Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Laptops with two screen — it ’s an thought that just wo n’t die . Whether it ’s a screen that folds in two or a pair of blind bind together , there have now been many iterations of the conception . None have taken off like foldable smartphones with two silver screen have , but this year atCES 2024 , we ’re envision the trend bear on forward , namely with the Asus Zenbook Duo .
The equipment feature two connected 14 - inch organic light-emitting diode screens , both of which are touchscreens and have a 120Hz refresh pace , and attempts to make a singular , portable multitasking experience with them . They ’re attached to each other via a “ lay - flatcar ” 180 - arcdegree flexible joint that allows the two projection screen to be positioned in three primary modes .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
In “ Dual CRT screen ” manner , the two 16:10 screens stack on top of each other using the build - in kickstand for a perpendicular multitasking experience , while the wireless keyboard float individually on the desk . cause a 2d screenland above the primary one is definitely eye - get , and also gives you the best access to both screens in landscape .
“ Desktop ” mode set up the two screens side by side vertically , again using the kickstand to prop them up . The “ laptop ” style is ego - explanatory , allowing you to handle one of the screens with the magnetic keyboard and use the gadget as a stock clamshell laptop computer . last , there ’s a laptop computer mode option without the keyboard at all , which uses just the on - concealment keyboard and software .
Asus has a few slap-up whoremaster up its sleeves to help better navigate without a keyboard , such as a six - digit dab to add up the virtual keyboard , or a six - finger’s breadth swipe down to access a mathematical group of mount and tools . One of the best features is Window Flick , which let you send an program or window from one screen to the other with just the flick of your digit .
Asus also has an updated version of its ScreenXpert diligence to take more habit of the second blind , as well as a floating Control Center taskbar . A lot of these are updates to things you could do onthe honest-to-goodness Zenbook Duo , which featured a low bar of projection screen above the physical keyboard instead of a second full - size display .
The whole bundle can be close up from here with the keyboard fit in between the screens , with everything weighing just under 3 pounds .
Of course , Asus is n’t the only company to have this approximation . The young Zenbook Duo has a interchangeable blueprint to the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i , which it itself take inspiration from the initial Surface Neo design . That gimmick never saw the twinkle of day , but the feel of it endure in devices like these . TheYoga Book 9iis now in its 2d generation and features an update to the a la mode Meteor Lake Core Ultra processors from Intel .
There are three main dispute between the Yoga Book 9i Gen 9 and the Zenbook Duo . First , the Yoga Book 9i Gen 2 has slightly smaller 13.3 - column inch OLED screens . The extra silver screen size on the Zenbook Duo , while subtle , is useful in “ desktop ” mode . The 13.3 - inch projection screen of the Yoga Book 9i in 9:16 palpate a scrap squished .
The Yoga Book 9i also has a magnetic “ origami ” pedestal that can be fold up to support the height of the treble - screen mode , whereas the Zenbook Duo ’s kickstand is built in . The most important departure , though , is the full - size keyboard and touchpad that the Zenbook Duo has . The Yoga Book 9i forces you to bring a separate mouse or apply the on - screen touchpad .
gadget with foldable filmdom , which both Lenovo and Asus have , seem to offer an advantage over the duple - silver screen options in that they can be used in full - screen modeling . It ’s courteous to have access code to a big 17 - inch screen that can be close down into something much more portable . They do n’t , however , function as well in the laptop mode due to their small size . HP ’s Spectre Foldablefrom last class was the latest gimmick to utilize this bod factor , following in the footsteps of theAsus Zenbook Fold 17andThinkPad X1 Fold .
I ’ve always wish the idea of these experimental devices , which essay to make laptops good tablets and better desktop surrogate . Some people get it on to contain around a portable USB - C external monitor lizard to get that two - screen multitasking experience , while Apple will even allow you set up up your iPad to double up as a petty monitor with your MacBook . If you already own both devices , Apple ’s solution feels the most economical , but the idea of a individual gimmick for all those use cases is attractive . The Zenbook Duo might be the estimable version of this idea so far ,
