Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review
Our Verdict
The Asus ZenBook Duo fourteen is a pretty skillful laptop that sacrifices ergonomics for a big second screen.
For
- Useful ScreenPad Plus display
- Snappy overall functioning
- Solid battery life
- Accurate principal display
Against
- Ergonomically difficult
- Brandish could be brighter
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Asus ZenBook Duo xiv is a pretty good laptop that sacrifices ergonomics for a big 2nd screen.
Pros
- +
Useful ScreenPad Plus display
- +
Snappy overall performance
- +
Solid battery life
- +
Accurate main display
Cons
- -
Ergonomically hard
- -
Display could be brighter
Asus Zenbook Duo 14: Specs
Price: $999 (starting), $i,299 (tested)
CPU: 11th Gen Intel Cadre i5, i7
Brandish: thirteen.4‑inch, 1920 ten 1080 pixels
Battery: 10:37 | xiv:xi (ScreenPad Plus off)
Memory: 8GB to 32GB
Storage: 512GB to 1TB
Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.7 x 0.seven inches
Weight: iii.5 pounds
Just as rumors say Apple volition kill the Impact Bar, the Asus Zenbook Duo 14 (UX482) continues to innovate the second-screen experience and evidence what could have been. Yes, instead of the sliver of an OLED touchscreen that Apple provides, Asus' Duo laptops continue to give you a huge slab of a second screen.
And Asus is definitely onto something: its ScreenPad Plus gives you space to put the apps you're not using at the moment (but want to see in a moment's notice). In other words: if you're short on screen infinite, but don't want a big secondary monitor, the ScreenPad Plus may be the solution you didn't know you needed. And information technology's the kind of innovation that earns it a spot on our best laptops list. In fact, it's so skilful that it won a recommendation for best laptop breakthrough in our Tom's Guide Awards 2021.
And this yr'due south model has notable improvements. For starters, the ScreenPad raises upward to be closer to the principal screen, to effort and get some continuity. And now it's got a Control Center utility to aid you manage this actress screen, a welcome add-on.
But while the ScreenPad Plus takes away the wrist-residue space, this is withal a mighty fine laptop — indeed, it's one of the best Windows laptops on the market right now. Its operation and endurance stands toe to toe with the best PC laptop effectually, making it 1 of the best laptops for engineering students, and while its screen may not exist the brightest, information technology's all the same a neat window to your content. So, for everyone curious nearly the ScreenPad Plus and how it might change their game upward, this Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review should answer all of your questions.
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Price and availability
We tested the ZenBook Duo xiv with a Core i7-1165G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe SSD. Information technology'southward available at B&H Photo and Asus.com. The entry-level $999 ZenBook Duo xiv (which Asus says is "coming presently") has a Core i5-1135G7 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
The ZenBook Duo fourteen (UX482) had a release date January 14, 2021.
Asus ZenBook Duo fourteen review: Blueprint
On the outside, the ZenBook Duo 14 looks classy. Asus gave the laptop a Celestial Blueish hue, with a concentric circles pattern etched on tiptop, along with the glossy silver Asus logo.
Open information technology up, and your encephalon may break in defoliation, equally happened when I showed it to my parents. Its 14-inch 1080p panel has a whole 2nd screen underneath information technology: which Asus calls the ScreenPad Plus. Information technology's just as wide as the master screen, but it's measuring 12.six inches considering it'south non as alpine.
Every bit you open the ZenBook Duo xiv's lid, hinges inside the ScreenPad Plus heighten it by 7 degrees. It's a overnice touch that allows the top of the smaller screen to get closer to the lesser of the second screen. Those 7 degrees don't go far expect similar one giant continuous panel, merely it'south a helpful change to make the ScreenPad Plus easier to see. Information technology also increases heat apportionment.
The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 continues to redefine what a laptop is and what information technology looks similar, for the better.
The ZenBook Duo 14 is a novel and neat design that Asus is continuing to improve, only this is one of the to the lowest degree lap-friendly laptops I've ever used. Past taking abroad the wrist-rest space, which is removed because of the ScreenPad Plus, your palms autumn off the forepart of the keyboard when information technology's fourth dimension to type.
On a desk, this is less of a problem -- do y'all have a wrist balance pad around? I constitute the Logitech MX Keys' rest to exist suitable. But when you put the ZenBook Duo fourteen in your lap, your forearms have basically niggling room to move, as they're sitting tight between your breadbasket and the front end edge of the ZenBook Duo.
At 0.7 inches thick and iii.5 pounds, the ZenBook Duo fourteen is thicker and heavier than the latest Dell XPS 13 (0.v inches, 2.ix pounds) and Macbook Air with M1 (0.6 inches, 2.8 pounds).
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Ports
The ZenBook Duo 14's thickness allows it more ports than many popular laptops. On the left, in addition to the dual ThunderBolt four USB-C ports (one of which you'll employ for charging), you'll find an HDMI out port.
On the right, Asus placed a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD reader, along with a USB-A port. You'd need an adapter to get HDMI and USB-A ports on the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, and nosotros're tired of carrying around adapters.
Asus ZenBook Duo fourteen review: Displays
As I watched a WandaVision trailer on the ZenBook Duo 14'southward 1080p, I noticed the screen's fantabulous colour output while wishing it were brighter. Wanda's hair reproduced in the authentic and vibrant shade orange as she emerged from nether a comforter whose threads looked articulate and crisp. And while I could tell that I was used to brighter panels, the ZenBook Duo 14's screen however impresses with its color accurateness (it'southward PANTONE certification is a skillful badge of accolade).
As for the ScreenPad Plus, well, information technology doesn't look as great to my centre, but some of my photos look great on it as a secondary screen. The reds and dejection in a piece of Bernie Sanders street art popped, while a lot of the rest of the image looked dull.
The ScreenPad Plus' 7 degrees of elevation are best for those who place their laptop direct on their desk-bound. Unfortunately, those who utilise a stand to drag their laptop screen to an ergonomic-friendly heart-level will find the ScreenPad Plus slightly harder to see. I constitute this out at my own desk, when I tried to switch my MacBook Pro out for the ZenBook Duo fourteen, and found myself craning my cervix to see it from the right angle. Asus packs in a small folding stand to make it easier to see for all employ cases, only that wedge doesn't assist as much equally I'd like.
Co-ordinate to our colorimeter, the main display emits 114.vii% of the sRGB spectrum, a similar score to the 114.iii% from the MacBook Air with M1 and better than the 97.nine% from the XPS thirteen. The ScreenPad Plus only hits 64.five%.
As my eyes could tell, the ZenBook Duo fourteen could stand to be brighter, maxing out at 307.4 nits. The MacBook Air (365 nits) and XPS 13 (469 nits) become much brighter, as does 392.3-nit ScreenPad Plus. Nevertheless, the ZenBook Duo's anti-glare coating and overall screen quality helped colors stay strong when viewed at xxx degrees to the left and correct, which doesn't always happen on screens with less than 400 nits of effulgence.
The ZenBook Duo 14's touchscreens responded to taps and swipes speedily. Spider web pages besides scrolled smoothly as I navigated Google Docs and longer sites.
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Software
For the most part, the ZenBook Duo 14 is a vanilla-standard version of Windows x. While nosotros wish it didn't accept bloatware similar McAfee Antivirus -- which spams you lot with pestering messages to subscribe or risk your security -- that'due south more of the status quo than anything specially surprising. Farther, you don't need McAfee: Windows Defender has gotten pretty adept over the years.
The nigh important piece of software is the ScreenPad Plus Control Center, which unlocks a lot of functionality for the secondary screen. Its top widget is a brightness slider, which you lot'll likely toy with to optimize bombardment life. The next few buttons aren't that important, with a utility for moving windows between the screens (which isn't difficult), a link to the MyAsus app, a keyboard lock button for when you lot want to disable your keyboard, and a button to hibernate the apps in the ScreenPad Plus, so y'all can either showtime over or see your background.
The Control Console'south bottom two buttons are its most important. The Launcher (four dots) icon lets you rapidly summon a number-pad and a gear up of keyboard shortcuts to the ScreenPad Plus. Only don't overlook the "NEW +" icons on the bottom of this screen. Here, yous can brand task groups, aka custom arrangements of your well-nigh often used applications and browser tabs. I used information technology to create a "start of day" ready, with Trello up pinnacle, and TweetDeck and Slack below, as well every bit an "after piece of work" set with Discord in the main screen, and Spotify and TweetDeck below.
There are even additional ScreenPad Plus modes for creativity apps, such as After Effects, Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Lightroom Classic. Users of those apps can get a whole console of touch-sensitive controls. Just even just for my every-twenty-four hours productivity needs, I plant the ScreenPad Plus valuable in its own right. By dissimilarity, the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar withal feels like a gimmick in search of a problem to fix, while the ScreenPad Plus is hither for those who want more than screen infinite.
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Keyboard, touchpad
As unconventional as the ZenBook Duo 14's typing feel is, its keys are fantabulous for jamming through line afterward line of text. On the 10fastfingers typing examination, I click-clacked my way to 75 words per infinitesimal (non far from my 80 wpm average), with a bang-up 96% accurateness (maybe a point or two off my average. But while I appreciate the fact that the keys are quiet, this machine needs its own wrist residual. Fortunately, I accept i on hand to relieve myself from a wrist injury from the awkward typing bending -- where your wrists accept nothing to sit on.
And so at that place'south the awkward 2.6 10 2.1-inch touchpad, which sits to the right of the keyboard. Because of its odd and unusual position, I mostly forgot that it existed, opting to tap the screen with my hands when necessary. My but effect with the touchpad came when my pinky finger accidentally jabbed its left-click button when I wanted to click the Right directional key (which is horizontally side by side). The touchpad doesn't have a physical clicking mechanism, and that'due south something you lot may take to become used to, simply information technology didn't prove problematic for me.
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Audio
The ZenBook Duo fourteen'south Harman/Kardon-branded speakers audio proficient, provided y'all don't turn them upwardly likewise high. As I played a selection of my favorite Spotify playlists (the soundtracks to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Promising Young Woman), I noticed that songs carried a scrap of distortion if I raised the book across 75% — and they fill a medium-sized room at that level. And so, manage your volume right and y'all'll hear the songs you honey accurately, equally I heard Rage Against the Car'southward "Guerilla Radio" hard-striking drums and insane guitar riffs come out clearly, while the bass of Maya B's "Selenas" rattled appropriately.
And only forget nigh the DTS Audio Processing utility that's built in. Its default Music setting is its best for all kinds of entertainment, and the Movies and Games settings don't improve its sound enough to merit the few taps it takes to open up the app and alter them. And if you lot turn off that utility, you'll learn how much heavy lifting it's doing, as sound quality drops off tremendously..
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Performance
Armed with an Intel Evo 11th Gen Cadre i7-1165G7 processor and 8GB of RAM, the Asus ZenBook Duo xiv is pretty speedy. It did not blanche at my standard 12 tabs and a 1080p divide-screen test (which it should have no outcome with), all the while Spotify and Discord stayed snappy and responsive on the ScreenPad Plus display.
On Geekbench v.3, the ZenBook Duo 14 posted a score of v,330, while the MacBook Air (M1, 16GB of RAM) ran circles around it with a score of 7,575. On Geekbench v.0.iv (as we don't have GB 5.3 scores for all laptops), the Zenbook Duo 14 netted a five,235, not besides far off from the 5,254 from the Dell XPS thirteen (Core i7-1165G7, 16GB of RAM).
The ZenBook Duo fourteen fared better than the XPS xiii in other tests, though, such equally our file transfer test, which finds the charge per unit at which a laptop clones 25GB of files. While the XPS thirteen cloned files at 806MBps, the ZenBook Duo 14 moved files at a clip of 921MBps.
The ZenBook Duo 14 fared similarly in our Handbrake video conversion test, taking fourteen minutes and 55 seconds to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. The MacBook Air with M1 finished this exam in 9:15 (on the beta version optimized for Apple Silicon), and the XPS 13 took 18 minutes and 22 seconds.
Asus ZenBook Duo xiv review: Graphics
The ZenBook Duo fourteen likewise took points from the XPS 13 by running Civ VI at 30 frames per second (at 1080p). That'southward about twice as fast as the xvi fps rate from the XPS thirteen. The MacBook Air ran the game at 36 fps, but that's at the lower 1440x900 resolution (the largest supported by the system).
On the 3DMark Burn down Strike benchmark, the ZenBook Duo 14 won over again, with a score of 4,985 that easily beats the iii,598 from the XPS 13.
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Battery Life
The ZenBook Duo 14 has pretty practiced battery life, which is a bit shocking considering that it has to power a 2d screen that'south one-half the size of its principal console. On our laptop battery test (spider web surfing at 150 nits) the ZenBook Duo 14 lasted 10 hours and 37 minutes, which isn't too far off the XPS 13 (11:07). The MacBook Air with M1 (14:41) lasted much longer, a perk of its ARM-based Apple tree silicon processor.
You could get more battery life out of the ZenBook Duo 14 if you turn its ScreenPad Plus off -- every bit it lasted xiv:xi when only the chief console was turned on. Just I don't imagine anyone making that sacrifice, when the ScreenPad Plus is the whole reason you'd buy this laptop.
Asus ZenBook Duo fourteen review: Webcam
As unique as the ZenBook Duo 14 is, it has the most pedestrian 0.ix-megapixel webcam. Selfies I shot on the laptop lack detail in the way that I look, with stubble looking more smudgy than it should. Those struggling to look clearer should either purchase one of the all-time webcams or find natural lite.
Asus ZenBook Duo 14 review: Heat
For the most part, the ZenBook Duo 14 stays cool under burn. After streaming xv minutes of full HD video on the notebook, our heat gun captured depression readings of 80 degrees Fahrenheit on its touchpad and 81 degrees on its keyboard.
And while its underside generally stayed at 92 degrees (still under our 95 caste comfort threshold), 1 spot near the center hit 97 degrees. The ZenBook Duo 14 didn't become hot enough in my twenty-four hour period-to-24-hour interval testing for me to notice or be a problem, though that may exist more well-nigh how uncomfortable it is to type on in your lap.
Asus ZenBook Duo xiv review: Verdict
The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 continues to redefine what a laptop is and what it looks like, for the better. And nosotros're a bit shocked that the ZenBook Duo is priced at $200 less than a similarly configured XPS 13 ($1,499), which is like in speed and endurance. If only information technology had a fiddling more room for your wrists, and was easier to utilise in your lap.
For longer battery life, and faster operation, you lot should cheque out the MacBook Air M1, which costs $50 less when similarly spec'd (with the $1,249 configuration). But for those who want a lot of screen in a single laptop, the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is definitely worth consideration.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/asus-xenbook-duo-14-ux482
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