Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent laptop!
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2022
I'm actually writing this review on the laptop being reviewed here.
This isn't my first Asus laptop. I have two others that have served me well over the years. Asus has become a brand I like and that I've had great experiences with. This laptop is no exception. I've only had this laptop for about a week and a half, so time will tell how long of a life I get out of this laptop.
The Zenbook Duo series was primarily designed for creators and professionals, However I applaud Asus for thinking of those of us who aren't power users but who would also benefit from the same dual screen formfactor without the higher specifications and bigger price tag of more powerful computers. I think this is also the reason this base model (UX482EAR) doesn't include the stylus or carrying case as the more powerful versions do because to many, those are unnecessary bonuses that not all users need or want. I did want the stylus, so I ended up buying that separately.
This laptop gets great battery usage although I really have nothing to compare it to. I get about 8-10 hours on a full charge with the ScreenPad+ on. I'm sure I'd get more battery life if I turned the ScreenPad+ off which is easy to do by hitting the middle button above the trackpad. Charging is relatively fast with the included 65-watt charger. Charging uses the same port as the USB C thunderbolt ports and you get two of those. Keyboard is backlit for usage in a dark or poorly lit environment and the backlighting brightness is adjustable,
The ScreenPad+ is amazing! It's actually useful and not simply a gimmick. I usually put messaging/email windows down there as well as note taking apps while keeping my web browser up on the main display. I also like the flexible configuration options such as dividing the ScreenPad+ into thirds or halves amongst apps and windows as well as "waterfall mode" where a window or page is stretched between the two displays. Some applications work best with those various configurations.
Touch and stylus support works smoothly on both displays. This isn't my first touch screen laptop and I do find myself using the touch screen as much as the keyboard and trackpad. Just easier to navigate the computer. Now as mentioned previously, on this entry kit, the stylus isn't included like it is on higher specified variants. I did end up purchasing a 3rd party Tesha Active pen for 34$. Asus charges around 60$ for theirs with similar functionality. Both screens work well with the active pen input although the ScreenPad+ can take a second or two to recognize the stylus initially, but once it does, it works smoothly. Haven't noticed this with the main display though as the pen is detected immediately.
The keyboard as mentioned by others is configured oddly to accommodate the ScreenPad+. That can take some getting used to for those who are coming from other more traditional laptop form factors. Hasn't been an issue for me as I haven't been a heavy laptop or PC user in more recent years and have become more accustomed to using a smartphone so there wasn't as much of a learning curve to the keyboard and trackpad. Yes, the trackpad is small, but the vertical rectangle matches the configuration of the main display plus the ScreenPad+. Trackpad recognizes similar multi-finger gestures as smartphones such as pinch to zoom. Using two fingers to scroll vertically or horizontally. The keyboard has good travel even right now as I type this review. Keys are nice and clicky. As mentioned before, the backlighting is nice. With the push of a button the brightness can be adjusted or turned off completely. If sitting in a darkly lit room, the lowest setting is adequate to be able to see the keys.
Sound quality is great. I'm not too familiar with the Harman Kardon sound system as previous laptops didn't have that, but it sounded great last Sunday when I watched a church service online. The sound was clear, and I think the way the ScreenPad+ lifts up with the Ergolift hinge allows for better amplification and broadcast of sound from underneath that panel where the speakers are located. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the video quality as I have yet to use the built-in camera. Maybe in the future I can revise this part after I've had a chance to use that.
Aside from that, the laptop isn't too heavy, and I like the offset concentric brushed celestial blue. The same Celestial blue is continued on the keyboard and trackpad which is nice.
The only thing I had issues with, and this is likely due to the nature of the device compatibility, if you own an iPhone like I do, the "Link to My Asus" app is next to useless. Can be difficult to transfer media between the two devices and the phone call function doesn't work at all. However, this is to be expected that iOS devices experience some degree of incompatibility with Windows devices as opposed to a MacOS device with Apple's ecosystem. But no biggie. I didn't purchase this laptop to work with my iPhone otherwise I would've looked at a MacBook.
It's been a blast using this computer and hopefully it lasts for several years.
