Minisforum MDSA156 monitor review: It’s not pretty, but it gets the job done

The Minisforum MDSA156 is a portable monitor that doesn’t just have two screens. It has two 1080p displays, connected by a hinge, and folds up like a laptop. The benefit is clear: You get a lot of extra screen space that you can put in your backpack and take with you anywhere.

MDSA156 has a lot in common with… Acer PD163Qwhich I tested previously. Aside from a few different buttons and ports, the two displays look remarkably similar. However, there are some obvious differences in quality.

Screens could be better

To start, the Minisforum MDSA156 has a disappointing LCD screen. Both have limited color gamut, and don’t even come close to covering the sRGB color space. Worse still, color and brightness change dramatically when viewed off-axis. They are completely utilitarian displays. However, contrast is good, hovering around 300 nits of maximum brightness. I say “about” because the top screen is noticeably dimmer while the bottom screen has weaker contrast.

On the plus side, it works through a single USB-C cable connection. At least, it works as long as you don’t need to turn it on at maximum brightness. This consumes a lot of power for many laptops (30 watts) and will require a second cable. At the very least, the displays’ anti-glare finishes prove to be somewhat forgiving while operating the displays at lower brightness.

Durable and practical construction

The MDSA156 is well built. The oversized kickstand and hinge hold the screens at different angles, giving you a lot of flexibility. There are also VESA mounting holes. The screen body and kickstand are all metal as well. It all adds up, as the MDSA156 weighs 3.26 pounds. (Minisforum says it weighs 2.2 pounds in some promotional photos but that’s not true.)

So you get a lot for the money. At $231, it’s a bit cheaper than the Acer PD163Q. However, Acer has a big advantage when it comes to color gamut. If that’s not a concern, and you just need more screen space to publish your work, the MDSA156 has what you need. It even includes speakers that can come in handy in a pinch, although they don’t sound very good.

Minisforum also includes two USB cables, an HDMI cable, and a small power brick to pretty much cover all the bases you could need for connectivity.

Finally, Minisforum MDSA156 is a simple, utilitarian game with extra screen space to get work done. If you work on the go and image quality isn’t a priority, this might be just what you’re looking for. It’s not pretty, and it’s not sexy, but it does the job well and doesn’t cost more than it should.

Minisforum MDSA156 specifications

price	$231
Size (diagonal)	15.6″ x 2
Panel and backlight	IPS with edge-lit backlight
Flat or curved	level
Resolution and pixel density	1,920 x 1,080, 141 ppi (per display)
Aspect ratio	16:18
Maximum range	45% NTSC
Brightness (Nit, Peak/Typical)	250
Human development report	unavailable
Adaptive sync	unavailable
Maximum vertical refresh rate	60 Hz
Gray-to-gray response time	20 ms
communication	2x USB-C, 1x HDMI
My voice	Headphone jack and stereo speakers
VESA mountable	Yes, 75×75 mm
Painting warranty	1 year

How we test screens

Minisforum MDSA156 measurements were taken with a Spyder X2 Ultra colorimeter using DataColor’s Spyder X2 software for SDR. Results of Delta E 1976 color accuracy measurements are reported using Datacolor’s 48-color correction test.

In the basic models, we can only test brightness, contrast and color gamut. With more capable displays, we can also conduct tests of user-selectable modes for gaming or critical use of colours, uniformity, etc. We may also run tests to check how white point accuracy varies with brightness. We also use Blur Busters’ motion tests to judge motion effects (such as ghosting) or refresh rate issues that can impact games.

Keep in mind that individual results can often differ from the results reported by the manufacturer for several reasons.