ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR review: a portable monitor at a palatable price

The ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR could be just what you’re looking for if you’re not too fussy about colours.

An ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR portable monitor sitting on a desk
(Image: © Beth Crane)

Our Verdict

Portable, simple to use and affordable, the ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR is a great choice for creatives who need a second monitor on a budget. The screen is clear and crisp, although brightness and colour accuracy are sometimes wanting; you get what you pay for. This is a great lower-budget second monitor for those jobs that don’t require 100% colour accuracy, and it’s a simple and functional way to extend your workspace without a tonne of complex wiring. It’s perfect for writing or audio editing but also functions fine for early-draft graphics work.

For

  • Extremely portable
  • Plug and play (but drivers improve it)
  • Affordable

Against

  • A bit dull for visual work
  • USB-C cable is a bit awkward

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

I love to use a double screen, whether I’m editing, writing or drawing. Previously I waxed lyrical about the HP E34m G4’s curved screen because I finally found something big enough to contain my setup in a single screen. While I’m used to working with a lot of space in my home setup, when I’m out and about I tend to be stuck with a single 16:9 box. And this is one of the main reasons I’ve struggled to work while travelling; a double screen is so key to my audio-editing, writing and admin setup that without that second monitor, I feel like I’m missing a limb.

Enter the ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR. One of a new round of portable monitors, the ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR is hyper-portable, plug-and-play friendly and because it’s run solely off of its USB-C cable, it doesn’t require you to hog all the plugs (a coffee-shop crime). Retailing at around £169, it’s a budget version of big OLED sister the ASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH, with a smaller price tag to go with its lower-spec screen.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Screen:LED IPS 15.6" 16:9
Display viewing area: 34.4 x 19.3cm/13.5 x 7.6 inches
Resolution:FHD 1920 x 1080p
Display surface:Non-glare
Response time:5ms (GTG)
Pixel pitch:0.179mm
Refresh rate:60Hz
Brightness:250 nits
Display colours262k
Viewing angle:(CR≧10, H/V) : 178°/ 178°
Contrast ratio:800:1
Connectivity:USB-C
Dimensions:36.01 x 22.56 x 1.18 cm (14.18" x 8.88" x 0.46")
Weight:1.05kg (780g without stand)
Additional featuresTÜV Flicker-free, TÜV Low Blue Light
Swipe to scroll horizontally
ASUS ZenScreen MB166CRASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH
Brightness: 250 nitsBrightness (HDR, peak): 400 nits
Row 1 - Cell 0 Brightness (typical): 360nits
Contrast ratio: 800:!Contrast ratio (HDR, Max): 1,000,000:1
Row 3 - Cell 0 Contrast ratio (typical): 100,000:1
Display colours: 262kDisplay colours: 1.0737 billion (10 bit)
Row 5 - Cell 0 Colour space (DCI-P3): 100%
The Verdict
8

out of 10

ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR

Portable, simple to use and affordable, the ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR is a great choice for creatives who need a second monitor on a budget. The screen is clear and crisp, although brightness and colour accuracy are sometimes wanting; you get what you pay for. This is a great lower-budget second monitor for those jobs that don’t require 100% colour accuracy, and it’s a simple and functional way to extend your workspace without a tonne of complex wiring. It’s perfect for writing or audio editing but also functions fine for early-draft graphics work.

Read more
Acer PD3 portable monitor
Acer PD3 folding portable monitor review: a glorious tallscreen that will be useful for some
main
I used ASUS' new 27-inch ProArt display and came away (mostly) impressed
Asus ProArt Display PA27JCV
Asus ProArt Display PA27JCV review: a studio display without the Apple
Philips 27E1N1600AE
This £200 monitor from Philips is exactly what I needed for my MacBook Pro
Three of the best monitors for MacBook Pro on a green background
The best monitors for MacBook Pro
Asus Zenbook A14
ASUS Zenbook A14 review: this Copilot+ laptop’s been on a diet
Latest in Monitors
A black Acer Predator X27U monitor sitting on a sunny grass field
Acer Predator X27U review: a gaming OLED monitor that has speed on its side
Iiyama G-Master GCB4580DQSN-B1
Iiyama G-Master GCB4580DQSN-B1 review: an enormous ultrawide monitor with appealing features
An ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR portable monitor sitting on a desk
ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR review: a portable monitor at a palatable price
Asus Pro Art monitor deal
Our favourite budget monitor for creatives just plummeted to $200
ASUS ProArt displays
How to pick the best ProArt displays for your studio, school, or enterprise in 2024
A black ASUS ProArt OLED PA32DC monitor sitting on a desk
ASUS ProArt OLED PA32DC review: pro creator monitor is in exclusive territory
Latest in Reviews
ABS Cyclone Ruby
I've tested the ABS Cyclone Ruby gaming PC, and it could be a good option for creatives too
A liquid silver Xiaomi 15 on a desk
I've had the Xiaomi 15 for a week, and I never want to see a Samsung or iPhone ever again
Sorry We're Closed review; a digital illustration of a stylised female character, featuring vibrant colours and a unique design, is presented against a dark background.
Sorry We're Closed review: a bewitching, bizarre and often frustrating horror cocktail
Wanderstop review; a stylised digital illustration shows a whimsical landscape with a large, stout figure gazing at a quaint, fantastical structure beneath a decorative archway.
Wanderstop review: a surprisingly intricate, de-stressing tea-making indie game
A white Boox Palma 2 ereader tablet on a yellow background
Boox Palma 2 review: ereader deja vu
The Sihoo C300 Pro office chair, facing a desk, in a home office.
Sihoo Doro C300 Pro review: A good-to-great ergo chair that's worth your time (when it's on sale)