ASUS Zenbook Duo Review: Where Two Screens Are Better Than One

The Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) is an impressive dual-screen laptop that excels in its unique functionality. The standout feature of this laptop is its dual-screen configuration, with two 14.0-inch, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED touchscreens side-by-side. The dual screens work incredibly well, allowing for seamless multitasking and increased productivity.

In terms of design, the Zenbook Duo has a sleek and minimalist look. The gray aluminum deck gives it a premium feel, and the lid features diagonal lines and a small Asus Zenbook logo. One interesting design element is the second screen, which is hidden beneath the deck. By lifting up the detachable keyboard, the second screen is revealed.

Weighing around 1.65 kg, it isn’t the lightest machine on the market, but it includes many accessories in one package, reducing the need to carry additional gear and making the weight more acceptable.

The performance of the Zenbook Duo is phenomenal. Our review unit is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, integrated Intel Arc graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It offers blazing-fast processing speeds and can handle demanding tasks with ease. While the RAM isn’t upgradeable, the 32GB provided should be sufficient for most users. However, the storage is upgradeable.

The keyboard is a highlight, as it can be easily snapped onto the screen and charged via pogo pins. It also has a Type-C charging port for external charging. Impressively, you can still close the lid with the keyboard attached, unlike the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. The keyboard is clicky and responsive, providing a satisfying typing experience. It isn’t RGB backlit, but the white LED backlighting is comfortable on the eyes, even at maximum brightness.

A significant difference between the Zenbook Duo and the Yoga Book 9i is that the Zenbook Duo manages to integrate everything into one device. The keyboard can be kept inside the body, and there’s also a stand underneath the laptop for dual-screen mode.

Despite the impressive dual screens and performance, there are a few downsides to the Zenbook Duo. The audio quality is unbalanced, lacking clarity and depth, and it gets distorted easily once it exceeds 50% volume. The display, while vibrant and bright, falls short in colour accuracy, requiring adjustments in the settings to achieve more accurate tones.

In terms of gaming performance, playing CS2 on it wasn’t very good, but tweaking all settings to the lowest or playing lighter games makes it playable. However, the laptop's strength lies in productivity, with multitasking on this device being incredibly enjoyable. Using two screens with such a compact setup is a game-changer.

Benchmark (Geekbench6):

Single-core score: 2288

Multi-core score: 12740

OpenGL score: 30359

The Zenbook Duo offers a decent selection of ports and connectivity options, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This should suffice for most users' needs.

In addition to the laptop and keyboard, you get a laptop sleeve, a backpack, and a pen for note-taking and sketching, essentially everything you need to get different tasks done.

Battery life on the Zenbook Duo is solid, lasting up to around 10 hours on a single charge. This is impressive considering the dual-screen setup and powerful performance. Additionally, the laptop supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly replenish the battery when needed.

Priced starting at S$2999, the Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) is a great dual-screen laptop that offers incredible multitasking capabilities and impressive performance. While the audio and display have room for improvement, the overall functionality and value of this laptop make it a solid choice for those who prioritize productivity and versatility.