Asus’ 2021 line of notebooks includes two new dual-screen ZenBooks

Asus announced two new dual-screen ZenBook Duo laptops as part of its CES 2021 ads. The 15-inch model will be available in North America in April this year, but you can order the 14-inch model for $ 999.99 at January 14th for shipment on January 22nd. There is also a new VivoBook and a new ExpertBook for those looking for light and portable purchases.

If you’re new to the ZenBook Duo line, laptops have a main screen (the normal one), as well as a secondary screen (the ScreenPad Plus) that is built into the top half of the keyboard deck. It’s not really big enough to do anything, but you can load your distractions (Twitter, Discord, etc.) into it to keep them out of your main work area. Some programs, including Adobe’s, also offer ScreenPad-specific interfaces.

The 15.6-inch ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED is an upgrade to the dual-screen ZenBook Pro Duo 15, a 15.6-inch dual-screen laptop with a primary OLED display. There is also a 14-inch model, a sequel to the regular ZenBook Duo that came out last year. This model is verified using Intel’s Evo program, which means that Intel certifies that it has good performance, battery life and other features.

The two Duos had an increase in specifications: The Pro Duo 15 OLED now has 10th Generation Intel processors (up to a Core i9) and the latest GeForce RTX 3070 mobile GPU from Nvidia. The ZenBook Duo 14 now includes 11th generation Intel processors (a Core i7 or Core i5) with integrated Iris Xe graphics (and you can add an Nvidia GeForce MX450 GPU as well).

The update I’m most happy with is that they both have a new design that tilts the ScreenPad Plus up – it’s no longer flat on the keyboard deck. This means that you do not have to stretch your neck over the keyboard to read the secondary screen, something that was inconvenient on older Duo models.

There is also a new hinge design that Asus says is 30 percent smaller and a smaller fan size. Asus has also updated the ScreenPad software (now called Screen Xpert 2) to include new applications that make multitasking easier. With a new Window Flick feature, for example, you can easily “move” windows from one screen to another.

Image: Asus

Outside the land of ZenBook, there is a new VivoBook S14, which is also certified by Evo. Asus says it is the lightest 14-inch VivoBook ever made at just 2.87 pounds. The S14 has also been updated for 11th generation processors with Xe graphics. Asus says you will have up to 17 hours of battery life.

There is also a standard VivoBook 14, which is powered by AMD’s new Ryzen 5000 U-Series mobile processors. Both models will arrive in North America in February, with prices to be announced.

Image: Asus

Finally, Asus has made some updates to its ExpertBook line, including its surprisingly light ExpertBook B9. The new model’s full name is ExpertBook B9 B9450CEA (vPro).

The 1.94 pound laptop, which Asus says is the lightest 14-inch business laptop in the world, now includes the latest 11th Generation vPro processors from Intel, which provide multiple security and remote management features, including technology Intel active management software.

The ExpertBook has a number of new features designed to make conference calls easier, including two-way AI noise cancellation technology, Harman Kardon-certified speakers and Wi-Fi 6 support.

The new ExpertBook B9 will be launched in the first quarter of 2021, with prices to be announced.

Image: Asus