ASUS aim to expand market share in Kenya with the Zenbook Duo (UX482)

The ZenBook Duo 14 is a refreshed version of the original ZenBook 14, combining the latest Intel processing hardware with Asus’ dual-screen design. 

The most distinguishable feature of this device is the secondary display, or as the manufacturer calls it – the ScreenPad Plus. You will now get two major improvements. First, there is the hardware side. Instead of making it flush with the chassis, ASUS has now added a second mechanism, which lifts the display. This makes it useful for ventilation as well.

The device looks like a compact workstation with dimensions of 32.40 x 22.20 x 1.69cm. The main screen is a 14-inch IPS canvas that supports touch gestures along with FHD (1920x1080 pixels) resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio with which creators are familiar with. What adds to this is the anti-glare coating, which works well even if working outside. You also get above-average 400nits brightness levels and the most important factor - 100% sRGB coverage along with Pantone Validation, so creators and developers get the most accurate visuals. You get stylus support as well for a more precise workflow.

As for the secondary screen, or the ScreenPad+, the firm has made the 12.65-inch IPS screen better with 1920x515 pixels and support for the stylus. That’s not all though. The ScreenPad+ does push multi-tasking to another level. You don’t just get an extra screen to see at least four windows at once (main screen and three window support on the ScreenPad+) but also the option to swap windows with one button, giving easy access to lock the keyboard and access multi-windows screen.

You can drag a window from the main screen downwards to drop it onto the ScreenPad Plus, or you can hit an Fn key and send whatever's on the main screen to the second screen. If you've had two open windows side by side, for example, and need to keep them open but want to work into a third, they can be quickly shifted out of the way, but still, be kept visible. You can also maximise an application window so that it spans both screens, giving an increased vertical viewing area.

Mindful that creative types might be drawn to the ZenBook Duo 14 (UX482), there's also an app called Control Panel which provides controls for a range of graphics-related applications. It works with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro and After Effects.

To help creators accelerate workflows with the ScreenPad Plus, ASUS has added a new Control Panel app to ScreenXpert 2.0. This function currently supports Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, and Lightroom Classic. When the user opens any of these apps, the Control Panel app opens a corresponding panel suited to each software set, enabling commonly used functions such as zoom, brightness, and contrast via sliders, buttons and dials. Creators can fully customize the functions and icon positioning for each of the app-specific decks. The Control Panel will automatically launch the deck assigned to each of the supported apps.

For business travellers and other remote employees, remote conferencing is now common more so in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Voice quality is key for efficiency and clear communication. The new ZenBook Duo 14 features an ASUS AI Noise-Canceling Audio, which ensures that users can hear and be heard clearly in any scenario. The ClearVoice Speaker function filters out all ambient noise except human voices so that users can hear and record more clearly — even if background noise is present.

Asus has found room for a MicroSD card reader on the right side -- a useful feature for creators who may need to transfer stills or footage from a digital camera. There's also a USB 3.2 port and a 3.5mm audio jack on this side, while the left side houses a full-size HDMI port and two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. You charge the laptop via USB-C, leaving just one of these ports free when the battery is getting a boost. Asus claims up to 17 hours of life for the 70Wh battery, which is a lot considering that two screens are being powered. It also offers a fast charge function that charges the battery from 0% to 60% in under 49 minutes.

The unique selling point of the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 (UX482) is its second screen, and the extra viewing area and software features offered by the ScreenPad Plus may have appeal, especially to creative users. It is available at Text book centre shops around the country.