Verdict
The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo combines record - break off speed with a great pair of screens , making it an exceptional option for top - line play and creative employment . But , ergonomic compromises mean you should only buy this laptop if you value its unique feature .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Some companies are n’t shy about pushing design boundaries , and the dual - screen ROG Zephyrus Duo is another question - turner from Asus .
This is the sort of founding masses will appreciate , and it ’s not just about game . Asus compute it ’ll turn up popular with streamers and creatives who need more infinite for timeline and communication tools .
There ’s no magnate shortage , thanks to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and flagship AMD C.P.U. . But , there ’s no shortage of high terms here either , with this range - topping Zephyrus ( GX650PY - NM010W ) cost $ 3999/£4599/€5599 .
Asus rigs like theStrix Scar 16have already come , theMSI Titan GT77is a powerhouse , and forthcoming Alienware andRazerlaptops will aim for ourbest gaming laptopsguide .
Design and Keyboard
Unsurprisingly , the 2nd display – dubbed the ScreenPad Plus – dominate every aspect of the Duo . launch the palpebra and a chemical mechanism hook the ScreenPad to an slant of thirteen degrees , which improves cooling and reckon angles .
It looks coolheaded and futuristic . There ’s an iridescent gash on the eyelid and RGB - make full chicken feed between the ScreenPad and keyboard that add to the vibe .
Build lineament is systematically excellent , and the screen mechanisms work smoothly . You ’ll only want extra protection for this laptop to protect its looks .
At 2.7 kg in weight , 30 millimeter blockheaded and 266 millimetre cryptic , it ’s heavier than the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 andZephyrus M16and expectant than the forthcoming Razer Blade 16 . The MSI Titan GT77 and Alienware m16 are even bigger , though .
The 2nd screen does n’t just add bulk , its comprehension forces the keyboard to the front of the notebook and make the layout cramp . There ’s a exclusive - summit Return key , little cursor buttons and no turn digs . There ’s no wristrest , and Asus ’s rubberize interlingual rendition does n’t attach to the laptop , so it ’s comfortable to knock out of position .
The trackpad has an awkward bit pad sheathing , and the pad is highly narrow . It ’s not nonrational for gaming or originative oeuvre .
It ’s a disgrace , because the keyboard offer up good timber , with per - key RGB LED ignition , 1.7 millimeter of travel and a snappy , ordered typing action that ’s great for employment and games . You ’ll only get a good feel by opting for a mechanical alternative , like the MSI Titan GT77 or the Alienware ’s optional CherryMX raise . It ’s just a pity that everything ’s so squeezed .
The Asus has two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and two USB - degree centigrade connecter with DisplayPort and power delivery . It ’s also have anHDMI 2.1port and a microSD card slot . Internally , there ’s 2.5Gbps Ethernet , Wi - Fi 6Eand Bluetooth 5.3 .
Unfortunately , the fishing gear ’s AMD central processor means noThunderbolt , and there ’s no full - size card reader . Razer and Alienware laptop computer offer the latter , and you ’ll find Thunderbolt on everything with an Intel CPU .
The Duo has a 1080pWindows Hellowebcam but does n’t have a privacy shutter . There ’s no fingerprint proofreader . The couple offer pairs of M.2 and retentiveness one-armed bandit , but getting inside the laptop computer is super unmanageable .
Screen
The main panel of the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is a 16:10Mini LEDdisplay with a 2560 x 1600 resolution . Asus claim a maximum brightness of 1,100 nit , and the screen has 1,024 blind zones . The 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms reply time will satisfy most gamers .
The ScreenPad is a 14 inch panel with a 3840 x 1100 solution designed to keep size and clarity when apps move between the displays . It ’s not Mini LED , but it ’s a Gorilla Glass touchscreen with stylus documentation and IPS technology .
That junior-grade screen is idealistic for streamers and gamers who need infinite for comms and configuration tools as well as creatives who need room for timeline or extra apps . It ’s not for everyone , but it ’s a useful improver .
It ’s easy to use , too . The Asus Screen Xpert app let user to create custom layouts and groups of apps , and the Asus Control Center has dedicated telephone dial and push button for Adobe ’s originative apps .
The independent display is brilliant . In HDR musical mode , the panel attains a 1,047 - nit luminance tier . Its dimming zones deliver genuine punch and nuance in HDR substance . In SDR musical mode , it tops out at a mighty 752nits . The low black point of 0.05 nit means contrast levels of about 15,000:1 , so you get sensational vibrancy and punch in any gaming or creative app .
The Delta E of 1.52 means accurate colours , and the screen get 99.9 % of the sRGB gamut and 98.5 % of theDCI - P3 space – so it ’ll handle any game or media situation . A pocket-size government issue is the Adobe RGB coverage level of 89.2 % , which is n’t quite high enough for demanding creatives .
The ScreenPad ’s maximal cleverness of 397 nits is alright for indoor purpose and it displayed 96.2 % of the sRGB place with a Delta E of 1.8 . It ’s fine , even if it does n’t have the width for originative work .
Combine the two screens and you ’ve start out a brilliant screen frame-up . The vivacious , elaborate main show makes games and films look fantastic . It ’s got truth for most work tasks , too . That second screen is a up to choice for secondary tools .
No rivals vie in terms of quality – theROG Strix Scaris close – so you ’ll only want to bet elsewhere for different attributes . The Blade 16 has a 3840 x 2400 panel at 120Hz that can switch to a 1920 x 1200/240Hz mood and the Alienware m16 has a 480Hz upgrade for eSports .
Games and media wo n’t just see good on this laptop computer – the six speakers mean they ’ll sound upright , too . The Duo ’s audio is gaudy , punchy and clear , with ample detail . There could be a bit more bass , but that ’s a minor charge .
Performance
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is a flagship Mobile River GPU with 9,728shader unitsand 16 GB of store . It engage near Nvidia ’s 175W peak business leader level . AMD ’s Ryzen 9 7945HX has sixteen multi - string Zen 4 cores and a 5.4GHz boost speed .
There ’s 32 GB of dual - channelDDR5 memoryand a 2TBSSDwith excellent read and compose speeding of 7,114 M / s and 5,917 MB / s.
The RTX 4090 is a wildcat , even in Performance Mode , which does n’t practice the GPU ’s full power . InHorizon Zero Dawnat Ultimate preferences and 2560 x 1600 , the duette averaged 133fps – thirteen frames beyond the Scar and further onwards of the M16 . InBorderlands 3 , its 99fps norm was a few frames behind the Scar but nautical mile beyond the M16 . It rattled through Rainbow Six Siege at 291fps – thirty frames more than the M16 .
Turbo mode is even debauched . Its Borderlands 3 solvent improved by eleven soma with that modality activated , and it gain 35fps in Rainbow Six . Use more meek performance option and you ’ll still get right power : in Windows mode the Duo still played Borderlands at 96fps and still care 119fps in Rainbow Six with smooth modality operate .
3DMark Time Spy highlights the pecking order . The Duo ’s initial result of 16,745 is far beyond the other two Asus swindle . In Turbo mode , that score was revise to 18,647 . That ’s bright , but theMSIwas even better – that huge notebook computer shew quicker in most secret plan and rack up 20,810 in Time Spy .
The approaching Razer Blade 16 and Alienware m16 will launch the RTX 4090 at interchangeable power levels to the duette , so expect a like pace – and for this particular Asus to remain a top - level choice .
The pair will play top individual - role player games without graphics compromises . Ray tracingisn’t an return , and you ’ll be capable to output to 360Hz and 480HzeSportsdisplays alongside 4 K panels and widescreens without concern .
The C.P.U. is incredible too . In Cinebench R23 , the Duo ’s multi - core result of 32,226 is thousands of peak beyond the 27,829 scored by theIntel Core i9 - 13980HXin the MSI and further forwards of the more popular Core i9 - 13900H. Its PCMark 10 effect of 9,052 is similarly dominant – C of points beyond the 8,609 generate by the i9 - 13980HX inside the Scar .
It ’s the kind of CPU that ’ll motor through any content creation workload , from tough quite a little pic editing to 4 K picture employment . It ’ll have no issue with most workstation - level productivity apps . It ’s comfortably the fastest laptop computer processor around , although it will be overkill for most users .
Despite the might , the Duo is a reasonable thermal performing artist . It only got aggressively hot on the underside , and you wo n’t be touching that part of the notebook computer anyway . There ’s lover noise , but it ’s no worsened than most gaming laptops and well-situated to freeze if you outwear a headset .
In its default Performance mode , the Duo hit about 50db , and it ’s restrict to 40db in Windows mode . I ’d shy off from the Turbo mode unless you ’re dog every bod because it peak at a loud 55db . But , even then , it never approaches the pinna - thrust 60db level of the MSI Titan .
Battery Life
Do n’t ask much battery life from the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 , though . If you ’re pushing the hardware in games or creative tools you ’ll get an hour , and even with the ScreenPad deactivate and the main screen brightness lour during modest project you ’ll only get three or four hours of use . Most gaming laptop are good .
You ’re not corrupt the Duo for battery spirit , though , and there are pile of other areas where this notebook computer impressment .
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Should you buy it?
The pair of screens and incredible components make the Duo a unnerving option for gamers , streamers and creatives – it ’s a great option for versatile mobile performance .
It ’s fast and those two screen door strike , but the Duo is often uncomfortable to use and it wo n’t even get you through to lunch period .
Final Thoughts
The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 mate phonograph record - breaking speed with a great pair of screen door , wee-wee it an special option for top - course gambling and creative study . But , ergonomic compromises intend you should only grease one’s palms this laptop if you ’ll really appreciate its unique feature .
At $ 3,999/£4,599/€5,599 for the RTX 4090 manakin and $ 3,499 for the RTX 4080 good example , the Duo is n’t the cheapest choice . The Alienware m16 and theAsus ROG Strix Scar 16andZephryus M16notebooks are all more low-priced , with the Razer Blade 16 andMSI Titan GT77costing even more .
Trusted Score
How we test
Every gaming laptop computer we critique blend through a serial of unvarying cheque design to approximate key things including material body quality , performance , screen quality and barrage life history .
These include formal man-made benchmarks and scripted tests , plus a serial of real world bank check , such as how well it runs when running a AAA biz .
FAQs
Yes , the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is absolutely sound for play . The high - powered components guarantee that . Some compromises are made due to its alone physical body though , meaning you’re able to get better value for performance elsewhere .
The RTX 4080 good example cost $ 3,499 , with the RTX 4090 rendering come in at $ 3,999/£4,599/€5,999 .
Test Data
Full Specs
