This Core i5-12450H laptop trades a physical keyboard for dual 16-inch displays and costs just $710 on AliExpress

Official render of the SZBox DS16 Dual-Screen Laptop
(Image credit: SZBox via AliExpress)

The SZBox DS16 is a 16-inch laptop available from AliExpress with a relatively affordable $710 starting price point. However, the real reason it's garnering so much attention (first brought to light by Liliputing) is due to its dual 16-inch 1200p IPS touch panel configuration. 

Below, we've charted the specifications of the SZBox DS16 and its two primary variations, which we'll be referring to as the Intel Core i5 and Core i7 models for clarity's sake.

SZBox DS16 Dual Screen Laptop Core Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 DS16 Core i5 Model SpecsDS16 Core i7 Model Specs
CPUIntel Core i5-12450H; 8 Cores w/ 12 ThreadsIntel Core i7-1260P; 12 Cores w/ 16 Threads
GPUIntel UHD (12th Gen)Intel Iris Xe
RAMUp to 64 GB DDR4-3200 MT/sSame
StorageUp to 2TB NVMe Gen 4*Same
Display16-inch (1920 x 1200) x 216-inch (1920 x 1200) x 2
I/O3 USB 3-A, 1 USB 3-C, 1 HDMI (cont.)1 3.5mm, 1 RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
Other SpecsWi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4 (cont.)1W Stereo Speakers, Integrated 1MP Webcam and Mic

Now, we don't want to over-simplify this laptop to just its internal specs. The dual touchscreen form factor allows for unprecedented vertical scrolling headroom when you don't need to use a screen to type, and the manufacturer claims 100% sRGB gamut coverage for the dual displays.

However, to fit dual 1920 x 1200 displays into the DS16, there are a few compromises. The biggest omission is that there is no physical keyboard. Instead, you'll have to rely on an on-screen virtual keyboard for all of your typing needs, which could get a bit tiresome, especially when you factor in the lack of tactile feedback. The machine also isn't light, coming in at 6.2 pounds. That weight will only balloon if you want to add a physical USB or Bluetooth keyboard. And for a laptop that has to power two displays, the 57.76 KWh battery also seems a bit too small to provide for long runtimes.

SZBox DS16

(Image credit: AliExpress)

With a starting price of just over $700, the base Core i5 model is roughly $800 cheaper than the Asus Zenbook Duo (even the upgraded DS16 Core i7 model only costs $1,000, which still undercuts the entry from Asus). However, the Zenbook Duo features dual 14-inch OLED displays, a newer Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and is nearly three pounds lighter.

Christopher Harper
Contributing Writer

Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.

  • hushnecampus
    Cool, I always found typing on a keyboard too convenient.
    Reply
  • Notton
    Let's see....
    Normal laptop + portable monitor
    vs.
    Dual 16" screen laptop + keyboard

    I would prefer the latter.
    I no longer have to deal with mismatching panels.
    The screens are stacked vertically, instead of spread out horizontally, so they take up less desk space.
    There is less cable clutter caused by powering the portable monitor.
    You can pair it with whatever keyboard and/or mouse of your preference. BT or 2.4Ghz wireless for best results.

    Downside is I would most likely always bring a folding keyboard and slim mouse with it, and that bag space is not free.
    Reply
  • PEnns
    They should also dispense with using a mouse and add a 3rd screen.
    Reply
  • Notton
    I just learned that Win11 doesn't handle multiple touchscreens properly, despite it working in Win10 with a workaround.
    Reply