Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo evaluate: A dual-screen laptop computer for work and play

Finest Costs In the present day: Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo

Do you want having a display in your laptop computer? Excellent news! The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has two of them! Extra is healthier, proper?

Properly, on this case… sure. Extra is unquestionably higher. Whereas most video games don’t readily help show throughout a number of screens concurrently, additional show house is at all times appreciated, particularly in case you typically want to look at a information or check with exterior web sites whereas enjoying (Path of Exile gamers, I’m taking a look at you).

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo isn’t only a gimmick, both. As an alternative, it’s a sturdy, enticing, and well-executed dual-screen laptop computer, although it does have a notable downside.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Specs and options as-tested

The primary trace of the issue may be discovered within the specification sheet.

This laptop computer has Intel’s Core Extremely 9 386H. Whereas that is a part of Intel’s newest Panther Lake silicon, the CPU has solely 16 cores, simply 4 that are Efficiency cores. The laptop computer additionally has 32GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe 5.0 strong state drive. Nvidia’s RTX 5090 graphics rounds out the configuration.

• Mannequin: GX651
• CPU: Intel Core Extremely 9 386H
• Reminiscence: 32GB LPDDR5X-8533
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
• NPU: Intel NPU as much as 50 TOPS
• Show: Twin 16-inch 2880×1800 120Hz HDR OLED touchscreen
• Storage: 1TB PCIe 5.0 SSD
• Webcam and microphone: 1080p webcam with IR digicam and privateness shutter, twin microphone array
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C with DisplayPort 2.1 and Energy Supply, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm audio combo jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
• Biometrics: Home windows Hiya facial recognition
• Battery capability: 90 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 13.98 x 9.69 x 0.78 inches
• Weight: 6.22 kilos
• Working System: Home windows 11 Residence
• Worth: $5,499.99 MSRP

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo that I examined was the premium configuration, which is priced at an eyebrow-raising $5,499.99 MSRP. I’ve reviewed laptops above $5,000 earlier than, however they sometimes had 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage (or extra).

Asus additionally presents a $4,499.99 configuration with an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti as an alternative of the RTX 5090. The 2 configurations are in any other case equivalent.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is a dual-screen laptop computer with two 16-inch shows. One is within the typical location, whereas the second is positioned the place you’d usually discover the keyboard. 

The laptop computer keyboard isn’t hooked up however as an alternative detachable. You may place it on prime of the second show, through which case the ROG Zephyrus Duo will seem like a standard laptop computer. Alternatively, you’ll be able to detach the keyboard and use it wirelessly.

In that case, the ROG Zephyrus Duo is principally two OLED shows with a hinge within the center, and works extra like an all-in-one PC than a laptop computer. It even has a built-in kickstand that may help the shows as if the laptop computer is a huge transportable monitor. The shows can be utilized in a stacked configuration (vertically, one above the opposite) or in a side-by-side configuration (horizontally, one show to the left and the opposite to the fitting).

However is it any good? The reply is a straightforward sure.

Certainly, you’d be hard-pressed to note it’s a dual-screen laptop computer when the keyboard is positioned over the second show. It seems to be and appears like a typical 16-inch gaming laptop computer. As soon as the keyboard is indifferent, although, the additional display actual property is helpful. The whole show actual property is just like a 24-inch or 25-inch monitor, albeit one with a everlasting division down the center.

This isn’t fairly as useful for gaming as for productiveness, as most video games usually are not designed to be displayed on a number of screens directly. With that mentioned, I feel numerous avid gamers will prefer to play within the stacked configuration, with one show positioned above the opposite. A sport may be performed on one show whereas a written information or YouTube video is seen on the opposite. Many fashionable video games profit from fast entry to on-line guides, and the ROG Zephyrus is good for these titles.

Distinctive dual-screen design apart, the ROG Zephyrus Duo can be a well-built laptop computer even when it didn’t have a second display. It truly feels extra inflexible and premium than most premium 16-inch gaming laptops. The laptop computer is a bit thick at eight-tenths of an inch, and it ideas the scales at 6.22 kilos, however these figures aren’t a lot totally different from 16-inch laptops that lack a second show.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Keyboard, touchpad

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo ships with a removable keyboard and touchpad. It’s a single unit constructed to precisely match the laptop computer’s inside dimensions, and it succeeds. In actual fact, individuals who don’t know the keyboard is detachable in all probability gained’t suppose to attempt it. The keyboard is saved firmly in place with magnets; it doesn’t budge or wobble when typing on the laptop computer or choosing it up.

Maybe the one giveaway is the keyboard’s really feel. It presents a superb quantity of key journey (1.7 millimeters), and keys activate with a clean motion, however the keys have much less tactile really feel than I’d desire. I’m choosing nits right here, although. It’s an satisfying keyboard total and I didn’t have any downside typing precisely.

The keyboard is wi-fi and due to this fact has a battery. Charging can occur over USB-C or through a connector on the bezel of the second show, which robotically expenses the keyboard each time it’s hooked up to the ROG Zephyrus Duo. Although meant to be used with the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo, the keyboard makes use of Bluetooth, and it’s doable to pair it with different units. RGB-LED keyboard backlighting is included and the backlight may be personalized via Asus’ built-in software program.

The included touchpad measures virtually six inches large and almost 4 inches deep. It additionally supplies a bodily click on motion which, although shallow, is noticeable. Whereas opponents just like the Razer Blade 16 have an ever-so-slightly bigger touchpad, the ROG Zephyrus Duo’s touchpad is massive and ranks among the many laptop computer’s finest options. It feels responsive and supplies numerous house for executing multi-touch gestures.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Show, audio

Foundry / Matthew Smith

As talked about, the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has not one however two 16-inch shows. Each are OLED touchscreens with 2880×1800 decision, a refresh fee of as much as 120Hz, and HDR help.

They’re stunning. OLED show expertise supplies excellent distinction, vivid shade, and deep black ranges, all of which makes for a tremendously alluring picture. And whereas the shows lack 4K decision, they nonetheless present an ultra-sharp pixel density of 212 pixels per inch. That’s a lot sharper than a 27-inch 4K monitor, which has about 163 pixels per inch.

Brightness generally is a downside for some OLED laptops, nevertheless it’s much less of a difficulty right here. The shows can exceed 400 nits in SDR. They’re additionally VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 Licensed, which implies they will exceed 1,000 nits in HDR, although solely in particular circumstances, equivalent to when displaying small vibrant objects in a darkish scene.

G-Sync is supported, although solely on the “predominant” show, which is the show that’s seen when utilizing the laptop computer in conventional clamshell mode. That’s good, however I’d’ve favored to see G-Sync out there on each shows.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The shows are additionally very shiny. That in flip could make the shows tough to view in vibrant rooms or outdoor, even with the show brightness turned as much as its most. This, nonetheless, can be true of most laptops with an OLED show.

Audio is delivered by a six-speaker system with two tweeters and 4 woofers, and it has the products. The laptop computer supplies loads of quantity and a transparent sound stage that by no means appears overwhelmed or slowed down by bass-heavy tracks or explosions in motion scenes. Whereas high-quality exterior audio system will nonetheless be preferable, the audio system are higher than common, and I anticipate some homeowners will suppose the included audio is nice sufficient.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

A 1080p webcam lurks within the skinny bezel above the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo’s higher show. The digicam field-of-view is extraordinarily large by default, so that you’ll in all probability need to crop the video or use an auto-framing function (which successfully reduces the decision).

Audio is recorded through a dual-microphone array additionally crammed into the higher show’s prime bezel. It has nice audio seize, although it nonetheless suffers the hole high quality frequent to a laptop computer microphone.

Biometric login is supplied due to an IR digicam that helps Home windows Hiya facial recognition. This methodology of login is fast, dependable, and works even in a darkish room.

Whereas the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo’s webcam and microphone setup is strong, it’s nothing particular. Most fashionable Home windows laptops now supply a 1080p webcam and twin array microphone.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Connectivity

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Every of those additionally help DisplayPort 2.1 for video output and Energy Supply 3.0 as much as 100 watts. Meaning the ports can be utilized to cost the laptop computer, or to supply small quantities of energy to different units. Word, although, that the ports don’t present sufficient energy to totally energy the laptop computer, which ships with a 300-watt energy adapter.

The laptop computer additionally has two USB-A ports with help for USB 3.2 and information speeds as much as 10Gbps. Further connectivity consists of HDMI 2.1, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

One port that’s notably absent is wired Ethernet. Though it’s turning into much less frequent with every passing 12 months, Ethernet remains to be out there on many 16-inch gaming laptops, together with price range machines.

The ROG Zephyrus Duo’s connectivity presents a variety of choices, however all of the ports are discovered on the system’s flanks. It is a consequence of the dual-screen design, as there’s no strategy to place ports on the laptop computer’s rear with out blocking them in some use circumstances. Asus locations the ports on the rear of every flank, no less than, which mitigates cable muddle as a lot as doable.

Wi-fi connectivity is robust, because the ROG Zephyrus Duo has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. These are the newest variations of every normal. These requirements aren’t unusual amongst high-end gaming laptops nevertheless it’s good to see them included. 

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Efficiency

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is somewhat fascinating from a {hardware} perspective. That’s as a result of it pairs Intel’s Core Extremely 9 386H with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090. 

The Nvidia GPU is after all a recognized amount at this level, however the Core Extremely 9 386H is a brand new chip. It supplies 16 CPU cores (4 efficiency cores, eight environment friendly cores, and 4 low-power environment friendly cores). Nevertheless, it has a miserly most Turbo energy draw of 80 watts, and a most Turbo clock velocity of 4.9GHz. For comparability, an Intel Core Extremely 9 285HX has a most Turbo energy draw of 160 watts and may clock as much as 5.5GHz. 

Asus helps the CPU and GPU with 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 of RAM and a 1TB PCIe 5.0 strong state drive. If 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage appears a bit slim for a laptop computer with an MSRP north of $5,000, I agree. In 2024 I reviewed an MSI Titan 18 HX that had 128GB of RAM and 4TB of storage at $5,399! Whereas it’s tempting guilty this on the ROG Zephyrus Duo’s uncommon dual-screen design, the broader RAM and storage pricing disaster little question contributes to the issue.

Word: I examined the laptop computer in Turbo mode for efficiency benchmarks, and Silent mode in battery benchmarks, with the Hybrid GPU mode engaged in all circumstances. Asus does embrace a handbook mode that enables some further customization, together with further graphics energy.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

First up is PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark, and it proves to be favorable for the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo. Whereas the CPU isn’t exceptional by way of its multi-core efficiency, it nonetheless has numerous cores and good clock speeds. Extra importantly, it’s paired with quick RAM, a quick strong state drive, and a quick GPU, all of which assist the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo prime a PCMark 10 rating of 9,123.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Transferring on to Cinebench 2024, a closely multi-threaded CPU benchmark, we see the narrative take a much less favorable flip for the ROG Zephyrus Duo. 

Whereas the Intel Core Extremely 9 386H has 16 cores, solely 4 of these are Efficiency cores. That places the Zephyrus Duo in an uncomfortable place, as a result of comparably priced gaming laptops normally have Intel Core Extremely 9 285 or 290H processors—or AMD’s Ryzen AI 9. All of these have extra CPU cores and/or extra high-performance cores. The tip result’s that the Intel Core Extremely 9 386H can’t sustain.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

It’s a considerably related story in Handbrake, one other closely multi-threaded CPU benchmark. On this case, nonetheless, the hole between the ROG Zephyrus Duo and its opponents is far tighter. The ROG Zephyrus Duo with Intel Core Extremely 9 386H even managed a tiny win over the Razer Blade 16 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. 

These benchmarks level out the ROG Zephyrus Duo’s greatest flaw. The Intel Core Extremely 9 386H can’t sustain with the sorts of CPUs sometimes present in comparably priced gaming laptops, together with Intel’s personal Core Extremely 275HX/285HX/290HX {hardware}.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Now we transfer on to 3DMark, the place we see the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo with Nvidia RTX 5090 submit a Time Spy rating of 18,970 and a Port Royale rating of 13,844. Because the graph reveals, these are excessive scores however in direction of the decrease finish of what ought to be anticipated from an Nvidia RTX 5090.

As soon as once more, out there energy is a priority, because the RTX 5090 within the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has a most graphics energy of 150 watts. Some high-end gaming laptops ship as much as 175 watts.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Shadow of the Tomb Raider additionally reveals the boundaries of efficiency. The sport hit a mean of 165 frames per second at 1080p decision and Highest element. That’s not a nasty end result, and principally ties the Razer Blade 16 with Nvidia RTX 5090. Nevertheless, gaming laptops with extra highly effective CPUs, in addition to extra out there graphics energy for the RTX 5090 GPU, can obtain higher outcomes. Even the Lenovo Legion 9i averaged the next framerate, although it “solely” has an RTX 5080.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

It’s the same although barely worse story in Metro Exodus, which we check at 1080p and Excessive element, although with ray tracing turned off. It is a CPU heavy graphics check, so it’s not a shock to see the ROG Zephyrus Duo lag the sector.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The story is barely higher in Cyberpunk 2077, which we check at 1080p at each the Extremely preset and the Overdrive ray-traced preset. This benchmark sees the efficiency of the ROG Zephyrus Duo return to competitors with the Razer Blade 16 (2025). Nevertheless, the Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI Raider 16 Max HX nonetheless have a major benefit.

This makes for a transparent verdict. The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo isn’t as fast accurately given its $5,000+ MSRP. Asus clearly leaned in direction of a extra transportable, energy environment friendly machine as an alternative of 1 that goes all-out on efficiency, and that has penalties. 

This isn’t to say the ROG Zephyrus Duo is sluggish—its poor solely compared to laptops just like the MSI Raider 16 Max HX and Lenovo Legion 9i, which rank among the many quickest we’ve examined. Nonetheless, if performance-per-dollar is your precedence, the ROG Zephyrus Duo won’t be for you.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Battery life and portability

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo has a 90 watt-hour battery. That’s massive, however a bit lower than the 99 watt-hour most battery dimension that’s allowed on passenger flights, and is the standard efficient cap for a laptop computer. Asus combats that with efficient battery administration, and the outcomes are spectacular.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

To my shock, the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo was in a position to endure PCWorld’s normal battery check, which loops a 4K clip of the quick movie Tears of Metal, for nearly 13 hours. This determine was produced with one show energetic and the discrete GPU in hybrid mode, that means it may be used however is turned off when not required.

Asus’ software program deserves numerous credit score for this end result. I obtained notifications once I was on battery energy and an utility was utilizing the GPU within the background. Asus’ software program additionally supplies a button to terminate all purposes utilizing the GPU. That made it apparent which apps ought to be closed to forestall extreme battery drain.

Utilizing each shows has solely a reasonable influence on battery life. Repeating the battery check with each screens energetic drained the battery dry in simply over 11 hours. The precise battery life discount was 100 minutes for the dual-screen mode vs. the single-screen mode. That also leaves the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo with above-average battery life for its class.

Although these outcomes are wonderful, potential homeowners ought to do not forget that it’s doable to empty the battery far more rapidly. Battery life of 1 to 2 hours ought to be anticipated in case you attempt to play a sport with the laptop computer in a high-performance profile. My testing was performed in Silent mode with the Hybrid GPU mode.

That’s true for all laptops with a strong CPU and GPU, nonetheless, and the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo’s total battery life efficiency is excellent for a laptop computer in its class.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo: Conclusion

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo efficiently brings the dual-screen components that works for its mid-range ZenBook Duo to a high-end gaming laptop computer. It’s not fairly as helpful for gaming as it’s for productiveness, however having a second display out there is useful if you should reference a information or video whereas enjoying. And whereas the ROG Zephyrus Duo is primarily a gaming laptop computer, it’s additionally a strong selection for normal productiveness, through which case the dual-screen design is a serious benefit. 

There’s a trade-off, nonetheless, and that’s the performance-per-dollar Asus can supply. The ROG Zephyrus Duo makes use of an Intel Core Extremely 9 386H processor with 16 cores. Solely 4 of these are efficiency cores, and that has penalties for the laptop computer’s multi-core CPU efficiency. Whereas it’s hardly sluggish, the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is behind a laptop computer just like the MSI Raider 16 Max HX, which has the 24-core Intel Core Extremely 9 290HX Plus.

Happily for Asus, the ROG Zephyrus Duo strikes again with a number of wonderful options. It has a big touchpad, an important sound system, two beautiful OLED shows, and lengthy battery life (as long as the discrete GPU isn’t engaged). These perks will assist some customers overlook the Core Extremely 9 386H’s modest scores in multi-threaded benchmarks.