Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF evaluate: If you’d like an enormous moveable monitor, that is it

Greatest Costs Right now: Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF

Have you ever ever wished to purchase a conveyable monitor that’s huge? Actually huge? Like, 27 inches huge?

I’d guess that, for most individuals, the reply is “nah.” However I additionally know from expertise that demand exists for an enormous moveable show that can be utilized in conferences or moved simply between workspaces in an workplace. If that’s you, the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF may be the monitor you’ve at all times wished.

Learn on to study extra, then see our roundup of the perfect moveable displays for comparability.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF specs and options

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF may appear like a typical 27-inch monitor at a look. It has an IPS show panel and a decision of 2560×1440, which is typical for a mid-tier LCD monitor.

• Show measurement: 27-inch 16:9 facet ratio
• Native decision: 2560×1440
• Panel kind: IPS-LED
• Refresh price: 100Hz
• Adaptive sync: Sure
• HDR: Sure, HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black
• Ports: 1x USB-C with DisplayPort and 70 watts of USB Energy Supply, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack
• Audio: 2x audio system, 1.5 watt woofer
• Further options: C-clamp fashion ergonomic stand, built-in kickstand
• Value: $449 MSRP

Nonetheless, the MB27ACF is something however regular. It’s truly a 27-inch moveable monitor with a built-in kickstand. Meaning it may be used wherever there’s room to sit down it (and an AC outlet, as a result of whereas the monitor is moveable, it nonetheless requires energy).

That’s to not say you’ll be able to’t use it like a standard monitor. Quite the opposite, the flexibility to deal with it like each a conveyable monitor and a desktop monitor is your complete level. It even ships with an ergonomic stand that makes use of a C-clamp to connect to a desk.

Pricing begins at $449, and it seems to retail at (or barely above) that worth proper now. That’s lots for a 27-inch 1440p monitor, although the shortage of opponents with an identical options helps the MB27ACF carve its personal area of interest.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF design

Unboxing the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF instantly reveals it’s not like most displays. It has a particularly slim profile, made barely thicker solely by the built-in kickstand on the again. The kickstand can fold flat when utilizing the monitor with the included ergonomic stand, or fold out to let the monitor stand by itself. On this means, it capabilities very like smaller moveable displays, with one key exception: The MB27ACF requires an exterior AC energy brick, so that you’ll want a close-by wall outlet.

The monitor additionally comes with an ergonomic desktop stand designed for fast attachment and removing. Not like most stands that sit on prime of your desk, this one connects by way of an included C-clamp, which saves desk house. The stand’s wedge-shaped mount makes it easy to slide the MB27ACF on or off in only a second, and at solely 6.5 kilos, the monitor is gentle and simple to deal with.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

That’s to not say the stand is ideal. Adjusting the peak requires urgent a lever, which isn’t a serious inconvenience however feels barely much less refined than what you’d count on from a premium ergonomic stand. The stand additionally has a unfastened really feel in comparison with the sturdier mounts discovered on different workplace displays on this worth vary. It wasn’t a problem on my desk, however on a much less steady floor it may enable the monitor to wobble greater than you’d like.

And the choices don’t finish there. The monitor additionally consists of two metallic brackets designed to screw into the again of the show and hold excessive of a cubicle wall. It’s a really particular mounting possibility, however one which might be helpful in sure workplace setups. These brackets connect to a 75x75mm VESA mount, so you may also use the MB27ACF with any suitable stand or monitor arm of your alternative.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Taken collectively, these mounting choices make the MB27ACF a flexible monitor. Additionally they assist justify its excessive MSRP for a 1440p IPS show. The monitor is able to deal with a number of use instances with out shopping for extra equipment.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF connectivity

Whereas design is a energy of the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF, connectivity is a transparent weak point. The monitor gives simply two video enter choices: a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and an HDMI 2.0 port. That’s not a lot for a desktop monitor, although it’s about common for a conveyable show.

The USB-C port does present as much as 70 watts of energy supply, sufficient to cost most midrange Home windows laptops and almost all MacBooks. I had no bother working a single-cable reference to each an HP Omnibook 5 and a MacBook Air 15, with loads of energy to maintain them charged.

Apparently, it’s potential to energy the MB27ACF with solely a USB-C connection, however Asus states that doing so limits that most brightness to 85 nits. That’s dim, so I doubt will probably be helpful in most conditions.

Port placement may be a problem. All of the connections are on the left facet of the monitor, reasonably than the rear, which suggests the cables will at all times be seen. This design is handy for moveable use, the place you’re often plugging and unplugging, however much less ultimate in case you plan to maintain the monitor on a desk full time.

A 3.5mm audio-out jack and the barrel-style energy enter are additionally situated on the left, that means you can find yourself with as many as 4 cables dangling off that facet of the show.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF menus, options, and audio

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF’s on-screen menus are managed by buttons on the proper facet of the monitor, together with a menu button and two navigation buttons. I discovered them a bit finicky and I typically hit the incorrect button. Thankfully, the monitor helps Asus’ DisplayWidget software program utility, which permits many settings to be adjusted instantly in Home windows or macOS.

The menus supply an excellent vary of picture high quality choices. Along with a number of preset picture modes it consists of 5 gamma settings that focus on particular values, together with colour temperature changes. Nonetheless, the temperature settings are labeled solely as “heat” or “cool” reasonably than exact Kelvin values. The monitor additionally has colour calibration choices, although in observe the MB27ACF’s picture high quality doesn’t justify use in demanding skilled workflows.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The monitor additionally has a pair of audio system and a tiny 1.5-watt woofer. Collectively, they supply respectable audio with an excellent vary and minimal distortion at greater volumes. The sound received’t impress, but it surely’s higher than typical for an workplace or productiveness monitor, and high-quality for video calls or exhibiting a video clip in a gathering.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF SDR picture high quality

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF is supposed primarily for workplace productiveness. Because of this, it offers a reasonably fundamental 27-inch 1440p IPS panel. That places a ceiling on how good the monitor’s picture high quality may be, and it arguably doesn’t even attain these restricted heights.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

First up is brightness, the place the MB27ACF offers a most SDR brightness of about 328 nits. Because the graph reveals, that’s not dangerous, but in addition not nice. This stage of brightness is ok for many conditions and is aided by the monitor’s anti-glare end, which retains reflections to a minimal.

Nonetheless, moveable displays just like the MB27ACF are seemingly for use in rooms with little or no gentle management, like a company convention room. In these conditions the monitor will seemingly be used close to its most brightness and in some instances could seem a tad dim.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Displays with an IPS panel are inclined to have a restricted distinction ratio, and the MB27ACF isn’t any exception, although it truly performs a tad higher than I anticipated. Many IPS displays meant for workplace productiveness hover nearer to a 1000:1 distinction ratio.

Nonetheless, the MB27ACF’s restricted distinction comes with penalties. The monitor lacks depth, notably in darkish scenes, the place it may possibly seem hazy and grey. Most direct opponents undergo the identical drawback, nevertheless.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The MB27ACF’s colour efficiency is modest. It has a large sufficient colour gamut to look vivid in vivid and colourful content material, but it surely in any other case can seem under-saturated and boring.

The colour efficiency on faucet is actually sufficient for workplace productiveness and just like many different mid-range IPS-LCD displays. Nonetheless, it is going to rule out content material creation for anybody who needs to work in a wider colour gamut like DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB. Which, in 2025, covers many inventive professionals.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Shade accuracy is sort of good, nevertheless, which suggests the colours which are displayed seem as they need to. Most trendy shows rating effectively right here, however the MB27ACF is above common. It offers a sensible picture and I feel it might be used for images, artwork, or video in case you can stick with the common-or-garden sRGB colour gamut.

The MB27ACF delivered reasonable leads to gamma and colour temperature. I measured a default gamma curve of two.1, which is barely off the goal of two.2 and means the picture seems a bit brighter than it ought to. The default colour temperature was 6700K, which is a tad cooler and extra sterile than the goal of 6500K. Neither variance is main, however choosy viewers are more likely to discover it.

Sharpness is respectable, however not a perk. The MB27ACF’s 27-inch 1440 panel packs about 110 pixels per inch. That may’ve been nice 5 years in the past however at present, with 27-inch 4K displays broadly obtainable at decrease costs, the MB27ACF’s decision is sufficient at greatest.

On the entire, it’s clear the MB27ACF’s uncommon portability requires a compromise in picture high quality. That’s to not say the monitor seems dangerous. It’s greater than sufficient for typical workplace productiveness, and I think most customers trying on the monitor received’t be too bothered by the very fact its picture high quality is unremarkable for the value. Nonetheless, it’s vital to grasp that you may purchase a monitor with significantly better picture high quality in case you don’t want the M27ACF’s versatility.

Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF HDR picture high quality and movement

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF doesn’t help HDR. Whereas that may seem to be a damaging, it’s truly constructive. Why? No monitor on this class can present an excellent HDR expertise, and many who have supposed HDR help are promoting a characteristic that doesn’t work because it ought to. Retaining HDR off the spec sheet means Asus isn’t attempting to idiot anybody.

Whereas the MB27ACF lacks HDR, it does present a 100Hz refresh price and Adaptive Sync for improved movement readability. Although actually not a gaming monitor, the MB27ACF does present noticeable movement readability and responsiveness beneficial properties over a 60Hz show. It’s most likely not a serious benefit for the monitor’s supposed use. Nonetheless, I at all times favor to see a refresh price past 60Hz.

Must you purchase the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF?

The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF is a flexible 27-inch moveable monitor with built-in kickstand that additionally ships with a desk stand. This versatility is uncommon and makes the monitor helpful in case you typically wish to share your display with colleagues or give displays at work. I also can see the monitor used as a kiosk or a devoted convention room show. Sadly, the monitor’s versatility requires compromise in connectivity and picture high quality. Its MSRP of $449 can be excessive for a 27-inch 1440p show. Nonetheless, the MB27ACF has only a few opponents, and those who do exist (just like the LG StandbyMe) are much more costly. That makes the MB27ACF the king of its area of interest.