battery (probably the same unit used on the ROG Strix XG16AHPE and ROG Strix XG17AHPE). According to Asus, the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP has a battery life of 3.5 hours with a resolution of 1080p wirelessly and a volume of 100%. The company quotes the same figure of 3.5 hours when using a cable HDMI connection.
In our tests, battery life came in just below Asus’ lead at 3 hours and 20 minutes when using an HDMI connection. Using the included wall adapter and USB-C cable, I charged the monitor from 0% to 100% in about two hours and fifteen minutes.
Wireless connectivity on Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
ZenScreen Go MB16AWP includes built-in 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which acts as a fully wireless portable monitor with support for many operating systems (Windows 10/11, Chrome OS, macOS, Android and iOS). Both Apple AirPlay and Miracast are supported for mirroring the display to the portable monitor.
I was able to test the mirroring functionality with an Apple iPhone 13 Pro, iPad 11 Pro, a 14-inch MacBook Pro, and an Asus VivoBook 15 laptop. Mirroring is relatively easy to set up over Wi-Fi. You will first need to connect to the monitor by selecting it from the Wi-Fi networks available on your device. Next, you will enter the security passcode to connect. With the iPad and iPhone, I selected the Screen Mirroring option from the Control Center and it was up and running.
The automatic screen rotation feature made sure that iPhone screen mirroring was able to maximize the amount of available screen space with ZenScreen Go MB16AWP oriented in portrait mode.
Being with Windows 11 and macOS was similar, with the first need to connect via Wi-Fi, then identify the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP from the display settings. I could only mirror my display in Windows 11 and macOS and couldn’t extend my display, which would have been an even more beneficial feature for my needs.
ZenScreen Go MB16AWP image quality
As stated earlier, the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is a 15.6-inch monitor that uses a Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display. Asus rates the panel with a response time of 5 ms, a maximum brightness of 250 nits and an 800: 1 Contrast ratio. In our tests, the brightness was slightly above the manufacturer’s specifications at 259.4 nits.
This is a colorful monitor, achieving 116.6% of the sRGB color space and 82.6% of DCI-P3 on our colorimeter. . These results put ZenScreen Go MB16AWP at the top of the class in the realm of portable monitors. although the Lepo C2 it’s close in the sRGB and DCI-P3 ranges, it’s well below maximum brightness.
In the real world, I’ve decided to start one of the hottest TV shows currently streaming on Disney +, Moon Knight. I saw the entire episode 5 on ZenScreen Go MB16AWP. The episode contains several scenes that take place in dark or nighttime environments and I found that opting for Standard or Night View modes offered the best image quality and maximum detail in dark areas. Surprisingly, Theater Mode dulled details, like the messy curls of Marc / Steven’s dark locks.
Being a diehard car enthusiast, I then turned my attention to Ford vs. Ferrari, with Matt Damon and Christian Bale. I also opted for the standard mode to achieve the optimal balance of color and fine detail with this film.
Ford vs. Ferrari also allowed me to test the built-in 1 watt speakers, which are fine to put it lightly. Like most speakers included in portable monitors, they were obviously lacking in bass and were not up to par to extract the sheer voracity of auditory cacophony from the mid-mounted V8 engine in the GT40.
Bottom line
Asus has packed a lot of features into this 15.6-inch portable monitor priced at $ 479. ZenScreen Go MB16AWP comes with a sturdy stand, good looks with solid build quality, and a G-Sensor that automatically adjusts the display when is vertically or horizontally. The company wisely also includes two USB-C ports and a Mini-HDMI port for connectivity (an HDMI-Mini to HDMI adapter is included in the box).
However, the real kicker with the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is its wireless screen mirroring feature. When paired with the 7,800mAh built-in battery, you can have a true wireless viewing experience when streaming content from a laptop, smartphone or tablet. While they won’t blow your mind, the built-in speakers add to an already compelling package.
Add in top-of-the-line color performance, better-than-expected brightness rating and solid viewing angles from the IPS display, and the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP gets an easy recommendation from us. However, if gaming is more of a primary focus for you, a good alternative with 144Hz FreeSync functionality would be Asus’. ROG Strix XG16AHPE. And if the $ 479 price tag is too high, consider Lenovo M14which offers a great productivity experience but lacks mini HDMI and wireless connectivity and doesn’t have the same range coverage.