Exploring the Upgraded ZenBook Duo: A Masterpiece of Dual-Screen Design

As a fan of dual-screen technology, the debut of Asus' latest ZenBook Duo has truly impressed me. This updated version boasts significant enhancements in design, adding durability, improved ergonomics through a superior hinge, a robust kickstand, and a larger battery, all while maintaining a compact form.

The 2026 model of the Asus ZenBook Duo features dual 14-inch OLED touch screens, offering a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 pixels (2.8K) and a fluid 144Hz refresh rate, reaching peak brightness up to 1,000 nits for content supporting HDR. Both screens are in a 16:10 aspect ratio, aligning with the M4 MacBook Air's display standards.

Particularly noteworthy are the thinner bezels around the hinge area, creating an engaging viewing experience, especially when used vertically.

Asus has pushed boundaries this year by reducing bezel size near the hinge, resulting in an impressive 93% screen-to-body ratio, giving users a more engaging experience. Despite the necessary thick band at the top for the Windows Hello camera, the overall screen immersion is outstanding.

The keyboard has also seen advancements, with a redesigned detachable Bluetooth keyboard featuring a larger trackpad and longer key travel for enhanced comfort, even after brief usage.

Constructed using Asus' proprietary Ceraluminum, the ZenBook Duo (2026) offers resistance to scratches, wear, and fingerprints, balancing style with a manageable weight. It weighs 1.65kg and is 14.6mm thick (excluding the keyboard), slightly increasing at the thickest point due to the revamped hinge design.

The redesigned kickstand is significantly more robust than previous iterations.

There are two versions of the new ZenBook Duo: one with an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 processor (48 TOPs NPU) and another featuring the more powerful Core Ultra 9 386H chip (50 TOPs NPU), both accompanied by 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of high-speed M.2 NVMe SSD.

While I appreciated the former generation's features, the battery life fell short. Thankfully, the 2026 model has a vastly superior 99Whr battery replacing the previous 75Whr, which, along with more efficient processors, should ensure significantly extended battery life.

Connectivity is robust, offering dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, a HDMI 2.1 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and an audio jack. For wireless capabilities, it supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Moreover, the six-speaker system with two forward-facing tweeters and four woofers suggests it will excel in both productivity and media experiences.

Even as someone favoring the most lightweight and portable laptops, the sleek design, enhanced displays, and larger battery of the ZenBook Duo (2026) tempt me to consider it as a replacement for my current setup.