The graphical power of the MX250
barely surpasses Iris Plus, and does so
at the cost of more heat generation,
space and power. It’s a dubious
inclusion at best, especially
considering that the CPU inside the
Zenbook Duo is already equipped
with Intel’s slightly older UHD 620
integrated graphics. In graphical
tests, the Zenbook Duo wasn’t able to
significantly outclass any ultra-light
laptops using Iris Plus, such as the
new line of Dell XPS 2-in-1 devices.
Other than graphics, the hardware
performs to expectations. It’s
perfectly competent at video editing
and rendering work, although
anything beyond casual gaming isn’t
really an option on the Zenbook Duo,
even if the dual-screen setup didn’t
pose potential control issues. Turning
down the graphics significantly will
make most older games playable, but
new triple-A titles are definitely out.Hide and sleek
Background apps is definitely where
the ScreenPad Plus excels. We’ve all
had Spotify or YouTube open in
another hidden tab when working on
something particularly dull, and
being able to drop those openwindows down onto the lower screen
is delightful. Reaching up from the
keyboard and using a finger to swipe
through songs is a particular small
joy. A lot of what the ScreenPad Plus
does are also features seen in Apple’s
Touch Bar, which fulfils its purpose
without obstructing the keyboard
and trackpad.
Honestly, it’s hard to tell who the
Zenbook Duo is designed for. Video
editors could make good use of the
touchscreen, but the lack of a 4K
display and shrunken keyboard will
discourage many professionals. And
for mobile productivity, the usefulnessLOGITECH M525 WIRELESS MOUSE
The tiny trackpad is one of the most
frustrating parts of the Zenbook Duo, so we
recommend using a wireless mouse. The M 525
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connects via a USB dongle.
£26, logitech.com
ECO-FUSED MICROFIBRE CLOTHS
A must-have for any touch-screen laptop,
particularly since the anti-glare coating on the
Zenbook Duo’s lower display seems to amplify
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these cloths stashed in your laptop case.
e ĆYHSDFN DPD]RQFRXNTARGUS CITYLITE SHOULDER BAG
The hefty build of the Zenbook Duo protects
its twin screens well, but you’ll still want a
bag that keeps it safe from knocks. This one
takes laptops up to 15 inches, so is ideal for
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£44, johnlewis.com84 T3 MARCH 2020
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RECOMMENDED ADD-ONS
We wish the
keypad and the
touchscreen
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The overall build quality
is excellent, achieving the
military-grade requirements
for durability in laptops. It feels
it, too; this is a laptop that can
handle some rough and tumble