TechRadar Verdict
A portable monitor with USB-C connectivity including power delivery sounds appealing.
But Asus has missed the mark with this disappointing, low resolution and not-all-that-portable 24-inch panel.
Laptops come in nearly all shapes and sizes.
However, there is an upper realistic limit to screen size.
Which is where thebest portable monitorsfit in.
The new Asus Zenscreen MB249C is an example on the larger side of portable screens.
At 24 inches, it’s much bigger than any laptop display.
The idea isn’t so much pulling this screen out at a coffee shop or the airport.
A little niche, perhaps, but this monitor certainly gives you lots of install options.
If there is a catch it’s that it’s limited to 1080p resolution and 75Hz refresh.
Given the panel size, that’s perhaps not a huge surprise.
But a higher resolution would have been an interesting way of achieving a premium computing experience on the move.
The upside is that you get far more screen real estate than any laptop.
The downside is that it’s not actually all that portable.
The slim bezels on three sides of the panel keep the proportions in check, too.
But it’s not all that much smaller than a conventional monitor with the clip-in stand removed.
Still, put it this way.
The kickstand on the rear doubles as a carry handle and the USB-C input has 60W of power delivery.
So, you’re free to leave your laptop charger behind and power it from the MB249C.
There’s also an HDMI input, so connecting to most gadget types shouldn’t be a problem.
Here in 2024, it all feels a little dated.
The Asus Zenscreen MB249C runs what would have been a perfectly adequate 24-inch panel.
It’s IPS, so the colours are pretty accurate and the viewing angles are good.
There’s noHDRsupport at all, however, and the refresh rate tops out at 75Hz.
More of a problem is the poor pixel density.
The native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 on a 24-inch panel makes for pretty big, blocky pixels.
That makes for pretty rough looking fonts and icons, and generally not a lot of image detail.
It also means that you’ve got no more usable desktop real estate than most laptops.
If anything, you might have less, depending on how you have your scaling set up.
You’d have nicer, sharper fonts plus the option of more working space.
As it is, the experience feels a little low rent and dated.
You’d really have to want the portability aspect an awful lot to put up with it.
In truth, the speakers would have been better left out, they’re borderline useless.
Asus Zenscreen MB249C: Final verdict
This is not a terrible monitor.
It’s well calibrated and offers reasonable image quality from its IPS panel.
However, the low pixel density makes for a dated viewing experience, with rough looking fonts.
The audio quality from the speakers is horrendous, too.
There are some nice features.
The C-clamp with pivot arm is a welcome extra.
For more screen recommendations, we reviewed thebest business monitors
