Design and Keyboard
Asus has been refining the art of dual-screen laptops for a while, and the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a testament to their mastery of this unique form factor. The secondary screen is positioned just above the keyboard at an optimal viewing angle. Included in the box are stick-on stands that not only promote better airflow but also reduce wrist strain during typing.
Crafted entirely from metal, the laptop exudes a premium feel and durability. While it’s not the lightest 14-inch device at 1.75kg, it’s a justifiable trade-off for the additional screen and discrete GPU. The design is mature, with subtle branding that adds a touch of sophistication. It strikes a balance between simplicity and elegance, avoiding the dullness found in some competing models.
Port selection is generous, featuring a USB-A port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1 input, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a MicroSD slot. These ports ensure that you’re never left wanting for connectivity options.
The primary keyboard on the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo OLED has been slightly compressed to accommodate the secondary screen. Despite initial concerns, the keyboard retains good feedback and travel, making it suitable for typing articles and notes comfortably. However, the real drawback lies with the trackpad, which has been relocated to the right-hand side, rendering it impractical for left-handed users. For efficient use, an external mouse is recommended to avoid wrist strain.
Display and Sound
The primary screen on the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo OLED is outstanding, boasting perfect black levels, 370 nits of brightness, and a flawless contrast ratio of 1:1. It offers depth and vibrant colors, making it ideal for a wide range of content, including nature documentaries and video streaming. With a resolution of 2880×1800 and excellent color accuracy (99% sRGB, 75% Adobe RGB, 75% DCI-P3), it caters to creative professionals who require precise color representation.
The 120Hz refresh rate adds a gaming dimension, providing smooth gameplay experiences for titles like Stardew Valley and Cuphead.
The secondary screen, known as the ScreenPad Plus, measures 12.7 inches with a resolution of 2880×846 and a 60Hz refresh rate. Both screens support touchscreen functionality, simplifying tasks such as scrolling through documents or editing images. The ScreenPad Plus can be activated from the keyboard and configured from a side menu, offering versatility in managing windows and apps. It serves as a valuable productivity tool for tasks like multitasking and content creation.
The laptop’s speakers, despite their compact size, deliver impressive sound quality. They fill the room with vibrant audio, suitable for enjoying music and TV shows. While they may not compete with the best external speakers, they are more than capable for a laptop.
Performance
Beneath the sleek exterior, the Asus ZenBook Pro 14 Duo OLED packs a punch with impressive internals. The model we tested was equipped with an Intel Core i9-13900H processor alongside an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. While it may not be the most potent configuration available, it certainly holds its ground in the world of laptops.
The laptop’s processing capabilities shine, handling demanding workloads with ease. Whether you’re multitasking with a myriad of open tabs, including graphically intensive applications like Canva, or engaging in other productivity tasks, this laptop is up to the challenge. Thanks to the speedy SSD, with read speeds of 6,724.56MB/s and write speeds of 5,156.38MB/s, file transfers are seamless, further enhancing your efficiency.
Benchmark results underscore the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo OLED’s capabilities. It excels in multi-core tasks, positioning it as a reliable and versatile workhorse. Gaming performance is equally commendable. It smoothly handles gaming at Quad HD (2560×1440) resolution with DLSS 3 enabled, even accommodating ray tracing for an immersive gaming experience.
However, it’s important to note that the laptop tends to generate heat and noise, particularly during gaming sessions or when managing multiple open tabs. Fortunately, Asus has thoughtfully included stick-on stands in the package, which not only create a more comfortable viewing angle for the ScreenPad Plus but also enhance airflow. We highly recommend using these stands to keep the laptop running optimally.
Battery Life
One area where the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo OLED leaves something to be desired is in the realm of battery life. When the secondary screen is enabled, the laptop’s battery is noticeably taxed, offering around 4 hours and 2 minutes of runtime in a PCMark 10 battery benchmark test. While disabling the secondary display does extend the battery life to 6 hours and 4 minutes, it remains somewhat limited for all-day use. To keep the laptop powered on the go, carrying the charger is a necessity.
