ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 Laptop Review: A Dual-Screen Powerhouse for Creators and Professionals

The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is a revolutionary laptop designed to meet the needs of creative professionals, content creators, and power users who demand the best performance and multitasking capabilities. Featuring a unique dual-screen design with the primary 4K OLED display and the innovative ScreenPad Plus, the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 redefines what a laptop can do. Whether you’re a video editor, graphic designer, or software developer, this laptop offers a seamless workflow experience with cutting-edge hardware and intelligent features. In this review, we’ll explore the design, display quality, performance, and overall value of the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 to help you decide if it’s the right tool for your creative endeavors.

Design and Build Quality

The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 stands out with its futuristic design, high-quality materials, and attention to detail.

• Premium Build: The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 features a sleek and sturdy chassis crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum, giving it a premium feel while ensuring durability. The Celestial Blue finish adds a touch of elegance, making the laptop as visually appealing as it is functional.
• Dual-Screen Design: The standout feature of the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is its dual-screen setup. The main display is complemented by the ScreenPad Plus, a 14-inch secondary touchscreen that sits above the keyboard. This innovative design allows for unparalleled multitasking, enabling users to work on multiple applications simultaneously without needing an external monitor.
• Ergonomic Hinge: When the laptop is opened, the ErgoLift hinge automatically tilts the keyboard to a more comfortable typing angle. This design improves typing comfort and enhances airflow for better cooling performance.

Display Quality

The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 offers stunning display quality, making it ideal for creative professionals who demand color accuracy and high resolution.

• 4K OLED Main Display: The primary display is a 15.6-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED touchscreen that delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a wide color gamut. With 100% DCI-P3 color coverage and HDR support, this display is perfect for color-critical work such as photo editing, video production, and graphic design.
• ScreenPad Plus: The 14-inch 4K ScreenPad Plus is a secondary display that provides additional workspace for multitasking. This touchscreen supports stylus input, making it ideal for digital artists, note-takers, and anyone who wants to streamline their workflow. You can drag applications, toolbars, or timelines to the ScreenPad Plus, freeing up the main display for your primary tasks.
• Touch and Pen Support: Both displays support touch and pen input, allowing you to interact with your content more naturally and intuitively. The ASUS Pen, included with the laptop, is perfect for sketching, drawing, and taking notes.

Performance

The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is equipped with top-tier hardware, making it a performance powerhouse capable of easily handling demanding tasks.

• Powerful Processor: At the heart of the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is the Intel Core i9-10980HK processor, an 8-core CPU with a base clock of 2.4 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.3 GHz. This high-performance processor ensures the laptop can handle intensive tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and software development without sweat.
• NVIDIA RTX 2060 Graphics: The laptop has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, providing ample power for graphic-intensive applications and gaming. The RTX 2060 supports real-time ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics, making it ideal for creative professionals who work with 3D models, animations, and visual effects.
• Fast Storage and Memory: The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 has 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, ensuring lightning-fast data access and smooth multitasking. The large SSD provides plenty of storage space for your projects, files, and applications, while the 32GB of RAM ensures you can run multiple applications simultaneously without slowing down.

Productivity and Multitasking

The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is designed with productivity and multitasking in mind, offering features that enhance your workflow and streamline your tasks.

• ScreenXpert Software: ASUS ScreenXpert software allows you to manage apps and multitask effortlessly on the ScreenPad Plus. You can customize your workflow by placing frequently used apps, shortcuts, and toolbars on the secondary display. The Task Group feature lets you save and open multiple apps with a single tap, making it easy to switch between different projects.
• Voice Control: The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 supports Amazon Alexa and Microsoft Cortana, allowing you to control the laptop with voice commands. You can check your schedule, set reminders, and control smart home devices without lifting a finger.
• NumberPad: The laptop’s touchpad doubles as a NumberPad, providing a convenient way to enter numerical data. This feature is handy for professionals with spreadsheets, accounting software, and other data-intensive applications.

Connectivity and Ports

The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 offers a wide range of connectivity options, ensuring you can easily connect all your peripherals and accessories.

• Comprehensive Ports: The laptop features two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The Thunderbolt 3 ports support data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps, external displays, and power delivery, making them ideal for connecting external GPUs, monitors, and fast storage devices.
• Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0: The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 has Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0, providing fast and reliable wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi 6 offers improved performance in crowded networks and quicker speeds, while Bluetooth 5.0 ensures a stable connection to wireless peripherals such as headphones and mice.

Battery Life and Portability

Despite its powerful hardware and dual-screen design, the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 offers decent battery life and portability for on-the-go productivity.

• Decent Battery Life: The laptop is powered by a 71Wh battery that provides up to 7 hours of battery life on a single charge, depending on usage. While the battery life may not be as long as some ultrabooks, it’s sufficient for a day of work or creative projects on the go.
• Portable Design: Weighing in at 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg), the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is relatively portable for a laptop with such advanced features. The compact design and included carrying sleeves make it easy to take the computer anywhere.

Price and Value

The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is positioned as a high-end laptop, offering advanced features and top-tier performance at a premium price.

• Price: The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 typically retails for around $2,999, depending on the configuration and retailer. While it’s a significant investment, the laptop’s dual-screen design, powerful hardware, and innovative features make it a valuable tool for creative professionals and power users.
• Value: For the price, the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 offers exceptional value, especially for those who require a high-performance laptop with multitasking capabilities. The 4K OLED display, ScreenPad Plus, and powerful internals make this laptop a versatile and future-proof choice for demanding workflows.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Dual-Screen Innovation: The ScreenPad Plus adds a new dimension to multitasking and productivity, making it easier to manage complex workflows.
• Stunning 4K OLED Display: The main display offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent color accuracy, ideal for creative work.
• Powerful Performance: With an Intel Core i9 processor, NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU, and 32GB of RAM, the laptop can handle demanding tasks with ease.
• Extensive Connectivity: The laptop offers a wide range of ports, including Thunderbolt 3, ensuring compatibility with various peripherals and accessories.

Cons:

• Premium Price: The Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is expensive, which may be a barrier for some users.
• Shorter Battery Life: The dual-screen setup and powerful hardware impact battery life, limiting portability without access to a charger for extended periods.

Conclusion

The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is a groundbreaking laptop that pushes the boundaries of what a portable device can do. With its innovative dual-screen design, powerful hardware, and stunning 4K OLED display, the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is a dream machine for creative professionals, multitaskers, and power users. While it comes with a premium price tag, the laptop justifies the investment with its exceptional performance, build quality, and versatility. If you’re in the market for a high-end laptop that can keep up with your demanding workflow, the Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 is an outstanding choice that won’t disappoint.

Zenbook Pro Duo UX581 FAQ