Review: The Zenbook Duo OLED Is What Laptop Productivity Was Always Meant to Be

I’ve never been a two-in-one person. Never liked two-in-one shampoos, never liked folding phones, because at that point, just get a phone and a tablet. I never liked the idea of a dual-screen laptop either, because honestly, just get a monitor and plug in your laptop. You get my point.

I’ve used a folding phone before, and I was proven right; sure, you get more screen, but now it eats more battery and bulks up your pocket. I’d never really used a dual-screen laptop until now, though. And now, I wish I hadn’t.

Specs for the Nerds

For all the nerds out there, here are the full specs for the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED: It’s powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 9 Processor 185H with a built-in AI Boost NPU, paired with Intel Arc Graphics, 32 GB LPDDR5X memory, and a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

Physically, it measures 31.35 x 21.79 x 1.46 –1.99 cm (12.34" x 8.58" x 0.57"– 0.78"), making it impressively compact for a dual-screen laptop.

Its dual 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreens boast a 120 Hz refresh rate, 0.2 ms response time, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, and VESA HDR True Black 500 certification; all Pantone Validated with 70% less harmful blue light.

You’ll find all the essentials too: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1, a USB-A port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack, all backed by Harman/Kardon audio, a 75 Wh battery, and 65 W USB-C charging.

Design and Display

Out the box, the Zenbook Duo is nothing special. It comes in one grey colour with a few subtle design lines and simple lettering. But it immediately cancels out my biggest issue with dual-screen devices: heft. It’s surprisingly thin and light, which already earns it a few points.

Once you open it, though, the magic begins. The display is the selling point of the Zenbook Duo, or should I say, the displays. The laptop features a 14-inch main screen that expands to 19.8 inches when you use both. They’re stunning and genuinely great to use, thanks to the OLED panel and 120Hz refresh rate, something noticeably missing on the ProArt P16. Both are touchscreens, too, and impressively responsive.

The detachable keyboard is also worth mentioning; it snaps on and off magnetically with ease and feels surprisingly satisfying to attach.

Productivity Unleashed

We all know, or might even be, that person who has 50 tabs open at once. There’s nothing wrong with that, until you’re trying to manage all of them on a single screen. And this is where the Zenbook Duo flourishes. This laptop is designed for people like us. Not only can you use the two screens for separate tabs, but depending on how you set it up, you can have up to eight tabs open at once. Switching between screens is seamless and satisfying, thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. The displays are bright, and you can adjust their brightness independently, which is surprisingly handy.

Detach the physical keyboard, and you can use the laptop in either portrait or landscape mode, thanks to the integrated stand. The second screen isn’t just for multitasking, it can actually become a keyboard through a simple gesture. It’s a little strange at first, but once you get the hang of it, it feels like a fun party trick. You could even have two people working on it simultaneously, one watching a show while the other gets work done.

A stylus comes with the laptop, making editing, drawing, and note-taking effortless. There’s a wide range of ways to work with it: for instance, you could use the top screen with the webcam for a virtual meeting while referencing notes on the secondary display.

The reason I’ve gone from a dual-screen skeptic to someone who actually wants this laptop is mainly for research. With two portable screens, I don’t have to switch tabs constantly when gathering stats for an article; everything is in sight. It also turns heads in cafes, the laptop appears compact when folded, but transforms into a mountain of productivity once both screens are unfolded that most people haven’t seen before. 

Power and Performance

The Zenbook Duo OLED may not boast the absolute top-of-the-line chip in today’s world, but for my work as a writer, it handled everything I threw at it with ease. Multiple tabs open, research, writing, and light media tasks ran smoothly with no lag, though heavy editors might find it slightly less forgiving.

The laptop does ramp up the fans when both screens are in use, but they are barely noticeable; quiet enough to stay focused without distraction. Battery life, as you might expect from a thin dual-screen device with OLED displays, is around 4–5 hours depending on workload. It’s not exceptional, but it’s surprisingly solid considering the hardware it’s powering, and fast charging makes up for it.

One of the highlights is the keyboard battery. I never had to charge it during two weeks of use. The Zenbook also includes smart features like AI noise canceling, which works well though isn’t mind-blowing, and smart battery management, which helps ensure you get the most out of each charge.

Everyday Use and Final Thoughts

At first glance, the Zenbook Duo OLED is light, thin, and surprisingly portable given everything it carries. You wouldn’t even know it has two screens by looking at it closed. It slips easily into a backpack and doesn’t feel cumbersome, which is a rare treat for a dual-screen device. The most underrated feature is the stand which extends almost flat, creating a seamless user experience that makes interacting with both screens feel natural and effortless.

The Zenbook Duo OLED also surprises with its audio. Equipped with Harman/Kardon speakers, the same high-end tech now found in luxury cars, the clarity and depth of the bass are remarkable for a laptop this size. Whether you’re editing videos, listening to music, or just watching a show, the sound quality makes a noticeable difference, further elevating the dual-screen experience.

Now, it’s not cheap, the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED (Ultra 9, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) comes in at around R49,999 on the ASUS South Africa store. That’s premium laptop money, and to be fair, that’s exactly what this is. You’re paying for innovation, craftsmanship, and the novelty of dual screens that actually make sense.

ASUS has taken practical innovation seriously, creating a device that’s portable, powerful, and surprisingly fun to use. Once you’ve experienced two screens working in harmony, going back to a single display feels like losing a limb.