ASUS Zenbook DUO Review: is this the greatest EVO laptop ever?

The ASUS ZenBook Duo is probably the most creative laptop from this Taiwan-based electronics giant, shattering all our conventional notions about how a traditional laptop should function.

This device has the potential to revolutionize computing with its innovative dual-screen design and detachable keyboard. Let’s examine all of the components of this intriguing device in this review to see if it lives up to the hype.

This device was originally reviewed by Florence George, and this article is based on his evaluation. Here is a video review of the laptop:

Design and build

The Zenbook DUO immediately catches the eye with its sleek, all-metal chassis. When closed, it resembles a standard thin-and-light laptop, but opening it reveals its true nature. The device features a built-in kickstand that, when deployed, transforms the laptop into a dual-screen powerhouse.

ASUS has clearly put considerable thought into the build quality. The metal construction feels robust and premium, with no noticeable flex in the body or lid. The main screen’s hinge mechanism and the keyboard’s magnetic attachment feel sturdy and well-engineered. 

One of the most striking design elements is the seamless integration of two full-sized screens. This setup provides an expansive workspace that’s sure to boost productivity for many users. The ability to detach the keyboard and position it freely adds another layer of versatility to the device, allowing users to create their ideal setup whether they’re at a desk or working on the go.

The laptop’s overall aesthetic is minimalist and modern, with clean lines and a professional appearance. It’s a device that would look equally at home in a boardroom or a creative studio.  In our opinion the build quality is top-notch, rivaling that of other premium laptops in the market.

Display

The Zenbook DUO boasts two 14-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio, Full HD+ OLED displays. Both screens support Dolby Vision HDR and boast a claimed peak brightness of 500 nits. The use of OLED technology results in deep blacks, vibrant colours, and excellent contrast ratios, creating a visual experience that’s hard to match with traditional LCD screens.

Both screens also offer full DCI-P3 sRGB coverage—suitable for all critical colour work in photography or video editing. The Corning Gorilla Glass-protected screens add a wee bit of durability to the device, providing that extra level of protection against scratches and minor impacts.

However, these displays come with a refresh rate of 60Hz and might not appeal to game enthusiasts seeking ultra-smooth motion. But for productivity and content consumption, they should fare quite well. This device is uniquely helpful for multitasking and creative workflows.

A user can move around from one application or window to another without any hassle, keep their reference material open on one display while working on another, or even extend the application across both displays for a very large view.

The quality of these displays cannot be overstated. Colours pop with vivid intensity, blacks are truly black, and the overall image quality is stunning. Whether you’re editing photos, watching movies, or just browsing the web, the visual experience on the Zenbook DUO is top-tier.

Keyboard and trackpad

The Zenbook DUO’s keyboard is one of its most innovative features. It’s a detachable unit that can be magnetically attached between the two screens or used wirelessly. This flexibility allows users to find their most comfortable typing position, whether working on a desk or on the go.

The keyboard itself offers a pleasant typing experience with good key travel and tactile feedback. The keys are well-spaced and have a satisfying click, making long typing sessions comfortable. It also features backlighting, which is particularly useful when using it as a separate wireless unit or in low-light conditions.

The inclusion of a full-sized trackpad on the detachable keyboard is a significant improvement over some competing dual-screen designs. The trackpad is responsive and supports multi-touch gestures, providing a smooth navigation experience. Its glass surface allows for easy finger gliding and precise cursor control.

When not in use, the keyboard can attach magnetically to the lower screen, converting it into a more traditional laptop form factor. It’s flexibility is likely to be one of the Zenbook DUO’s strongest selling points — to flex and change according to different use cases and working environments.

The ability to use the keyboard wirelessly is another notable feature. It connects via Bluetooth and has its own battery, allowing you to type from a distance if needed. This could be particularly useful for presentations or when using the Zenbook DUO as a portable workstation.

Ports and connectivity

Despite its slim profile, the Zenbook DUO offers a reasonable selection of ports. On the left side, you’ll find two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, capable of data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps. These ports also support power delivery and display output, allowing you to connect external monitors or charge the laptop. There’s also a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port for legacy devices, which is a thoughtful inclusion given many laptops are moving entirely to USB-C.

The right side houses an HDMI 2.1 port, providing another option for connecting external displays, and a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones or external speakers. While this selection will be sufficient for many users, we think some users may miss having an SD card reader or an additional USB-A port.

Wireless connectivity is well-covered with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, ensuring fast and stable connections to networks and peripherals. For the uninitiated, Wi-Fi 6E support allows access to the less congested 6GHz band, potentially providing faster and more reliable wireless connections in supported environments.

Webcam and Audio

The Zenbook DUO features a 2.1MP Full HD webcam, which produces decent quality video for video conferencing. While it may not rival external webcams in terms of quality, it’s a significant step up from many built-in laptop cameras. The image is clear and well-exposed, even in challenging lighting conditions.

The webcam also includes AI-enhanced features like auto-framing, background effects, and an eye contact effect for more engaging video calls. These features work well and can help you maintain a professional appearance in virtual meetings.

Audio performance is noteworthy, with Dolby Atmos-compatible speakers delivering clear and rich sound. The speakers get surprisingly loud for a laptop of this size, and there’s even a hint of bass response. While they won’t replace a good pair of headphones or external speakers for serious music listening or movie watching, they’re more than adequate for video calls, YouTube videos, and casual media consumption.

The MyASUS software allows for further audio customisation, including preset sound profiles for different scenarios like music, movies, or voice. This level of control is appreciated and allows users to optimise the audio output for their current task.

Software and special features

The Zenbook DUO comes with Windows 11 pre-installed, along with some ASUS-specific software to manage its unique hardware. The MyASUS application allows users to control various aspects of the laptop, including fan profiles and audio settings.

It’s a well-designed piece of software that doesn’t feel like bloatware, instead offering genuine utility for customising your experience with the device.

One of the standout software features is Screen Xpert, accessible via a translucent icon on the lower left of the main screen. This utility allows individual brightness control for each display, can transform the lower screen into a virtual keyboard or trackpad, and enables screen sharing between two users. These features really showcase the versatility of the dual-screen setup and allow users to tailor the device to their specific needs.

The laptop also supports Windows Hello facial recognition via its IR-equipped webcam, providing quick and secure logins without the need for a separate fingerprint reader. This feature works well, recognising users quickly and accurately.

ASUS has also included software to enhance the webcam experience, including AI-powered features like background blur and eye contact correction. These can be particularly useful for video conferencing and online meetings.

Performance 

The Zenbook DUO is available in several configurations, with our review unit featuring top-tier specs. It’s powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, boasting 16 cores and 22 threads. This is paired with 32GB of high-speed DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

In benchmark tests, the Zenbook DUO performs admirably, with scores placing it between the 13th gen Intel Core i7-13620H and i7-13700HX in terms of raw performance. This translates to excellent real-world performance for tasks like video editing, photo manipulation, and general productivity work.

The integrated Intel Arc graphics, while not suitable for high-end gaming, can handle less demanding titles and creative applications well. In our tests, GTA 5 ran at an average of 89 FPS at high settings, while Valorant achieved 249 FPS at low settings, both at the native 1200p resolution. While it’s not marketed as a gaming laptop, it’s capable of handling casual gaming sessions without breaking a sweat.

For content creators, the Zenbook DUO can easily handle 4K video editing in applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, including features like warp stabilization and multi-layer compositions. Photoshop performance is similarly smooth, making this an excellent choice for creative professionals who need power on the go.

The 32GB of DDR5 RAM on our review unit lets things glide for demanding applications and multitasking. You can easily run a few windows of a browser with multiple tabs open, a video editor, and a few productivity apps active without showing the slightest sluggishness.

The 1TB NVMe SSD not only helps in storage but also toward a responsive system. Booting up is fast, and applications start almost instantaneously.

Thermal management is another area where the Zenbook DUO performs well. During intensive tasks like gaming, the CPU temperature remained below 80°C in a room temperature of 26°C. Even in warmer environments, the temperature rarely exceeded 85-86°C under heavy load. This suggests that ASUS has implemented an effective cooling solution, balancing performance and thermal management.

The laptop’s fan noise is noticeable under heavy load but not overly intrusive. In day-to-day tasks, the Zenbook DUO remains quiet and cool, making it comfortable to use for extended periods.

Battery 

ASUS has equipped the Zenbook DUO with a substantial 75Wh battery. In our testing, with both screens active at 80% brightness, the laptop lasted for just over 8 hours in a PCMark 10 video playback benchmark. This is an impressive result considering the power draw of two OLED displays.

Real-world battery life will vary depending on your usage patterns and screen brightness settings. With more intensive tasks or higher brightness levels, you can expect the battery life to decrease. However, for a device with two screens, the Zenbook DUO’s battery performance is commendable.

Verdict

The ASUS Zenbook DUO is a bold and innovative take on the modern laptop. Its dual-screen design, detachable keyboard, and powerful internals make it a versatile tool for a wide range of users, particularly creatives and multitaskers. The device’s strengths lie in its excellent display quality, innovative design, strong performance, and the flexibility offered by its unique form factor. 

The build quality is excellent, with premium materials and thoughtful design touches throughout. The keyboard and trackpad offer a great user experience, and the flexibility to detach and reposition the keyboard is a standout feature.

Performance-wise, the Zenbook DUO doesn’t disappoint. It handles demanding tasks with ease, making it suitable for content creation, programming, and even light gaming. The battery life is impressive considering the dual-screen setup, and thermal management is well-implemented.

However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The lack of a dedicated GPU may disappoint some power users, and the price point puts it firmly in the premium category. Additionally, while the port selection is decent, some users might wish for more connectivity options, particularly an SD card reader.

The software features, particularly Screen Xpert, add genuine value to the dual-screen experience. ASUS has clearly put thought into how users might want to utilize the two displays and has provided tools to facilitate this.

Despite these minor quibbles, the Zenbook DUO succeeds in delivering a unique and powerful computing experience. For those who can fully utilise its capabilities and are willing to invest in cutting-edge technology, it represents an exciting glimpse into the future of computing.

Whether the Zenbook DUO is right for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. For creative professionals, multitaskers, and tech enthusiasts who value screen real estate and flexibility, it could be a game-changing device. However, for users with more traditional computing needs, the slightly premium price could be hard to justify.

Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10

Pros

• Sturdy all-metallic chassis
• Magnetic keyboard and trackpad
• Impressive raw performance
• Good thermal management

Cons

• Port selection could be better
• 60Hz display