when we think best portable monitor, usually imagine a product with a size of 12 to 17 inches. These monitors are reasonably mobile and fit in a good size laptop bag with all accessories included. But a 24-inch portable monitor? While this pushes the boundaries of portability, Asus still markets his $349 ZenScreen MB249C as a portable screen.
The ZenScreen MB249C is 23.8 inches wide and has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. But what the MB249C lacks in compactness and display resolution, it makes up for in versatility as the monitor can be used in a variety of configurations. For example, use the integrated kickstand to prop it up on your desk, use the included vertical mount to attach it to your desk, or hang it on your cubicle wall.
Asus ZenScreen MB249C Specifications
| Panel type/backlight | IPS/WLED |
| Screen size/aspect ratio | 23.8 inches / 16:9 |
| Maximum resolution and refresh rate | 1920×1080@60Hz |
| color depth | 8 bit |
| Maximum brightness | 250 nits |
| reaction time | 5ms |
| contrast | 1,000:1 |
| port | HDMI, DisplayPort (USB-C Alt Mode), 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| touch | none |
| size | 21.2 x 13.6 x 0.92 inch |
| weight | 6.28 pounds |
Asus ZenScreen MB249C design
The MB249C was shipped in a fairly large box suitable for the 23.8 inch panel size. The display itself is housed in form-fitting cardboard. The inner part of the cardboard supports the panel and the outer part has indentations to hold various accessories.In addition to the usual 2-piece power brick, HDMI cable and USB-C You’ll also find cables (supporting 60 watts of Power Delivery), steel vertical mounting arms, aluminum partition hangers, and all supporting hardware.
Pulling the MB249C out of its protective plastic reveals a high-quality design. The chassis features quality plastic with a nice texture along the back panel. These vents serve as outlets for the onboard stereo speakers.
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But wait. A thick strip of clear plastic with rubber grips on the bottom is mounted under the vents. A rubber grip keeps the monitor from moving around on your desk when using the kickstand. This transparency also makes the monitor appear to float above the desk. This feels good.
The Kensington lock, power, up/down, and menu buttons are located on the right panel of MB249C. The left panel houses a full-sized HDMI port, USB-C (DisplayPort Alt-Mode, 60 Watt power delivery), a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a DC input for its own power supply.
The back panel has a highly adjustable metal kickstand that allows you to position the MB249C at different angles (0-60 degrees). The kickstand can be folded into the back panel when not in use. A mounting point for attaching the MB249C to a desk arm is located in the center of the rear panel. You can also use the kickstand as a carrying handle.
Asus ZenScreen MB249C image quality
The MB249C has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD). A 14 or 15.6 inch laptop screen might tolerate 1080p resolution, but it’s not as sharp on larger displays. A 14-inch, 1080p monitor has a pixel density of 157.35 ppi, while the MB249C has only 92.56 ppi.
In reality, the monitor looks grainy when you look at it up close, but the farther back you sit, the less it affects you. Sitting a comfortable distance from the MB249C, the jagged edges of app menu elements and mouse cursors and stair steps are noticeable.
That said, the MB249C is reasonably bright, hitting just under 200 nits in our testing. However, this is well below small portable monitors that can reach as low as 221 nits. MB249C achieved 85.4%. DCI-P3 Color gamut exceeded 120% sRGB.
To test the video quality, I recently launched Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 In the trailer, we discover where Rocket got its name. The whole scene is dark and shadowy, with warm light accentuating the body of my furry friend lying on the metal floor. I captured every detail of her ivory teeth enjoying herself.
We also checked out the classic Lamborghini Miura detailed in Episode 19. Revelation of Jason CamisaThe Miura is stunningly beautiful in its own right, and the MB249C is dyed a bright yellow color and does a great job of that.
But most people don’t use the MB249C for leisurely watching YouTube videos or binge watching. mandalorian on Disney Plus. Instead, they bombard in Excel or finish slides in PowerPoint. If you need a large display to show information, the MB249C is perfect for these tasks. However, I would like a higher resolution to make better use of the nearly 24-inch display.
On-screen display for Asus ZenScreen MB249C
MB249C’s On-Screen Display (OSD) is controlled using the four buttons on the bottom right of the monitor. These buttons can perform actions such as scroll up/down, confirm, back, and exit menus. A corresponding icon to the left of the button represents the action on the screen. Most of the time the menu button is used to perform actions, the up/down buttons are used to navigate and the power button is used to go back to his one menu or exit the OSD completely.
A single press of the Menu button provides quick access to brightness settings. Press again to recall the full OSD. From there you can access picture modes, blue light filters, color settings, picture settings (including AMD FreeSync), input selection, system setup, menu shortcuts, and a user-customizable favorites menu. Monitor model, current picture mode, resolution, current input, and refresh rate are always displayed at the top of the OSD.
I prefer a traditional joystick to navigate the monitor’s OSD, but Asus’ solution works well.
Asus ZenScreen MB249C speaker
Asus included two 1-watt speakers in the MB249C, mounted low in the chassis below the screen. However, these speakers aren’t powerful, and there’s nothing to get in the way of bass. .
Voices sound muffled, and the music lacks any kind of dynamic range. Asus does the bare minimum with speakers here. Certainly, if you’re using it for video conferencing or for your daily work in Windows, it works “OK”. But if you’re thinking of an enjoyable audio experience with your music, games, or movies, think again.
Conclusion
The Asus ZenScreen MB249C doesn’t cut it when it comes to the definition of a portable monitor. It’s not something you’d carry around while traveling (hopefully) and it weighs just over 6 pounds. It is inconvenient to do so and Asus does not envision that usage scenario.
However, MB249C is portable In the sense that it can be easily configured and carried around in an office environment. Free up desk space by hanging the monitor on the cubicle wall. For open-plan offices with desks, you can use the included height-adjustable desk mount. And if you need to take the monitor to a hallway conference room, you can easily unlatch it and prop it up on your desk using the integrated kickstand.Also, Asus has USB-C and HDMI cable.
Unlike smaller portable monitors, the MB249C cannot be powered solely via USB-C due to panel size and power, so you’ll need to carry both a power cord/brick and a USB-C/HDMI cable Please remember that requirements.
Once you get past the novelty of the MB249C’s multifaceted usage scenarios, you’re left with a roughly average monitor across all categories. It doesn’t stand out at high brightness levels, color reproduction is on par with other portable monitors, and the speakers are terrible (which is common with portable monitors with built-in speakers).
1080p resolution is more of an issue on such a relatively large screen (compared to other portable monitors). I prefer 2560 x 1440 for this screen size. This reduces some of the graininess seen with the MB249C.
With its $349 price tag and its special skills, the MB249C caters to a very specific user. In other words, users who need a monitor that can adapt to different usage scenarios while still being mobile enough to move easily from room to room in an office environment. And it succeeds in that regard.
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