Review: Asus Zenbook Duo (2024)
Versatile dual-screen device
The concept of dual-screen laptops has been a recurring theme in the tech industry, with varying degrees of success. Asus is the latest to take a swing at this innovative, yet challenging, form factor with the Zenbook Duo (model UX8406MA-PS99T).
At first glance, the Zenbook Duo appears as a standard 14-inch laptop, adorned with Asus' distinctive, if somewhat playful, design aesthetic. However, this seemingly ordinary device hides a surprising secret. Beneath the traditional keyboard and touchpad lies a second, full-sized touchscreen, accessible by simply lifting and detaching the magnetically attached keyboard. This unique configuration opens up exciting possibilities for multitasking and productivity.
Asus has pushed the boundaries of laptop design with the Zenbook Duo, featuring two full-sized 14-inch displays. This surpasses previous dual-screen models, which typically offered smaller secondary screens. Both screens boast impressive 2880x1800 resolution, ensuring sharp, detailed visuals. Unlike its predecessor, the Zenbook 17 Fold, the Duo offers separate displays, eliminating the challenges associated with a folding screen.
The Zenbook Duo's versatility is a standout feature. It can be transformed into various configurations to suit different tasks and environments. From a traditional laptop setup to a presentation mode, the device adapts seamlessly. Asus has clearly focused on user experience, ensuring that the dual-screen concept is both practical and enjoyable.
Asus has redefined the laptop experience with the Zenbook Duo, a groundbreaking device featuring two 14-inch displays. This innovative design offers unparalleled flexibility and productivity, surpassing previous attempts at dual-screen laptops.
Powered by robust hardware, including an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, the Zenbook Duo delivers impressive performance across various applications. While the device's battery life could be improved, its overall capabilities make it a compelling option for users seeking a multi-screen workspace.
Despite some minor software quirks, the Zenbook Duo represents a significant step forward in laptop technology. Its potential for transforming workflows is undeniable, and it serves as a testament to Asus' commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Unmatched Keyboard Experience on a Dual-Screen Laptop
The Asus ZenBook Duo boasts a significant advantage over its competitor, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, in terms of keyboard design. The ZenBook Duo's keyboard incorporates a built-in wrist rest, enhancing user comfort and ergonomics. In contrast, the Yoga Book 9i's half-height keyboard lacks this essential feature, potentially leading to discomfort during extended use. Furthermore, the ZenBook Duo includes a dedicated touchpad within the keyboard, providing a more traditional and intuitive input method compared to the Yoga Book 9i's alternative solutions.
Uncompromising Performance with the ZenBook Duo
Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 16GB of RAM, the ZenBook Duo demonstrated impressive performance in daily tasks. Handling multiple demanding applications simultaneously, including web browsing, communication, and productivity tools, the device exhibited minimal lag.
Benchmark tests further solidified the ZenBook Duo's capabilities. While the device outperformed the Dell XPS 15 in CPU-intensive tasks, the XPS 15's dedicated GPU provided a clear advantage in graphics-heavy workloads. These results align with expectations, as the ZenBook Duo prioritizes versatility over raw graphics power.
Processor
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 14th Gen Intel Core Ultra 7
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): 13th Gen Intel Core i7
Graphics
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): Nvidia RTX 4070
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): Intel Arc graphics
Memory
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 16GB
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): 32GB
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 2,274
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): 1,988
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 12,748
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): 9,528
Geekbench 6 Compute (OpenCL)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 31,545
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): 86,786
PCMark 10 (Extended)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 6,252
- Dell XPS 15 (2023): 7,806
The ZenBook Duo's performance was assessed against similar, albeit older, competitors. While it fell slightly short of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i in single-core performance, as measured by Geekbench 5, it demonstrated superior graphics capabilities, outperforming both the Yoga Book 9i and the Apple MacBook Air on the Geekbench 5 Compute test.
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 1,645
- Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: 1,700
- Apple MacBook Air M2 15-Inch: 1,929
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 9,582
- Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: 7,625
- Apple MacBook Air M2 15-Inch: 8,972
Geekbench 5 Compute (OpenCL)
- Asus ZenBook Duo (2024): 29,165
- Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: 18,492
- Apple MacBook Air M2 15-Inch: 27,794
Impressive battery life for a dual-display setup
While the ZenBook Duo delivers impressive battery life for a device with two screens, its performance varies depending on screen configuration. When operating on a single display, the laptop achieved a commendable 10 hours and 36 minutes in our video playback test. However, utilizing both screens significantly reduced battery life to just over six hours. This disparity is partly attributed to the lower power consumption of the ZenBook Duo's 1920x1200 panels compared to the higher-resolution options available. It's essential to consider this factor when choosing a configuration, as battery life may be impacted by screen resolution.
Design
At first glance, the Zenbook Duo (2024) appears as an ordinary 14-inch laptop, with a thickness reminiscent of a gaming device rather than a sleek Ultrabook. However, its true innovation lies hidden beneath the surface. The seamless integration of the keyboard conceals a second screen, making it a surprisingly versatile device.
The Zenbook Duo truly shines when the keyboard is detached, revealing the hidden screen and dramatically expanding the workspace. This configuration offers endless possibilities, from using the lower screen as a digital canvas or input device to creating a truly immersive multitasking environment.
Instead of using a separate stand that needs to be transported separately from the laptop, the Zenbook Duo features an integrated fold-out panel at its bottom. When closed, this panel is fairly unobtrusive, and the large rubber feet on the laptop ensure stability without causing any wobbling. Although it would be ideal to have the stand more seamlessly embedded into the laptop's bottom panel in future models, this integrated solution is still preferable to a completely separate stand.
