Staying and working at home for a whole year has led to a lot of new technology aimed at creating a better work-life balance. Asus’s latest entry is a similar gadget, made for creative people and multitaskers. The ZenBook Duo, as the name suggests, is a dual screen laptop and is the most functional thing I have seen recently. After spending some time with it and using it as my primary work laptop, here is what I think.
The first impression it made on me was by how light it is. At 1.6 kg, the device is pretty impressive. The design and form are sleek and compact, and it is easy to hold and pack. The box came with a leather bag too, and the laptop slips into it very well. However, the top of the laptop is prone to fingerprints which might irk a few.
On opening it, it reveals itself as a beauty. The dual screen is designed and placed so well that I was awestruck for a second. It comes with a thin, attractive bezel. There is a plastic keyboard with a large touchpad towards the right. It does take a lot of space but even though the keyboard is a bit cramped, it is not uncomfortable to use. There are also USB type A and memory card slots on the side.
Working from home means you need to multitask and this laptop is perfect for that. The highlight in this regard is, of course, the dual screen. Both screens are touch-enabled which makes work even easier. The 14-inch anti-glare screen is bright with great output and sharp visual quality. The touch feature is seamless, making drag and drop and other multi usages very smooth. The smaller screen is just as interactive. You can drag and drop between the two screens easily. If you are recording something, you can use the bottom screen for notes and other functions. The second screen is tilted upwards which makes things more convenient. You can also customize your screens and apps as per your liking. There is also a shortcut key on the keyboard for adjusting the screen settings.
For Zoom meetings and recordings, you get a decent in-built webcam which gives an above average output. You don’t get a privacy shield though. The mic is decent too, so you get clear audio output. Overall, the device gets a thumbs-up for online recording purposes.
The inbuilt speakers are good and strategically placed for better audio quality.
It also comes with a stylus, which can be of great use to some professionals.
As mentioned earlier, the laptop is great for multitasking and the response rate makes it even better. The laptop works effortlessly while using multiple apps together. There is no lag or wait time.
Graphics might not be the best in its class but surely good enough for many. It is still a great device for gamers, designers, video editors and music composers.
Good battery life is a must for such a multipurpose device. I found that the laptop had 8-9 hours of battery life with excessive usage, which works well for me but might be a low point for gamers.
The ASUS ZenBook Duo, priced at Rs 99,990 and Rs 1,34,990, is a great pick for all multitaskers. If you want a good laptop with a great dual screen, this device must be among the ones you consider.
