Last year when I reviewed the new and improved ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED, I praised the device for its innovative design and almost “from the future-like” features. As we enter 2025, ASUS has the latest iteration of the Zenbook Duo OLED for us and there are some subtle changes to the model.
Watch the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED review;
For starters, ASUS has, of course, slapped as much AI marketing onto this product as possible. This was something sorely missing on last year’s device, given how the big boom of AI tech didn’t really happen until mid-2024. This means the new ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED now comes with the Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2 processor with dedicated AI engines thanks to the built-in NPU.
The new CPU also means better performance and battery life, as the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 has been improved in that regard. Outside of the CPU bump, you’re pretty much getting the same overall product here with the same excellent 3K OLED panels that have been expertly calibrated. The unit also comes with the same versatile design that lets you operate the product in notebook mode, dual screen mode with and without the keyboard, desktop mode, and sharing mode. This is thanks to the large dual displays that, again, are simply superb on this device.
While the notebook hasn’t seen much change from a design or a technical perspective, I don’t see where ASUS could really go on this notebook. It already comes with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, a 75Wh battery, and a fair share of decent ports that make all work and productivity a breeze. There is added Wi-Fi 7 support this year, which is nice to see if you’re one of the few people who have Wi-Fi 7 routers.
If this product is new to you, the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED is essentially a notebook/tablet hybrid that is delivered with two 14-inch 16:10 OLED panels on both the top and the bottom. In the box, you get the device itself, a half-sized backlit keyboard that is paired to the unit through Bluetooth or attached magnetically to the bottom display. When attached, it turns off the bottom display, and from the outside, the device looks like your everyday OLED Zenbook.
ASUS markets this keyboard as full-sized, but it isn’t. There’s no number pad on the keyboard here, and it doesn’t support the ScreenPad feature, which adds the number pad to the trackpad. Actually, now that I’m saying that, ASUS could totally do that. It would be pretty cool to see.
The keyboard is great though. Typing feels like any standalone notebook with decent key travel of 1.4mm. It feels like there has been no compromise on the keyboard at all in order to deliver a detachable and slim accessory. It is also backlit and fairly bright. The same goes for the trackpad. It is smooth, and the large size makes it great for gestures.
Again, this keyboard will play a big role in your day-to-day tasks, and ASUS has made it incredibly easy to manage. It just sticks onto the bottom display and gets removed when you want to place it down on the table.
The notebook/tablet part of this device is also just as intuitive. The two displays look fantastic at every angle. Opening and closing the device can be done with one hand, and folding the notebook open flat on the table is smooth and requires very little effort. The top panel is where you’ll find the webcam and IR sensor. This HD webcam is good enough for most people. The Windows Copilot features will also help clean up your video calls on the device.
You’ll then find the ports on the bottom panel. On the left-hand side, there’s the USB Type-A 3.2 Gen1 port and USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port. ASUS has also included the audio jack combo port here. On the right-hand side, there’s the HDMI 2.0 port and the second USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port. Either of these ports can be used for charging the device with the included 65W charger in the box. Oh, and the keyboard also has a USB-C port for charging the battery in the unit too.
You’ll also find the power button and LED indicators on the bottom panel. Then right at the bottom of this panel is the magnetic pins for the keyboard. The lower part of the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED also includes the metal kickstand, which is used to prop up the unit to whatever angle you wish. The kickstand is also used as a sort of easel to stand the unit in desktop mode and support its weight.
I don’t have much complaint about the design of the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED. While it is identical to last year’s model, there isn’t much ASUS could do here. The displays are wonderful to use, and every display mode on the unit felt easy to get into. The keyboard types well, and just the general use and manoeuvrability of the unit was a breeze. It goes without saying that this product also supports the ASUS Stylus 2.0, so artists will have the opportunity to take advantage of the double display here too.
What I really wanted to test out on this product was its performance. Given the shift to the Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2, I was curious to see just how much power we could get from the unit. I ran tests across a number of AI-benchmarks and other CPU-based benchmarks to see where we stood. Here are the results.
The unit performed as I expected, better than the 2024 model. But that isn’t to say last year’s model was incredibly powerful or weak. These devices are mainly designed for designers and people who need two highly calibrated screens for their daily use. Not so much for people rendering animations and exporting massive 4K videos.
Apart from all that, the ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED performed across all other aspects too. The speaker provided loud and punchy playback for consuming content, and the screens are again, brilliant and shine when watching HDR videos.
The device can get a little warm with heavy use, especially when charging it and using it at the same time. You’ll also hear the odd fan rev up every now and then as it kicks into gear to cool the CPU down. It isn’t remotely distracting, though. If you do use this unit in performance mode, it will be more of an issue, as I measured 45dBa during this mode and 50dBA with the fan on full speed.
Then there’s the battery. Given the two displays, the battery here is all about how much of the unit you end up using. On low power mode with 50% brightness on one display only, you’ll get 15 hours of life. Enable that second screen, and it will go down to 7 hours.
If you’re driving this notebook heavily, say like gaming on battery, it will only last 2 hours with one display enabled. But I would say the sweet spot here is to expect around 11 hours with one display turned on at 50% brightness and 5 hours with two displays on the same brightness. Essentially, this isn’t the best battery life I have seen, but considering the dual displays, it makes sense.
Overall, the Zenbook Duo OLED does the job. It is a product designed for those who know what it is and need what it does. Is it a substantial improvement over last year? Not really unless you’re taking into account AI, which again, not everyone needs. But this is still one of the most innovative products on the market.
Visit the official ASUS website to find out more about the Zenbook DUO OLED.
ASUS Zenbook DUO OLED
Summary
The ASUS Zenbook Duo OLED 2025 model doesn’t have any major upgrades over last year’s device but it is still one of the most innovative and capable notebook/tablet hybrids on the market.
