ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Asus Zenbook Duo is on sale now beginning at round $1,499, with pricier configurations obtainable.
- This laptop computer is a creator’s dream machine, with dual-OLED touchscreens, a extremely configurable type issue, and an amazing battery.
- It takes effort and time to get probably the most out of this laptop computer, and you will want a number of desk house to make the most of the totally different type elements.
Upon first look, Asus’ Zenbook Duo appears to be like like an ordinary laptop computer. The very first thing you may most likely discover is the good 3K OLED show, however there’s greater than meets the attention right here. Your complete keyboard comes off to disclose a second — simply as flashy — show beneath.
The Zenbook Duo is designed to problem the laptop computer established order in each manner. Its dual-touchscreen type issue permits for a myriad of configurations that may in any other case not be attainable with a standard clamshell, and when paired with Asus’ wealthy customization options, makes for an exceptionally versatile system.
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That being mentioned, it is a laptop computer designed particularly for creatives, as the twin shows steal the present and gas its visual-first use case. Its sheer flexibility permits it to regulate to work as a cellular workstation for content material creators, a sketchpad for visible artists with the included stylus, or a enterprise system that may fold down flat to show one of many two screens to a consumer.
This laptop computer has quite a bit occurring, so let’s take a look at the specs. When it comes to {hardware}, the Zenbook Duo is fairly stacked. It comes with 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, an Intel Arc GPU, and an Intel Core Extremely 9 (Collection 2) processor, certainly one of this system’s largest call-outs.
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Intel’s Collection 2 chips have confirmed to be battery-efficient and high-performing sufficient to set themselves aside, and I famous as such in my evaluate of the Asus’ Zenbook S 14 with the Core Extremely 7 200V (Collection 2) processor final 12 months.
The chip on that laptop computer enabled a thinner, lighter type issue, ran cooler, and had a unbelievable battery life, so I used to be excited to check out the brand new Zenbook Duo. My preliminary conclusions show that the efficiency is simply pretty much as good; the Duo runs quiet and funky (contemplating the {hardware}), and the battery life is strong — particularly for a laptop computer with two OLED screens.
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The twin 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) Lumina OLED contact shows gentle as much as 500 nits of brightness and communicates all the pieces that you must learn about this laptop computer. They each characteristic 120Hz refresh charges and the skinny bezels on each make for a dramatic look, particularly when the system is totally prolonged.
In laptop computer mode, the removable keyboard covers the second display, which has an auto-positioning magnet and pogo pins on the underside. I admire that no particular motion is required to connect or take away the keyboard; it simply snaps in place with none matching up of parts.
The identical goes for swapping configurations. Turning the laptop computer on its aspect flips the show orientation, and eradicating the keyboard prompts its Bluetooth connectivity. This can be a huge plus, in my view, as customers will admire how the laptop computer “understands” what you are making an attempt to do and adjusts accordingly.
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The kickstand on the again of the system allows this number of configurations. It is strong and durable, snaps into place with none fuss, and slides again right down to lie flat when not wanted. The one factor is that its diploma of extension is relatively excessive, which means you will not be capable of get only a slight elevation; the Duo needs to be propped up at a 40-70-degree angle.
The Duo’s touchscreens are responsive whether or not you are utilizing your finger or the included stylus, though I personally choose the latter to keep away from fingerprint smudges. Equally, the digital keyboard is kind of responsive, regardless that I are inclined to keep away from utilizing these any additional than I have to; there’s all the time a little bit of a studying curve in how briskly you may sort on it.
Asus has been specializing in customizability for its creative-oriented laptops, and the Zenbook Duo isn’t any exception. Along with the flexibility to set customized gestures, customers can configure the buttons on the stylus, set process teams, pin apps to totally different shows, and prepare their apps’ home windows within the show.
As a substitute of manually dragging apps from one window to the subsequent, you may “flick” the highest of the window to snap it in place within the desired window. This takes a minute to get used to, as dragging home windows round can lead to apps which might be half in a single show and half within the different.
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As with every system with a fancy vary of customizations, there are definitely quirks and changes concerning the right way to finest use it, particularly should you’re not totally acquainted with the right way to navigate all of the choices. Home windows or apps can often be banished to a different window, get misplaced behind different apps, or get caught midway.
I additionally had some issues with the logistics of placing an OLED show on the identical a part of the laptop computer’s physique that homes the CPU and reminiscence. Standard knowledge would suggest that this could be a recipe for excessive warmth, however Asus designed the system with this in thoughts, avoiding any direct contact with the parts and separating them with a warmth spreader.
This implies the CPU is situated on the motherboard’s reverse aspect, with gaps in between to facilitate airflow. In my testing, I could not get the laptop computer to warmth as much as any notable diploma, however it may possibly run heat should you push it over a sustained time period, particularly if it is plugged in. Fortunately, this solely occurs if each shows are in use, and if that is the case, it essentially will not be in your lap.
I additionally want there have been an choice to improve the GPU past the Intel Arc it comes with, however the Intel Core Extremely 9 does a lot of the heavy lifting right here that it won’t be crucial. Additionally, the design logistics most likely inhibit the addition of a graphics card in what’s already a packed chassis.
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Asus advertises over 13 hours on one cost, and I discovered this to be roughly correct in my testing, assuming you are speaking about video playback or regular, intermittent use all through the day. Do not forget that this system will provide you with excessive variation in battery lifetimes, relying on how you employ it.
Nonetheless, the battery did not burn itself into the bottom the way in which I assumed it might in my testing, even once I actually pushed it, working some demanding video modifying duties, utilizing each shows with full brightness whereas linked to an exterior monitor. Sure, I received a lot much less juice out of it, however I nonetheless managed over 5 hours.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Asus Zenbook Duo is a laptop computer for creatives who crave one thing totally different and wish to shake up the established order. The myriad of configurations requires a studying curve to activate and use usually, however they’re rewarding of their skill to push inventive duties to new productiveness ranges.
Even higher is the truth that the {hardware} on board is strong, no matter its bodily type. The cherry on prime is that it comes with a stylus and carrying case, rounding out the package deal for a really accessible sale worth of $1,299.
I might advocate this laptop computer to creatives who’re dedicated to utilizing it the way in which it’s designed: activating the twin shows, switching up the configurations, grabbing the stylus, and exploring new avenues of productiveness. If this stuff do not excite you, I might advocate a creative-minded laptop computer with a extra conventional type issue, just like the Asus ProArt P16 or the MacBook Professional M4.
