Dual-screen laptops are nothing new, one way or another, but innovations within this subset of laptops keep emerging, and the Acemagic X1 is a good example of that.
Acemagic has just officially unveiled the X1, giving us some spec details, and the big trick here is not only that it's a true dual-screen laptop, but also, as we saw in a previous leak, it lets you fold the second screen out to the side (horizontally). So it's a bit like you're working on a desktop PC with two monitors side-by-side (but the laptop is your PC, of course).
As Acemagic explains, the X1 benefits from a “unique 360-degree horizontally foldable dual-screen design, allowing users unparalleled flexibility to adjust the displays to suit their needs.”
So, as mentioned, you can have the laptop as two 14-inch screens, side-by-side, or you can fold it up using that 360-degree hinge, so that the screens are one behind the other, allowing for situations where two people might want to use the laptop simultaneously (one working on it, one watching a video perhaps, on opposite sides of the same desk).
Acemagic previously showed off this device at Computex 2024, although it has now renamed it X1 (previously it was Z1A) and confirmed the mentioned main specifications (or at least some of them).
The Acemagic X1 offers two 14-inch Full HD displays, an Intel Core i7-1255U processor (with 10 cores, 12 threads), and features 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD (the laptop apparently has two M.2 slots, though that's not actually fully confirmed yet).
There could also be an option to boost the CPU to a Core i7-1265U, although that hasn't been confirmed either.
Analysis: Reasons to be cautious
Acemagic is a Chinese vendor whose name, admittedly, suffers from a certain cringe factor, but it is a fairly big brand in Asia (not so much in the rest of the world, of course, but that could change).
While the idea of the X1 is certainly novel, as with any project of this type that features two folding screens in a somewhat elaborate configuration, many of the concerns for us are related to reliability and durability. How sturdy will the hinges or the inner workings of the folding mechanisms be?
Plus, the Acemagic may have a cutting-edge dual-screen concept, but the hardware inside isn’t up to par, as the laptop’s powerhouse is a two-year-old Alder Lake processor. It’s not exactly Meteor Lake, is it? (And, in fact, next-gen Lunar Lake mobile chips aren’t that far off now, and will no doubt be in some of the best laptops on the market before long.)
Of course, it's still too early to judge the device, but we remain skeptical and Acemagic's clumsy attempt to align the X1 with Apple's MacBooks doesn't boost our confidence any further.
As the press release says: “Adding to [the X1’s] For a distinctive appeal, Acemagic has engraved Steve Jobs’ iconic quote, “Stay Hungry, Stay Crazy,” in real gold on the left side of the keyboard. This touch symbolizes the device’s premium quality and innovative spirit.
As The Verge points out (which uncovered the laptop's press release, as pointed out by Liliputing), Jobs actually took that quote from the Whole Earth Catalog, but the exact origin isn't really important. Clearly, the crucial detail we need to focus on here is that it's written in real gold (and MacBooks don't have that, right?)
In short, in a world where dual-screen laptops can be perceived as a gimmick by some people, such a quote doesn't seem like the smartest addition to the X1.
As a final note, also keep in mind that earlier this year Acemagic was found to be selling mini PCs with spyware pre-installed, but claimed that this was an isolated issue with an initial shipment of devices.
