If you were to rip off the display from an Asus gaming laptop and convert it into a standalone screen, you'll probably end up with the Asus ROG Strix XG16 Portable Gaming Monitor. As portable external displays go, the ROG Strix XG16AHP-W (XG16 for short) is packed with more features than required for most users. But it's a very niche product. I mean, who buys a portable gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and is Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, especially when it costs S$809?

As mentioned, the XG16 seems like it came straight from an Asus ROG gaming notebook. This 15.6-inch IPS display has fairly narrow bezels with a backlit Asus ROG logo at the back. Specs-wise, you'll get a standard Full-HD resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate and a fast 3ms response time. The colours and viewing angles are excellent. The monitor is factory calibrated and comes with a colour calibration report (97.1% sRGB colour space). I found the brightness (rated at 300 nits) to be adequate and not too dim, at 50% brightness. My only complaint is that the built-in speakers are tinny and soft. They sound worse than the ones on my laptop.

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Adding to the XG16's price are the bundled accessories. While the monitor has an integrated kickstand that works in both landscape and portrait orientation, Asus has also designed a tripod that really turns the XG16 into a mini 15.6-inch monitor. This tripod adds height adjustment and can swivel 360 degrees on its axis. You can also rotate the display into portrait mode. More importantly, the tripod folds neatly into a slim and handy tube that you can then pack, along with the XG16, in the bundled sleeve. The monitor itself weighs around 900g and is 11.8mm thick.

You can connect your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone or even game console) to the XG16 via its USB-C or micro-HDMI ports (cables are included). Note that your device will need to support DisplayPort Alt mode if you wish to connect it via USB-C. I had no problem using the XG16 with my laptop's USB-C port, but my phone wouldn't work with it via USB-C. Wireless connectivity would have been more useful here. But then again, the XG16 seems designed for a niche group of users who want to game on the go. The monitor's OSD is similar to the ones in other Asus monitors. The settings are pretty comprehensive, and include gaming features like a crosshair and a FPS counter. There are also specific display profiles for different game genres, like RTS and RPG.

The Asus ROG Strix XG16 Portable Gaming Monitor lasted 3hr 22min on battery while playing videos at 50% brightness. This is slightly longer than the three hours claimed by Asus. While I had no complaints about the performance and design of the XG16 — the tripod is really cool — I feel most users will appreciate having other features, like touch functionality, for example, instead of the gaming-centric ones. In short, the XG16 is great but pricey, if you happen to be its intended audience. Else, there are more affordable options available from Asus, such as this 15.6-inch IPS model. But if the XG16 floats your boat, you can get it from the official Asus store on Lazada and Shopee.

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Note: Review unit provided by Asus.