While the idea of a multi-screen laptop might not feel new—veterans in the space may remember the ThinkPad W700DS with its slide-out auxiliary display—most dual-screen implementations have been large, heavy, and workstation-focused. That’s what makes the SZBox DSX156 so intriguing. It offers not only a 15.6-inch full HD screen, but also includes a 7-inch secondary touchscreen embedded next to the keyboard, all within a chassis that weighs just 1.6 kilograms (around 3.5 pounds). This more compact form factor challenges the notion that dual-screen setups have to come with a bulk penalty, potentially opening the door to more practical, portable implementations of the concept.
The secondary touchscreen, positioned to the left of the keyboard, invites new kinds of workflows. Think tool palettes, shortcut bars, media controls, or companion apps. This type of layout has been seen before, in laptops like Lenovo’s extended-screen ThinkBooks or Asus’s Zephyrus Duo series—but those devices lean toward high-end pricing and significantly larger bodies. In contrast, the DSX156 attempts to democratize the idea, packaging it into something closer to a standard mid-range notebook. Unfortunately, the design also invites scrutiny. With just 357mm (14 inches) of total width, squeezing in a full ANSI keyboard next to a 7-inch screen appears spatially impossible. This suggests that users may have to contend with an overly cramped keyboard experience, much like early netbooks or smaller tablet accessories.
Specs-wise, there’s more reason for pause. The laptop uses an Intel N100 CPU—a modest chip targeted at entry-level computing—and offers a single DDR4 RAM slot, limiting memory flexibility and potentially affecting performance, especially when handling multitasking between two displays. The listed 5,400mAh battery raises eyebrows as well. It aligns more with smartphone capacities than what you’d expect in a dual-display laptop, though there’s speculation the figure actually represents a 54Wh battery. The current price of $425.12 on AliExpress might sound budget-friendly, but that doesn’t include RAM, storage, or Windows—costs that could push the final price much higher.
Even with these limitations, the DSX156 reflects a larger trend toward integrating secondary displays in more accessible, travel-friendly designs. It shows that there’s room for innovation in form factor and function—even if early iterations come with compromise. For laptop manufacturers searching for the next attention-grabbing feature, this kind of embedded touchscreen layout could be a concept worth exploring further.