Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Notebook Review: Multitasking monster with AMD Zen4, RTX 4090 & Mini-LED

Debut for the AMD Zen4 Ryzen 9 7945HX. Asus refreshes its ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and uses the ultimate parts that you just would be in a position to for the time being salvage. The new GeForce RTX 4090 Computer is supported by AMD’s Ryzen 9 7945HX, the fastest cellular CPU reliable now. The manufacturer also replaces the 4K show with a brand new WQHD Mini-LED panel with 240 Hz, which is supported by a secondary 4K show. Change: sRGB profile is incorporated

Andreas Osthoff 👁 (translated by Andreas Osthoff), Published 03/15/2023 🇩🇪

Existing: The manufacturer might perhaps perhaps express parts from various suppliers in conjunction with expose panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specs.

The chassis invent did no longer commerce when compared to the old model. The laptop personal computer is admittedly slightly subtle when the lid is closed and simplest the ROG tag is coloured when compared to the in any other case matte dusky develop. There might perhaps be no longer any such thing as a loopy chassis lighting fixtures, either. The quality of the laptop personal computer leaves a reliable influence, simplest the plastic bottom shroud falls rather brief.

As soon as you open the lid, however, you are going to straight away inquire of that right here’s no longer a standard laptop personal computer. Looking on the gap angle of the main show, the secondary show is slightly raised (to ~15 degrees) and shifted towards the lend a hand, which uncovers a transparent shroud above the keyboard where probabilities are you’ll even be aware within the chassis on the corners. The angle of the secondary show can no longer be changed, but it undoubtedly works wisely in be aware. The lifting mechanism is also very sturdy and there are no actions. The soundness is amazingly reliable usually, simplest basically the most opening angle of the lid is rather little at ~130 degrees.

Our dimension comparison reveals that the 17-plug MSI Titan GT77 has a remarkable bigger footprint, but it undoubtedly also reveals that the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is by some distance the thickest intention in our itsy-bitsy comparison team. Here’s obviously precipitated by the secondary show, which requires additional situation. It’s some distance also belief to be among the heaviest 16-plug devices at nearly 2.7 kg and to boot you also personal to use into consideration the chubby 330W energy provide, which pointers the scale at extra than 1.1 kg.

      MSI Titan GT77 HX 13VI       Lenovo Legion Pro 7 16IRX8H       Asus Zephyrus Duo 16 GX650PY-NM006W       Razer Blade 16 Early 2023       Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 GX650RX       Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M2 Max       Schenker XMG Neo 16 Raptor Lake       DIN A4 {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_335274’).checked = wrong;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_335619’).forEach(ingredient => {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_335619’).checked = wrong;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_336219’).forEach(ingredient => {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_336219’).checked = wrong;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_335277’).forEach(ingredient => {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_335277’).checked = wrong;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_329277’).forEach(ingredient => {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_329277’).checked = wrong;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_334928’).forEach(ingredient => {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_334928’).checked = wrong;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_335351’).forEach(ingredient => {ingredient.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_335351’).checked = wrong;return wrong;” title=”veil all”>❌

The rear situation of the spoiled unit is form of exclusively occupied by the cooling, which is why there are simplest three ports (Ethernet, HDMI, USB-A) within the center of the rear. The bulk of the final ports is found on the entrance of the left facet, which is also the case for the angled energy connector. The cable from the PSU is gorgeous brief, so the energy cable can block the USB-A port reckoning on the orientation. There is one extra USB-C port on the left facet.

Along with to the considerably inconvenient port layout, we’re bowled over that Asus did no longer encompass USB 4 relieve. The AMD processor supports USB 4 usually, but requires an extra USB controller, and it appears to be Asus did no longer prefer to utilize the money.

There might perhaps be a microSD card reader on the left facet and SD cards sit down flush with the chassis. The transfer charges along with our reference card (Angelbird AV Pro V60 128 GB) are honest and we measure up to 270 MB/s and extra than 180 MB/s after we reproduction jpeg describe recordsdata.

You salvage a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet jack on the rear and the Wi-Fi module (RZ616) also supports the favored Wi-Fi 6E no longer unusual for six GHz networks. We had no issues to make express of the corresponding 6 GHz Wi-Fi network with our reference router from Asus and the transfer charges had been both very excessive and valid. Bluetooth 5.2 is supported as wisely.

Asus upgraded the webcam and now uses a 1080p sensor. This has a particular originate on the sharpness of photography when compared to the old model, but the color accuracy is silent no longer very reliable. The ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 doesn’t provide a mechanical shutter.

Every version of the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is distributed with a rubberized palm leisure as wisely a downhearted ROG backpack, which leaves a gorgeous reliable quality influence. The extra pricey devices with Dwelling windows 11 Pro, 64 GB RAM and a couple of or 4 TB SSD storage also encompass the ROG Fusion II 300 headset as wisely because the gaming mouse ROG Gladius III Mouse P514. 

The bottom shroud is secured by various Torx screws (TR6), but there might perhaps be also an extra screw hidden within the center beneath a glued rubber pad, which makes it unnecessarily subtle to salvage entry to the internals. Interior you salvage two SO-DIMM slots as wisely as two M.2-2280 slots for SSDs. It’s some distance also seemingly to change the Wi-Fi module, but you personal to preserve shut the SSD first.

The extra show requires a shift towards the entrance of the spoiled unit for the keyboard, which is clearly no longer supreme for the ergonomics. Asus knows this as wisely and ships every unit with a rubberized palm leisure. It works wisely to your desk at dwelling, but it undoubtedly is no longer any relieve whenever you are on the twin carriageway. The keyboard itself offers a tickled typing skills with a shallow, but additionally composed key traipse. The keyboard is illuminated and to boot that you just would be in a position to express the Armoury Crate intention to situation the color for every key in my opinion (whenever you occur to use to personal).

The touchpad in portrait orientation is sitting reliable next to the keyboard and even no longer unusual cursor actions will probably be anxious and require extra than one makes an attempt as a result of slim create ingredient. That you might perhaps express the touchpad as a numeric keypad (activated by tap within the upper left corner), which works wisely.

The 16-plug Mini-LED panel is one indispensable upgrade over the old model. It offers the WQHD decision (2560 x 2600 pixels, 16:10) and a refresh price of 240 Hz. The matte panel offers an distinctive describe quality with razor-nice looking contents and rich colors. Asus advertises a brightness of up to 1100 nits, but or no longer it might perhaps perhaps be important to differentiate between SDR and HDR contents.

The take a look at results are very reliable and while the Mini-LED panel of the MacBook Pro 16 simplest reaches 500 nits for SDR contents, wen can measure up to 700 nits for the review unit. It even manages nearly 1400 nits with HDR contents, and it doesn’t matter whenever you occur to simplest personal a itsy-bitsy situation or a corpulent describe. The HDR implementation of Dwelling windows however is silent cumbersome and requires a manual settings commerce.

The dusky price is amazingly low and ends in an honest difference ratio. Mini-LED panels also enact no longer personal any issues with clouding or backlight bleeding.

* … smaller is extra healthy

The describe quality is already very reliable out of the field. We analyzed the panel with the professional CalMAN intention (X-Ceremony i1 Pro 2) and both the grayscale as wisely as color checker efficiency simplest expose itsy-bitsy deviations when compared to the P3 reference color situation. Nonetheless, there might perhaps be a minor blue cast and the color temperature is also rather on the icy facet. Our maintain calibration (profile will probably be downloaded for free within the field above) improves the efficiency even extra, so the panel is also suited to converse/video editing. It’s some distance rather miserable that Asus doesn’t encompass an chance to swap to the smaller sRGB gamut.

Change: There might perhaps be a dedciated sRGB profile on hand within the Armoury Crate intention.

Negate Response Times

↔    Response Time Black to White
19 ms … rise ↗ and topple ↘ mixed	↗ 10.6 ms rise
	↘ 8.4 ms topple
The show reveals reliable response charges in our assessments, but might perhaps perhaps very wisely be too unhurried for competitive gamers. When when compared, all tested devices range from 0.4 (minimum) to 240 (most) ms. » 31 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is extra healthy than the typical of all tested devices (22.5 ms).
↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
15.2 ms … rise ↗ and topple ↘ mixed	↗ 11.2 ms rise
	↘ 4 ms topple
The show reveals reliable response charges in our assessments, but might perhaps perhaps very wisely be too unhurried for competitive gamers. When when compared, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (most) ms. » 19 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is extra healthy than the typical of all tested devices (35.6 ms).

Cowl Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

Cowl flickering / PWM detected	12000 Hz	≤ 100 % brightness surroundings
The expose backlight flickers at 12000 Hz (Seemingly utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness surroundings of 100 % and beneath. There wants to be no flickering or PWM above this brightness surroundings. The frequency of 12000 Hz is extremely excessive, so most users horny to PWM ought to silent no longer gaze any flickering. When when compared: fifty three % of all tested devices enact no longer express PWM to dusky the expose. If PWM was detected, a median of 19343 (minimum: 5 – most: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The panel veteran PWM in any respect brightness ranges, but the frequency of 12 kHz is amazingly excessive and ought to silent no longer reason any complications. Nonetheless, the constant PWM flickering makes it very onerous to measure response instances precisely. Our results are gorgeous moderate, but Asus advertises a response time of three ms. We did no longer gaze any ghosting in at some level of our assessments and the panel is honest for gaming.

The matte Mini-LED panel also works remarkable open air, which is confirmed by our open air photos. You ought to silent obviously retain some distance off from reflections from divulge gentle sources, but that you just would be in a position to silent inquire of the contents very tickled on sunny days, while that you just would be in a position to no longer inquire of anything else on the brilliant secondary show (~400 nits). The viewing angle steadiness doesn’t reason any criticism, either.

Negate Response Times

↔    Response Time Black to White
17.2 ms … rise ↗ and topple ↘ mixed	↗ 7.7 ms rise
	↘ 9.5 ms topple
The show reveals reliable response charges in our assessments, but might perhaps perhaps very wisely be too unhurried for competitive gamers. When when compared, all tested devices range from 0.4 (minimum) to 240 (most) ms. » 29 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is extra healthy than the typical of all tested devices (22.5 ms).
↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
32.1 ms … rise ↗ and topple ↘ mixed	↗ 15.4 ms rise
	↘ 16.7 ms topple
The show reveals unhurried response charges in our assessments and can very wisely be unsatisfactory for gamers. When when compared, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (most) ms. » 33 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is reminiscent of the typical of all tested devices (35.6 ms).

Cowl Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

Cowl flickering / PWM no longer detected
When when compared: fifty three % of all tested devices enact no longer express PWM to dusky the expose. If PWM was detected, a median of 19343 (minimum: 5 – most: 3846000) Hz was measured.

All devices of the ROG Zephyrus Duo are geared up with the grand AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, but Asus doesn’t express quick RAM and silent uses DDR5-4800. We also faced some bugs at some level of our review and we even had some blue monitors after we launched AIDA64 benchmarks, to illustrate. You also personal to know that the graphics are handled by the dedicated GeForce GPU while you express an external show. Here’s precipitated by the secondary show, and the GeForce GPU is also running even when both constructed-in monitors are was off, which might perhaps obviously raise the energy consumption.

The preloaded Armoury Crate intention offers various energy profiles for the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16. It’s some distance also seemingly to regulate the GPU settings to boot to the classic profiles. We bought the ultimate total results with the Turbo profile as wisely because the default GPU surroundings (MSHybrid). 

The new AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX (Dragon Fluctuate) uses 16 Zen4 cores (32 threads) and is manufactured in a 5 nm route of. It’s some distance AMD’s new flagship cellular CPU and is a appropriate away rival for Intel’s contemporary Raptor Lake HX chips. AMD advertises a standard TDP of 55 Watts, but the processor within the ROH Zephyrus Duo 16 might perhaps perhaps be pleased up to 130 Watts and 120 Watts for sustained workloads. This means it’s remarkable extra efficient than Intel’s most accepted devices treasure the Core i9-13980HX, which might perhaps perhaps be pleased extra than 200 Watts in high load scenarios.

The multi-core efficiency in explicit is amazingly spectacular and the Ryzen 9 7945HX can use the tip space in nearly every benchmark. Intel’s contemporary CPUs simplest personal a cramped advantage in single-core assessments, but additionally be pleased extra energy in these scenarios. We are in a position to provide an intensive comparison of the efficiency and efficiency between the brand new AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX and the Raptor Lake HX CPUs in a separate comparison article.

The CPU efficiency is form of exclusively valid beneath sustained workloads, but or no longer it might perhaps perhaps be important to establish a question to a efficiency deficit of spherical 50 % in multi-core assessments running on battery (the one-core efficiency is no longer affected). When compared to the Ryzen 9 6900HX within the ragged Zephyrus Duo 16, the CPU efficiency has elevated by 68 % across all CPU benchmarks. More benchmark results are on hand in our tech piece.

* … smaller is extra healthy

Lend a hand

Besides the previously talked about blue monitors, we also noticed some intention bugs at some level of our review period. There had been issues with the Bluetooth connection (we on occasion needed to open the Bluetooth menu before our mouse worked) and YouTube usually did no longer play any videos, which was solved by a restart. We’re for the time being no longer sure whether these are intention issues precipitated by Asus or preliminary issues with the brand new AMD platform.

If all the pieces works as designed (which is the case more often than not), the efficiency is admittedly reliable. There are no stutters and all inputs are completed without delays. The ends within the unreal benchmarks are also honest and the AMD machine can beat most Intel opponents.

Our standardized Latency take a look at (web shopping, YouTube 4K playback, CPU load) reveals necessary boundaries for the take a look at unit with the contemporary BIOS version, so it’s some distance never suited to loyal-time audio gains. 

* … smaller is extra healthy

Our review unit is geared up with a quick 2 TB SSD from SK Hynix (PC801), which is hooked up by PCIe 4.0. The efficiency of the NVMe drive is honest and we transfer charges of additional than 7 GB/s. The efficiency is also valid beneath sustained workloads, which is a effort for heaps of excessive-pause laptops reliable now. More SSD benchmarks are listed right here.