Asus introduces the ROG Strix XG129C, a small secondary display aimed at competing with Elgato’s gaming offerings.

      The secondary display market has long awaited a product that effectively integrates a quality screen, genuine color accuracy, and gaming ecosystem compatibility into a single compact unit.

      Asus has answered the call for those who desire a specific screen for monitoring their system’s performance, chat applications, or streaming controls, without interrupting the primary monitor setup.

      The ROG Strix XG129C is a 12.3-inch secondary display equipped with a touchscreen, intended to be placed beneath your main monitor to manage notifications and other distractions, priced at $199.

      So, what features does the Strix XG129C offer?

      The Strix XG129C boasts a 1920 x 720 IPS display with a 24:9 aspect ratio, resulting in a wide but short screen that fits neatly under a typical monitor without taking up vertical desk space.

      This 10-point capacitive touchscreen supports multi-touch gestures, app shortcuts, hotkey operations, and streaming overlays. Remarkably, for a secondary display, the color accuracy is quite impressive, covering 125% of the sRGB color space and 90% of DCI-P3.

      Asus is also providing a one-year subscription to AIDA64 Extreme, transforming the display into a live hardware monitoring dashboard that tracks GPU usage, CPU temperature, and fan speeds through exclusive ROG SensorPanel themes.

      A single USB-C cable is all that's needed for power, video, and touch functionalities, ensuring a tidy setup. Additionally, there’s another USB-C (20W PD) and HDMI 1.2 ports for enhanced compatibility.

      How does it compare to competitors?

      Unlike Elgato’s Stream Deck, which features physical buttons without a true display, the Strix XG129C offers a complete touchscreen that not only looks sleek and modern but also enhances control.

      Its closest rival is the Corsair Xeneon Edge, which measures 14.5 inches and is similarly priced. However, the XG129C’s more compact aspect ratio and integration with the ROG ecosystem make it a more attractive choice for those already within the ROG environment.

      This idea reminds me of the secondary screens found on the Zephyrus Duo laptops. Asus has effectively adapted the ScreenPad experience for desktop use, presenting it with a more polished and deliberate focus.

      Over the past five years, Shikhar has been adept at clarifying developments in consumer technology and communicating them…

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