We’ve reviewed several Asus portable monitors over the past few months, and they tend to hit 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 end game of the portable monitor segment, the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is more productivity-focused and includes features we don’t often see in this segment.
The Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP features a 15.6-inch, 60 Hz Full HD IPS panel refresh rate, a response time of 5 ms and a built-in 7800 mAh battery. The latest feature, coupled with built-in Wi-Fi, lets you use the monitor in a wireless setup for screen mirroring with Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Android, and iOS devices.
If that wasn’t enough, the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP includes a built-in accelerometer that supports automatic rotation from landscape to portrait mode (or vice versa). Although it costs $469, the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is among the best portable monitors due to its rich feature set and vibrant colors.
Specifications of the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
| Panel/Backlight Type | IPS/WLED |
| Screen Size/Aspect Ratio | 15.6 inch / 16:9 |
| Maximum resolution and refresh rate | 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz |
| The depth of color | 8 bit |
| Maximum brightness | 250nits |
| Response time | 5ms |
| Contrast ratio | 800:01:00 |
| viewing angles | 178 degrees (horizontal and vertical) |
| Screen coating | Anti reflection |
| Ports | 1x Mini-HDMI, 2x USB-C, (DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode), 1x Headphone |
| Built-in battery | 7800mAh |
| Speakers | Yes |
| Dimensions | 14.09 x 8.84 x 0.45 inches |
| Mass | 2.4 pounds |
Design of the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
If one word could sum up the design of the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP, it would be “clean”. The monitor is constructed mostly of black plastic (more on that later). You’ll notice slim bezels along the top and sides of the front, while a much taller “chin” sits at the bottom. This 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.
The ZenScreen Go MB16AWP has a plethora of connectivity options. Asus has included two USB-C ports (Display Port 1.2 Alt-Mode supported), a mini-HDMI port and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side of the screen. 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.
Located centrally on the rear of the monitor is a tripod mount (which can be used with any standard camera tripod), and just below is an adjustable kickstand. The stand and accompanying hinges are the only parts of the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP that are constructed from metal. As an added touch, Asus has included rubber feet on the bottom of the screen and on the sliding stand to prevent the device from sliding around on your desk.
It’s worth noting that Asus includes a handy carrying case made of a mix of canvas and faux leather. There is also a piece of foam embedded in the canvas on the front of the sleeve to protect the screen from damage. The whole thing closes hermetically via Velcro and offers minimal protection for the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP during transport.
Screen Display for Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
The ZenScreen Go MB16AWP uses my favorite method of controlling the OSD: a 5-way joystick. Like the Asus ROG Strix monitors I’ve previously reviewed, the OSD is packed with settings so you can tweak the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP to your liking.
There are no less than eight picture adjustment modes and five levels for the blue light filter. You’ll also find your typical controls for brightness, contrast, saturation, and color temperature, as well as sharpness and aspect control settings.
As with other Asus portable monitors, the main OSD screen gives you quick access to your current display mode, connection type, display resolution, and battery charge status. . A single press of the joystick provides quick access to volume, brightness and input controls.
Built-in battery on the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
Asus is one of the upcoming portable monitor manufacturers that routinely includes a built-in battery. In the case of the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP, that’s a 7,800mAh battery (likely the same unit used on the ROG Strix XG16AHPE and ROG Strix XG17AHPE). According to Asus, the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP provides 3.5 hours of battery life at 1080p resolution in wireless mode and 100% volume. The company quotes the same figure of 3.5 hours when using a corded hdmi link.
In our testing, battery life came in just under Asus’ advice 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 the Asus ZenScreen Go MB16AWP
The ZenScreen Go MB16AWP includes built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi, serving as a fully wireless portable monitor supporting multiple operating systems (Windows 10/11, Chrome OS, macOS, Android, and iOS). Apple AirPlay and Miracast are supported to mirror your display on the portable monitor.
I was able to test the mirroring feature with an Apple iPhone 13 Pro, iPad 11 Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and Asus VivoBook 15 laptop. Mirroring is relatively easy to set up over Wi-Fi. You must first connect to the monitor by selecting it from the Wi-Fi networks available on your device. Then you will enter the security code to log in. With iPad and iPhone, I selected the Screen Mirroring option from Control Center and was up and running.
The auto-rotate screen feature allowed iPhone screen mirroring to maximize the amount of screen space available with the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP oriented in portrait mode.
Situating with Windows 11 and macOS was similar, you need to connect via Wi-Fi first, then identify the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP from the display settings. I could only mirror my display in Windows 11 and macOS, and I couldn’t extend my display, which would have been an even more beneficial feature for my needs.
ZenScreen Go MB16AWP image quality
As mentioned earlier, the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is a 15.6-inch monitor using a Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display. Asus rates the panel with a 5ms response time, 250 nits peak brightness, and an 800:1 Contrast ratio. In our tests, the brightness is slightly above the manufacturer’s specs at 259.4 nits.
This is a colorful monitor, hitting 116.6% of the sRGB color space and 82.6% of DCI-P3 on our colorimeter. . These results place the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP at the top of the class in the field of portable monitors. Although the Lepow C2 is close in the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts, it is well below peak brightness.
In the real world, I decided to cast one of the most popular TV shows currently airing on Disney+, Moon Knight. I watched all of Episode 5 on the 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 detail in dark areas. Surprisingly, theater mode obscured details, such as the messy curls of Marc/Steven’s dark locks of hair.
Being a die-hard car enthusiast, I then turned my attention to Ford v Ferrari, starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale. I also opted for the standard mode to get the optimal color balance and fine detail with this film.
Ford vs Ferrari also allowed me to test the 1 watt built-in speakers, which are fine, to put it lightly. Like most speakers included in portable monitors, they obviously lacked bass and weren’t up to the task of extracting the voracity from the auditory cacophony of the GT40’s mid-mounted V8 engine.
Conclusion
Asus has packed a lot of features into this portable 15.6-inch monitor priced at $479. The ZenScreen Go MB16AWP features a sturdy stand, good looks with solid build quality, and a G-sensor that automatically adjusts the display when in portrait or horizontal orientation. The company also smartly 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 highlight of the ZenScreen Go MB16AWP is its wireless screen mirroring feature. Paired with the built-in 7800mAh battery, you can enjoy a true wireless display experience when streaming content from a laptop, smartphone or tablet. While they won’t wow you, the built-in speakers add to an already compelling package.
Add in the chart-topping color performance, above-spec brightness, 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 priority for you, a good alternative with 144Hz FreeSync capabilities would be from Asus. ROG Strix XG16AHPE. And if the price of $479 is too high, consider Lenovo’s M14which offers a great productivity experience but lacks mini HDMI and wireless connectivity and doesn’t have as much range coverage.
