The Auzai ME16Z01 portable monitor offers flexibility and convenience in a slim and affordable package for productivity or even gaming. Monitors like this are great for professionals on the go who need the extra screen space minus the heft and hassle of a full monitor. The Auzai ME16Z01 portable monitor has very tough rivals like the Lenovo ThinkVision M14, so let’s see how competitive it is in its segment.
Auzai ME16Z01 Specifications
- Screen Size: 14 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: No
- Connectivity: USB-C x 2, Mini HDMI x 1
- Dimensions With Stand(WxHxD):13.94″ x 8.78″ x .14″
- Weight: 1.37 lbs
Design and Features
The Auzai ME16Z01 sports a slim and sleek aesthetic that won’t clash with your laptops or portable gaming devices. The monitor has a matte black chassis matched with a leatherette flip cover that doubles as its stand. The display isn’t bezel-free, but the top and sides have slimmer borders while the thicker bottom strip shows off the shiny brand logo.
The packaging for the feels premium, and it would make you think that you are opening a high-end product from brands like Apple. The display is well-protected with foam and plastic layers, so the device shouldn’t be damaged while in transit. It also includes a screen protector, so you won’t have to go out and find an aftermarket option that fits perfectly.
It is easy to mistake the Auzai ME16Z01 portable monitor as a tablet since its no bigger or thicker than the latest models. It’s pretty easy to slip it into one of the compartments of your laptop bag, plus it won’t add too much weight since its only 1.37 pounds. Portability is a key characteristic of these products since its intended users have to deal with the heft of their laptops as well.
Build quality for the Auzai ME16Z01 is decent and the plastics used feel durable enough to withstand the rigors of daily use. The flap cover feels flimsy when used as a stand, making us feel that the display will topple over with minor force. There are no cosmetic defects on both items, indicating that good quality control was applied during manufacturing.
The Auzai ME16Z01 has a button and an up-down wheel for the OSD which is easy enough to use. It takes quite a few clicks to get to a specific setting, but there aren’t a lot of sub-menus you have to skip over. It would be nice to have an app that can tweak some of the basic settings like the brightness, but we’ve only seen that from popular brands like Dell or LG.
The clip cover for the Auzai ME16Z01 as mentioned doubles as its stand so you can prop it next to your laptop. It is soft enough to absorb blows and protect the screen, but it feels weak when supporting the display. Another downside is you can only tilt the monitor to adjust the screen, but that’s common with most, if not all, portable monitors.
The Auzai ME16Z01 portable monitor comes with two USB-C slots and a mini HDMI port for video inputs. One USB-C slot is for video input and power delivery from your laptop’s battery, while the other can be connected to an adapter, which is annoyingly not included in the package. The package already includes the necessary cables for operation, but you might need an adapter for the mini HDMI cable since most host devices have a full-sized port.
You can use the monitor with a single cable connected to a laptop, while gaming consoles need to use the mini HDMI and the second USB-C slot in tandem since the former doesn’t have power delivery. It’s a minor hassle, but we know gamers will always find a way to enjoy their favorite titles wherever they are.
The Auzai ME16Z01 has included speakers, but your laptop’s pair might sound considerably better for entertainment purposes. They are nice to have since they present a second option, however, if your power source is weak, they will cut out if the volume is higher than half.
Display and Performance
The Auzai ME16Z01 sports a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a massive yet honest 30ms response time. The backlight is limited to 250 cd/m2, while the listed contrast ratio sits at 1000:1. Most portable monitors we’ve tested do not have comparable measurement results with desktop monitors, and this model isn’t an exception.
The pixel density of the Auzai ME16Z01 is almost like a 1440p screen at 27 inches, so it offers plenty of sharpness without applying the need for scaling. Text and documents are still pleasant to read, while games don’t look like they have soft edges. The screen’s impression is no different from a regular-sized laptop so the target audience won’t struggle with this display.
The Auzai ME16Z01 portable monitor covers 72% of the sRGB gamut which is a decent score in its class. However, the DeltaE average was simply too high, reaching around 8.91. The screen looks imbalanced and dull with noticeable errors in reds and blues. The screen has a cooler bias in its white balance, so browsers and document apps can look bluish at times.
Calibrating the monitor did improve the accuracy score, but the dE of around 4.95 was still too high for editing use. The color temp looks a bit more balanced, but these dismal improvements aren’t worth the additional purchase of a colorimeter.
The Auzai ME16Z01’s backlight managed a 270 cd/m2 out, but its contrast is limited to 520:1 at 60% brightness. The screen looks grayish when viewed in the dark, but the good news is it can fight a fair amount of glare. It is not ideal for content creation and editing, but gaming and some movies can still look good with this model.
Panel uniformity for the Auzai ME16Z01 test unit is great since there are no noticeable leaks or clouding issues that affect the images on display. The sides are dimmer than the center of the display, but it’s only noticeable when you measure it with a colorimeter. Take note that this aspect varies between each unit made since there are manufacturing tolerances and the natural limitations of IPS technology.
The Auzai ME16Z01 isn’t the most responsive monitor, but its understandable due to its primary purpose. The screen shows blurring in fast-paced or contrasting transitions, especially in racing games or shooters. It won’t be an issue for casual games like Animal Crossing, but meticulous users will surely notice the difference.
Adaptive Sync in any form isn’t part of the Auzai ME16Z01’s capabilities, so you can’t rely on the tech to keep frames in check. However, 1080p at 60Hz isn’t demanding anyway, so tearing and frame drops won’t be a big issue. We were unable to measure input lag accurately, but the device feels comparable to a regular 1080p monitor with a 10ms latency result.
Thoughts on the Auzai ME16Z01
What makes the Auzai ME16Z01 attractive is its lightweight design and lower price than most comparable competitors in the market. USB-C connectivity on portable monitors is usually reserved for the premium models which cost over $250. It’s great for an all-arounder for gaming and extending your workspace, but it has a few limitations you have to consider.
The Auzai ME16Z01 portable monitor’s IPS panel showed dismal image quality results in tests. We get that it is not the fanciest model on the market, but a little factory calibration would have helped the product tremendously. Its affordable, but some of its limitations can be a deal-breaker for enthusiasts and prosumers.
Pros:
- Slim and Lightweight
- Affordable
- USB-C Connectivity
- Complete Cables with Screen Protector in Package
- Compatible with All Popular Gaming Consoles
Cons:
- Poor Factory Calibration
- Calibration Doesn’t Improve Accuracy a Lot
- Flimsy Flip Stand
- Limited Contrast
- No Power Adapter Included
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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