Let’s take a step back. A few months ago, we reviewed the original ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo and ZenBook Duo Those were the first laptops to use the new ScreenPad Plus – but there were problems and we complained about that. ASUS took those feedback and improved the ScreenPad Plus, then integrating it into the new ROG Zephyrus Duo 15.
We had the chance to try out the new ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 and the new ScreenPad Plus has a lot of improvement. For one, the new ScreenPad Plus will automatically rise and collapse as you open or close the lid.
We messed up the secondary display’s wallpaper!So, whenever we open the lid, the ScreenPad Plus will be tilted up and vice versa. This is to prevent the user from mashing the lid against the hinge if it is not closed. However, the is at a locked angle so that angle is fixed. I do wish that ASUS will further improve this hinge design to have some adjustability in the next revision.
Since the ScreenPad Plus is tilted upwards, it creates a breathable gap. That’s why ASUS redid the cooling system to utilize that gap.
To further utilize the ScreenPad Plus, the company has partnered with Techland, the developers of Dying Light 2, to utilize the secondary screen to display co-op chat, inventory, and also quest list. Of course, this secondary display is touch-sensitive – so you can quickly swipe with your fingers.
Overwolf is also getting integrated into the ScreenPad Plus so it can display even more information by utilizing the secondary display.
As for the specs:
- 15.6-inch matte display with a choice of:
- 3840×2160 with 100% Adobe, Pantone validation, G-Sync
- 1920×1080 with 300Hz
- ROG ScreenPad Plus
- 3840×1100, touchscreen
- Intel Core i9-10980HK (8 cores 16 threads)
- NVIDIA RTX 2080 SUPER
- 16GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM on-board
- Expandable up to 32GB with another spare SODIMM slot
- 2x M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD
- Hardware RAID 0
- 90Wh battery
And yes, we have confirmed that the Zephyrus Duo 15 is using hardware RAID 0. It will provide a lot more benefits compared to software RAID by cutting down on processing overhead, thus improving its speed and power efficiency.
From what we can confirm, the new Zephyrus Duo 15 is also compatible with the stylus from the ZenBook Duo series – but it is not included together with the Zephyrus Duo 15 itself.
There is no pricing or availability for this laptop yet – but we’ll keep you updated when we know more.
