ASUS has a style for aptitude, typically manufacturing units with a less-than-subtle diploma of extravagance, and its newest Zenbook Duo for 2024 is a slight exception.
Featuring twin 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreens operating at 120Hz, this AI-powered 2-in-1 laptop computer options Intel’s newest Core Ultra 9 processor. It guarantees unparalleled productiveness, however then once more, which laptop computer model would not say the identical?
Expanding each screens provides a possible working area of as much as 19.8 inches in the event you can stand the seam between every show, however I’ll admit that ASUS charmed me with its intelligent design selections and advertising. Will it land a spot in our roundup of the finest 2-in-1 laptops or endure one too many missteps? Here’s my full evaluate.
This evaluate was made potential with a evaluate unit supplied by ASUS. The firm didn’t see the contents of the evaluate earlier than publishing.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Price, availability, and specs
Sample specs
Price: From $1,499 at ASUS
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X-7467
GPU: Intel Arc (as much as 2.35GHz)
Storage: 2TB PCIe Gen4x4 SSD
OS: Windows 11 Home
Camera: FHD IR with Windows Hello
Displays: 14-inch 3K (2800×1880) OLED @ 120Hz 0.2ms, 500nits w/ HDR with stylus assist
Ports: 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C w/ PD, 1x HDMI-out 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.3, no Ethernet
Battery: 75WHrs, 11.5hrs (benchmarked)
Charger: 65W USB-C, 20V DC, 3.25A
Dimensions: 31.35 x 21.79 x 1.46 – 1.99 cm
Weight: 3.65 lbs (1.65 kg)
ASUS sells the 2024 revision of its Zenbook Duo (UX8406) in two variants beginning at $1,499 at its official storefront and varied third-party retailers. The first mannequin, the UX8406MA-PS99T, options the precise specs of my pattern UX8406MA-PS99T unit, which is designed for the United Kingdom and has an acceptable AC adapter.
Featuring CPUs from Intel’s all-new Core Ultra vary, patrons can select between a high-end Core Ultra 9 185H, a 16-core, 22-thread processor clocked as much as a most of 5.1GHz, or a extra modest Core Ultra 7 155H with an identical core/thread depend however restricted to 4.8GHz.
Whichever you select, you may have entry to Intel’s AI Boost Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for dealing with devoted AI duties. Integrated Intel Arc chips deal with graphics clocked at 2.25GHz or 2.35GHz to match the Core Ultra 9 185H and Ultra 7 155H, respectively.
Naturally, the principle attraction of the Zenbook Duo is the dual-touchscreen setup with a detachable, slim keyboard and touchpad. Both 14-inch OLED panels assist as much as 3K resolutions as much as 2800×1880 with 120Hz refresh charges, although FHD (1920 x 1200) OLED options operating at 60Hz are an choice. Variants with 32GB or 64GB of LPDDR5X reminiscence and between 1TB to 2TB of PCIe Gen4x4 solid-state storage imply the specs are comparatively versatile, with my pattern unit providing a mix that leans towards the high-end.
Recommended configuration
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Design and construct high quality
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The most hanging characteristic that units the Zenbook Duo other than different laptops I’ve used, at the least in its default configuration, is how thick and chunky the underside half of the chassis is. Of course, that is due to the distinctive design with its removable keyboard and trackpad combo sitting atop a secondary 14-inch OLED touchscreen and, these mixed, above a fold-out metallic kickstand. It makes for a severely chunky chassis on the underside finish paired with a thin prime panel, although all the pieces is wrapped in a modern metallic shell.
Opening the display past ~110 levels raises the laptop computer barely on the rear, serving to with airflow and leaving extra space for the down-firing audio system to resonate in opposition to a desk. The slight incline additionally helps typing really feel a bit extra comfy, although the keys initially really feel clunky, with a thick membrane beneath. I’ll admit this wears off after some time, and I’d grown accustomed to the removable keyboard whereas writing most of this evaluate with the Zenbook Duo itself. The touchpad is serviceable, with invisible, bodily left and proper click on buttons, and measures roughly 6.76 inches diagonally.
Once you perceive that the removable keyboard is barely 7mm (0.27 inches) thick and solely weighs 312g (0.68 lbs), it turns into clear that ASUS has achieved one thing particular. I can forgive the significantly chunky steel kickstand and weighty development of the Zenbook Duo, because it’s all offset by the outstanding process of nonetheless together with a purposeful bodily keyboard and touchpad. Around the outer chassis, it opts for a delicate design of sharp strains and a tiny brand, and I dig it.
Sidewards-facing vent placements couple with a smaller exhaust within the display hinge, which prevents your legs from blocking the cooling course of.
On the draw back, there is no bodily webcam privateness shutter. It sounds minor to those that would not often give it a second thought, however I all the time favor to see one included on pricey laptops. Naturally, Windows Hello wants the digicam to make use of face recognition, nevertheless it’s not tough to flick open a shutter every time you boot a laptop computer. Still, it isn’t all dangerous, because the sidewards-facing vent placements couple with a smaller exhaust within the display hinge, which prevents your legs from blocking the cooling course of, one thing all laptop computer manufacturers ought to comply with.
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Port choice is not overly intensive, however the I/O is way from the stingy choices seen on some trendy laptops. You get two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the left aspect alongside a USB-A 3.2, which is mostly sufficient for at the least an exterior mouse throughout journey. Hooking up any of the finest Thunderbolt 4 hubs or docking stations will open up avenues for extra conventional USB-A ports and different extras in the event you want them at a desk.
The proper aspect holds solely an HDMI 2.1 output for exterior screens alongside a mix microphone and headphone jack, which suggests ASUS skipped on an Ethernet port. It’s not a deal breaker like it’s on gaming laptops, which thrive on ultra-low latency, as a third-party USB-C adapter can present wired Internet, and built-in Wi-Fi 6E helps virtually each trendy wi-fi networking answer anyway till Wi-Fi 7 turns into extra frequent. Bluetooth 5.3 assist additionally means most wi-fi mice will not want a USB dongle, and cable-free headphones enable for low-latency listening.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Dual display modes
Once I cleared a bit desk area, I instantly set the Zenbook Duo into one variant of what ASUS formally names ‘twin display mode.’ Technically, the primary sort makes use of the decrease OLED touchscreen as a digital touchpad and keyboard. Still, in the event you’re detaching the bodily Bluetooth keyboard anyway, you would possibly as nicely use it until you need to enter some handwriting with an extra ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus, which can or will not be included within the field, relying in your area and retailer.
The Bluetooth keyboard is held in place by magnets and charging connectors, and the complete underside is coated in an ultra-smooth plastic end to guard the decrease display. There’s no hazard of it coming indifferent in an unintentional knock, because the magnets are robust nearly to the purpose of extra. It’s not a real battle to take away, nevertheless it holds on tight for one thing meant to be commonly indifferent for comfort. Nevertheless, you probably have sufficient desk area to set the Zenbook Duo up this manner, you would possibly fall in love with it as rapidly as I did.
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I typically use conventional laptops with an inexpensive exterior kickstand to raise the show to a snug top that matches my eye degree. In the long term, this protects the well being of my neck since I’m not staring downwards at an uncomfortable angle more often than not. ASUS provides the identical answer within the dual-screen mode, at the least in the event you use the highest display to watch your most targeted purposes. Along the underside display, I retailer fast notes, messaging apps, or internet pages open in Microsoft Edge tabs for reference. Immediately swapping the contents of screens 1 and a pair of might be finished with the F7 key, too.
Since the built-in kickstand is so extremely sturdy, it does not really feel unnerving to set the Zenbook Duo up in dual-screen mode, as I suspected it would. Its 14-inch OLED panels are attractive, however would I need to place them in a method that appears unusually precarious in ASUS’ advert campaigns? It seems to be a non-issue, and the hinge connecting each screens holds additional tight, which helps to stop shakiness. Sure, on a very tough prepare journey or a shaky flight, you may possible need to push the highest display again in opposition to a stable floor, however on a desk, it is excellent.
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Setting the Zenbook Duo right into a side-by-side ‘desktop mode’ feels far much less intuitive, although it has some implied makes use of. ASUS claims this format is “excellent for programmers, researchers, and writers,” which ought to attraction to me, nevertheless it does not maintain a candle to its vertical dual-screen modes. For one, the kickstand does not attain the left and proper edges of the chassis underside, so until you deliver an exterior answer, there’s much more hazard of unintentionally toppling the laptop computer over like a dense newspaper.
Vents are positioned on each side of the laptop computer to assist cycle scorching and funky air inside, and a type of will undoubtedly be blocked on this mode, if solely partially. Plus, relying in your chosen orientation, you may lose entry to both the gathering of USB ports or the HDMI-out and headphone jack when standing the laptop computer on a desk. You might maintain the Zenbook Duo like {a magazine} on this mode, however you may want someplace to retailer the indifferent Bluetooth keyboard, which is not significantly handy. I personal a stand that does not block the vents, and whereas it is a enjoyable expertise to have two vertical screens on this mode, it is nowhere close to as purposeful or sensible.
Finally, ‘sharing mode’ is strictly what it seems like. The Zenbook Duo can open to 180° and lay flat on a desk, basically geared round intimate shows amongst a small group. It will not ever change the standard setting of presenting a PowerPoint slideshow with a wall-facing projector, however having each touchscreens obtainable to some colleagues huddled round and interacting together with your content material is a good way to get your level throughout in a rush. This is the place the ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus shines probably the most, whether or not casually highlighting paperwork or handwriting lengthier scripts within the mode most resembling a conventional pill.
Overall, the twin display mode is the easiest way to make use of this laptop computer, fully matching ASUS’ advertising and Duo namesake. The solely real-world downsides relate to minor gripes with ASUS ScreenXpert getting caught behind the native Windows 11 window-snapping immediate if you’re attempting to rearrange your apps rapidly, which might be irritating. Otherwise, mentioning the on-screen keyboard or handwriting subject might be selective with the six-finger immediate, however as soon as it is up, it is a cheap technique to enter brief quantities of textual content.
Finally, for an uncommon but useful format that ASUS does not explicitly spotlight, you may deactivate the underside display with a shortcut button alongside the highest row to the appropriate of F12, which takes a few seconds for Windows 11 to acknowledge. It’s nothing speedy however units up what I’d take into account a battery-conscious configuration that retains the ergonomic eye-level place with its prime display. You’re unlikely to change this mode on and off in a rush anyway, so the slight delay in activation isn’t any huge deal, and it finally ends up being one in all my favorites.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Performance and benchmarks
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Putting the Zenbook Duo by means of its paces exhibits some fascinating surprises in CPU-centric exams however general constructive efficiency outcomes. Geekbench 6 compares the Core Ultra 9 185H in opposition to laptops that scored in the identical vary, which, unsurprisingly, exhibits a set of comparable chips from Intel throughout the present and former generations. It ranks above the Core Ultra 7 155H and 165H, because it ought to, and sits firmly amongst a handful of thirteenth Gen Core i7-13700H laptops just like the Surface Studio 2 and even manages to edge forward barely of the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404,) which featured a high-end thirteenth Gen Core i9-13900H.
Cinebench R23, one other CPU benchmark, exhibits the Zenbook Duo maintaining with the Dell XPS 14 (9440) and its Core Ultra 7 165H. Two laptops with greater scores appear regarding at first look, that includes the identical Core Ultra 9 185H and fewer highly effective Ultra 7 155H, however the Alienware m16 R2 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) are gaming laptops designed to resist excessive temperatures with the assistance of an extra-chunky chassis and a precedence on airflow. Cinebench 2024 runs on broader {hardware}, together with Arm processors, and will function a contemporary equal for comparisons, however the Zenbook Duo outcomes really feel like an outlier when it scored so unusually low right here.
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Crossmark gathers data from every part and awards an general rating for system efficiency quite than specializing in the CPU. The Zenbook Duo squeezes just under Microsoft’s Surface Studio Laptop 2, that includes the identical, closely-scoring Intel thirteenth Gen Core i7-13700H seen in Geekbench 6 outcomes with 64GB of DDR5 RAM. It’s a implausible place to be, and the Zenbook Duo even edges barely forward of the Studio Laptop 2 in the same PCMark 10 check, which benchmarks trendy workplace utility efficiency.
CrystalDiskMark exams the 2TB Western Digital SN740 PCIe Gen4x4 solid-state onerous drive in my pattern unit, scoring a 4,516 MB/s learn velocity and 5,251 MB/s for write velocity, inserting it greater than earlier ASUS Zenbook OLED variants. The onboard Intel Arc cell graphics are a part of the brand new Core Ultra CPU vary, and a stress check in 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark exhibits it scoring above the formidable AMD Radeon 780M however beneath the Dell XPS 14 (9440) utilizing the identical 8-core iGPU. A slimline devoted GPU from NVIDIA’s RTX 40-Series cell vary would have been a pleasant luxurious however undoubtedly pushes the worth a lot greater.
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Perhaps most fascinating of all my benchmark outcomes, testing each 14-inch OLED touchscreens on the Zenbook Duo confirmed my preliminary suspicions that they don’t seem to be similar. They’re extremely comparable however not an ideal match. Thankfully, you get 100% accuracy for the DCI-P3 coloration gamut on each and between 97-98% for Adobe RGB, however variations in tone response and potential brightness separate the 2.
While the highest panel’s minimal brightness nearly fully deactivates the OLED show and drops to 0.2 nits, the underside panel stops at 4.3 nits. Maximum brightness peaks at 376 nits for the highest panel and 373 nits for the underside. This does not essentially make the highest half considerably higher, as every contains a differing white level.
The OLED screens look implausible, particularly once they dynamically swap to 120Hz on AC energy.
Still, it proves that controlling each screens concurrently with one brightness slider is not fully preferrred. Of course, fidgeting with particular person brightness settings for 2 screens would turn out to be tedious, nevertheless it explains why it typically felt like a slight mismatch when each screens displayed the identical content material. It’s not essentially a flaw; mass manufacturing can set off irregularities like this. Overall, the OLED screens look implausible, particularly once they dynamically swap to 120Hz on AC energy.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Battery life and thermals
Setting the Zenbook Duo to 80% brightness, shut sufficient to precisely 200 nits, I ran PCMark 10’s battery benchmark check, which emulates trendy workplace purposes and video calls till the system routinely shuts down. Only the highest display was lively, with the removable keyboard mounted onto the underside display and energy plans set to ‘balanced.’ Scoring 11 hours half-hour means it comes slightly below the ’13+ hours’ promise made by ASUS, nevertheless it’s price remembering that this benchmark is a nonstop stress check with no idle time.
Anything that survives over 8 hours of fixed use, even when it by no means reaches most efficiency, is respectable. As anticipated, utilizing each screens reduces the potential lifetime. Still, I might fortunately journey with it for work, understanding the 65W USB-C AC charger is compact and versatile sufficient to work with varied energy sources, and quick cost assist will get you adequate vitality to be cell once more rapidly.
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Setting the inventory Windows 11 energy plan to ‘finest efficiency’ and ‘efficiency mode’ within the MyASUS companion app, coupled with operating the Zenbook Duo on AC energy, maximizes the laptop computer’s potential efficiency output. With these in thoughts, I repeated CPU-centric benchmarks like Cinebench to place the elements below stress and used the ‘desktop mode’ configuration with the included kickstand to raise the chassis. Thankfully, the side-mounted vents encourage air circulation away out of your lap if a desk setup is not obtainable.
Analyzing the temperatures of scorching air exhausted instantly from the side-mounted and hinge-mounted vents exhibits nothing greater than 46.6°C (115.8°F) and scorching spots above the decrease OLED display hovering round 36.6°C (97.8°F.) Naturally, utilizing the removable keyboard individually places you in no hazard of feeling discomfort from warmth, and attaching it to the chassis nonetheless advantages from the OLED panel separating it from direct content material with any conductive components.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Camera and audio
The inside webcam is unusually gradual to activate for Windows Hello logins through face recognition throughout a clear boot. Waking the laptop computer from sleep or dismissing the lock display is as quick accurately. Still, after turning it on from a whole shutdown, I’m left ready on a ‘preparing’ message for a few seconds and infrequently choose to sort my PIN as an alternative. It’s a disgrace, and I anticipated higher from a laptop computer loaded with a high-end Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, however maybe this may enhance over time with software program updates. Image high quality is a bit disappointing, too, so you would be higher off utilizing your cellphone as a webcam in the event you’re recording native content material.
The Zenbook Duo sounds implausible for all types of audio with Dolby Atmos assist.
Thankfully, the audio aspect is a special story. I’ve misplaced depend of what number of laptops I’ve examined through the years, and the audio system are hardly ever excellent until they’re considerably outsized fashions with sufficient area to suit a set of first rate tweeters and a compact subwoofer. Since ASUS partnered with Harmon/Kardon, the expertise needs to be higher than the half-baked disappointments in most industrial models. That’s confirmed true in my testing, because the Zenbook Duo sounds implausible for all types of audio, with Dolby Atmos assist baked right into a dynamic setting that routinely adjusts based mostly in your content material.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: The competitors
Quick hyperlinks
It was Lenovo that offered me on 2-in-1 laptops within the first place, so it feels pure to check this Zenbook Duo to the Yoga Book 9i. It’s smaller general, at 13.3 inches quite than ASUS’ 14, however with a pair of two.8K OLED touchscreens and nearly similar modes, it is a pure competitor. The main draw back for Lenovo is its alternative of previous-gen Intel Core i7-1355U processor, which suggests Intel Iris Xe expertise for onboard graphics quite than the trendy improve to Intel Arc. Plus, whereas it appears functionally comparable, it does not look half as modern when folded and requires you to hold the removable keyboard and its different equipment individually.
Looking to HP as an alternative with its Spectre Fold grants you a big enhance to a 17-inch display in the event you detach the included keyboard and stand it by itself. It nonetheless folds away into a conventional laptop computer mode with the keyboard hooked up, just like the Zenbook Duo, although you may drop to a 12.3-inch type in the event you use it this manner. HP sticks with Intel’s twelfth Gen Core i7-1250U, however this does not cease the price from rising far above what ASUS can present with the Zenbook Duo. You’re compromising general comfort, and the Spectre Fold would carry out higher within the much less thrilling ‘sharing mode’ attributable to its in any other case spectacular folding display expertise.
Zenbook Duo UX8406: Should you purchase it?
You can buy this if …
You mustn’t purchase this if …
ASUS turned me onto its often-eccentric catalog of high-end {hardware} by packaging a genuinely helpful mixture of attractive OLED touchscreens right into a delicate chassis. The Zenbook Duo is a implausible laptop computer that virtually by no means faltered throughout my testing, leaving solely a want for a greater webcam and an Ethernet adapter freebie thrown within the field. It’s not excellent, nevertheless it’s as shut as you will get on this value vary, and I’d heartily suggest it among the many finest 2-in-1 laptops we have ever tried.
I do know it is impacted me as a result of I’ve no want to close it down or tidy it away. I’ve extra concepts on how finest to make use of this intelligent display mixture each jiffy, and thus far, it is labored brilliantly on nearly each event. The vertical mode is the least fascinating, however I’m anticipating inspiration to strike and discover a real use for it. If it is inside your finances, you will not remorse selecting up this triumphant 2024 revision of the Zenbook Duo.
ASUS Zenbook Duo (2024) UX8406
A strong dual-screen laptop computer with an AI-powered Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, revolutionary software program, and intelligent touchscreen management, excellent for multitasking on the go.
