You’re looking at your keyboard and thinking, "Why is there so much wasted space?" Asus thought the same thing. They decided to cram a smartphone directly into the trackpad area, calling it the ScreenPad. It’s a polarizing bit of tech. Some people swear it doubles their productivity, while others find it a battery-draining gimmick that gets in the way of a simple click. Honestly, after testing various ZenBook and VivoBook models over the last few years, the reality is somewhere in the middle. It isn’t just a screen; it’s a shift in how we think about multitasking on a 13-inch or 15-inch chassis.
If you’ve been hunting for an asus laptop with touchpad screen, you’ve probably noticed they don’t just have one version. There’s the ScreenPad 2.0, the ScreenPad Plus (which is that massive secondary display on the ProArt and Duo models), and the haptic versions found in the newer ZenBook S 13 OLEDs.
What’s the Point of a Screen Inside Your Mouse?
Basically, the ScreenPad turns your trackpad into a high-resolution LCD touchscreen. It’s not just for moving the cursor anymore. You can pin Spotify there. You can throw a calculator on it. You can even use it as a NumPad, which is a godsend if you're stuck on a compact laptop but need to crunch numbers in Excel.
Asus uses a software layer called ScreenXpert to manage this. It feels a lot like using an Android phone glued to your laptop. There’s an app switcher, a brightness control, and the ability to drag any Windows program down into that tiny space. Ever tried watching a YouTube tutorial in a 5-inch window while trying to code in VS Code on the main screen? It’s cramped, but it works.
The hardware is impressive. Take the ZenBook 14 (UX434) for example. The trackpad is a 5.65-inch FHD+ display. It’s sharp. It’s bright. It’s also covered in glass, so it still feels like a premium trackpad when the screen is turned off.
The Friction Nobody Mentions
Windows wasn't built for this. That’s the hard truth. Sometimes, your mouse cursor gets "lost" in the ScreenPad because the OS treats it as a second monitor positioned below your main one. You’re moving the mouse toward the taskbar, you go a pixel too far, and suddenly your pointer is hovering over a Spotify play button on your wrist rest. It’s annoying. You get used to it, but the learning curve is real.
And let's talk about the matte finish. Asus puts a specific coating on these to make sure your finger slides easily—standard trackpad stuff. But that coating can make the screen look a bit "grainy" compared to the gorgeous OLED panels they use for the main display. It’s a compromise. You trade some visual clarity for a surface that doesn't feel sticky when you're trying to drag a file.
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The Evolution: ScreenPad vs. ScreenPad Plus
If the standard asus laptop with touchpad screen feels too small, the Duo series takes it to the extreme. The ZenBook Pro Duo 14 and 16 features the ScreenPad Plus. This isn't just a beefed-up trackpad; it's a full-width secondary display that tilts up toward you.
For video editors using Adobe Premiere Pro, this is a game changer. You can move your entire timeline to the bottom screen. This leaves your main 4K OLED display completely clear for the video preview. It’s a desktop-class experience in a backpack.
- Standard ScreenPad: Best for quick tasks, calculators, and music control.
- ScreenPad Plus: Designed for heavy-duty creative workflows, color grading, and Twitch streaming.
- NumberPad: Not actually a "screen" in the traditional sense, but an LED-illuminated grid on the trackpad.
Most people looking for a "touchpad screen" want the ScreenPad 2.0. It’s found in the mid-range VivoBook S15 and the premium ZenBook lines. It feels more "gadgety" and fun.
Does it Kill the Battery?
Yes. Well, sorta. Running a second backlit display takes power. In my experience, keeping the ScreenPad at 50% brightness knocks about 60 to 90 minutes off the total battery life of a ZenBook. If you’re on a long flight and trying to squeeze every minute out of your charge, you’ll end up hitting the F6 key to disable the screen and turn it back into a "dumb" touchpad.
Asus has tried to mitigate this with "Battery Saver" modes for the ScreenPad, which lowers the refresh rate. It helps, but physics is physics. More pixels equals more power.
Why Asus is the Only One Doing This Right
Other brands have tried. Apple had the Touch Bar, which was basically a thin strip of "meh" that they eventually killed off in favor of physical keys. Razer had a concept years ago. But Asus stuck with it. They realized that the trackpad is the most underutilized real estate on a laptop.
By integrating it with Microsoft Office and Corel, they’ve made it functional for professionals. There’s a specific "Handwriting" app that’s actually decent if you need to sign a PDF quickly and don't have a stylus. You just use your finger on the trackpad. It’s faster than printing, signing, and scanning.
Common Technical Hiccups
If you buy one of these, you'll eventually run into a driver issue. It's almost guaranteed. Since the ScreenPad relies on the ASUS System Control Interface and the ScreenXpert driver, a Windows Update can sometimes make the secondary screen go black.
The fix is usually simple:
- Check the MyASUS app for firmware updates.
- Ensure the "ScreenXpert" service is running in Task Manager.
- Use the F6 or Fn+F6 toggle to make sure you didn't just accidentally turn it off.
Real World Use Cases
Is it for you? Think about your daily grind.
If you're a student, having your Discord chat or a reference PDF open on the trackpad while you write a paper on the main screen is incredibly helpful. You don't have to Alt-Tab every thirty seconds.
For programmers, putting the terminal or documentation on the ScreenPad keeps the main IDE clean. It’s about reducing the cognitive load of switching windows.
However, if you're a writer who spends 100% of your time in a Word document, you might find the glowing screen under your palms distracting. Some users report that the heat from the internal components is more noticeable through the ScreenPad than a traditional plastic trackpad. It’s never "burning" hot, but it gets warm during a Chrome session with 40 tabs open.
Making the Most of Your Asus ScreenPad
Don't just leave it on the default settings. The first thing you should do is customize the App Optimizer. This allows you to define which apps automatically open on the ScreenPad.
Also, get used to the "Task Group" feature. You can set a "Work Mode" where, with one tap, the laptop opens Word and Excel on the main screen and puts your Calendar and Spotify on the ScreenPad. It saves about 30 seconds of clicking every morning.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
- Check the Model Number: Ensure it specifically lists "ScreenPad 2.0" or "ScreenPad Plus." Some older VivoBooks have a "NumberPad" which is just glowing numbers, not a full screen.
- Verify the CPU: These screens require some overhead. Don't buy a ScreenPad laptop with an Intel Core i3 or a low-end Pentium; it will feel sluggish. Stick to i5/Ryzen 5 or higher.
- Adjust Scaling: Right-click your desktop, go to Display Settings, and ensure the scaling for the "second display" (the trackpad) is set to 200%. At 100%, the icons are way too small to touch accurately with a finger.
- Test the Click: Because there's a screen underneath, the physical "click" of the trackpad feels slightly different than a hollow plastic one. It's more of a dampened "thud." Make sure you like the tactile response.
- Screen Protector: If you’re a heavy user, consider a matte screen protector specifically cut for the ScreenPad. It prevents the glass from getting oily and improves the "glide" feel over time.
The asus laptop with touchpad screen isn't a mandatory upgrade for everyone, but for those who find themselves constantly wishing for a second monitor at a coffee shop, it's a clever, well-engineered solution that finally feels mature enough for daily use.