This is my first encounter with the Asus Zenbook Duo range —a dual-screen laptop that promises to redefine multitasking. As soon as I held the latest edition which was unveiled at CES 2025 earlier this year, I could not help but feel a surge of excitement and curiosity. Asus isn’t simply copying a product, they’re expanding on an idea that, last year, was a pretty ambitious trial. With a new design and improved specifications, it certainly has that feel, like this is the future of portable productivity.
Design
Right out the box, the Zenbook Duo’s clean and sophisticated aluminum metal body exudes a premium, understated elegance. There is no gaudy gamer look or the sleek design elements of the Zenbook S16 that are reminiscent of a MacBook – this is a device for professionals who need more than one screen. The magnetic keyboard that comes with the Zenbook is not just a novelty either, it is a well-thought-out design that enables the user to toggle between a traditional laptop and a full-blown dual-screen experience.
And those dual 14-inch 3K OLED displays? They are absolutely stunning. The 120Hz refresh rate and the rich colors make everything look very pretty indeed. Every task, even those mundane ones are more visually appealing. Yet, there’s an irony here: while the screens deliver an immersive indoor experience, their brightness—hovering around 300–330 nits—leaves them struggling under harsh sunlight. This is a typical example of the trade off between design and functionality.
Performance
The new Intel Core Ultra 9 processor is a real statement from Asus, a 20% increase in performance compared to the previous year. This upgrade isn’t just about faster numbers; it’s about a tangible difference in how the laptop handles everything from 20+ open Chrome tabs to light gaming and demanding creative work. With a newly designed integrated GPU, the Duo is able to handle multiple tasks like running heavy applications on one screen while the other screen displays your main tasks. It’s an upgrade in performance that makes you question if dual-screen laptops were always intended to be this way.
Some Trade Off’s
While overall brilliant, the Zenbook Duo, does have its flaws. Using both displays at 120Hz to boost the visual experience is power hungry and will not get you through your working day. You can get a full day’s use if you dial it back to 60Hz, but this is something that tech enthusiasts will have to handle as a trade off. And then there’s the matter of connectivity: such a port array that includes only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB-A and one HDMI 2.1 port is rather disappointing for an otherwise great design.
The GeekVerdict
Ultimately, the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025 does make you pause and rethink what a laptop can be. At R43,999, it’s not aimed at everyone – but rather for those willing to embrace a paradigm shift in how they work. If you’re the kind of person thats constantly having multiple windows open, sees the value in a dedicated workspace for email, creative apps and collaboration all at once, then this dual-screen marvel might just be the productivity tool you never knew you needed.
The Asus Zenbook Duo is available from today 14 February 2025 starting at R43,999 at the following retailers:
Amazon, Computer Mania,, Incredible Connection, Evetech and Takealot.
Or you can check it out on the Asus Estore here
