Zenbook duo software#
Zenbook duo plus#

More important than games, though, is the ZenBook Duo's raw computing power. NVIDIA's MX450 should offer more GPU power, but I haven't been able to test that yet. I didn't have a chance to do much gaming on the Duo, but that score alone makes it clear it'll be able to play a low-impact title like Overwatch. Intel's Xe graphics also proved worthy, scoring nearly 4,000 points higher than last year’s model in 3DMark Night Raid. But I was still able to run dozens of browser tabs, Evernote, Slack, Spotify and YouTube across both screens without any trouble.ĪSUS ZenBook Duo (2021, Core i7-1165G7, Intel Xe)ĪSUS ZenBook Duo (Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250)ĭell XPS 13 (2020, Core i7-1065G7, Iris Plus)ĪSUS ZenBook 13 (2020, Core i7-1065G7, Iris Plus) To be honest, I'd really only recommend the Duo with 16GB of RAM to really maximize your multitasking potential.

Our review unit featured an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU with only 8GB of RAM, but it still felt snappy as I juggled multiple apps at once. The Duo is also Intel Evo certified, which is marketing speak for a powerful ultraportable with long battery life.ĭespite seeming like a quick branding opportunity, the Zenbook Duo lived up to that Evo badge in my testing. The most notable upgrades are inside the ZenBook Duo: It now includes Intel's 11th-generation Tiger Lake processors more powerful Intel Xe integrated graphics an optional NVIDIA MX450 GPU and up to 32GB of RAM. There’s also a better selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports (the last model had USB-C but no Thunderbolt) one USB 3.1 Type-A a full-sized HDMI connection a microSD card reader and the usual headphone jack. And given the potential for productivity with a second screen, I could easily live with something that's a bit heftier.īeyond the revamped ScreenPad Plus, the ZenBook Duo looks almost the same as last year, with ASUS's standard magnesium alloy frame and sharp lines. It's obviously more hefty than standard ultraportables like the XPS 13, which measures 14.7mm thick and weighs 2.8 pounds, but the Duo still feels a bit more compact than last year. That change also led to it being 3mm thinner at 16.9mm.

Zenbook duo plus#

Thanks to the more compact ScreenPad Plus hinge, ASUS says the Duo is 50 grams lighter than last year's model, clocking in at 3.53 pounds. Those let you quickly push an app to the other display, or maximize them across both screens. You can turn on gestures that let you flick apps across the screens as well, though I found those to be a bit more frustrating than using the shortcuts that pop up as you're dragging windows.

Zenbook duo software#

Its interface is also much zippier - now it feels more like interacting with a modern smartphone instead of an aging touchscreen laptop.ĪSUS has also optimized its dual-screen software quite a bit: There's a new App Explorer shortcut that shows you everything running on your system, and allows you to quickly swap programs between screens. The new ScreenPad Plus is brighter, so it's more useful outdoors. And in my experience, it makes all the difference. This isn't the first time ASUS has used a rising secondary screen - we also saw it in the gorgeous ROG Zephyrus Duo - but now it's available on a much cheaper notebook. The slight lift also makes the ScreenPad plus look more like it’s a seamless continuation of the top screen.

That makes it easier to see and use, since you don't have to lean as much. Let's get right to what makes the ZenBook Duo special: Its new 12.6-inch ScreenPad Plus still sits directly below a 14-inch main display, but now the second display lifts up slightly as you open it. Finally, there’s a dual-screen machine you may actually want to buy. While it's still not a total home run, the ZenBook Duo is far more compelling than last year - it even won a Best of CES award from us. Plus, the $999 starting price means you won't have to pay an absurd premium.

This year, it revamped the ultraportable ZenBook Duo with a rising second screen, more power and vastly improved software for working across two displays. ASUS isn't giving up on dual-screen PCs anytime soon.