The ASUS Zenbook Duo was one of my favorite laptops of 2024 as it was the first touchscreen notebook to buy. But now at CES 2026, ASUS has given the second-generation model a complete refresh with all the improvements and tweaks I’ve been waiting for.
Like the rest of the Zenbook line, the 2026 Duo gets ASUS’ Ceraluminium treatment on its lid, bottom and kickstand, which not only looks great but adds durability and scratch resistance. There’s also an improved magnetic latch system and Bluetooth connectivity for its detachable keyboard to help keep it charged and reliably paired. However, the biggest improvement is the new ASUS “hidden” hinge. Not only does it allow the system to open up to face the table, it also significantly reduces the gap between the laptop’s two 3K 144Hz Lumina Pro OLED displays to just 8.28 mm. That’s a 70 percent reduction compared to the previous model and makes the idea of using a dual-screen laptop more seamless and appealing than ever.
Another important improvement is that apart from having a much larger 99Whr battery (up from 75Whr in its predecessor), the overall footprint of the second-generation Zenbook Duo is actually five percent smaller than before. That makes it remarkably compact without sacrificing weight or thinness, which remains pretty much the same at 3.6 pounds and 0.77 to 0.9 inches thick (depending on where you measure). Connectivity remains excellent too, with ASUS including Wi-Fi 7, two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 connector and a full HDMI 2.1 jack. And for all the artists out there, the Zenbook Duo also supports stylus input with the ASUS Pen 3.0, so you can easily pull out the wireless keyboard and use any screen as a built-in tablet for drawing. That said, it’s currently unclear whether or not a stylus comes included.
Meanwhile inside, the Zenbook Duo features an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 or Ultra 9 386H chip with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. In addition, ASUS has increased the Duo’s TDP to 45 watts, which is another significant bump over the original. So not only does it have a bigger battery, its performance gets a big boost as well, especially when combined with 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 of Engadget)
I know a lot of people out there aren’t convinced that dual screen laptops need to be a thing, and that’s totally okay. But as the kind of person who feels like they’re missing a limb when I’m traveling and away from my two monitors at home, the second-generation Zenbook Duo feels like a huge improvement on an already great idea. It has a large battery, fast performance and a streamlined design without gaining size or weight. Of all the laptops I saw at CES 2026, this is the one I most wish I could hold and start using right away.
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 doesn’t break the bank when it arrives later this year.
