Asus has shocked the world with yet another amazing innovation – ZenScreen Fold, one of its portable monitor series that actually folds in half like a tablet.
| Specifications |
| Screen Size |
17.3 inch |
| Half-screen size |
12.5 inch |
| Resolution |
2560 x 1920 |
| Panel Type |
OLED |
| DCI-P3 color space |
100% |
| Weight |
1.17 kg |
| Thickness |
9.7 mm |
| Connection Mode |
Mini HDMI Port/ USB-C |
| Brightness |
500 nits Peak |
| GtG Response Time |
0.2 ms |
| Touchscreen |
No |
| Stylus |
No |
Initial Review
The ZenScreen Fold OLED is a revolutionary product, bringing a blend of technology with ease of use. This portable monitor is priced above $2k and is quite a tech since previous products in the domain have had two screens.
Most notable names include Protec’s LCD15HC-IPSDUAL and Sanko’s Top and Bottom Dual Screen Expandable Portable Monitor (DUALDPHBK). Like these devices, the ZenScreen is also able to connect to a phone’s display.
If you connect to a portable hotspot, you can install the required software for screen adaption, linking the monitor with your phone. But for portable connectivity, we recommend you get internet from Xfinity with its widely available public hotspots. Check out its plans or connect with Xfinity customer service for information.
Screen and Build
The glossy aluminum chassis built with a metallic finish makes it quite visually appealing. With it being a foldable device, there’s somewhat of a ‘line’ between the panels that is visible at only specific angles. However, that’s not a problem and the visibility isn’t affected.
Moreover, when folded, the device isn’t thicker than 9.7 mm, which is somewhat close to the latest iPhone. This makes it the most portable monitor around.
In terms of the screen size, the users get a 17.3-inch large screen with a 4:3 screen ratio, which is comparatively bigger than the commonly found 16:9 and 16:10 screens.
Display Quality
The average brightness recorded is 350 nits whereas the top brightness level is recorded at 500 nits. Like all OLED screens, it records a 100% P3 color gamut. This allows the ZenScreen to display 1 billion colors, a vibrant display quality expected from any monitor. In addition, it has a high contrast, making it easier for the users to enjoy working on it even when the brightness levels peak at 500 nits.
But that’s not only it. It’s also DisplayHDR True Black 500 compliant. The DisplayHDR True Black is a range that allows displaying deeper black levels with a much better contrast. This allows users to enjoy enhanced performance even in darker backgrounds. Gaming and designing enthusiasts can benefit from it.
It’s also great for a home theater experience, and with its 17.5-inch screen, the ZenScreen Fold can also provide an amazing streaming experience.
Hinge Design
Apart from the amazing build and functionality, it also comes with a stylish water-drop hinge for sturdy support and seamless workability. This is what sets it apart from other foldable monitors and perhaps smartphones too.
As mentioned earlier, foldable devices tend to have a faint line on the screens, also known as creasing, making them absurd especially during usage. However, ZenScreen minimizes this with its hinge, giving more space to work or play.
What’s more amazing is that Asus has put immense effort into building this device and rigorously testing the hinge design. As advertised on the official website, the design is compact and reliable enough to last at least 30,000 cycles (open and close), which may sound a little less compared to almost 200,000 cycles from Samsung Fold.
However, this latest design decreases the stress on the display screen, which means it can last more than the amount of cycles tested in the lab.
Additional Features
Next, it also has an integrated foldable stand, which can be conveniently set up and the screen can easily be adjusted for usage in the portrait mode. If the screen is shifted to landscape mode, the auto-rotation mode automatically adjusts the display, fitting the contents on a regular monitor.
Its setup and compatibility are smooth like its design, which is a mini HDMI port of a USB C-type connection. The monitor can be used as a primary screen or an extended/ second screen, the most common option for developers and designers.
In other words, it comes with plug-and-play connectivity, which is by far quite an innovation in terms of extended devices. However, one thing to note is that the screen only reaches its maximum display brightness when the adapter is plugged in.
Otherwise, the brightness is limited so that it doesn’t drain the laptop battery that it’s connected to, which is another smart function added to the device. It also comes with an audio port, making it a great, portable device that can be used for an audio experience.
Last but not least, it also comes with a quarter-inch screw thread socket that can be used for mounting it on a camera tripod stand. This allows the users to adjust the monitor at any angle and height they want without any hassle, ideal for long working hours.
Since it’s usable as a second screen, content sharing is also seamless, making it easier to display content with an expansive display, perfect for presentations.
Overall, ZenScreen Fold OLED is a game changer and can truly revolutionize the future of portable display screens. Even though it’s a bit expensive for its tier, it still boasts great features that make it worth it.
