Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) Review: Still the two-screened king

Asus refreshed its dual-screen laptop computer, the Zenbook Duo, this yr with a brand new processor. Sadly, there isn’t a lot else the corporate did with this refresh, for higher or worse.

The efficiency enhance is sweet, but when the dual-screen laptop computer didn’t enchantment to you final yr, I don’t suppose the brand new chip can be sufficient to compel a purchase order this yr. On the identical time, Asus nonetheless has a successful method on its palms with the Zenbook Duo – I nonetheless haven’t tried a greater dual-screen laptop computer.

The Duo isn’t good and is certainly in want of refinement, so right here’s hoping the 2026 mannequin delivers extra change.

Specs

• Show: 2x 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED dynamic 120Hz 16:10 with 500nits peak brightness
• Processor: Intel Core Extremely 9 285H
• Reminiscence: 32GB RAM
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Dimensions: 31.35 x 21.79 x 1.46 ~ 1.99 cm
• Weight: 1.65 kg (3.64 lbs)
• Digicam: FHD digicam with IR operate to help Home windows Hey
• Working System: Home windows 11
• Battery: 75Wh
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
• Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Sort-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio
• Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics

Observe: The above specs are for the mannequin I examined. All Zenbook Duo configuration choices are available on Asus’ website.

What’s new this yr?

There are solely two important adjustments with the Zenbook Duo (2025) in comparison with the 2024 model. The primary is the chip, going from the Intel Core Extremely 9 185H final yr to the Extremely 9 285H this yr. (There are different configurations out there, however I’m largely evaluating the one I examined this yr with the one I examined final yr.)

The opposite main change is an improve to the connectivity, with the 2025 variant boasting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

These are each welcome adjustments, in fact, however not significantly thrilling. Neither of these warrants an improve for anybody who purchased a Zenbook Duo final yr. Given how costly this laptop computer is, I’d argue anybody out there for one ought to attempt to decide up a 2024 variant at a reduction if they’ll discover one.

Identical to final yr, the Zenbook Duo (2025) dealt with all the things I threw at it with ease. Efficiency was by no means a problem even when internet shopping with tons of tabs and enhancing pictures.

Except for these two issues, all the things else is similar as final yr. In some respects, that’s simply tremendous. I believe Asus did an amazing job with its first iteration of the dual-screen laptop computer, at the least in comparison with different makes an attempt like Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i.

The Zenbook Duo’s keyboard accent stays wonderful and works effectively no matter whether or not you could have the pc in its single-screen laptop computer mode or set it up in your desk in dual-screen mode.

A part of what makes Asus’ keyboard accent so good – and, for my part, the one to emulate for different PC producers – is that it locks onto the underside display via a mixture of magnets and three small, plastic bumps alongside the underside fringe of the keyboard. These assist maintain the keyboard safe so it doesn’t slide round whereas typing on it. Moreover, the metallic contacts on the keyboard enable it to cost whereas related to the laptop computer, so it’s uncommon you’ll must cost the accent by itself (although you may by way of the keyboard’s lone USB-C port).

The Zenbook Duo (2025) nonetheless has a built-in kickstand, which is nice for shortly transitioning between totally different use modes. It provides some further bulk to the already weighty laptop computer, however I discover it helps portability greater than hindering it. I can simply use the Zenbook Duo like a laptop computer whereas on the prepare into the workplace, after which change to dual-screen mode for further productiveness once I get to my desk.

What nonetheless wants enchancment

Once I reviewed the Zenbook Duo (2024), there have been a number of points I highlighted, a lot of which might be addressed with small refinements. Sadly, with a lot staying the identical as earlier than, these points stay.

Maybe the largest ache level with the Duo (2025) is battery life, nonetheless, and there isn’t a straightforward resolution for that one. The show will at all times be a big supply of energy drain on laptops, and the Zenbook Duo has two of them.

Couple that with the shows being 3K decision (extra pixels require extra rendering work from the GPU) plus the dynamic 120Hz refresh fee hit, and it’s an enormous hit to the battery. You’ll positively need to deliver the charger everytime you take the Zenbook Duo on the go. In my testing, it took about 4 hours to empty the battery from one hundred pc to 30 % with gentle work like internet shopping and phrase processing – I didn’t even do picture enhancing! – whereas utilizing each shows.

Past that, Asus masses the Zenbook Duo with software program meant to make utilizing two shows a little bit simpler, comparable to a instrument to shortly transfer home windows from one display to the opposite. I didn’t encounter as many bugs or points as with the 2024 mannequin, however these software program additions nonetheless sometimes obtained in my approach.

One other, extra superfluous grievance I had with the 2024 mannequin is that the laptop computer’s design isn’t that good. Asus clearly opted for operate over kind, which is ok, however I’d like to see the corporate take measures to refine the model. I actually favored Asus’ Zenbook A14, which sports activities the corporate’s Ceraluminum materials and is tremendous gentle. Maybe future Zenbook Duo fashions might borrow some styling from the A14 to scale back the load.

Value it if you would like two moveable screens

The underside half of the Zenbook Duo is as thick as some laptops, plus you’ve got obtained the keyboard accent and the lid including much more bulk.

Total, the Zenbook Duo (2025) presents a strong laptop computer package deal that can enchantment to a distinct segment set of customers who desire a moveable dual-screen setup. I actually like the power to remodel a conveyable pc right into a two-screen productiveness powerhouse on the fly, and that’s the Zenbook Duo in a nutshell.

Nevertheless, there are tradeoffs obligatory to realize that. The Zenbook Duo is thicker, heavier, and fewer environment friendly than different laptops. For myself, as a lot as I just like the dual-screen imaginative and prescient, I discover I favor conventional clamshell laptops which can be gentle and skinny. However not everybody will really feel the identical approach, and for these prepared to make the tradeoffs, the Zenbook Duo is the very best dual-screen possibility round.

Right here’s hoping that Asus’ subsequent iteration of the Zenbook Duo can deal with a few of these tradeoffs and make the dual-screen class a little bit extra compelling.

The Zenbook Duo (2025) begins at $2,499.99 in Canada and is offered directly from Asus, Best Buy, or Amazon. The 32GB mannequin I examined prices an additional $200. Notably, Asus nonetheless has the 2024 variants out there at discounted costs, together with the Core Extremely 9 185H for $1,999.99 or the Core Extremely 7 155H for $1,799.99.