ASUS's new ROG Strix XG129C is a tiny 12.3-inch touchscreen that can serve as a sidekick to your main display

ASUS has launched a new gaming monitor that is a little smaller than usual. The ROG Strix XG129C is a secondary display built for system monitoring, chat windows, streaming controls, and desktop shortcuts. At just 12.3 inches, it feels more like a touchscreen panel, but it still carries the name of a full-fledged gaming monitor.

The ROG Strix XG129C is a 1920x720 IPS screen with a 24:9 aspect ratio, making it a natural sidekick under your main monitor, similar to the second screen on the 14.1-inch ASUS ROG Zephyrus DUO 15. ASUS says this format provides more vertical space than 32:9 panels and reduces black bars for 16:9 content.

The panel supports 10-point capacitive touch for precise multi-finger inputs and runs at 75Hz. ASUS says it covers 125% of the sRGB color gamut and 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is strong color performance for a secondary display. The surface is glossy and rated for 176-degree viewing angles.

The screen comes with a one-year subscription to AIDA64 Extreme, a hardware monitoring tool that normally costs $65, making ASUS's direction clear. This is positioned as a performance monitor for displaying CPU temperature, GPU load, fan speeds, memory usage, clocks, and other live system data. For some, it can also serve as an extension for streaming or editing setups, much like an Elgato Stream Deck.

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Connectivity includes two USB-C ports and an HDMI 1.2 port. One USB-C handles power, video, and touchscreen data, while the second delivers 20W of power. The HDMI 1.2 port offers broader compatibility with a wider range of devices. The XG129C fully supports the ASUS DisplayWidget Center and ASUS Control Panel software.

The monitor also comes with a built-in adjustable kickstand and a 1/4-inch tripod socket. It weighs 0.56kg with the stand and 0.51kg without. ASUS has not officially confirmed pricing, but VideoCardz estimates it will land at $199, which is a tough sell when that budget could get you a capable secondary monitor for your desktop. Alongside the XG129C, ASUS announced the ROG Strix OLED XG34WCDMS, a 34-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate and 3440 x 1440 resolution.