Asus ZenScreen MB16AC external monitor is coming in July

The main focus of any notebook is portability (save some gaming behemoths), but the small form factor required for computing on the go doesn’t always lend itself to the level of productivity possible at a desk. A common complaint of notebook computers is the lack of screen real estate; power users must constantly switch apps in order to fit everything on the screen, but this task switching can interrupt a workflow. Asus is looking to solve that issue with the ZenScreen MB16AC, a portable USB monitor.

This isn’t the first portable monitor on the market, but it is an impressive one nonetheless. Asus announced the MB16AC at IFA in 2016, and now we have the finalized details of the device. The MB16AC is a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS monitor that connects to a computer via USB Type-C. Notebooks that lack the modern connector can still use the monitor thanks to an included USB 3.0 Type-A to Type-C adapter. Some other specifications include:

• 60 Hz refresh rate
• 220 nit brightness
• 800:1 contrast ratio
• 0.78 kg weight
• 360 mm x 226 mm x 8 mm (WxHxD)
• 8 Watts of power consumption

No word yet on if the monitor can accept touch input.

The monitor will ship with a leather cover, which Asus calls a “Smart Case,” to protect the front glass when it’s packed away. The cover can be folded back and act as a stand for the monitor. Asus says that the cover can hold the display steady in either landscape or portrait orientation. There’s also a small hole designed to hold a pen (the monitor ships with a stylus), which can also be used to prop the display. Bezels around the actual panel are relatively small along the sides and top (when in landscape) at 6.5 mm. These thin bezels coupled with Asus’ characteristic circular brushed metal chassis make the monitor rather striking, especially compared to other portable monitors currently available.

The Asus ZenScreen is expected to start shipping in July for $249. If you’re a notebook user who craved multiple displays on the go, this may be a great accessory to take with you.

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