With more people working from home and students taking online classes, the benefits of having a main screen with a second screen are quite appealing to customers. Adding dual screens to your laptop, on the other hand, has a substantial influence on the go computing with mobility. The all-new Asus ZenBook Duo and ZenBook Pro Duo, two screens ultra-portable laptops, have been introduced by Asus.

The second screen of the ZenBook Duo 14 laptop, named ScreenPad Plus, is integrated into the laptop’s chassis for mobility. The only drawbacks of the Asus ZenBook Duo are the relocated keyboard and trackpad for changing the laptop’s secondary display. So, is the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 worth its high price? Are the benefits of the dual-display or the main screen with ScreenPad Plus outweighed by the ergonomics of the repositioned keyboard and mouse?

Let’s have a better look at the Asus ZenBook Duo.

The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 2021 improves on its predecessor “ZenBook Pro Duo” with a better screen-to-body ratio, slimmer form, improved components, better battery life, and dedicated tools graphics Nvidia GeForce), better processing speed with better system configuration and helpful functionality. Yet certain design compromises remain.

PROS

1. Impressively dual-screen design in a 14-inch chassis.
2. Slimmer 3.5-pound.
3. Construction with better laptop underside ventilation.
4. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports make ScreenPad Plus more functional thanks to software updates to the system operating environment.

CONS

1. Cramped keyboard with no natural wrist rest.
2. Having complex keyboard sequences.
3. No extra room because of the second ScreenPad Plus.

Two screens laptops are becoming a craze, with several manufacturers jumping on board. 

The dual-screen design with ScreenPad Plus seems gorgeous in such a small chassis, unlike its larger competitors. The performance is comparable to the competitors, and the cost, most crucially, does not represent a considerable second-screen premium.

Best Features of the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482

1. Specifications

• The Asus ZenBook Duo is available in several different configurations. The first model in the Asus ZenBook Duo lineup is powered by an 11th generation Intel Core i7 1165G7 CPU, while the ordinary model has a 512GB SSD, Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, and 8GB of RAM. A 14-inch FHD IPS display is on the front, while a 12.65-inch IPS panel is on the rear.
• The laptop has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD.
• For graphics, it employs an Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics card with a 2GB VRAM, which can handle many tasks like Adobe Photoshop. You can do precision graphical editing on a stable platform with ease and many factors related like opening multiple tasks, which is pro for business.

2. Let’s Know Something About These 11th Gen Intel Core Processors

Intel Core i5-1135G7

• The Intel Core i5-1135G7 SoC is a quad-core CPU designed for thin laptops. It features four Willow Cove CPU cores that operate at 2.4 GHz (base clock speed @ 28 W TDP) and overclock to 4.2 GHz (1-core Boost). The all-core Boost frequency is 3.8 GHz. The CPU incorporates Hyper-Threading technology, allowing for eight concurrent processing threads.

Intel Core i7-1165G7

• The Intel Core i7-1165G7 SoC is a quad-core CPU designed for thin laptops. It contains four Willow Cove Hyper-Threading cores that run at 2.8 GHz (base clock speed @ 28 W TDP) and peak at 4.7 GHz (single-core Boost frequency). The all-core Boost frequency is 4.1 GHz.
• The more costly Core i7-base 1185G7’s clock speed is 200 MHz faster, the Boost clock speed is 100 MHz faster, and the Iris Xe G7 iGPU is slightly faster to 1,350 MHz.

3. Design & Build

• The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 distinguishes out in terms of design. Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 is unlike another laptop in the market, with a second screen in the shape of a rectangle positioned above the keyboard known as ScreenPad Plus.
• The chassis of Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 has a sturdy feel, with plastic and metal combined to create a durable and light laptop. The ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 chassis have no flex, which is amazing. The curved edges give a nice grip, but our biggest complaint is the worse keyboard and touchpad layout, which is an unavoidable result of the added second screen, “ScreenPad Plus,” on the lower deck.
• The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 laptop has a decent weight distribution. You can effortlessly open the lid with one finger, automatically raising the ScreenPad Plus display to an angle for comfortable viewing and operation. The hinge is strong, raising the laptop a little while raising the ScreenPad Plus significantly for excellent ergonomics.
• However, there is one minor snag. Without a competent disassembly, it is impossible to clear the dust trapped inside the lift for the ScreenPad Plus.
• Overall, the build of the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 looks to be of high quality. However, given its current placement, I would be concerned about dust obstructing the lighting hinge on the ScreenPad Plus display.

4. ScreenPad Plus

• Other companies have experimented with two-screen smartphones, but Asus ZenBook Duo goes all-in with the dual-screen, which is visually intriguing. 

• It also comes with handy built-in apps, which help us in many ways like a better view of video timeline, open apps, drag apps, playing music using Spotify, using the Control Panel, and increasing our creativity flow.
• The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is simply a smaller version of the idea. The other Asus ZenBook Pro Duo laptops have 15.6-inch main displays, but this one, as the name says, has a 14-inch display. The second display, the ScreenPad Plus, is also smaller at 12.6 inches. The main screen offers a full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixel) resolution, while the ScreenPad Plus has a unique 1,920-by-515 pixel resolution due to its unique shape.
• Both panels are touch-enabled, but they don’t come with an active stylus and have a maximum brightness of 400 nits, which is brighter than the original to make the displays (particularly the smaller one) easier to watch. When you open the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 laptop from the clamshell mode, the ScreenPad Plus rises at an angle of the keyboard deck, leaning toward you for a better viewing angle.
• It also improves airflow to fans beneath the screen, allowing the laptop to keep cool. These fans have more blades than the original laptop fans to provide greater cooling. The laptop is designed similarly, with the bottom deck rising off the table when the main display is opened, owing to the “Ergo Lift” hinge. Once again, the goal is to increase ventilation and provide a more comfortable typing position.

• Suppose you’re new to the dual-screen concept; the bottom ScreenPad Plus functions as a little second display, similar to an extra monitor. Depending on your place, you may move any program or window from the main display to the ScreenPad Plus to use as a reference or for a task swap.
• Because the screen isn’t particularly tall, it’s not perfect for many circumstances. However, it’s handy for having your files and folders accessible, keeping Spotify open at all times, and other comparable applications. 
• Aside from keeping my music open there, I also like to have my working references there. Any material for the review I’m writing, such as specs or a spreadsheet, is easy to see at a glance rather than jumping in and out of other windows with the help of the app switcher icon and navigator icon. Despite being considerably smaller than a second monitor, the ScreenPad Plus has a much more desktop-like layout.
• The ScreenPad Plus also incorporates several innovative software features that make it simpler to use, like one-tap automation, the most notable of which is its Launcher. Its Launcher has been developed with the main operating system, which is Microsoft Windows and Asus recommends Windows 11 because the Launcher is well calibrated with it for its displays.
• Because tapping with your finger to pick files or move windows on a tiny screen might be awkward, there are various shortcuts for opening programs and resizing windows. There are shortcut buttons for creating a quick key, using the ScreenPad Plus as a calculator, adjusting brightness, quickly switching between displays, and more. You may create a fast bar for these permanent functions on the main screen and customize it however you like.
• When gaming, I did miss my gaming laptop’s fast refresh rate. However, it varies because not everyone will need a high refresh rate display.

5. Keyboard and Trackpad

• The keyboard on the Asus ZenBook Duo laptop is one of the most important aspects to consider for people. Our occupation necessitates much typing, and a comfortable keyboard simplifies the job.
• However, in my opinion, size is not the only advantage. Because the deck display takes up the normal place on bigger computers, the keyboard is shifted beside the touchpad. It leaves little area for the touchpad, which can make you feel in need of an external mouse. It seems claustrophobic, which is accentuated by the 14-inch system. The touchpad doesn’t provide many areas to the pan, forcing you to regularly lift your fingers on the pad’s edge.

• It’s still functional but not ideal as a vital laptop component. The keyboard is also pretty tight, albeit not as awful. It lacks that intuitive interaction that a buyer will find first when they open the laptop. The lack of an empty keyboard deck on which to rest your wrists is evident, and it may tire you out during a long typing session with your task group. Neither is a deal-breaker; rather, they are a cost of including the second screen.
• The Asus ZenBook Duo 14 keyboard was excellent, and the key travel was enough. The buttons are tactile and provide enough responsiveness. On the other hand, typing on the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 for a lengthy amount of time is very unpleasant. Because of the secondary display, Asus had to modify the keyboard and trackpad.
• The keyboard has been moved to the bottom of the screen. As a result, when using this keyboard, there is no armrest. Your arms are resting on the table after around 10-15 minutes, and there is a significant height difference between the keyboard and the table. The laptop’s lip is slightly elevated, which digs into your hands and adds to the discomfort.
• The keyboard is OK, but the ergonomics and position are abysmal. This would be the only choice if they needed to adjust another screen on the laptop. If your profession requires you to type for extended periods, this will be a very disappointing purchase.
• The glass on the trackpad appears to be quite durable, and the clicks on the real mouse buttons are gratifying. The trackpad was quick, dependable, and precise. The trackpad’s DPI isn’t as high, but you can always adjust the mouse’s sensitivity. Asus had to adjust the trackpad owing to the second display. They reduced its size and relocated it to the right side of the keyboard. It takes some time due to its small size and unusual location.
• One feature that does not suffer due to the size is the port options. A 14-inch laptop includes a USB 3.1 port, two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support which will give an actual high transfer speed, an HDMI connection, a microSD card reader, and an audio jack. This year’s model provides an added advantage because the previous ZenBook Duo 14 model did not support Thunderbolt. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6, providing you with really high wireless speeds and Bluetooth for dongle-free connectivity.

Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 

 1. Performance

• This ZenBook Duo 14 laptop’s design is the show’s star, but we also need to examine it behind the hood. Because this is a 14-inch tablet with a lot going on, heat restrictions limit it to some extent, but the performance ceiling remains rather high. The base model has an Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The higher model is occupied by a more powerful chip Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU is replaced with an Nvidia GeForce MX450 GPU, which increases power.
• The laptop effortlessly completes all of the simple duties. There will be no stutters even with triple digits of Chrome tabs active in a single session. So, if your workload consists exclusively of routine tasks, this laptop is for you.
• Moving on to more demanding duties, gaming on the laptop is difficult owing to the absence of a powerful graphics card. Basic games, like CS: GO, and Operate without a Hitch, but many of the newer, more demanding titles were a letdown.
• Android Studio is well-known for being a CPU-intensive tool, and it will perform admirably, with the laptop effortlessly handling app building and testing.
• The laptop runs admirably in programs like networking IoT servers that do not require a lot of GPU power. The thermals are amazing. Asus most likely inserted fans in the gap to provide enough ventilation when the hinge is raised, and, as a result, the second display is elevated.

2. Graphics Tests

• In the unplugged video rundown test, if we configure the laptop in power-saving mode (rather than balanced or high-performance mode) and make a few minor battery-saving changes after completely charging it. (We also turn off Wi-Fi and put the laptop in airplane mode.) Then if we loop a video—a locally recorded 720p clip until the system crashes, the screen brightness and volume are set to 50% and 100%, respectively.

3. Battery Life

• The device boasts a superb 70Whr battery when it comes to battery life. The tablet will provide a battery life of around 10 hours during daily usage. The workload consisted of typing, browsing the internet, and watching a few YouTube movies, easily toss-up on the secondary display placed on the downside near the keyboard section of the laptop.
• Adding a second display requires more power and gives a good battery life. The laptop has a 65W USB-C charging brick that charges the whole battery in about 2 hours.

4. A Portable Dual Screen Pleasure

• So far, Asus ZenBook Duo and Asus ZenBook Pro Duo efforts have been successful, and the two screens design is particularly tempting in a 14-inch form factor. It seemed impossible to fit two screens into such a compact box, but it is nicely constructed here. Furthermore, it does not command a substantial price premium—the ZenBook Duo 14 is priced similarly to its competitors in this category.
• (Some are also more expensive, including extras like more RAM or storage.) Given that this device begins at a lower price than a base-model Dell XPS 13 clamshell, it tells a lot about what future twin-screeners will be capable of.
• The second display isn’t always optimal, but having a functional tiny second monitor with your laptop at all times is a very enticing offer that, most of the time, works as intended and is tough to pass up. If you’re looking for sheer performance for the money, we feel the MacBook Pro and XPS 13 have the upper hand, but if its two-screen design appeals to you, it’s well worth its reasonable price. Simple benchmarks cannot quantify the potential productivity gain or the cool factor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Asus ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 and ZenBook Pro Duo laptops show us an example of the future of laptops like these. These kinds of laptops might get bundled stylus, which’ll be a good thing. Throughout this review, I can surely say that I have mixed feelings because, for some, the ScreenPad Plus will be a great deal, but this laptop won’t feel like it for some people.

To find the price of this laptop, you can go through the sites of every other country like India USA, and go to the United Kingdom site or visit your regional site to check the pricing according to the place.

Last Updated on September 4, 2022 by Rojalin Mahapatro