The Asus Zenbook Duo provides a dual-screened glim...

Over the previous couple of years, we have seen Windows {hardware} producers start to experiment with the shape elements of their PCs. Lenovo and Asus specifically have been busy engineering and delivery an all-new class of {hardware} — PCs with twin screens. Multi-monitor setups are a longtime staple of the Home windows desktop area; the pondering goes that entry to a second show might be simply as helpful whereas on-the-go, as it’s whereas stationary.

Microsoft might have bowed out of the dual-screen race with the cancelation of its bold Surface Neo venture, however on a conceptual stage, the thought stays deeply compelling. With the Zenbook Duo, Asus has crafted a twin display screen PC that inherits a lot of the superb DNA of its hardware siblings. Has Asus managed to construct a product that delivers on the promise of a dual-screen future? I spent some high quality time with the machine to seek out out.

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Asus Zenbook Duo

The Asus Zenbook Duo is a Home windows 11 laptop computer with a twist — it is keyboard deck is detachable, revealing a second show. Along with a built-in kickstand, this PC capabilities as a twin display screen machine.

Professionals

• Revolutionary and versatile kind issue
• Home windows Good day integration
• Good port choice

Cons

• Lacks premium ‘Ceraluminum’ end
• Pretty thick and heavy for a laptop computer
• Home windows 11 nonetheless lacks native optimizations for twin display screen PCs

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Value, availability, and specs

As you would possibly count on for a laptop computer housing a whole second show inside it, the Asus Zenbook Duo is a reasonably substantial piece of {hardware}. In comparison with your common thin-and-light ultrabook-style PC, the Duo is on the thicker and heavier aspect.

The unit measures at 12.34 x 8.58 x 0.57 ~ 0.78-inches (31.35 x 21.79 x 1.46 ~ 1.99 cm), and weighs 3.64 lbs (1.65 kg) with its keyboard hoisted on. Sans keyboard, the machine is barely lighter at 2.98 lbs (1.35 kg). The product’s wedge-shaped kind issue helps reign in its dimensions, which is an appreciated design consideration.

Naturally, the twin set of OLED show panels are the star of the present on the subject of the Zenbook Duo. Every show measures in at 14.0-inches, and Asus has opted to make use of the 16:10 facet ratio versus the extra frequent 16:9 widescreen sizing. Each shows are multitouch-enabled and provide native stylus help (the pen itself is a separate $100 buy).

When it comes to brightness, these panels are able to 400 nits (sustained), in addition to 500 nits (peak HDR mode). The bottom mannequin ships with FHD (1920 x 1200 pixel) decision panels that every run at 60Hz, however this may be bumped as much as twin 3K (2880 x 1800 pixel) decision shows that run at 120Hz. No matter display screen configuration, the Zenbook Duo options skinny bezels, whereas additionally managing to slot in an FHD webcam and an IR sensor for Windows Hello face unlock.

Connectivity clever, the Zenbook Duo provides a comparatively beneficiant assortment of ports in contrast with its contemporaries. Three USB-C ports adorn one aspect of the laptop computer and a single USB-A port for connecting to older PC peripherals. One of many USB-C ports is a normal 5Gbps affair, whereas the opposite two provide the tremendous speedy 40Gbps courtesy of Thunderbolt 4. On the opposite aspect of the machine, you may discover a 3.5mm headphone audio jack, in addition to a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port for plugging into exterior shows.

The Asus Zenbook Duo is available in a single colorway, which the corporate calls inkwell grey. The machine ships with its devoted keyboard and trackpad accent out of the field, and it comes with a base SSD storage configuration of 1TB. The bottom $1,300 mannequin provides 16GB of RAM together with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and built-in Arc graphics. For those who’re keen to spend extra on speccing out the machine, you too can go for a 32GB RAM choice, full with a extra {powerful} Intel Core Extremely 9 processor.

What I appreciated concerning the Asus Zenbook Duo

Multi-screen setups are at all times a productiveness sport changer

Microsoft has gone on file in saying that dual screen setups are superior for productiveness in comparison with a single display screen, and I am totally on board with this premise. In my private expertise, the compartmentalization of separate, bespoke shows enhances my workflow in a approach {that a} single ultrawide monitor — not to mention a cramped laptop computer panel — is unable to emulate.

As such, I used to be instantly at dwelling when powering on the Asus Zenbook Duo for the primary time. It took me a couple of minutes to regulate to the vertical orientation of the twin 14-inch panels, nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than I used to be nicely and totally acclimated. I discovered myself putting peripheral content material — immediate messaging chats, browser tabs, and extra — totally on the highest display screen, whereas using the underside display screen for my major phrase processing work circulation.

When put collectively, the Zenbook Duo delivers a handy expertise that genuinely elevates my productiveness. I discovered the 14-inch panels to hit a candy spot when it comes to sizing, and the OLED know-how offered a pleasing and punchy viewing expertise when consuming media content material. I am a fan of Asus’ determination to outfit the machine with 16:10 facet ratio screens versus 16:9 — the latter at all times feels too cramped for me when scrolling by means of paperwork and net pages.

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As for efficiency, it is onerous to complain a few product geared up with certainly one of Intel’s newest era Core Extremely chipsets. The Zenbook Duo is zippy and performant, with my mannequin scoring a Geekbench 6 metric of round 1,509 in single-core and 9,155 in multi-core. Intel continues to make year-over-year strides when it comes to efficiency-per-watt, however Qualcomm and its ARM-based computing structure stay barely forward on this regard.

I discovered the machine’s followers to spin up comparatively occasionally throughout regular use, and the machine solely started to whirl and warmth up through the set up of Home windows Updates. Even when closely taxed, the machine remained responsive, and battery life by no means unexpectedly plummeted.

The machine’s devoted keyboard and trackpad overlay comes normal within the field, which might’t be stated concerning the Microsoft Surface Pro lineup or many different high-end PCs. The keyboard journey and clickiness felt good, which is a formidable feat contemplating its thinness and detachability. The magnets that connect the overlay instantly onto the underside show when in normal laptop computer mode are sturdy and assured — tolerances are tight sufficient that I by no means felt just like the keyboard deck was compromised or flexing in any approach.

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What I did not like concerning the Asus Zenbook Duo

Twin display screen PCs are nonetheless very a lot a piece in progress

Whereas I definitely loved typing away on the Zenbook Duo’s keyboard, I used to be barely disillusioned within the trackpad division. Certainly not is that this a foul trackpad: the press is pretty satisfying, and it is giant sufficient to carry out gestures on comfortably. That being stated, I’ve grown accustomed to haptic trackpads and the added flexibility they supply. This can be a somewhat small quibble general, and it is not one which overly took away from my expertise of utilizing the machine.

The Zenbook Duo additionally comes with a built-in kickstand, and a well-designed one at that. The hinge is premium, with sturdy resistance and a metallic outer casing. My one criticism is that I discovered the kickstand to be a bit on the abrasive aspect, which some further silicone padding would’ve handily solved.

The inclusion of this kickstand additionally permits for the machine to be propped up in a type of ‘guide’ mode, with each shows stacked horizontally. I discovered this orientation far much less helpful than the usual vertical positioning, and I did not make intensive use of the machine on this approach. I discovered that the dearth of backwards tilt made this mode uncomfortable to be used on a desk, and the unit is just too heavy to carry in my arms like I’d a paperback guide.

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Sadly, the corporate’s fancy Ceraluminum materials, which hybridizes aluminum and ceramic, is not featured on the Duo. Plastic might have been the proper name when it comes to weight administration, however I’d’ve most well-liked the trade-off for a extra premium in-hand really feel.

My one massive gripe on the subject of the usability of the Zenbook Duo is generally out of Asus’ arms. Home windows as an working system merely is not constructed with dual-screen kind elements in thoughts, and the Duo suffers consequently. As with different dual-screen Windows 11 PCs, there is a slight jankiness that generally crops up throughout use.

For instance, I generally struggled to seamlessly transfer software home windows from one show to a different seamlessly, and when eradicating the keyboard deck, Home windows generally would generally get confused and must reorient itself. These points are comparatively minor, however they do add up over time — this is hoping Microsoft improves its low-level help for twin display screen PCs in a future OS replace.

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Must you purchase the Asus Zenbook Duo?

For those who love being on the bleeding fringe of PC innovation, you then’ll love the Zenbook Duo’s forward-thinking kind issue

As is usually the case with experimental {hardware}, the Duo nonetheless has some tough edges that want ironing out. I’ve to think about that future generations of this manner issue will see even thinner and lighter chassis develop into the norm, which is an thrilling prospect. Nonetheless, even in its present kind, the Zenbook Duo is a enjoyable product to do work and eat content material on.

The vertically stacked pair of shows make for a great transportable workstation, with multitasking feeling like a no-compromise expertise. The OLED panels pop with colour, the keyboard is a pleasure to sort on, and the product’s built-in kickstand is sturdy and strong.

Most of my usability complaints relating to the Zenbook Duo have extra to do with Home windows 11 and the dearth of native assets from Microsoft on the dual-screen {hardware} entrance. Asus has achieved a wonderful sufficient job of working throughout the software program confines of Home windows, however Microsoft actually and actually must double down on supporting the shape issue at a deeper system stage.

On the finish of the day, the Zenbook Duo represents a small glimmer of what is to return within the PC area. The tried-and-true pocket book PC kind issue has remained stagnant for a number of years now, and so I very a lot welcome Asus’ product design innovation right here. I am a agency believer in the concept two screens are higher than one, and the Zenbook Duo is proof that the idea has legs.

This machine was offered to Pocket-lint by Intel.

Really helpful

Asus Zenbook Duo

The Asus Zenbook Duo is a Home windows 11 laptop computer with a twist — it is keyboard deck is detachable, revealing a second show. Along with a built-in kickstand, this PC capabilities as a twin display screen machine.