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Minisforum MDSA156 Monitor Review: It's Not Pretty, but It Does the Job

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CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

Minisforum MDSA156 $216 at Amazon Pros Plenty of screen real estate

Single-cable connection

Flexible setup and connectivity Cons Viewing angle limitations

Low-quality displays

Needs auxiliary power for full brightness

The Minisforum MDSA156 is a portable monitor with not one but two displays. It has two 1080p screens, connected by a hinge, that fold up like a laptop. The benefit is obvious: You get a ton of extra screen space that you can slip into your backpack and bring anywhere.

The MDSA156 has a ton in common with the Acer PD163Q, which I've previously tested. Aside from a few different buttons and ports, the two monitors look strikingly similar. There are, however, some clear differences in quality.

Twice the screen space in a single device. Mark Knapp/CNET

The screens could be better

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