With the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE, Asus combines its dual-display technology with impressive gaming performance. So it’s hardly surprising that the “SE” stands for Special Edition. In addition to two razor-sharp displays, the special notebook scores with a brand-new Ryzen 9 5900HX and a powerful GeForce RTX 3000, but the price isn’t cheap either.
Raffinated Duo Display Technology
Meanwhile, notebooks have been around for so many years that significant innovations are few and far between. Although manufacturers regularly surprise us with the integration of more powerful processors, graphics cards and displays, real reinventions are often missing. Asus has managed such an innovation with the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15. The notebook expert attracted all eyes at its premiere last year. The reason for this was the bold integration of a second screen. It is placed directly above the keyboard and measures 14.1 inches. Thus, Asus has killed several birds with only one stone. After all, the user not only gets more operating options and an overview thanks to the second display. On top of that, the CPU and GPU can deliver more performance thanks to better ventilation.
Powerful interior
Those who opt for the somewhat different notebook will get nothing less than an “eierlegende Wollmilchsau”. After all, the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE’s powerful innards should be more than enough for both demanding gaming and elaborate image and/or video editing. Asus installs the latest processors from AMD here. The buyer has the choice between a Ryzen 7 5800H and a Ryzen 9 5900HX. The processor is supported by 16 GB of RAM, which can be expanded to a maximum of 32 GB thanks to a second slot.
Thanks to the two M.2 ports, blazing fast PCIe-NVMe-SSDs can be installed. You can choose between two 512 GB or 1 TB SSDs. You also have freedom of choice when it comes to the graphics card. Asus relies on the mobile GeForce RTX 3000 offshoots. The maximum features include an RTX 3080 with 16 GB VRAM. If you do not have such a large budget, you can also settle for the somewhat weaker alternatives. Thus, there is also the option of picking up the GeForce RTX 3070 with 8 GB VRAM or the GeForce RTX 3060 with 6 GB VRAM.
Due to the slightly different hardware, Asus had to think a bit about the cooling system of the notebook. Thus, the manufacturer not only installed larger heatsinks, but also enlarged the air vents. As a result, Asus promises a 30% improved airflow from the revisions. To ensure that the waste heat of the potent components is reliably conducted out of the interior, Asus also now installs five heat pipes instead of the four of the predecessor.
The displays as a real eye-catcher
Of course, the design with the two displays immediately catches the eye. But the two screens are also completely convincing when you take a closer look. As soon as you open the notebook, the second display above the keyboard takes on an angle of 13 degrees. This has many different advantages. On the one hand, it can be used very well thanks to the ergonomic alignment. On top of that, the angle provides more ventilation for the case’s interior. Asus thus prevents overheating. Last but not least, the secondary display is also a visual highlight. After all, it merges smoothly with the main display due to the angle. Depending on the features, the secondary display offers either a resolution of 1,920 x 550 pixels (Full HD) or even 3,840 x 1,100 pixels (UHD). The refresh rate is 60 Hz regardless of the resolution.
But one shouldn’t forget the main display in all the praise for the second screen. Because this can also be more than seen. Since Asus knows that there are different target groups for the special notebook, it offers the display in two different variants. On the one hand, you can choose the display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD), a refresh rate of 300 Hz, a response time of 3 ms and a 100% coverage of the sRGB color space. This variant is probably primarily aimed at gaming enthusiasts due to the high Hertz number. Alternatively, you can configure the display with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (UHD), 120 Hz and 100% coverage of the Adobe RGB color space.
Great connectivity and surprisingly compact
Asus does not compromise when it comes to connections either. Thus, the dual-display notebook offers 1x USB-C, 3x USB-A, 1x HDMI, 2x audio and 1x Ethernet. Wireless connectivity also seems to be sufficient. You can enjoy Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Asus has installed a 90 watt-hour battery so that you can also work or play on the go. Thanks to its dimensions of 360 mm x 268 mm x 21 mm, the notebook is also easy to transport. The weight of 2.4 kg should in no way lead to back pain.
Price and availability
Of course, the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE is no bargain considering its lush features. When it is launched here in the middle of the first quarter of 2021, the starting price is supposed to be a hefty 2,499 Euros.
