ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16AHE Portable Monitor: features, specs and uses

The ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16AHE is a thin 15.6-inch portable monitor that adds a second screen to a laptop, or a larger display to a phone or tablet. It uses an OLED panel, connects by USB-C or mini HDMI and folds away into a sleeve. Here is what the specs mean and what to check before you rely on it.

An OLED panel in a portable screen

OLED screens make their own light pixel by pixel, rather than using a backlight. In general, this allows very deep blacks, because a pixel that is off gives no light, and strong contrast. ASUS describes the MQ16AHE as offering extreme blacks and high perceptual brightness, and says the screen can display over one billion colours.

The resolution is Full HD (1920 x 1080), which suits a 15.6-inch size well: text and video look sharp without asking much of the laptop or phone driving the screen.

Colour and HDR

The monitor covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the wide colour range used in cinema. ASUS says this makes it a versatile screen for creators as well as everyday users. It also lists HDR-10 support, a standard for high dynamic range video. HDR needs content and a source device that support it. For colour-critical work, check whether the screen can be calibrated and how it's set up from the factory in the manual.

A 1 ms response time, which ASUS lists, means pixels change very quickly, which helps reduce motion blur in fast video and games.

Connections

There's a mini HDMI port and USB Type-C ports. A USB-C port that carries video and power lets one cable connect the screen to a laptop or phone, but only if the source's port supports video output. Otherwise, the mini HDMI input and power from the adapter do the same job. The box includes a mini HDMI to HDMI cable, a USB-C cable and a power adapter.

Stand, orientation and size

The back has a 360° kickstand and an embedded tripod socket, so the screen can stand on a desk or mount on a tripod. The DisplayWidget Center software senses the orientation and switches between landscape and portrait, which is handy for reading documents or code. ASUS also lists an Eye Care feature and a proximity sensor; check the manual for how these behave.

The package, as listed, includes a sleeve and a quick start guide with a warranty card, and the listing mentions a three-year warranty.

Who it suits

It suits people who work from a laptop and travel, creators who want a colour-rich second screen, and anyone connecting a phone or a small camera or console to a larger display. It is less suited to being a main desktop monitor, because of its size.

What to check before you buy

• USB-C video support: confirm your laptop or phone can output video over USB-C; otherwise you'll need to use mini HDMI.
• Power: check whether your device can power the screen, or whether the adapter is needed.
• Software: DisplayWidget Center features depend on your operating system; check the ASUS support page.
• OLED care: static images left on screen for a long time can be an issue for OLED; follow the manual.
• Desk space: the kickstand needs a flat surface, and the sleeve helps protect the screen when carried.
• Promotions: any bundled software offer in the listing has an end date, so check it before counting on it.

The short version

• ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16AHE: a 15.6-inch Full HD OLED portable monitor.
• 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, HDR-10 and a 1 ms response time.
• USB Type-C and mini HDMI inputs, with cables, adapter and sleeve in the box.
• 360° kickstand, tripod socket and automatic landscape/portrait switching.
• Three-year warranty as listed.

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