Best Portable Monitors for Remote Work in an Airbnb: A Second Screen That Fits in Your Laptop Bag

Comparison table

Rentals are lovely places to work from, until you've spent a week hunched over one laptop screen at a dining table. A portable monitor gives you a proper two-screen setup: a video call on one screen and your document on the other, or a spreadsheet next to your email. It packs flat and runs from your laptop, so you don't need the host's TV. We've kept this guide to models with one-cable USB-C setups and slim, travel-friendly bodies. All specs come from ASUS's official product and tech-spec pages.

ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16FC: the best overall

Best overall

ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16FC

• 16-inch 16:10 OLED
• 1920 x 1200
• 95% DCI-P3

Best for: Remote workers who want a vivid OLED picture and a proper kickstand at the kitchen table

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The ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16FC covers the most bases of our three picks. Its 16-inch OLED panel has a 16:10 aspect ratio (1920 x 1200). ASUS says that gives 11% more vertical space than a 16:9 screen, which is handy for documents and long web pages. It covers 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, so it also suits photo editing and evening streaming.

It also copes well with awkward rental setups. There are two full-function USB-C ports and a mini-HDMI port, and ASUS bundles a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable as well as two USB-C cables. Power pass-through of up to 65W means you can plug one charger into the monitor and charge your laptop through it, which helps when the only socket is behind the sofa. Tom's Hardware's review praises its integrated kickstand and tripod mount, and the monitor can switch automatically between landscape and portrait using ASUS's DisplayWidget Center software. It weighs 0.68 kg and is 9 mm thick.

Specs

• 16-inch 16:10 OLED, 1920 x 1200, 95% DCI-P3
• 0.68 kg; 2 x USB-C (DP Alt Mode) + mini-HDMI
• Power pass-through up to 65W; 1/4-inch tripod socket

What we like

• Mini-HDMI as well as USB-C, so it also works with laptops that lack USB-C video
• Pass-through charging keeps your laptop topped up from one wall socket

Watch out

• The glossy screen can reflect bright windows, and typical brightness is 300 nits
• No built-in speakers

Who it's for: remote workers who want a vivid OLED picture and a proper kickstand at the kitchen table.

See the ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16FC

ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC: the lightest pick

Lightest pick

ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC

• 14-inch Full HD IPS
• anti-glare
• 0.59 kg; 9 mm slim

Best for: Carry-on-only travellers who want a second screen at the lowest weight

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The ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC is the one to choose if every gram counts. ASUS lists it at 0.59 kg and 9 mm thick, with a 14-inch Full HD IPS panel and an anti-glare finish that copes better with bright rental windows than a glossy screen.

Setup is a single cable. ASUS calls it a hybrid-signal solution: one USB-C connection carries both power and video from your laptop, with no separate charger needed. If your laptop only has USB-A, it can still work after you install the DisplayLink driver. The included foldable smart case doubles as a stand in landscape or portrait mode, and the screen rotates its image automatically.

Specs

• 14-inch Full HD IPS, anti-glare
• 0.59 kg; 9 mm slim
• Single USB-C cable for power and video (USB-A via DisplayLink driver)

What we like

• The lightest monitor here, and it matches the size of a 14-inch laptop
• Anti-glare screen for sunny rooms

Watch out

• The case stand is less stable than a built-in kickstand on a wobbly table
• 250 nits typical brightness and no pass-through charging

Who it's for: carry-on-only travellers who want a second screen at the lowest weight.

See the ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC

ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV: big screen, simple setup

Big screen, simple setup

ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV

• 15.6-inch Full HD IPS
• anti-glare
• 0.9 kg; built-in kickstand; 1/4-inch tripod socket

Best for: Long-stay renters who want a 15.6-inch screen with a built-in kickstand

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The ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV gives you a larger 15.6-inch Full HD IPS screen for long stays, when you'll work from the same rental for weeks. Its kickstand is built into the back, so you can prop it up in landscape or portrait without a separate case. There's also a 1/4-inch tripod socket if you want to raise it to eye level on a small tripod.

Like the MB14AC, it uses a single USB-C cable for both power and video, and works with USB-A laptops via the DisplayLink driver. ASUS also applies an antibacterial treatment to the surface. It weighs 0.9 kg and is 10.5 mm thick, according to ASUS, so it's the heaviest here, but it's still easy to slip into a laptop backpack.

Specs

• 15.6-inch Full HD IPS, anti-glare
• 0.9 kg; built-in kickstand; 1/4-inch tripod socket
• Single USB-C cable for power and video (USB-A via DisplayLink driver)

What we like

• Built-in kickstand, so you don't have to fiddle with a folding case
• A bigger screen than the 14-inch MB14AC, which is easier on the eyes for long workdays

Watch out

• The heaviest pick, at 0.9 kg
• 250 nits typical brightness and no pass-through charging

Who it's for: long-stay renters who want a 15.6-inch screen with a built-in kickstand.

See the ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV

How to choose a portable monitor for a rental

• Check your laptop's USB-C port first. One-cable setups need a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode (often marked with a DisplayPort or Thunderbolt symbol). If yours doesn't, the MQ16FC's mini-HDMI port or the DisplayLink driver on the MB14AC and MB16ACV are your fallbacks.
• Pick a size that matches your laptop. A 14-inch monitor fits in the same sleeve as a 14-inch laptop. A 16-inch screen gives more room but may need a bigger bag.
• Think about the stand. Rental tables can be wobbly. A built-in kickstand (MQ16FC, MB16ACV) is steadier than a folding case.
• Plan for sockets. Sockets aren't always where you'd like them. Pass-through charging (MQ16FC) lets one charger power both screen and laptop. For more ports, see our best USB-C hubs for remote work.
• Sort your connection too. A second screen won't help much on patchy Wi-Fi. Pair your setup with a travel eSIM like Airalo as a mobile data backup for calls, and compare options in our best travel eSIM guide. For a steadier rental network, see our best travel routers for Airbnb. On the road for months? SafetyWing is one of the insurers in our travel insurance guide for digital nomads.

Our verdict

The ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16FC is our pick for remote work from an Airbnb. It combines a tall 16:10 OLED screen, USB-C and mini-HDMI inputs, 65W pass-through charging and a built-in kickstand at 0.68 kg. Choose the ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC if you travel light, or the ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV for a bigger anti-glare screen with a simple kickstand on long stays.

Shop portable monitors: ASUS ZenScreen OLED MQ16FC · ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC · ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV

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