How many screens do you need? How much RAM does your computer have? And is touchscreen and stylus functionality even necessary? Depending on the type of work you do every day, you can answer all these questions in different ways.
The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED comes with two displays and is aimed at “creators.” But for whom is this laptop really an absolute must? Here is an overview of the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo notebook.
Specifications
Model Number UX8402 | 14.5-inch 2.8K OLED screen | Intel 12th generation Core i9 processor with Nvidia RTX3050Ti_4G | 32G RAM with 1T PCIe SSD | Windows 11 with Office 365 for Home and Students | Sleeve + stylus included in the box.
Design and displays
The laptop is made of magnesium-aluminum and has military certification (MIL-STD 810H) for toughness.
The Zenbook is a slim and stylish laptop, perfect for taking to work. It carries the iconic concentric circle design that Asus laptops are known for, but in an understated black color scheme. The dual screens make this laptop heavier and bulkier than many other laptops on the market. Asus says the device weighs about 1.7 kg, which may not sound like much, but if you’re used to lighter laptops it can be quite a difference. The thickness of the laptop, at 17.9 mm, is also notable for the two screens and the hinge that allows the second screen to be angled.
This screen is a top-of-the-line OLED provided by Asus. The main screen is 14.5 inches, and it comes with amazing features like 2.8K resolution, Dolby Vision certification, touchscreen compatibility, 120 Hz refresh rate, 100 percent support of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and Pantone validation. The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is a fine laptop for people whose work requires color accuracy. It has two screens: the main screen, which is 15 inches, and the Screenpad Plus, which is 12.5 inches. The Screenpad Plus has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and supports the stylus, making it a great option for those who need a more portable laptop.
This laptop has stunning images and colors, plus the viewing angles are great. The touchscreen is very nice because it makes some things easier that are difficult to do with a mouse when switching from Mac to Windows 11. Things like opening and closing windows or switching between programs. The touch screen works much faster and saves a lot of time.
Asus equipped the device with something called “Active Aerodynamic System Ultra (AAS),” which enables the automatic tilt function. Unlike other devices where the difference in angle between the screens is imperceptible, Asus decided to make their secondary screen at a 12 degree angle. They also claim that overall this provides better cooling and thermal management.
Performance and battery
The model has the latest Intel Core i9 12th generation processor, as well as 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
Even if you want to use the laptop for heavy tasks, it won’t let you down. It can be noted, however, that the laptop sometimes gets quite warm. The fan noise is also quite loud on this model – especially if you have several programs open and are trying to do several things at once.
The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED comes with a wide range of connectivity options. Among other things, it has an SD card reader, 3.5mm headphone jack, HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C) and a USB Type A (USB 3.2 Gen 2) port. This should satisfy the majority of consumers who want to produce content. At least you don’t need extra dongles to copy video files from your camera’s SD card to the laptop.
The laptop has a dedicated charging port on the back, but you can also charge it with a Type-C cable. It supports 180W charging, but the battery life is quite short. If you use both screens throughout the day, be prepared to lug that charger around. You get only six hours out of your workday if the laptop is fully charged beforehand. This is not with constantly having the second screen on or in use all day.
It is also equipped with a 5 MP HD web camera that features an infrared sensor. This ensures that your images are clear and sharp during Zoom conversations. In addition, Asus has included several other features, such as the ability to recalibrate the screen for color accuracy. These software features can be accessed through a dedicated dashboard that includes performance optimization.
The sound quality of the Zenbook Pro 14 Duo, which includes Dolby Atmos support and stereo speakers, should be sufficient for most users. This device also has Windows 11 and comes with three months of free access to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite.
The keyboard and trackpad
The second screen on the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo is nice, but it means there’s less room for the keyboard. The keyboard seems small compared to the dimensions of the entire laptop.
The trackpad can also be a problem for some users. It’s significantly smaller than what you’re used to and it doesn’t come into its own at all. Most people who buy this laptop will probably end up with an external mouse for more precision.
The conclusion
If you spend all your time in Premier Pro on your current laptop, or if the alt-tab keys on your current one are worn out, this second screen will be a breath of fresh air. Even when the cooling fans have to be turned on at maximum to keep the temperature under control, the performance is excellent. A two-screen setup does have some drawbacks, such as short battery life and an awkward keyboard layout.
So the Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is definitely not for everyone, but it is definitely a great product that improves productivity significantly!