Dual-screen laptops are just starting to become more of a focal point for PC manufacturers, and ASUS is jumping on board with its latest ZenBook. The company launched its new ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581) today, which packs a massive second screen above the keyboard, which complements the main 15.6-inch OLED display up top. Even better, the ZenBook Pro Duo is filled with some truly powerful hardware.
We first got a look at the ZenBook Pro Duo at Computex 2019, but it's now available to preorder ahead of a September 6 launch in two configurations for $2,500 or $3,000. While that price is on the high side, the laptop is geared towards content creators who appreciate a solid portfolio of specs and the ability to multitask.
The highlight of the laptop is that second 4K screen, which sits above the keyboard and, though half the height of the main screen, stretches the full width of the body. ASUS is gearing this second screen, dubbed ScreenPad Plus, for extreme multitasking, allowing you to either use it as a full-on second display by dragging apps over to it, or as a dedicated dock for things like video previews, timeline controls, code windows, or audio mixing panels for content creators.
The included stylus can also take advantage of the second screen as a drawing surface.
Getting down to raw specs, the ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581) comes with 9th Gen Intel Core processors, with your choice of a Core i9-9980HK or Core i7-9750H. You'll also get up to 32GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD for storage, and support for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), the latest Wi-Fi standard. If heat is a concern, the laptop has a dedicated "Turbo Fan" button to give your cooling a boost at any point.
Rounding things out is a 4K OLED display, which should mean everything looks crisp and colorful across the 15.6-inch screen.
| Category | ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581) |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 inches, 4K, OLED |
| Processor | Intel Core i9-9980HK (UX581GV-XB94T) Intel Core i7-9750H (UX581GV-XB74T) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, 6GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Memory | 32GB DDR4 2666MHz (UX581GV-XB94T) 16GB DDR4 2666MHz (UX581GV-XB74T) |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe x4 SSD |
| Security | Windows Hello IR webcam |
| Connectivity | Intel Wi-Fi 6 with Gig+ (802.11ax) Bluetooth® 5.0 |
| Ports | 1 x Thunderbolt 3 USB-C, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x Standard HDMI, 1 x Audio combo jack, 1 x DC-in |
| Audio | Array microphone with Cortana and Alexa Harman Kardon-certified audio system |
| Battery | 71Wh |
| Dimensions | 14 x 8.8 x 0.9 in (355.6 x 223.52 x 22.86 mm) |
| Weight | 6.4 lb (2.9kg) |
| Colors | Celestial Blue |
| Availability | September 6 |
The ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581) is available to preorder now in two configurations and is scheduled to start shipping on September 6. You can grab it with the Core i9 processor and 32GB of RAM for $3,000 or with a Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM for $2,500.
Double the fun
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581)
Multitasker's dream
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581) not only includes a stellar second display, but it's chocked full of powerful specs as well. Content creators should find this laptop particularly interesting for its multitasking potential.
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