ASUS ZenScreen MB169CK Turns Any Workspace Into a Dual-Screen Setup at Home, School or Even When Traveling

Anyone who has squinted at a cramped laptop screen while trying to reference one document and type in another understands the daily friction of limited space. This monitor from ASUS cuts through that friction on its 15.6″ MB169CK portable monitor, priced at $75.05 (was $109), with a design focused on simplicity and adaptability.

A single USB-C cable connects to the screen and supplies both the video feed and power for the display, eliminating the need to carry a separate power adapter. This is especially beneficial if your laptop supports pass-through charging, as it will keep your primary computer running while you’re connected to this display. The weight is slightly under 800 grams with the stand attached, and the design is only 12 millimeters thick. That means it will fit easily into most laptop bags and you won’t have to rearrange your things.

The supplied stand is detachable, screws into the rear, and can spin 360 degrees. You can set it to landscape for a large spreadsheet or portrait for reading long reports or cramming code into a compact space. If you need to get the stand out of the way, you simply remove it and the entire unit will sit flat. Alternatively, use the stand’s cutout to hang the screen from the rear of a hook.

We’re talking Full HD resolution on that 15.6-inch IPS panel, so image quality is a big plus here. The viewing angles are also excellent, so it doesn’t matter if there are a lot of people staring over from the side, and the IPS display easily handles wide angles. We’ve also included an anti-glare coating to keep everything looking beautiful even with normal indoor lighting, as well as a blue light filter and flicker-free technology to help you get through your workflow without straining your eyes.

At home, this becomes a useful little station for doing serious work. You can arrange it in portrait next to your laptop, with reference materials on one side and the main task on the other, and then simply pack it away when you’re finished. There is no need to leave any permanent mounts or extra cables behind. Students will find that this monitor is a game changer in the library or dorm room; with the extra real estate, you can have a notebook and your source materials on one screen and only use the other for the task at hand, eliminating the need to constantly switch windows, and because it’s so portable, it’s easy to throw in a backpack alongside your books and laptop.

This is a lifesaver for professionals who are constantly on the run. You can simply plug it in and go, making it ideal for presentations, data review, or client work where you need to be able to wrap your head around a variety of different bits of information at the same time. The mini-HDMI port is a nice touch, allowing old systems with a USB-C connection to breathe a little easier.

Of course, for travelers, the lightness is what saves the day. Even with a full laptop set up inside your luggage, you won’t feel too burdened down. Setup in a hotel room or cafe takes seconds, and the 360-degree stand adapts to any surface you place it on. ASUS’ software even allows you to instantly switch between landscape and portrait mode based on how you hold the device, eliminating the need to navigate the menus.