Two Screens Are Better Than One: Could This Be The Next Evolution of Laptops?

As we close the 2010s and enter a new era, computers are everywhere, and are for everyone. They have, in a sense, come to define the conditions of our existence over the past decades, and in that same time, we've seen the computer evolve and take different forms.

But one particular form has endured: the classic clamshell laptop. Since it was introduced in 1982, the laptop has certainly evolved—it's gotten thinner and lighter, smaller by all dimensions and bigger in ways that matter. Trackpads, keyboards, and screens have come and gone in all shapes and sizes. Still, little of the laptop's fundamental design has changed over the years.

So as we move forward into an uncertain future, the question is inevitable: How will computers continue to evolve? Science-fiction films suggest that holograms or augmented reality may eventually supplant computer screens. If the past 20 years are any indication, devices may shrink or expand sporadically. In this bold new world, there are just so many ways we could go.

But the dawn of the 2020s may have a hint at what the future holds for computers. One of the latest developments in laptop design today is the dual-screen laptop, a groundbreaking innovation that represents a milestone in computer design.

The idea is astoundingly simple, yet ingenious: In a touchscreen-everything-and-multitask-everywhere era, two screens just makes sense. Having two screens means more visual interface, plus features that allow convenient access to applications and an enjoyable, user-friendly experience. Still, a foldable clamshell form is familiar, and importantly, portable. This may just be the next step for the evolution of the laptop, and it's a critical one for computers in general.

ASUS leads this revolution with two dual-screen laptop models called the ZenBook Duo and ZenBook Pro Duo. They are the first dual-screen laptops in the country, and among of the first in the world to introduce a specialized dual-screen design at this scale.

The ASUS ZenBook Duo and ZenBook Pro Duo come with a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, and are designed to be ergonomic for typing and stylus use. They also boast of a variety of ports for dongle-free connectivity. The ZenBook Duo has a 14-inch full high definition (FHD) screen and weighs a mere 1.5 kilograms; while its more powerful big brother, the 15.6-inch ultra high definition (UHD) ZenBook Pro Duo, weighs 2.5 kilograms.

But beyond the novelty and conveniences of their dual-screen design, the ZenBook Duo and ZenBook Pro Duo are, primarily, very, very powerful computers. At its top-of-the-line specifications, the ZenBook Pro Duo is powered by an Intel® Core™ i9-9980HK processor and a NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060, with 32GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM—way more than enough to accommodate the ZenBook’s comprehensive photo, video, and music editing features, and virtually anything else you'd need from it. It truly is, in this sense, #TheLaptopopOfTomorrow.

But the beauty of this computer is also in its familiarity. While the dual-screen design is a head-turner, you look at the ZenBook Duo and still see a laptop—easy to keep, carry, and use. Like every great innovation, it keeps one foot on the ground. But by daring to use two screens, it challenges our conventional view what a computer can do and should look like. It may very well be the future of all laptops, and a true landmark in the way humans use computers.

Want the full experience of the ZenBook Pro Duo or the ZenBook Duo? Get yours today at ASUS Official E-store. Follow ASUS Philippines on Facebook and visit ASUS Philippines' official website for more information.