Laptops are nice, and, in actuality, most individuals both personal or have entry to at least one. However there are such a lot of choices accessible with costs various from a number of hundred {dollars} to over $5,000.00. The specs and appears for these models range as wildly as the value does, and for a lot of customers, it’s a possible minefield.
In the event you’re an “common” person, then one thing across the $1000.00 to $1,500.00 mark will fit your wants. In the event you’re an influence person, or notably within the sport of content material creation, there are a number of standouts available in the market. We had been fortunate sufficient to have had the Asus Zenbook Professional Duo 14″ OLED on the take a look at bench, and it’s been a wild trip.
What’s it?
The Zenbook Professional Duo 14″ OLED (UX8402) is a — because the title suggests — laptop computer with a 14-inch, 2.8K major display screen and a secondary 12.7-inch 2.8K display screen that neatly unfolds when the first display screen is lifted. Each screens run at 120Hz refresh, making them very simple in your eyes and, as a pair, give big versatility in productiveness a traditional laptop computer doesn’t supply.
What’s within the field?
You’ll get the laptop computer and a extremely chunky charger, which was my first disappointment with the {hardware}. The charger is de facto massive, a lot in order that I wouldn’t wish to carry the charger with me if this laptop computer was my day by day use gadget. Fortunately, it additionally chargers through USB-C so when you’ve received a number of USB-C chargers about with ample output, you’ll be superb.
Like different Asus laptops we’ve checked out in latest occasions, it comes with a very nice sleeve to guard your funding.
{Hardware} and Design
That is no light-weight in relation to specs with the highest SKU together with:
- Intel Core i7-12700H CPU
- 16GB DDR5 4800MHz Reminiscence
- As much as 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050Ti with 4GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Wi-Fi 6e and Bluetooth 5.2 Connectivity
- A 76Wh battery
In my eyes, the specs make a bit assertion with the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6e and lack of an Ethernet port. It means that the Connectivity is both Wi-fi or the expectation is that the laptop computer shall be hooked up to a Thunderbolt dock, monitor and peripherals.
Unsurprising is the truth that with all that in-built and the screens, this isn’t a very gentle laptop computer. However when you’re on the lookout for a cell workstation powerhouse with connectivity and the potential to assist creativity: some further weight in your bag is a small value to pay.
So now we’ve talked concerning the internals, being one thing that many would contemplate a desktop alternative; let’s discuss exterior connectivity.
From a bodily connectivity standpoint, there’s a single USB-A 3.2 connector, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports (nice when you’ve received docking station setup in your desk), 1 x HDMI, a headphone jack, DC enter (may also take energy from Thunderbolt) and a Micro SD card reader.
Wi-Fi 5e and Bluetooth 5 spherical on the connectivity, giving choices for good mobility and connectivity for sound and enter gadgets.
Opening the display screen for the primary time is a spectacular expertise. The display screen lifting additionally reveals the second display screen, which tilts up at a slight angle and offers unbelievable flexibility and performance to so many workflows.
Each day use
Radical redesign of a typical know-how like a laptop computer received’t come with out some draw back. The larger of the problems customers who’re on the transfer lots will discover is the load, at 1.75 kg, that is going to be actually noticeable when you’re transporting it with you every day.
There are a few others too, and whereas it was comparatively minor, the keyboard positioning on the very entrance of the machine’s base took a bit little bit of getting used to.
It’s not a nasty factor, it simply required me to reposition the laptop computer barely on my desk and regulate my bodily place to have good ergonomics to be used. I used to be genuinely proud of the keyboard itself, which had a pleasant contact to it, with the keys giving optimistic suggestions for every keystroke.
Earlier than you even get to that, nevertheless, the boot time is spectacular, which shouldn’t be a shock given the specs listed above. These specs additionally translate to wonderful efficiency of the machine day by day. Whether or not it’s common use, picture, video and audio modifying or video games – the Zenbook Professional Duo 14 may be very succesful.
The screens are extremely responsive and straightforward in your eyes, however that results in one other minor concern; the battery (a 76Wh battery) life isn’t nice on default energy settings. On a comparatively simple day of use, I used to be simply getting a full day from the battery. As quickly as there was any processing load launched to that, notably with the twin screens in use, I used to be seeing round 6 hours of use, so when you’re utilizing this as a cell desktop alternative, you have to a charging resolution at your desk.
Sound – For a laptop computer, it’s spectacular
There are a number of components at play within the sound high quality of this laptop computer; first is the Dolby Atmos. Mixed with the amplified audio system, the sound is spectacular. A lot in order that, I didn’t actually really feel the necessity to hook up a headset or audio system for streaming music. At greater volumes, some music grew to become a bit shrill, however that was depending on the kind of music I used to be listening to on the time.
It’s ample however not mind-blowing for gaming the place you want that extra immersive expertise and, the place doable, directional sound to help together with your gameplay.
All tolled, the Zenbook Professional Duo 14 is a powerful machine with a number of good issues to speak about.
So is it definitely worth the cash?
I genuinely love the feel and appear of it, and had been I producing video content material regularly or much less cell each day; I’d significantly contemplate it. For me, the mixture of price and weight had been deterring components. I simply don’t want — need is a distinct story — the additional display screen after I’m on the transfer.
Let’s reduce to the chase on this bit, $3,799.00 is lots, and I imply a LOT to ask for a laptop computer. The know-how right here is mighty spectacular, however it’s nonetheless a distinct segment market. So, for many customers, no, that is overkill and can needlessly drain your checking account.
However…
With the massive capabilities of the Zenbook Professional Duo, and a number of software program distributors supporting the twin display screen for elevated performance, together with Workplace, Adobe merchandise and another video modifying choices, lots goes for this when you’re a content material creator or want of a real powerhouse of a laptop computer.
In the event you’re eager then there’s a wide range of retailers throughout Australia you can hunt one down from.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings