ASUS Zenbook DUO (2024) UX8406 ​​review: The Surface Neo we always wanted

In many ways, the Zenbook DUO is what Microsoft's unreleased Surface Neo can be, and it proves that dual-screen laptops aren't just a gimmick but a real innovation. what laptop design can have.

Specifications

1. Operating system:
2. CPU: Up to Intel Core 9-185H
3. GPU: Intel Arc Graphics
4. RAM: Up to 32GB LDDR5
5. Memory: Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
6. Battery: 75W/hour
7. Screen (Size, Resolution): Dual 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) 120Hz OLED touch screen, 16:10 aspect ratio, 0.2ms response time, 120Hz refresh rate, brightness 500 nits max,
8. Camera: FHD
9. Speaker: Harmon Kardon
10. Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (Up to 40 Gbps, supports PD, DP), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A, 1 x full-size HDMI 2.1, 1 x audio combo jack
11. Dimensions: 31.3 x 21.7 x 1.99cm (with keyboard)
12. Weight: Approx. 1.65kg (with keyboard)

The design breaks the traditional laptop design mold

The biggest highlight of the Zenbook DUO is its dual-screen setup, but when you open the device for the first time, you'll be greeted with a very normal laptop setup with a single 14-inch display, keyboard and trackpad. full size . However, after removing the keyboard and standing the base up, you'll see an identical second screen below. This design effectively doubles the real estate of your screen and allows you to reference one screen while working on another.

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On the surface, this dual-screen design is a repeat of the previous Zenbook DUO, which had a smaller screen on the top of the laptop and pushed the keyboard closer to the bottom with the trackpad placed to the side. ASUS also has the Zenbook Fold, a continuous foldable screen that covers the entire laptop body, along with a detachable keyboard and mouse cluster. With this new Zenbook DUO, the design is said to be better than the previous version.

First, the inclusion of a detachable full-size keyboard and integrated kickstand adds to the laptop's ergonomic comfort, especially since you can use the keyboard and trackpad as a normal laptop compared to the previous Zenbook DUO. Additionally, the new Zenbook DUO's two separate glass-covered panels mean it doesn't have any additional folding components, significantly increasing durability and reliability compared to the Zenbook Fold.

The kickstand is perhaps the most loved aspect of this design, due to what it means for ergonomics. Removing the keyboard and placing the laptop on the main screen at eye level is a game changer; During long work sessions behind a screen, you'll feel less stressed over time. It's a very subtle thing that ensures a more comfortable computing experience.

Practically speaking, you may be wondering if there are any drawbacks to having this model, especially when traveling, but honestly, there's not much to worry about. This laptop is a bit thicker than others, measuring 1.46cm without the keyboard and about 2cm with the keyboard, but in terms of weight, the Zenbook DUO only weighs about 1.65kg, on par with other devices of the same type.

Screen: Two is better than one

Becoming the highlight of the show, Zenbook DUO is equipped with two ASUS Lumina OLED screens, certified with Dolby Vision and Pantone Validated, and offers a cinema-standard 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. Both displays have a resolution of 2880 x 1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, ensuring sharp images and smooth movement. These displays not only offer vivid colors but also come with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, making them great for viewing content.

The choice of identical panels for both screens is one of the biggest plus points of this laptop; There's no difference in quality, so you can treat both displays equally if you rely on them for color accuracy. So what exactly can you do with this dual monitor setup? The answer to that question is literally whatever you want it to be. When you remove the keyboard, the laptop automatically turns on the secondary display and Windows treats it as a secondary display so you can extend it, duplicate it, or just turn it off if you just want to use the main display with the stand.

You can also orient the device on its side to have two vertical screens side by side, but using a stand is recommended for more stability.

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You can do everything with this dual screen by plugging your laptop into an external monitor or setting up a dual screen for your desktop. However, because it's built-in, the portability aspect of this setup is great. ASUS has included a number of features to take advantage of dual screens, such as a sharing option where you can flip one of the screens so the other person can see what you're seeing. .

Overall, the display quality, practicality and versatility of the Zenbook DUO in laptop form are unmatched by any of its competitors.

Ports, keyboard, trackpad

Zenbook DUO has no shortage of connectivity options. It offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports, standard HDMI 2.1, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, and a combo audio jack; This means you're getting the right balance between both modern and legacy peripherals.

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The keyboard and trackpad experience is fantastic. Zenbook DUO is equipped with a full-sized detachable ASUS ErgoSense keyboard that provides a typing experience like any other ASUS laptop. With 1.4mm of key travel and backlighting, the keyboard feels like any other Zenbook. Compared to competing laptops like Apple's MacBooks or Microsoft's Surfaces, the keys may be less responsive. However, overall it's a great typing experience.

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New to the keyboard layout is the inclusion of a Windows Copilot key, which allows you to summon Windows' built-in Copilot on any screen. Included with the keyboard is an excellent trackpad. Compared to the cramped layout and awkward position of the previous Zenbook DUO trackpad, this trackpad feels much better to use.

This detachable part connects to the laptop via pogo pins and magnets. When attached to a laptop, the device has a very traditional feel, and when you want to remove it, the device relies on Bluetooth to automatically pair with the laptop. You may notice some trackpad and keyboard input lag when you start using the laptop immediately after removing it. However, during normal use, latency is very low and negligible.

Hardware performance: Power meets expectations

Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processor, up to 32GB of onboard LPDDR5 memory, and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, the Zenbook DUO is truly a powerhouse. Integrating Intel Meteor Lake processors with NPUs ensures low-latency AI computing, but the main immediate benefit you'll notice is the chip's efficiency, which is quite important for panel laptops. Dual 3K 120Hz background.

The test device is top-spec with a Core Ultra 9-185H and 32GB of RAM, and it performs quite well, although there may be some limiting factors in powering two high-resolution displays. High resolution, high refresh rate.

On Geekbench 6, the laptop scored 2,294 points on single core and 10,231 points on multi-core. On PCMark10, the laptop scored an average of 6,296, with individual scores for Essentials at 10,127, Productivity at 8,424, and Digital Content Creation at 7,940.

For Geekbench, the Zenbook DUO scored slightly lower in the multi-core section than the Ultra 7-155H Zenbook 14 OLED, scoring 11,121 points. This slightly lower score is likely due to the fact that the device is more power efficient than a regular laptop because in addition to keeping the chipset cool, it also needs to account for the second screen.

In daily use, the performance of the Zenbook DUO is quite good. However, it's worth noting that you can still hear fan noise, even while browsing the web. However, thanks to the stand, you can reduce some of the heat load of the chassis.

Another benefit of this design is that you don't feel the typical warmth under the desk when doing heavy work, because when you remove the keyboard, no heat is transferred at all, which is great.

Battery life: Not necessarily enough to last all day

Zenbook DUO is equipped with a 75 watt/hour battery and supports fast charging, charging up to 50% in just 30 minutes. The laptop is rated for about 10 hours of battery life, but depending on your usage, especially with the secondary screen, you'll likely get a little less than that.

Without the secondary screen, you'll be able to extend this battery life to another hour or two, but if you want the full benefit of having this type of laptop and plan to use it outside, you'll Need to bring charger with you.

Should I buy ASUS Zenbook Duo?

ASUS Zenbook DUO proves that laptop form factor is no longer a dead end for design innovation.

If you're looking for a laptop that breaks the mold and offers a truly innovative dual-screen experience, the ASUS Zenbook DUO is an attractive choice. Its unique design, powerful hardware, and long battery life make it a great choice for multitaskers, content creators, and anyone who wants to increase their productivity.

David Pac

Update 26 February 2024