Asus ZenScreen Fold Review: Portable, Flexible, and Pricey

When I first launched the Into the Fold series, it was fueled by the belief that flexible screens would extend beyond handheld devices to redefine consumer tech across categories. Four and a half years later, foldable phones have cemented their place, but the broader push beyond smartphones has stagnated. Wearables lack ambition, and laptops—despite excellent hardware—are hindered by software unfit for adaptable screens.

But what if we separated the foldable display’s benefits from its computing hardware? Enter the Asus ZenScreen Fold, a 17-inch display that folds into the compact footprint of a 13-inch monitor and runs any software you choose. As a concept, it’s among the most versatile foldables I’ve used, but its price might limit its practicality.

Design and Features

If you’ve seen my review of the Asus ZenBook Fold from two years ago, the specs here will feel familiar. The ZenScreen Fold features a 17.3-inch OLED panel encased in an aluminum enclosure with a kickstand. It has basic controls, two USB-C ports, an HDMI input, and a headphone jack. However, it lacks built-in computing power and even a battery, meaning it often requires external power.

I tested the ZenScreen Fold at Coffee Check, a Brooklyn café where gadgets like this are (barely) tolerated. The monitor’s peak brightness of 500 nits worked fine indoors but dropped significantly when powered directly via USB-C from a laptop. This drained my MacBook Air in three hours and my MacBook Pro in just two. Phones couldn’t power the screen without an external source, but plugging in unlocked full brightness and functionality, including access to Asus’s Display Widget Center for display settings.

Performance

Once set up, the ZenScreen Fold delivers the deep blacks and vibrant colors expected from an OLED panel, with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and a 60Hz refresh rate. Its viewing angles are decent (160°), though the teardrop crease at the center makes straight-on viewing preferable.

Switching orientations—thanks to its built-in accelerometer—was smooth, and the foldable cable design makes adjustments easier. However, outdoor use introduced rainbow effects due to the polarizer when wearing certain sunglasses.

Challenges and Competition

Despite its portability, the ZenScreen Fold has notable drawbacks:

1. Thickness: While compact, it remains as thick as a laptop when folded, limiting its portability compared to other foldable devices.
2. No Touchscreen or Speakers: Competing displays offer these features at lower prices.
3. Price: At $2,199, the ZenScreen Fold is significantly more expensive than competitors like Espresso Displays ($450) and other Asus monitors ($300).

For comparison, Asus’s 2024 ZenBook Duo offers dual screens and full PC functionality for under $1,700—making the ZenScreen Fold’s price hard to justify.

Final Thoughts

The ZenScreen Fold feels more like a concept device made commercial, possibly to use up surplus parts or meet supplier agreements. That said, it’s a fascinating product for those who value cutting-edge tech over practicality.

For the ZenScreen Fold to become a viable daily companion, it needs:

• A thinner, lighter design.
• Features like a built-in battery, touchscreen, and speakers.
• A lower price point to appeal to a broader audience.

Flexible screens hold immense potential for mobile workspaces, and Asus has shown creativity here. But until these improvements are made, the ZenScreen Fold remains an intriguing but niche device for tech enthusiasts.