ASUS ZenBook Duo (UX482) Impressions | More than a simple refresh

It’s been nearly two years since ASUS revealed the dual-screen ZenBook Duo laptop, and now, ASUS has announced that it is launching the new ZenBook Duo UX482 in the Philippines. While the new Duo may not seem all that different from the first model, it is more than just a standard refresh.

Sure, the UX482 has more powerful hardware than its predecessor, but its upgrades are more than simple spec bumps. For one, the ZenBook Duo’s signature ScreenPad Plus has an improved display, and it has the improved software which promises to enhance cross-screen multitasking.

Specifically, the ScreePad Plus of the UX482 has a 12.65-inch diagonal with a 1280×515 resolution. While it’s not much bigger than its predecessor’s 12-inch secondary display, it does seem a bit brighter.

As for its software, the ScreenPad Plus of the new Duo features ASUS’ improved ScreenXpert 2 software. This software has all of the same features as the original ScreenPad, but it comes with a lot more customization options. Plus, the new software looks sleeker than the original–always a plus in my book.

The biggest change with the ScreenPad though is its design. Unlike the original, the new ZenBook Duo’s secondary display has a new tilting mechanism that raises the screen up when you open the laptop. Thanks to this, the ScreenPad is much easier to see and use; it also helps improve airflow which is great when using hardware-intensive apps (such as photo/video editing, etc).

While the second screen got big upgrades, ASUS also improved the ZenBook Duo’s main display. The UX482’s main display is still a 14-inch FHD screen, but it now has touch capabilities. Thanks to this, owners of the laptop can use the bundled ASUS stylus on both the main display and on the ScreenPad Plus.

The laptop’s two screens may have gotten noticeable upgrades, but the Duo didn’t exactly get a face lift. In the looks department, the new ZenBook Duo looks pretty much like any premium ZenBook. That’s not a bad thing though as ASUS’ signature concentric circle design and the metal finish is still great for a premium laptop.

On the inside, the new Duo that we have packs an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, an NVIDIA MX 450 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. Though there is another, more affordable variant that features an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor with no dedicated GPU (meaning it uses Intel Iris Xe Graphics).

While we have yet to test out the new UX482 fully, in our experience with 11th gen Intel processors, they offer a noticeable performance boost over the previous 10th gen CPUs. Given that the original ZenBook Duo is powered by a 10th gen Intel Core CPU, we’re expecting the new Duo to have the clear performance advantage.

For I/O, the UX482 features a 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x full size HDMI 1.4, 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack, and 1 x microSD Reader. The inclusion of a microSD card reader is definitely welcome as this laptop is designed for productivity. Though we would have wanted at least one more USB Type-A port; the single Type-A is likely enough, especially if you use a mouse or any other USB-powered peripheral.

While we’ve only had the new ZenBook Duo for a short amount of time, we’re already fairly impressed with the upgrades that ASUS went for with this new model. Though we’ll have to test the UX482 more before we can give our final verdict. So watch out for our full review of this new ASUS laptop very soon!

ZenBook Duo UX482 Specs:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor
• Installed Memory: 16GB
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: NVIDIA MX 450 with 2GB VRAM
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 14” LED-backlit FHD (1920 x 1080) touch display
• Secondary Display: 12.65″ 1920 x 515 IPS-level touch display
• Ports:
  • 2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C with full range (5~20V) of charging
  • 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
  • 1 x full size HDMI 1.4
  • 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
  • 1 x MicroSD Reader

ASUS will launch this new ZenBook Duo UX482 in the Philippines on March 23, 2021.