The ASUS Zenbook Duo got a fantastic redesign for CES 2026
The ASUS Zenbook Duo was easily one of my favorite laptops of 2024 as it was the first dual-screen notebook actually worth buying. But now at CES 2026, ASUS has given the second-gen model a complete revamp with practically all the upgrades and tweaks I’ve been hoping for. Like the rest of the Zenbook line, the 2026 Duo is getting ASUS’ Ceraluminum treatment on its lid, bottom and kickstand, which not only looks great but it adds an extra bit of durability and scratch resistance. There’s also an improved magnetic latch system and Bluetooth connection for its detachable keyboard to help keep it charged up and paired more reliably. However, the biggest upgrade is ASUS’ all-new "hideaway" hinge. Not only does it allow the system to unfold flat against a table, it also massively shrinks the gap between the laptop’s two 3K 144Hz Lumina Pro OLED displays to just 8.28 mm. That’s a reduction of 70 percent compared to the previous model and it makes the idea of using a dual screen laptop just that much more seamless and appealing than before. Another important upgrade is that despite having a significantly larger 99Whr battery (up from 75Whr on its predecessor), the overall footprint of the second-gen Zenbook Duo is actually five percent smaller than before. That makes it noticeably more compact without sacrificing on weight or thinness, which is staying pretty much the same at 3.6 pounds and 0.77 to 0.9 inches thick (depending on where you measure). Connectivity remains excellent as well, with ASUS including Wi-Fi 7, two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 connector and even a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack. And for all the artists out there, the Zenbook Duo also supports stylus input via the ASUS Pen 3.0, so you can easily detach the wireless keyboard and use either screen as a built-in drawing tablet. That said, it’s currently unclear if the stylus comes included or not. Meanwhile on the inside, the Zenbook Duo features either an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 or Ultra 9 386H chip with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. On top of that, ASUS increased the Duo’s TDP to 45 watts, which is another notable bump up over the original. So not only does it have a larger battery, its performance is getting a big boost as well, especially when combined with the much improved onboard graphics from Intel’s latest integrated Arc GPU. Here's how the new 2026 ASUS Zenbook duo (right) stacks up against the outgoing model (left). Sam Rutherford for EngadgetI know a lot of people out there still aren’t convinced that dual screen laptops need to be a thing, and that’s totally OK. But as the kind of person who feels like they are missing a limb when I’m traveling and away from my two monitors at home, the second-gen Zenbook Duo feels like a major refinement of an already great idea. It’s got a bigger battery, faster performance and a hugely streamlined design without gaining any bulkiness or weight. Out of all of the laptops I’ve seen at CES 2026, this is the one I most wish I could grab and start using right away. The one potential concern is that ASUS has yet to release pricing for the new Zenbook Duo or say when it will go on sale. So here’s hoping it won’t break the bank when it arrives sometime later this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/the-asus-zenbook-duo-got-a-fantastic-redesign-for-ces-2026-173000392.html?src=rss
