Micron has showcased its colossal 256GB DDR5-8800 MCRDIMM memory modules at the recent Nvidia GTC 2024 conference.
The high-capacity, double-height, 20-watt modules are tailored for next-generation AI servers, such as those based on Intel‘s Xeon Scalable ‘Granite Rapid’ processors which require substantial memory for training.
Tom’s Hardware, which got to see the memory module first hand, and take the photo above, says the company displayed a ‘Tall’ version of the module at the GTC, but it also intends to offer Standard height MCRDIMMs suitable for 1U servers.
Multiplexer Combined Ranks DIMMs
Both versions of the 256GB MCRDIMMs are constructed using monolithic 32Gb DDR5 ICs. The Tall module houses 80 DRAM chips on each side, while the Standard module employs 2Hi stacked packages and will run slightly hotter as a result.
MCRDIMMs, or Multiplexer Combined Ranks DIMMs, are dual-rank memory modules that employ a specialized buffer to allow both ranks to operate concurrently.
As Tom’s Hardware explains, “The buffer allows the two physical ranks to act as if they were two separate modules working in parallel, thereby doubling performance by enabling the simultaneous retrieval of 128 bytes of data from both ranks per clock, effectively doubling the performance of a single module. Meanwhile, the buffer works with its host memory controller using the DDR5 protocol, albeit at speeds beyond those specified by the standard, at 8800 MT/s in this case.“
Customers keen to get their hands on the new memory modules won’t have long to wait. In prepared remarks for the company’s earnings call last week, Sanjay Mehrotra, chief executive of Micron, said “We [have] started sampling our 256GB MCRDIMM module, which further enhances performance and increases DRAM content per server.”
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Micron hasn’t announced pricing yet, but the cost per module is likely to exceed $10,000.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank is loaded with great features, including two USB-C ports, 12,000 mAh of capacity, a max of 65W output and a built-in status display.
But what sets it part from the pack is its design. It’s slim enough to go easily into bags designed for MacBook and iPad. And it’s relatively lightweight, too.
I tested the Baseus Blade 2 with my gear. Here’s how well the accessory lived up to its promise.
March 25 only: Baseus is offering $30 off the regular cost. But the deal ends TODAY.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank review
Whenever I travel or just work remotely, I bring an external battery for my laptop. Whether I’m working or watching video, I don’t want to take even a chance of running out of juice. And I’ve learned through painful experience I can’t depend on finding a power socket when I need one.
I wish I didn’t have to because these power banks were always so bulky. I put my iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard Case in a small messenger bag, and adding an external battery with enough juice to make a real difference feels like adding a brick.
But that’s not what the Baseus Blade 2 feels like. Rather than the usual blocky shape, it’s wide and thin — like a notebook.
But there’s room for not just the necessities like two USB-C ports, but a useful and cool status display screen.
Thinner is better in a portable power bank
Thin is in … in your laptop bag. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
If it isn’t obvious already, the reason I love Baseus’ newest power bank is its 6.4-inch by 5.2-inch by 0.4-inch design. For comparison, my previous favorite is almost three times that thick.
To be clear, Blade 2 doesn’t actually take up less room than other high-capacity power banks. But its slim shape makes it fit better in bags designed to hold notebooks.
Also, the weight comes in at 0.75 pounds. That’s not feather light, but it’s low enough that I don’t really feel it in my gear bag.
Just the right ports
Two USB-C ports are ready for your MacBook, iPad or iPhone. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
We are finally, finally putting the USB-A port behind us. You’ll find on one edge of Blade 2 a pair of USB-C ports, just the number you need to charge up your MacBook and iPhone at the same time.
And that seems to be Baseus’ plan because one of these ports can deliver 40W while the second tops out at 25 W. Or the accessory can deliver up to 65W to one device if only its first USB-C port is used.
Either port can be used to recharge the power bank itself at up to 60W. Some rival external batteries support charging through only one of their USB-C ports.
And a status screen, too
Something else that helps Baseus Blade 2 stand out from the pack is a small screen that displays exactly how much of a charge remains and how much power is flowing to each device. It’s a premium feature, and one I very much appreciate. I like to be sure my gear is really getting charged, and how quickly.
Beyond that, the notebook power bank makes predictions about how soon it will run out of power, or how long it will take to recharge. My testing shows these are somewhat accurate, but can’t take into account the fact that the batteries in Apple devices take in less power as they approach 100%.
Activate the screen with a button on one edge of the accessory.
Good performance from the laptop power bank
Blade 2 can keep a couple of Apple gadgets going for many hours. Photo: Baseus
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank holds 12,000mAh. To be fair, many other premium external batteries hold 20,000mAh or more, which helps make this one thinner.
But it nevertheless holds enough power to be quite useful. Battery sizes vary between Apple devices, of course, but I tested it with my usual computers.
Blade 2 raised the battery level in my iPad Pro by 85%, almost doubling the useful time. The tablet was charging at approximately 35W, the most it can take.
As for my iPhone 15 Plus, Baseus’ power bank was able to raise the battery level 150% over successive charging cycles. That’s enough for a whole weekend of use.
I actually got the opportunity to use the charging accessory on an overnight trip. When I woke up the second day, the iPad battery was at a little under 50% while the iPhone battery was about two-thirds empty. I plugged them into Baseus’ product and 45 minutes later they both had roughly 90% charges while the Blade 2 had given all the power it could. That’s a nice result for an accessory this portable.
When I got home, recharging it took roughly an hour using my best wall charger, which was sending over 50W.
Baseus promises that the battery is good for 20,000 recharging cycles.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank final thoughts
The Blade 2 is super-thin for portability. Photo: Baseus
This product should be a wake-up call to makers of other laptop power banks: thin is in. A slender accessory fits in the cases we use for our notebook computers far better than a blocky one does.
Baseus went for 12,000mAh, which is of mid-range size. But there’s still enough to add hours of use to a MacBook. Or days of use to an iPhone. And dual USB-C ports are just right.
The price is decent for a premium power bank from a reputable company.
★★★★★
I really couldn’t find any negatives in the product, and I always look for downsides.
Pricing
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank goes for $99. But today only, March 25, get $30 off by using code 30OFFBLADE from either:
If you prefer a laptop power bank with many of the same premium features but much more storage capacity, I recommend the HyperJuice 245W USB-C Battery Pack. It’s not as thin but holds a whopping 27,000mAh. My review gives the details.
Last month, Samsung launched the Galaxy Book 4 360 and the Galaxy Book 4 Pro in India. The company has now added one more laptop to its 2024 laptop lineup: Galaxy Book 4. It is the most affordable laptop in the Galaxy Book 4 series, and you can now purchase it in India.
This laptop hasn’t been launched in other markets yet.
Galaxy Book 4 pricing in India
The Galaxy Book 4 comes in three variants in India, and the pricing starts at INR 70,990 ($850) for the variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. It goes as high as INR 85,990 ($1,029) for the version with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
The Galaxy Book 4 has a 15.6-inch LCD screen with Full HD resolution. It has AKG-tuned stereo speakers (2W x2), Dolby Atmos, a dual-microphone array, and a 720p webcam. It has a large trackpad with Windows Precision drivers, a full-sized keyboard with a numeric pad, and a fingerprint reader.
It has the Intel Core 5 120U processor, 8GB/16GB LPDDR4X RAM (two slots available), 512GB NVMe SSD, and a microSD card slot. It has one HDMI port, two USB Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone + microphone combo jack, and one RJ45 ethernet port. It has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
The Galaxy Book 4 is powered by a 54Wh battery and supports 45W fast charging. It comes with a 45W USB Type-C PD charger. It weighs 1.55kg and measures 35.66 x 22.91 x 1.54cm.
Watch our hands-on video of the Galaxy Book 4 Pro, Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360, and the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra below.
The laptop runs Windows 11 and features Galaxy ecosystem apps like Auto Hotspot, Galaxy Book Smart Switch, Private Share, Quick Search, Quick Share, Samsung Flow, Samsung Gallery, Samsung Notes, Samsung Pass, Samsung Settings, Second Screen, and Studio Plus.
Author’s Note:Compared to the Galaxy Book 4 Pro, the Galaxy Book 4 has an LCD screen instead of a Super AMOLED screen, two speakers instead of four speakers, and a non-backlit keyboard instead of a backlit one. It also lacks Thunderbolt 4 ports, and you have to make do with 10Gbps USB Type-C ports. So, for this price, it seems like it isn’t specced as well, and you can get OLED screen-equipped laptops from other brands at the same price point.
If you’re thinking of buying a new laptop, then you don’t have to hold off until Black Friday later this year, as Amazon is currently holding a Spring Sale in the US and UK, and it has some great laptop deals that rival – and in some cases beat – deals we’ve seen in the past during sales events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
For many of us, money is tight, and splashing out on a new laptop may not be our top priority. However, laptops are also incredibly important tools for a lot of people, and if you’ve found yourself needing to buy a new one then deals events like this are a great way of getting a laptop for a lot less money than usual.
Even with big price cuts, however, buying a new laptop can still be a big investment, so it’s a purchase you shouldn’t rush into. There are a lot of laptops out there, and not all of them will be right for your needs.
To help, I’ve rounded up the best laptop deals I’ve found during Amazon’s Spring Sale. I’ve been reviewing laptops for over 15 years, and have been covering sales events like Black Friday for almost as long, so I know a thing or two about what makes a great laptop deal. Also, while Amazon is having its Spring Sale, some of its competitors, including Walmart and Best Buy, are also holding sales as well, so I’ve included some top picks from outside Amazon here as well.
(Not in the US or UK? Scroll down for the best deals in your region).
Today’s best laptop deals in the US
Today’s best laptop deals in the UK
As you can see, there’s a large range of laptops on sale at Amazon and its competitors right now, including budget laptops, Chromebooks, MacBooks and gaming laptops.
This should mean there’s a great laptop deal for you, no matter what your needs or budget are.
More laptop deals
Looking for more laptop deals? You’ll find all the lowest prices from around the web right here, with offers available in your region.
Scroll down for more Amazon Spring sale deals in the US and UK.
iMac vs MacBook? Should your next Mac be a portable or a desktop? More than 90% of Macs sold are laptops, and it’s easy to see why — MacBooks are light while offering best-in-class performance and battery life.
But there are some compelling reasons to stick to the iMac, Mac mini or Mac Studio as well. You save money and you have a more reliable machine.
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iMac vs MacBook: Which should you buy?
1. It’s easier to take a MacBook with you
The biggest and most obvious reason to get a MacBook is that it’s easier to take with you.
Unplug it and put it in your bag — a ten-second process and you’re good to go. In a pinch, you can take it out, sit it on your lap and you can get some work done.
An iMac, being an all-in-one computer, is pretty easy to transport as far as desktop computers go. But it doesn’t have a battery and it won’t fit inside your backpack. A Mac mini can also be relatively easy to move around — provided you have a keyboard, mouse and monitor set up at both destinations.
But nothing can compare to the portability of a MacBook Air.
2. Most desktop Macs are considerably cheaper than MacBooks
The Mac mini starts at only $599. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The one thing everyone knows about buying Apple products is that they tend to be expensive. I would strongly argue that buying a Mac is worth the price for the quality, power and longevity of the computer you get, but that may not be so reassuring if you only have a little bit of money to spend.
Buying a desktop Mac can save you a lot of money over buying a MacBook. If you compare like-for-like:
The base Mac mini is $500 cheaper than the MacBook Air.
The Pro-level Mac mini is $700 cheaper than the MacBook Pro.
And the Max-level Mac Studio is a whopping $1,000 cheaper than the MacBook Pro.
Add an extra $200 if you prefer the bigger 15-inch MacBook Air — or $300 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBooks cost more for a reason. But do you really need the portability?
Most people with a laptop have a desktop display, keyboard and mouse to dock it to, anyways. Photo: Apple
Granted, the price differences are there for a reason: the Mac mini and Mac Studio don’t come with a built-in display, keyboard and trackpad like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. On the other hand, if you’re doing your daily work on a MacBook, you probably have it docked to an external display, keyboard and mouse anyway.
So if you don’t have as much money to spend — and you already have a display — you can save a lot of dough getting a Mac mini instead of a MacBook.
The iMac, Apple’s all-in-one computer with a built-in display (which comes with a keyboard and mouse in the box) is actually the same price as a comparable MacBook Air. But while you give up the portability, you trade the laptop’s small 13-inch screen for a desktop-size 24-inch display.
Or, you can use the price difference to get a more powerful Mac. Instead of getting the cheapest 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can get a Mac mini with a more powerful Pro-level chip, double the memory and double the storage — for $100 less.
3. Desktop Macs last longer
In my personal collection of computers, old and new, the desktops give me way fewer problems. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you only buy a new computer when yours literally stops functioning, you’ll likely get more years out of a desktop Mac than a laptop. Laptops contain more parts and, therefore, more things that can fail over time. (Plus, laptops typically take more abuse than desktop Macs.)
Assuming you don’t drop your laptop, the MacBook battery is the part most likely to go south.
Let me put it this way: If you’re the sort of person who’s still not sure if you should get an iMac or MacBook, you probably don’t use your laptop as a laptop too often. You probably travel for a weekend or the occasional work trip just often enough to make you unsure.
That kind of lifestyle — leaving a laptop plugged in and docked on your desk 364 days out of the year — is devastating to the lithium-ion battery inside a MacBook. My MacBook Pro held up fantasticly throughout college. But as soon as I graduated and kept it at home every day, the battery life plummeted. And now, it’s totally nonfunctional.
4. MacBooks are equally as powerful as their desktop counterparts
The Mac product family, as seen deep in the dark depths of the Intel era. Photo: Apple
When Apple put Intel chips inside Macs, the desktops would outperform the laptops — even with similar specs.
That’s because Intel packaged processors with manufacturing defects, which didn’t run as fast or as hot as better-manufactured ones, as laptop chips. Now that more energy-efficient Apple silicon powers the Mac lineup, the game has changed. Apple wants all of its processors to perform the same: The company puts its best-manufactured chips in MacBooks so the laptops can take advantage of their superior power efficiency, and puts underperforming chips in desktop computers at a higher power rate so they can run just as fast.
All of this means that Apple laptops are no longer second-rate computers. A MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip inside will run equally as well as a Mac mini with the same Apple silicon processor.
5. Only desktop Macs get the most powerful processors
The Ultra chip is two Max chips transposed into one. Image: Apple
While an iMac or MacBook can be identically configured to run the same, you can still buy a more powerful desktop Mac than you can a MacBook.
The MacBook Pro can be configured with up to a Max chip, but the Mac Studio gets the even more powerful Ultra chip. This is effectively two Max chips interposed together, delivering double the processing power, double the graphics power and double the memory.
It isn’t Apple’s style to sell a MacBook Pro with “half-day battery life,” and while Apple silicon chips run much cooler than others, they’re not magic. The MacBook Pro is simply too thin to house such power.
iMac vs MacBook? Mac mini vs MacBook Pro?
Get an iMac if you want good performance with a big screen. Get a MacBook if you need the portability. Go for a Mac mini to save the most amount of money. And choose a MacBook Pro for portability and power.
The real magic about Apple silicon is that these days, no matter what Mac you buy, you’re going to get a great computer that’ll last you years.
Check out the latest deals on Apple’s best products:
I’ve been reviewing laptops for years, and if someone asks me what laptop they should buy for under £300, I always say the same thing: get a Chromebook. If you’re looking for a super-cheap laptop, then Amazon’s Spring Sale event has a great offer for the Asus Chromebook Plus, which is now just £249.99 (down from £399).
Why do I recommend Chromebooks to people looking for cheap laptops? While there are laptops running Windows 11 out there for under £300, they often aren’t worth paying for; even at those low prices. This is because they usually come with underpowered or outdated hardware, which makes using Windows 11 a chore.
However, Chromebooks use the much more lightweight Chrome OS software, which runs really well on less powerful hardware, so you end up getting a much better experience on a Chromebook of the same price or less.
That’s especially true of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402CBA Amazon has on sale here. With an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB storage, it comes with specs that are actually pretty powerful for a Chromebook, and they wouldn’t look out of place powering a Windows 11 laptop.
With Chrome OS, you’ll get a fantastically smooth and snappy experience, and while the Chromebook Plus CX3402CBA can’t run Windows 11 apps, there are a huge library of Chrome OS apps available. And you can run Android apps as well. For most day-to-day tasks, this Chromebook will be ideal – plus you get a huge 10 hour battery life as well, and with this £150 price cut, this is an absolutely brilliant cheap laptop deal.
If this isn’t quite right for you, you can find more deals in our full Amazon Spring Sale hub.
(Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best deals in your region).
Today’s best Asus Chromebook Plus deal
Chromebook Plus laptops are a new category of Chromebook that offer more powerful components, while keeping a lot of the things we love about traditional Chromebooks, such as their low prices and long battery lives.
Because of the more powerful hardware, Chromebook Plus devices can often be more expensive than regular Chromebooks, which is one of the reasons why I love this deal so much. Even at its original price of £399, this is a great value, but at £249.99, it’s easily one of the best laptop deals we’ll see until Black Friday at least.
While it won’t be a laptop for everyone, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402CBA is ideal for day-to-day use. It’ll be especially good for students looking for an affordable laptop they can use throughout the day without needing a charge.
More Asus Chromebook Plus deals
Looking for more Asus Chromebook Plus deals? You’ll find all the lowest prices from around the web right here, with offers available in your region.
Scroll down for more Amazon Spring sale deals in the UK.
Looking for a gaming laptop? You may be eying the Amazon Big Spring Sale as a potential option, but let me tell you upfront – today’s best deals are actually at Best Buy.
Don’t get me wrong – Amazon’s deals on gaming laptops today are OK, but they don’t quite match the competition when it comes to outright value, in my opinion.
For example, you can get this decently specced-out Acer Nitro 5 for just $699 (was $949) at Best Buy today – a great option if you’re strictly on a budget. By comparison, the cheapest gaming laptop in the Amazon Spring Sale is the Asus Strix G15 for $749 (was $949.99), which features a slightly weaker graphics card and only 8GB of RAM in contrast to the Acer’s 16GB.
Higher-end options are stronger at Best Buy today, too – take this MSI Cyborg for $849.99 (was $1,099) or this MSI Crosshair for $1,199 (was $1,399). Both these machines have been slightly cheaper in the past – most notably over Black Friday and Presidents’ Day – but they’re still some of the lowest-priced gaming laptops to feature an RTX 4060 and RTX 4070 graphics card, respectively. They’re both great choices when you consider the cheapest equivalent machine at Amazon costs $1,149 right now.
You can check out more details on these deals just down below or over to our main cheap gaming laptop deals page for even more options.
Two devices conspicuously missing from Microsoft’s Surface and AI event last fall are finally here — and they’re both what we expected and a bit surprising. Today, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, sporting the same designs as the previous models but now with the AI smarts of Intel’s new Core Ultra CPUs. You won’t be able to buy them at Best Buy, Target or any other retailer selling Surface Devices, though. Both of these computers have the foreboding words “for business” attached to their names, so you’ll only be able to buy them from the Microsoft’s website or commercial resellers.
If you’re a bit baffled by this, you’re not alone. It almost seems like Microsoft is gearing up to leave the consumer PC market, but a spokesperson tells us that’s not the case. “We absolutely remain committed to consumer devices,” they said in a statement. “Building great devices that people love to use aligns closely with our company mission to empower individuals as well as organizations. We are excited to be bringing devices to market that deliver great AI experiences to our customers. This commercial announcement is only the first part of this effort.”
Microsoft
It sounds like new consumer hardware is on the way eventually, but keeping two long-awaited devices out of retailers doesn’t inspire confidence. Alongside the Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Laptop Go 3 last year, Microsoft also quietly revealed the Surface Go 4 for business, aiming that budget tablet towards enterprise and education customers. That wasn’t exactly a death sentence for that machine, but it did kill much of the buzz we typically see when new Surface hardware arrives.
So what does all of this mean for the Surface Pro 10 for business and the Surface Laptop 6 for business? For diehard fans of Microsoft’s PCs, they offer some notable upgrades alongside those new Intel Core Ultra chips, but they’ll be a bit harder to buy than before. The average consumer likely won’t even realize they exist, especially since older Surface hardware will still be at Best Buy and other retailers.
Let’s dive into what’s new: The Surface Pro 10 comes with the Core Ultra 5 135U or Ultra 7 165U CPU, and it can be equipped with up to 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. While its tablet case is the same as before, Microsoft also shoved in a new 1,440p webcam with an incredibly wide 114-degree field of view. Microsoft calls this an AI enhanced camera, but that just means it can tap into Windows Studio effects using the Core Ultra’s NPU for AI workloads.
The Surface Pro 10’s 1,440p webcam. (Microsoft)
The Surface Laptop 6, once again, comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch models and can be equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H and Ultra 7 165H CPUs. Those chips are far more powerful than the U-variant options in the Surface Pro 6, so they’re better options for more demanding tasks. (The 14-inch Surface Laptop Studio 2 remains the most powerful Microsoft laptop, but its not an AI PC since its 13th-gen Intel CPU doesn’t have an NPU.) The Laptop 6 can also be configured with up to 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It offers more graphics options than its tablet sibling: The 8GB RAM model has plain Intel graphics, but if you go for more memory you’ll get Intel’s more powerful Arc graphics.
Oddly, the Surface Laptop 6 doesn’t share the Pro 10’s sharp new camera, it’s stuck with a 1080p HD option instead. If, for some reason, you need to use smart cards regularly, you can also configure the Laptop 6 with a built-in smart card reader. (But still no SD card slot? Come on, Microsoft.)
Microsoft
Both the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 also come with a new Copilot key, which we’ve also seen on Dell’s new XPS laptops and a few other AI PCs. I haven’t found the key particularly useful on other systems, but at this point Microsoft is so committed to putting its Copilot AI everywhere that it would be embarrassing not to have it on new Surface machines.
Microsoft claims the Surface Pro 10 is 53 percent faster than the Pro 9 in the 3DMark TimeSpy benchmark, while the Surface Laptop 6 is twice as fast as the previous model. (That’s mostly due to Intel’s beefier Arc graphics.) These aren’t machines you’d want to rush out to buy if you have a Pro 9 or Laptop 5, but thanks to the AI-powered Intel CPU and refined webcam, the Surface Pro 10 could be a compelling leap forward if you have an older Surface tablet.
While it’s unclear if focusing on business users will actually pay off for Microsoft, the Surface Laptop 6 and Pro 10 are a sign that the company is still trying to make a mark in the PC market. If anything, though, we’re more intrigued by what Microsoft has cooking next for consumers. By shoving its aging tablet and laptop design towards corporate users, the company may have room to innovate a bit more. Perhaps we’ll actually see a Surface foldable PC this year?
The Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 for Business are available for pre-order today starting at $1,200 each. They’ll begin shipping out to customers on April 9th.
Catch up on all the news from the Microsoft Surface and AI event right here!
This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
After unveiling a range of XPS laptops at CES, Dell introduced ten new Latitude laptops at MWC 2024, including a new 7350 variant. Weighing from just 2.18lb (0.989kg), it’s available as a laptop or a 2-in-1 (with a detachable model arriving soon). As expected from Dell, you can customize its configuration to suit your needs.
Beneath its sleek River Blue magnesium chassis, the Latitude 7350 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 135U processor. If you need more power, you can upgrade to a Core Ultra 7 165U (Core Ultra 5 125U is also an option).
The Latitude 7350 comes with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM running at 6400 MT/s, with the option to upgrade to either 32GB or 64GB, depending on the CPU you choose.
Choice of displays
For storage, it comes with a 256GB M.2 2230 TLC PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD, with the option to upgrade to 512GB or 1TB.
If you prioritize a lightweight device, the ultralight 13.3-inch FHD+ screen (1920×1200), available in touch and non-touch versions, will be the choice for you. However, there’s also a 2-in-1 Touch QHD+ (2560×1600) option, as well as Laptop Touch FHD+ and Laptop Non-Touch screens to choose from.
The Latitude 7350 comes with either Windows 11 Pro or Home (as with most new PCs the keyboard sports a Copilot key), and includes an FHD or optional FHD IR camera.
In terms of connectivity, the Latitude 7350 features a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with Power Share, an HDMI 2.1 port, and two Thunderbolt 4.0 ports with Power Delivery and DisplayPort. An optional contacted SmartCard reader is also available, but only with the heavier Titan Gray aluminum chassis.
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The base configuration for the laptop starts at $1,809. The Latitude 7350 detachable model is expected to arrive Q2.
Almost every major PC maker has dabbled with the idea of a dual-screen laptop at some point. Way back in 2011, sporting not one but two 14-inch displays. Then at CES 2017, Razer showed off which bumped the panel count to three before demoing something a bit less extravagant a year later in . Fast forward to 2020, when Dell dazzled us with the . Even Apple gave the category a go on the old , only to reverse course and .
Meanwhile, Lenovo has an entire family of devices dating back to the original and culminating most recently in the , with the latter coming extremely close to turning the promise of dual-screen laptops into an actual appealing choice. But now after several generations of its own devices, ASUS has put everything together with the It’s a super sleek machine with two screens that’s barely larger than a similarly sized clamshell. There’s also a detachable keyboard and a built-in kickstand for maximum adaptability. And starting at $1,500, the Zenbook Duo doesn’t command a massive premium for something with a ton of extra utility. So while it’s been quite a journey to get here, ASUS has finally made a dual-screen laptop that proves once and for all that two screens really are better than one.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Starting at $1,500 and with dimensions that aren’t much bigger than a traditional clamshell, ASUS’ Zenbook Duo is the first dual-screen laptop you’d actually want to buy.
Pros
Sleek design
Gorgeous screens
Built-in kickstand
Good port selection
Solid battery life
Cons
Slightly pricier than a traditional clamshell
Windows 11 still isn’t optimized for dual-screen laptops
One of the most impressive things about the Zenbook Duo is that it doesn’t look like some kind of Frankendeivce. It’s just a regular-looking 14-inch laptop. Even after you open it, things still look normal with a physical keyboard and touchpad, not to mention a healthy selection of ports around the outside (two Thunderbolt 4, one USB 3.2 Type-A and a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack). A small part of me wishes ASUS had found room for some kind of SD card reader, but I understand if there just wasn’t space.
It’s only after you remove the keyboard that things get interesting because as soon as you do, the Duo’s second display springs to life. From here, you have a ton of options. Tapping three fingers on the lower panel summons a floating touchpad. Alternatively, eight fingers makes a virtual keyboard appear, which you can follow with a swipe up to reveal a traditional keyboard/trackpad combo. But the cool thing is that because these are all virtual stand-ins, it’s easy to swap in a new layout (like for other languages), move the touchpad off to the side or call up a numpad if you need to do some data entry. There’s just so much more flexibility when half of a laptop’s interior isn’t taken up by a rigid set of physical keys.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
But things keep getting better, because on the bottom of the Duo is a flap that folds out into a kickstand. This allows you to prop the system up and use both screens as proper displays, sort of like a portable dual-monitor setup but all in a single self-contained system. And because the detachable keyboard connects wirelessly over Bluetooth, you can place it in front (or wherever you want) just like a desktop. The one small drawback to this design is that if you rotate the Duo’s displays into portrait orientation side by side, the design of the kickstand means there’s no way to adjust how far it tilts. This heavily favors the stacked setup with one display above, which is fine because I think that arrangement is more useful in most situations.
Another pleasant surprise is that for a device with two screens, the Zenbook Duo isn’t much bigger or heavier than a typical clamshell. It weighs 3.6 pounds and measures 0.78 inches thick versus the 2.82 pounds and 0.59 inches for a standard Zenbook 14 OLED. And when compared to something like a Dell XPS 14 (3.7 pounds and 0.71 inches thick), both systems are practically the same size.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
My one gripe is that ASUS’ dark gray paint job color doesn’t help the Duo stand out. It’s almost like someone who wears subdued colors to avoid drawing attention. But this design is fantastic and I wish ASUS would give this laptop (and the engineers who designed it) the flowers it deserves.
Displays and software
The centerpiece of the Duo is its pair of 14-inch displays, which are an absolute delight. Not only do the matching OLED panels offer strong brightness (around 500 nits), they also pump out rich and accurate colors (100 percent of DCI-P3). But the real magic is when you use both panels together.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Moving apps from one display to another is as simple as dragging and dropping or using the handy menus that appear at the top of the display. In addition, there’s a floating button in the bottom left for ASUS’ ScreenXpert software, which provides shortcuts for adjusting brightness (separately or as a pair), disabling specific panels or pulling up handy widgets for things like a control panel, a handwriting recognition tool, news and weather and more. If the goal was to get as much value out of the Duo’s two displays, I think ASUS’ software does a pretty good job.
The downside to all this is that despite ASUS’ best efforts, Windows 11 and many apps still aren’t fully optimized for systems like this. For example, when I played a round of Teamfight Tactics and wanted to pull up some game stats on the lower display, I ran into an issue where the virtual touchpad stopped working. It was only after I set the game to borderless window mode, closed the game and relaunched everything that it started working again. Granted, situations like this were rare, but it’s important to remember that when you’re using a cutting-edge device, there may be some bugs or awkward interactions.
Performance
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The Zenbook Duo comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD. While you can upgrade it with double the memory and a faster Ultra 9 chip, I found the base configuration to be plenty fast. On tests like Geekbench 6 and PCMark 10, the Zenbook Duo turned in results that were identical to those from similarly equipped clamshells, including . This is great because it means there’s not a ton of overhead due to the addition of a second screen and even when setup in desktop mode, dragging apps from one display to another felt snappy and responsive. The obvious drawback is that unlike some 14-inch systems such as the XPS 14, there’s no room for a discrete GPU, which makes the Zenbook Duo better suited to general productivity than more demanding tasks like video editing.
Battery life
You might think a system with two screens would be a battery hog, but the Zenbook Duo fared better than expected. With just one screen on, it lasted 13 hours and 12 minutes on our video rundown test, which is pretty much equivalent to (actually a touch longer than) the Zenbook 14 OLED (12:43). And with both screens going, the Duo’s time only dropped to 10:17, which is still more than enough to survive an entire workday.
Wrap-up
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
OK, so the Zenbook Duo delivers on the promises of dual-screen laptops. But one question I get a lot is who are devices like this actually for? The most obvious application is for people who carry a portable monitor around while traveling. But more generally, this thing is aimed at anyone who appreciates multiple monitors and wants a system that can recreate that experience in a more travel-friendly way, which is something the Zenbook Duo does with aplomb. The best part though is that it doesn’t make major sacrifices to do so, because thanks to its detachable keyboard, it can function just like any other clamshell when space is tight (like on an airplane).
When you have room to spread out, it transforms into a portable workstation with plenty of screen space for a project up top and bonus real estate for Slack, email, video calls or anything else you might need down below. It’s got ample ports so you don’t need to carry a dongle around and thanks to its gorgeous OLED screens, your work (or play) always looks great. The Zenbook Duo can do everything a traditional laptop can and more. Yes, the software experience could be a bit more polished, though that’s not entirely on ASUS. We still need a new version of Windows to provide better OS support for dual-screen machines. But considering all the struggles and multiple generations it took to get here, the Zenbook Duo is a marvelous torchbearer for a new class of portable PCs.
