Skip to main content

Asus’ 13-inch Taichi 31 with back-to-back 1080p displays finally goes on sale

Asus TAICHI31
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After teasing us back in October, and more recently at CES, we’ve been looking forward to the release of the innovative 13.3-inch Taichi Ultrabook available with a double-sided display. Though we reviewed the smaller 11.6-inch version, the Asus Taichi 21, back in January, Asus is finally ready to ship the larger dual-screen convertible laptop.

Rather than rely on a fancy hinge to transform a laptop into a tablet like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga or the Twist, the Asus Taichi adds a second screen (this time with touch!) on the laptop’s cover so the device becomes a tablet when it is closed. Not only that, but you can also use both the laptop and tablet screens at the same time in Dual-Screen Mode, which comes in handy when presentating to a small group.

Recommended Videos

While its smaller brother has been on the market since October, its poor battery life was a common problem among reviewers – especially in Dual-Screen Mode. In our review, we could only squeeze four hours out of the Taichi 21 when using it purely as a laptop with a single screen, and just one hour and 48 minutes in Dual-Screen Mode.

Engadget is reporting that the 13-inch Taichi 31’s battery life will last up to seven hours of use, so you won’t have to panic if you forgot your power adapter at home. Of course, we’ll have to test out Asus’ claim when we can get our hands on a review unit, but we’re hopeful that the slightly larger Taichi will offer better battery life than its bro.

Otherwise, the Taichi 31 shares pretty much the same guts as the Taichi 21. Both come with two full HD displays at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution (with the outside touch-capable screen protected by scratch-resistant glass), both use a third-generation Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, and both use a solid-state drive. The top model, with the Core i7 configuration, even includes a pressure-sensitive stylus.

Although Asus has yet to reveal the Taichi 31’s price, it will probably be smoewhat more expensive than the $1,300 price tag for the base model of the Taichi 21 (with a Core i5 chip).

Since the Taiwanese’s company’s press release about the Taichi 31 is only concerned with its worldwide availability, we expect the Taichi 31 will need a bit more time before it reaches our shores.

Gloria Sin
Former Contributor
Gloria’s tech journey really began when she was studying user centered design in university, and developed a love for…
Wimbledon’s robot line judges caught napping on Centre Court
wimbledon

Following in the footsteps of the U.S. Open and the Australian Open, Wimbledon finally did away with human line judges in favor of Hawk-Eye technology at this year's Championships.

All 18 courts have incorporated the system, which uses multiple high‑speed cameras and real‑time computer vision algorithms, with loudspeakers emitting an audible “out” to confirm a missed shot.

Read more
This Dyson doesn’t suck … it grows
Dyson's Hybrid Vertical Growing System.

While it's best known for vacuums and other household appliances, Dyson has also established itself in the world of farming, with a team of engineers coming up with tech-based solutions to improve efficiency and boost production.

A video (top) shared recently by the British company features a remarkable -- and remarkably huge -- Hybrid Vertical Growing System, located inside a greenhouse.

Read more
Watch how NASA is using VR to prep for upcoming moon missions
NASA using VR for training.

NASA is aiming to put astronauts back on the lunar surface in the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for 2027. While the date could slip, the space agency will continue with training and other preparation for the highly anticipated mission, so that when the day for launch does finally come, the crew will be ready.

NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, has just dropped a video (top) showing how it’s utilizing virtual reality (VR) technology to prepare astronauts for spacewalks -- also known as extravehicular activities (EVAs) -- on the moon’s surface. 

Read more