Laptops are devices where it is difficult to introduce revolutions. Users have become accustomed to a specific design and method of operation, but that does not mean that manufacturers should rest on their laurels and not try. This year’s Asus Zenbook Duo offers two screens – how can they be used?
Tablets have tried many different approaches and forms to replace laptops, all designed to provide additional capabilities and versatility that traditional laptops lack. While there are scenarios where a tablet can indeed outperform a laptop, few have been willing to abandon the traditional form factor for anything else. What if you tried to redefine the laptop, rather than replace it?
ASUS Zenbook Duo – review
The Asus ZenBook Duo is a computer that may not reveal its greatest advantages at first glance. You will certainly notice that it has a slightly thicker casing, but that’s really all. Only after opening the lid will you see that you will be dealing with something completely different than before. The presence of a second display, exactly where the keyboard and touchpad have always been, is initially intimidating. There are hints and a short tutorial so that you can learn the gestures that allow you to invoke the keyboard and switch between modes, but from the first moment of this meeting it is simply tempting to try new things. How will the applications be displayed, will the on-screen keyboard work, can I place the laptop in a different position? What can I really use such a set for? I slowly tried to find answers to these questions.
The presence of a second screen significantly increases the space at our disposal. The Bluetooth keyboard that comes with the set does not have to cover the lower display, because it can also be used in another place. If we need an additional screen in horizontal orientation, e.g. for taking notes or sketching, we can do that without any hesitation, and we can place the keyboard somewhere else. If we prefer to use both screens, e.g. for working on documents, conducting video calls, and so on, an additional stand comes into play, which allows us to slightly raise the entire structure and then the screens are one above the other. The keyboard with touchpad can still be used, as if nothing had changed, but everything has.
We know very well how often and how many people now work remotely. It is not only a home office, but also (and for some mainly) work in various places, such as cafes, trains, planes, rented spaces, etc. Sometimes you can use additional accessories, but usually we are dependent on what we have with us. And many tasks and responsibilities require a larger workspace, for example to be able to simultaneously video chat with another person and have a second screen available for displaying presentations, tables, documents, graphics and other necessary things. There are a lot of applications for the dual-screen mode in this laptop, everyone will find something for themselves, as long as we have enough space on the counter to be able to set up such a set. Interestingly, this laptop can do even more.
ASUS Zenbook Duo – laptop with two screens
Thanks to the dedicated stand, we can easily change the orientation of both screens to vertical, so they will be right next to each other. However, because this is primarily a laptop, it is impossible to place them in exactly the same plane, so one of the screens will be slightly further back. Does it bother you? To tell the truth, no, but we will pay attention to something completely different. There are two frames between the displays, and quite wide ones at that, so it is not possible to comfortably use both displays as one screen. If you need two vertical screens next to each other, and I sometimes have such situations, the Asus ZenBook Duo rose to the challenge.
OLED, 3K and 120 Hz screens – what more could you want?
The positive impressions of this computer are not only due to its unusual design. Both screens are 14-inch OLED panels with 3K resolution and 120 Hz refresh with a 16:10 aspect ratio, maximum brightness is 400 nits and 500 nits in HDR mode. I have really high requirements when it comes to image quality and the Asus laptop made me absolutely delighted with the conditions offered by this model. Extremely high resolution, fantastic color saturation and deep black mean that regardless of whether you work only with text, or also with photos, videos or other multimedia, everything will look simply great. There is a certain drawback to this solution, but we will get to it soon.
The performance or specification of the computer should not stand in the way of your goals. The Asus ZenBook Duo is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor (Intel Evo system) paired with 32 GB of LPDDR5x memory. Inside, there is a 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and all accessories and external devices will be connected using two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1 and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The keys, on the other hand, have a 1.4 mm travel and I was totally surprised by how comfortable and pleasant it is to type on the keyboard from the set. I can write a little less optimistically about the touchpad, which has a characteristic (irritating) click, but its accuracy and support for multitouch gestures are impeccable. The keyboard is magnetically connected to the laptop, and on the left side there is a switch that allows you to save energy when you are not using it. The keyboard is charged using USB-C connectors located right next to the aforementioned switch.
Portable Desktop? ASUS Zenbook Duo
Can the on-screen keyboard, which we activate with a gesture, at least partially replace the physical one? In my opinion, you won’t spend more than a few minutes with it, because entering even a short message in a chat or in the body of an email will be quite difficult. It requires constant looking at the screen (I don’t think it’s possible to acquire the skill to be able to type even partially without looking), so the only positive aspect is the touchpad, which I found pleasant to use. The lack of a physical click and the seamless support of all gestures are enough to make it useful. The 75 Wh battery will provide about hours of work with two active screens, but it all depends on the activities you will be doing – working with video or graphics can take up to 2 hours of your time without charging.
I hope this is just the beginning of this adventure
Although the photos may not show it, once the lid is closed and the entire set is folded, the Asus ZenBook Duo will remind you of its size. Due to the presence of the second screen and the added keyboard, the thickness of the case is even twice as thick as a classic laptop. The whole thing also weighs noticeably more: 1.64 kg is quite a lot, so I wonder if, in your opinion, the daily transport of such a wonder in a backpack would be justified by the additional possibilities. I am closer to the answer that is “yes”, but I would not always feel like taking a computer with me, packing it into a backpack would probably mean giving up a tablet or portable console.
I am impressed by how many well-thought-out solutions Asus has implemented in this product, but I can’t help but feel that such initiatives still require some time and work before we can consider them a device ready for mass users. It is necessary to slightly slim down the computer, reduce the frames and weight, but I have a feeling that such prototypes are already being tested and it is only a matter of time before they end up in our hands as final products. The question is whether the price will be lowered, because such a copy will now cost PLN 9,999.
The definition of a laptop may change soon, will you be interested in them in this form?
