Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Minimizes the Gap Between Screens

The Asus Zenbook Duo continues to redefine portable productivity with its innovative dual-screen design. Now in its 2026 iteration, this laptop receives meaningful refinements that enhance usability while maintaining its unique dual-display approach.

Hinge Innovation: Bridging the Gap

Asus' most significant improvement is a completely redesigned hinge mechanism. The new engineering minimizes the physical gap between the two OLED displays when opened. While a visible seam remains (unlike seamless foldable screens), the reduced separation dramatically decreases visual distraction when spanning content across both panels. This makes watching videos or working with large documents significantly more immersive.

The trade-off appears when closed: The hinge design creates a noticeable gap between screens. Asus recommends using a protective sleeve during travel to prevent debris ingress.

Display and Form Factor Flexibility

Both screens are 14-inch 2280 x 1800 OLED touchscreens featuring:

• 144Hz refresh rates
• 500 nits peak brightness
• Stylus support with pressure sensitivity

The integrated kickstand enables versatile positioning:

• Vertical stacking for tall workspace
• Horizontal placement for side-by-side portrait orientation

Performance Upgrades

The 2026 model debuts Intel's Panther Lake processors:

• Core Ultra 7 355 (4-core graphics)
• Core Ultra 9 386H (12-core graphics)

Both configurations include:

• 32GB LPDDR5x RAM
• Dual M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots
• 1TB SSD pre-installed
• Dual-fan cooling supporting 40W TDP

Enhanced User Experience

Keyboard connectivity sees refinement:

• Bluetooth 5.4 or pogo-pin physical connection
• Retractable pogo pins prevent damage when detached

Powering the system is a substantial 99Wh battery – 41% larger than last year's 70Wh unit. Asus claims 12 hours of Netflix streaming across both displays, though demanding tasks will reduce this significantly.

Additional features:

• Six-speaker audio system (2 tweeters + 4 woofers)
• FHD IR webcam
• WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
• Port selection: 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1
• 100W USB-C power adapter

The "ceraluminum" chassis combines ceramic-like finish with aluminum lightness, weighing 1.65kg (3.6lbs) with dimensions of 310 x 209 x 14-23mm.

Availability

The Core Ultra 7 model launches this month, with the higher-end Core Ultra 9 variant following in February. While still pricier than traditional laptops, the Zenbook Duo remains significantly more affordable than foldable-screen alternatives while offering unique multitasking capabilities.