"ACEMAGIC X1" is a dual-screen laptop with a landscape screen

This review article is provided by GIGAZINE .

ArsTechnica, an IT news site, has reviewed the notebook PC "ACEMAGIC X1" from Chinese PC manufacturer Shenzhen Shanminheng Technology. The biggest feature of ACEMAGIC X1 is that it is "equipped with two screens," with a sub-monitor deployed next to the main monitor.

The specifications of ACEMAGIC X1 are as follows:　

The ACEMAGIC X1 is not the first dual-screen laptop; for example, the Lenovo Yoga 9i was also a hot topic in the past as a dual-screen laptop. However, previous dual-screen laptops, including the Lenovo Yoga 9i, used a clamshell style in which the keyboard and touchpad were replaced with a screen, and the keyboard was removable and connected via Bluetooth. For this reason, ArsTechnica evaluated that the keystrokes of the Lenovo Yoga 9i were somewhat shallow.

On the other hand, the ACEMAGIC X1 keeps the keyboard in the same position, but has a sub-monitor that can be deployed next to the main monitor.

When the sub-monitor is folded, it becomes a lid that covers the main monitor. In this state, it can be folded like a normal laptop. It is about 2.5 cm thick, which is a little thick for a recent laptop.

It can also be folded behind the main monitor. The sub-monitor "clicks into place" behind the main monitor, so it appears to be firmly fixed in place.

The hinge part looks like this.

Looking at the hinge from above, you can see that it has a structure in which multiple axes are interlocked with gear-like grooves. In the comments section of ArsTechnica, it was pointed out that this hinge structure is very similar to the one used in the Lenovo Yoga 900.

Above the keyboard are buttons that allow you to select the monitor display. From the left, they are "Main monitor only", "Sub monitor only", "Extended display of main monitor and sub monitor", and "Duplicate main monitor display to sub monitor". When the screen is duplicated, you can turn the sub monitor to the back and easily share the screen you are viewing with others.

Because the monitor has a bezel, when you use the extended display side-by-side, there is a space between them, so the feeling of use is similar to "attaching a portable monitor to a laptop." ArsTechnica says that due to the structure, it was necessary to get used to the asymmetrical design where the keyboard is not in the center of the two screens.

In particular, when the keyboard is placed directly in front of the body, the distance to the main monitor and the sub-monitor inevitably differ, and when actually using it, he sometimes thought, "I wish I could see the sub-monitor more clearly." Also, when unfolding the sub-monitor or adjusting its angle, it would sometimes hit something nearby.

ArsTechnica points out that the two main advantages of using the ACEMAGIC X1 are that "having two screens makes it convenient to distribute tasks" and that "the sub-monitor shakes every time you touch a key, which can be distracting."

ArsTechnica said, "The ACEMAGIC X1 is cheaper than buying a dual-screen laptop with a regular laptop and a sub-monitor," but added, "There are still issues to be resolved, such as the adjustability of the two screens, the size of the bezel, and concerns about battery life." "The structure of the ACEMAGIC X1 makes me worry about whether the sub-monitor will wobble or hit something, but it makes more sense than a dual-screen laptop without a built-in keyboard," he said, expressing his hope that there is still a new approach to dual-screen laptops.

The list price of the ACEMAGIC X1 is $1,399 (about 200,000 yen), but at the time of writing the article, it was sold for $899 (about 130,000 yen) on the official purchase page below. It is shipped to the United States, Canada, and Europe, and is not yet available in Japan as it is currently undergoing certification.

If you are interested, you can receive notifications about the release in Japan via the link below.