Asus has offered a few USB-powered portable monitors for some time now. On Tuesday at CES, it became the first company to announce a single-cable USB Type-C monitor which it is calling the MB169C+.
The new USB Type-C variety features the same 15.6-inch, 1080p IPS panel as the existing MB169B+ except with the new connector. As Engadget notes, the IPS panel is a nice upgrade over the old TN panel from the MB168B+ as it affords improved viewing angles and better colors.
Asus' MB169C+ is said to tip the scales at 800 grams (1.76 pounds) and measures just 8.5mm thick, the same as the MB169B+.
The company tells the publication that its new portable monitor should work with any system that has a USB Type-C connector, regardless of platform, including Apple's Retina MacBook, Asus' own Transformer Book T100HA, the latest Chromebook Pixel and Android devices.
Asus hasn't yet provided details on when the MB169C+ will go on sale or for how much. A quick check on Amazon reveals the MB169B+ sells for just south of $200 although the MB168B+ commands nearly $300. As such, it'll probably be somewhere within that ballpark, give or take a few bucks. That may seem like a lot for something that most will view as a luxury item but road warriors accustomed to the level of productivity that a second display affords may find it to be a worthy investment.