At a Glance
- Asus Zenbook Duo packs two 14-inch OLED displays, a detachable magnetic keyboard, and Intel’s flagship Ultra X9 388H chip.
- The model with the extra 12Xe3 GPU cores costs $2,300, while the standard version is $2,100.
- Despite its high price, the Duo delivers solid gaming, strong battery life, and a unique multitasking experience.
- Why it matters: For users who need more screen real-time than a single display can offer, the Duo offers an unprecedented desktop-like setup in a laptop form.
The Asus Zenbook Duo redefines what a laptop can do by combining two 14-inch OLED screens, a detachable keyboard, and a powerful Intel Core Ultra 3 processor. Though it comes with a hefty price tag, the Duo’s performance, build quality, and versatility make it a compelling choice for power users and gamers alike.
Design & Build
The first thing that strikes you about the Duo is its dual-screen layout. Both panels are 14-inch OLEDs with a 48-144Hz refresh rate, giving each a 2,880 × 1,800 pixel resolution. The screens are almost bezel-less, creating a near-seamless display when the keyboard is removed.
A magnetic, detachable keyboard attaches to the bottom bezel of the lower screen. The keyboard’s magnets are strong enough to hold the device in place while typing, yet the keyboard can slide out to reveal the second screen. The device also includes a kickstand that extends to roughly 90°, allowing the Duo to stand in a vertical orientation.
In terms of size, the Duo measures just over 0.91 inches thick-only slightly thicker than most modern laptops. It weighs more than Asus’s lighter Zenbook A14, but the added weight is a small trade-off for the dual-screen experience. The chassis is finished in Asus’s “Ceraluminum” texture, an anodized finish that feels more like pottery than aluminum.
Port selection is modest but functional: one HDMI port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a separate USB-C port on the keyboard for charging when detached.
Performance & Gaming
Under the hood, the Duo houses the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, the flagship Panther Lake chip. It boasts 12Xe3 GPU cores-Intel’s answer to AMD’s Strix Point APUs-providing a solid graphics performance without sacrificing battery life.
Benchmarks show the X9 388H outperforms Intel’s mid-range Arrow Lake CPUs in both single- and multi-core tests. In Geekbench 6, the X9 388H scored 300 points higher than a 16-core Arrow Lake chip in single-core workloads and nearly 1,000 points higher in multi-core scenarios.
For gaming, the Duo delivers playable frame rates on modern titles. In Cyberpunk 2077, it reaches 50 fps on high settings at 1080p and 23 fps at full 2,880 × 1,800 resolution. Using Intel’s XeSS upscaling, the frame rate climbs to around 45 fps, making the experience smooth enough for casual play.
Other games perform similarly: Black Myth: Wukong hits 37 fps at high graphics settings with medium ray tracing on 1200p, while Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered reaches 28 fps on high settings without upscaling.
The integrated GPU can beat older discrete cards, such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 in certain 3DMark benchmarks, but it cannot match newer GPUs like the RTX 5070 or AMD’s Ryzen AI Max chips.
Battery Life & Portability
Battery life is a strong point for the Duo. Even with both screens active, the laptop can last nearly seven hours under typical productivity workloads. The reviewer noted that a full workday of browsing and light photo editing was completed without needing a charger.
Because the Duo is a portable machine that also offers a dual-screen experience, it is well suited for users who travel or work in multiple locations. The detachable keyboard adds flexibility, allowing the device to be used as a tablet-style workstation or a traditional laptop.
Pricing & Availability
The Duo comes in two configurations: the standard model with the Core Ultra 9 386H CPU is priced at $2,100, while the version with the extra 12Xe3 GPU cores costs $2,300.
Asus has stated that it is still “finalizing schedules” for the release date. The high price reflects the dual-screen design, premium build, and powerful processor.
Verdict
The Asus Zenbook Duo is a unique laptop that pushes the boundaries of what a portable computer can do. Its dual OLED displays, detachable keyboard, and powerful Intel Ultra 3 processor make it an excellent choice for professionals who need more screen real-time and gamers who want a portable gaming solution.
The main drawbacks are the price and the modest port selection. However, for users who value the multitasking benefits and are willing to invest, the Duo offers a compelling combination of performance, build quality, and versatility.
Key takeaways:
- Dual-screen design with nearly bezel-less OLED panels.
- Intel Core Ultra X9 388H delivers strong CPU and GPU performance.
- Playable gaming on modern titles with upscaling.
- Near-seven-hour battery life even with both screens open.
- Prices start at $2,100 and rise to $2,300 for the GPU-enhanced version.
- Release date pending; Asus is finalizing schedules.
Overall, the Zenbook Duo is Asus’s most ambitious attempt yet to create a laptop that serves as a desktop, gaming machine, and mobile workstation-all in one device.
