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
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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.
ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR: Key specifications
| 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 colours | 262k |
| 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 features | TÜV Flicker-free, TÜV Low Blue Light |
ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR review: Design and build
ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR: Features and performance
Should I buy the ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR?
| ASUS ZenScreen MB166CR | ASUS ZenScreen MQ16AH |
|---|---|
| Brightness: 250 nits | Brightness (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: 262k | Display colours: 1.0737 billion (10 bit) |
| Row 5 - Cell 0 | Colour space (DCI-P3): 100% |
out of 10
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.
