By Although laptops are far more portable than desktop computers, you have to give up a lot of processing power for a device that fits in your backpack. With a second built-in display behind the keyboard, the Asus Zenbook Duo helps you regain some of that power. Some of the greatest hardware available in a 2025 laptop is located behind that second screen.
This device can help you accomplish more while on the road because it has twice the screen real estate of conventional laptops, and its design is surprisingly well-thought-out. especially yet, it is still a pricey, bulky laptop that you should only think about if you need the best PC experience possible, especially when traveling.
Specs and features
This is the Asus dual-screen Zenbook’s second iteration. The most recent Lunar Lake chips have replaced the Intel Meteor Lake CPUs that came with the original Zenbook Duo.
For the same $1,699.99, Costco will sell a different model with 1200p OLED displays and twice as much storage as the one I have been evaluating, which has two identical 2880×1800 OLEDs. One less expensive model with a 1200p OLED and a Core Ultra 7 265H rather than the Core Ultra 9 found in the other SKUs will be available later. But it is only $100 less expensive. The model that is recommended in this review (UX8406CA-PS99T) is the one that I would purchase.
- Number of models: UX8406
- CPU: 285H Intel Core Ultra 9
- Memory: LPDDR5X, 32GB
- Intel Arc 140T graphics
- 14-inch OLED display, 2880 x 1800
- 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD for storage
- Webcam: 1080p infrared webcam; connectivity: HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio connector, 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps), 1x USB-A (5Gbps).
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7.
- 75Whr battery with 65W charging
- Measurements in inches: 12.34 (W) by 8.58 (D) by 0.57-0.78 (H)
- 3.64 lbs (1.65 kg) in weight
- Tested MSRP: $1,699.99
 Displays and speakers
This machine’s two 2880×1800 OLED displays look fantastic. Together with OLED’s brilliant colors and flawless blacks, the resolution provides an incredibly clear image. With both screens measuring 500 nits, the brightness is superb. That is enough bright to show HDR content (which is supported) as intended. Additionally, both screens provide accurate touch responses.
The screens’ highly reflective glass coating is its only drawback. To make the Zenbook Duo usable outside or in extremely bright lighting, you will need all of that high brightness. Dolby Vision, Pantone Color, and other certifications are among the features and capabilities that Asus promises with its “Lumina” brand of OLEDs.
Additionally, Lumina panels come with Asus’ OLED Care capabilities, which gradually rotate and refresh pixels to lessen image persistence and burn-in—problems for any OLED that will show the same user interface elements (like the Windows taskbar) every day. Although I have not used the laptop long enough to determine whether these features have an impact, it is good that Asus is aware of this possible problem.
Unlike screens, the Zenbook Duo does not serve as a speaker. Two speakers with Dolby Atmos capabilities are included at the bottom. You can only accomplish so much with laptop speakers that face downwards if you are aiming for Atmos sound quality comparable to that of a home theater.
Keyboard and trackpad
Despite being a detachable, Bluetooth-enabled slate, the Zenbook Duo’s keyboard feels quite comparable to those of previous Asus laptops. The board can be recharged via a tiny USB-C port on the left edge, but when connected, it also draws power from the laptop. An on/off switch for Bluetooth functioning is located next to the port.
The bottom of each press is at least quite solid and not mushy, although there is very little key travel, which is to be expected considering the tiny form factor. Regretfully, the detachable keyboard lacks lighting. Touch typists will not require the LEDs because the layout is at least fairly typical. The arrow cluster is the one element of the layout that bothers me; even though there is a lot of wasted space, it uses half-sized keys.
The keyboard and trackpad are combined. The trackpad feels remarkably solid for something that is not permanently connected to the laptop, much like the keys. Compared to the trackpad on business-oriented computers like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, it is a fair amount of size. The touch reaction has been flawless, and the click mechanism is steady and silent. There was a slight lag for a few seconds when switching from attached to wifi modes, but that was the only problem I could see.
Battery life
The 2025 Asus Zenbook Duo is marginally bigger than usual 14-inch laptops and boasts a robust 75Whr battery. But with two OLEDs and a Core Ultra 9, its power requirements are high. Although the machine comes with a large 65W USB-C charger, I tested it using several smaller third-party USB-C chargers, and they all reached the same 65W peak charging speed.
The Zenbook Duo lags behind other recently introduced laptops by at least an hour in the regular PCWorld battery depletion test. You will not have as much buffer as some of the competition, but it is still a laptop that can be used for an entire workday.
That only applies to “laptop” mode with a single screen. The battery life predictably drops by a little over one-third while both screens are in use. Getting a whole workday out of the Zenbook Duo in dual-screen mode may be challenging, particularly as the battery ages. Switching to 120Hz will also shorten the benchmark’s lifespan because it was run in the 60Hz setting by default.
Conclusion
Unquestionably, the 2025 Asus Zenbook Duo is a fantastic laptop. It has two stunning OLED screens and is a quick machine. In addition to the ingenious detachable keyboard, this device has unmatched mobile multitasking capabilities. Furthermore, the Core Ultra 9 has more than enough speed to keep up. The battery life is merely passable, though.
Although Windows 11 is still not a particularly appealing touch operating system, Asus has included many features that make things a little better. Customizable control panels are helpful, and the on-screen keyboard is superior to the Windows default. Despite the inconsistent handwriting input, I also like that the Zenbook Duo has a stylus.
Those who desire all of this dual-screen functionality will not be let down. But compared to other laptops, the Zenbook Duo is a little thicker and heavier. The cost is objectively high for a laptop, even though it is fair for a device with two 1800p OLEDs. In addition to being less expensive and having a lighter, thinner chassis, certain devices are equally capable of performing the functions of a laptop. Therefore, you should only purchase the Zenbook Duo if you want to fully utilize its dual-screen capabilities.
