At last year’s #COMPUTEX2019 we were wowed by the introduction of the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo. It was the first laptop to have dual screens which can enhance the user’s productivity. While ogling at the gorgeous beast in front of us, we wondered if there would be a possibility to see an ROG gaming laptop version. Apparently, they already had that in mind. We got a sneak peak of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo a few weeks ago and it was a mind-blowing experience!
The ROG Zephyrus Duo is the world’ first gaming laptop to have dual screens in an ultra-slim form factor to bring a new dimension of versatility to premium gaming laptops. Definitely, this would be the ultimate machine you would like to have in your arsenal, whether for competitive gaming or for content creation.
The Zephyrus Duo comes with a 15.6″ IPS display with Full HD resolution and 300Hz refresh rate with 3ms response time. Serious gamers can gain a competitive advantage with this super fast refresh rate, which surpasses the standard of tournaments and makes fast-paced encounters feel incredibly smooth. The 3 ms response time keeps the picture crisp and blur-free for precise target tracking.
Potential users who do not need these fast refresh rates can opt for the 3840×2160 4K UHD display which offers incredible visuals at the highest fidelity detail. Both primary display options also use NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to enable a uniquely engaging experience. A GPU switch exclusive to ROG lets users toggle between G-SYNC and Optimus modes depending on whether they want smoother gaming or longer battery life, reinforcing this laptop’s innate duality.
Expect powerhouse performance from the Zephyrus Duo as it is equipped with the latest Intel 10th Gen processor up to an Core i9. Its speed hits as high as 5.3GHz on a single core can engage up to 16 parallel threads with Hyper-Threading technology to power through heavy duty tasks. Memory can be loaded up to 48GB of combined onboard and SO-DIMM and two NVMe SSDs run in RAID 0 to provide plenty of high-speed storage. With up to 2 TB of capacity, gamers and creators can take their entire game library and professional portfolio wherever they go.
Let’s talk about the main feature of this laptop. Opening the lid reveals the ROG ScreenPad Plus that tilts up at a 13 degree angle for comfortable viewing and touchscreen interaction. This fluid motion is carefully choreographed by a custom hinge that staggers the rise of the displays to prevent damage. To prevent the screens making contact as the lid opens, the hinge incorporates curved sliders that delay the deployment of the secondary display. The IPS panel stretches wide viewing angles across the full width of the body, and its 3840 x 1100 resolution boasts a high pixel density that delivers rich details, crisp text, and flowing lines at a smooth 60 Hz refresh rate.
The ROG ScreenPad Plus can be used to turn the primary display into a more immersive medium for gaming, streaming or content creation. Users can play their game on the main screen while chatting with viewers, reading the newsfeed on Facebook and reading a blog post – all at the same time on the secondary screen.
The concern is which apps would support this platform. ROG said that they’re working with game developers like Techland to optimize AAA games like Dying Light 2, which artfully moves co-op chats to ScreenPad Plus for easy viewing, and adds touchscreen controls for easy switching between inventory items and quests. Also, a collaboration with Overwolf also allows gamers to download apps for games like League of Legends, Fortnite, and CS:GO to see real-time stats, build recommendations, and more — all to amplify the advantages that the multi-screen design offers.
Just like the ZenBook Pro Duo, the Zephyrus Duo can let creators use the ScreenPad Plus to keep the toolbars, timelines, and reference materials in sight with a more clutter-free workspace on the main screen. The touchscreen also supports the ASUS Pen active stylus that makes scribbling and sketching seamless.
The Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) is once again seen in this version of the Zephyrus, with a different implementation. With AAS Plus, tilting the touchscreen at an angle opens a larger 28.5 mm air intake, and allows the fans to draw in cooler air from above the laptop instead of warmer air from beneath it. This massive air intake increases airflow by up to 30% over previous AAS implementations, improving performance and putting less strain on the internal cooling system.
To carve out even greater cooling headroom, the CPU of Zephyrus Duo 15 is coated with Thermal Grizzly’s liquid metal compound instead of standard thermal paste. Applying the exotic material is delicate work typically done by hand. That’s not viable for mass production, so ROG commissioned custom equipment to automate the process with mechanical precision, and also designed a special internal fence to prevent the liquid from leaking, over time. After honing the approach with the ROG Mothership, it is being rolled out across the entire lineup of laptops with 10th Generation Intel Core processors.
The heat from powerful internal components can sometimes make laptop keyboards uncomfortable to use, particularly during marathon gaming sessions and with sustained heavy workloads. To keep hands away from the warmest parts of the machine and create more space for ScreenPad Plus, the keyboard is shifted forward. The design lets wrists sit on the table, like with a desktop keyboard, and there’s a detachable palm rest to improve user comfort.
We have no word yet from ASUS Philippines regarding the pricing and availability of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550. We’ll be updating this blog post as soon as we receive news from them.
