Asus ROG Flow X13: Two minute overview
Asus has up to date its natty little 13-inch 2-in-1 convertible laptop computer, the Asus ROG Flow X13, with the very newest out there {hardware}. That means AMD‘s fabulous Phoenix APU structure in its full Ryzen 9 7940HS spec with eight CPU cores and a reasonably highly effective built-in GPU.
However, you too can go for certainly one of three Nvidia devoted graphics chips, the GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 cell GPUs. Whichever graphics answer you go for, it outputs to a 13.4-inch show, on this case with a 2,560 by 1,600-pixel decision and 165Hz refresh, although a 1080p choice is accessible. It’s a touch-enabled show with a 360-degree hinge that helps numerous modes together with tent and pill.
If that is not ok, you too can go for an much more highly effective GPU by way of the Asus XG Mobile exterior graphics field that hooks up courtesy of a devoted I/O port. The laptop computer itself is packaged into a really slick 1.3kg 13-inch chassis that is superbly constructed, feels very prime quality, and is completely inflexible, together with just about no keyboard bounce. The Asus ROG Flow X13 is not precisely low-cost, however you may definitely really feel the place the cash has gone.
If there’s an apparent catch, it is that the slim proportions do put a cap on absolute proportions. Our overview unit runs an RTX 4060 capped at 60W and 1,470MHz, each a lot decrease than Nvidia usually permits for the chip.
Add in USB4 connectivity and you’ve got a flexible general bundle and an intriguing various to maybe the obvious competitors, the Razer Blade 14, which lacks 2-in-1 convertible performance.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Price and availability
- How a lot does it price? $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,699
- When is it out there? Available now
- Where are you able to get it? US, UK, and Australia
Available as configured right here for $1,699, Asus ROG Flow X13 seems like a reasonably whole lot for a really high-quality 13.4-inch ultraportable with AMD’s Ryzen 9 7940HS and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, plus 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
It would not look too unhealthy within the UK, both, at £1,699. In each circumstances, that is lower than you will pay for a equally specced Razer Blade 14. For the report, the Asus ROG Flow X13 as reviewed right here is yours for $2,699 AUD in Australia, which once more seems interesting given the standard and the spec on provide.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Review configuration |
|---|---|
| Price | $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,699 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4060 8GB |
| Memory | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe SSD |
| Display | 13.4-inch, QHD+ (2560 x 1600), IPS, 165Hz, 3ms, 100% DCI-P3) |
| Ports | 1x USB4, 1x x USB-A, 1x HDMI, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x XG Mobile |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Camera | 1080p webcam |
| Weight | 1.3kg (2.87 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 29.9 x 21.2 x 1.87 cm (11.77 x 8.35 x 0.74 inches) |
Asus ROG Flow X13: Design
- Gorgeous construct high quality
- Slim proportions
- 2-in-1 convertible performance
Asus’s ROG laptops are usually properly put collectively and the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) isn’t any exception. It’s not the thinnest 13-inch laptop computer on the planet, however given it may be had with as much as an RTX 4070 GPU, it’s fairly slim and definitely very slick.
The chassis is generally metallic and intensely inflexible, with zero bounce from the keyboard. The chassis high and display enclosure additionally sport interesting textured finishes that really feel nice within the hand. It’s a severely high-quality laptop computer.
That extends to the 360-degree hinge, which has simply the correct quantity of stiction. Of course, if you would like common pill performance, then a devoted pill will all the time be a greater choice. But the power to flip the display proper round is unquestionably helpful.
Similarly, the display’s slim bezels preserve issues fairly compact whereas permitting for a 1080p webcam within the high bezel. It’s all very properly thought out and makes for a really versatile laptop computer.
The slim proportions do are likely to restrict connectivity and the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) most likely has simply sufficient ports, however no extra. You get a USB4 port which doubles because the charging socket, a full-sized HDMI port, one USB-A, microSD, headphone jack after which Asus’s XG Mobile IO port, which helps not solely a robust exterior GPU, however by way of the XG Mobile field additionally provides HDMI, DisplayPort, three USB-A ports and a Type-C socket.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Performance
- Impressive specs
- Strong CPU efficiency
- Slim chassis limits body charges
The mixture of an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU with an Nvidia RTX 4060 cell GPU is sort of the combo for such a compact, versatile laptop computer. This is not an out-and-out gaming laptop computer, however extra an ultraportable 2-in-1 convertible with nice construct high quality and a few gaming chops.
With that in thoughts, expectations must be stored in examine. That’s very true when you think about that the RTX 4060 GPU is restricted to 60W of energy. That means the 4060’s clock frequency is capped at 1,470MHz, which is the bottom Nvidia permits and much beneath the utmost 2,370MHz the 4060 can obtain in some laptops.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Benchmarks
Here’s how the Asus ROG Flow X13 carried out in our suite of benchmark assessments:
3DMark: Night Raid: 45,567 ; Fire Strike: 16,013 ; Time Spy: 7,430
GeekBench 6: 2,603 (single-core); 11,312 (multi-core)
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 52 fps; (1080p, Low): 148 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 51 fps; (1080p, Low): 104 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 59 fps; (1080p, Low): 121 fps
TechSwitch Battery Life Test: 6h 54m
The consequence is decrease body charges than some extra purely gaming-focused laptops with the 4060, such because the Razer Blade 14, which provides the complete 2,370Mhz spec. You’ll nonetheless get playable body charges of round 60fps at 1080p within the newest video games at extremely settings, offered you do not run excessive ranges of ray tracing. That stated, the RTX 4060 does in fact have the complete suite of NVIDIA DLSS options – together with upscaling from FHD to the QHD+ output of the Flow X13’s show.
That’s helpful as a result of it makes taking part in video games on the Flow X13’s 2,560 by 1,600 pixel native decision achievable. Without DLSS, that would not be very practical with an RTX 4060, which might be a pity provided that the show is a lush IPS merchandise operating at 165Hz. It’s a great-looking panel, albeit one that may’t compete with an OLED show for distinction and black ranges.
Elsewhere, the AMD CPU supplies all of the efficiency you might moderately ask for from this class of laptop computer, whereas the 16GB of RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD ought to cowl most wants. There’s an choice to improve to 32GB for those who want actually main quantities of reminiscence.
Asus ROG Flow X13: Battery life
- Efficient AMD APU
- 165Hz show compromises battery life
An environment friendly AMD APU plus a 75WHr battery in a compact chassis is a promising mixture. In apply, nevertheless, battery life shouldn’t be a robust level with the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) not fairly clocking up seven hours in our pretty undemanding video playback take a look at with the display at half brightness.
Crank up the brightness or try and do something remotely intensive and that determine will solely fall. In different phrases, the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) definitely would not come near providing all-day battery life even for mild duties, which is a bit of disappointing for a laptop computer that prides itself on portability.
Should you purchase a Asus ROG Flow X13?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Also think about
Asus ROG Flow X13: Report card
| Value | Given the fabulous construct high quality and nice specs, the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) is definitely very properly priced. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | This is about as properly constructed as laptops come. It’s additionally compact and versatile because of the 2-in-1 convertible performance. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Performance | The AMD APU packs and punch and the 13.4-inch display is vibrant, however the slim proportions restrict the GPU efficiency. | 3.5 / 5 |
| Battery Life | An AMD APU and huge battery are promising, however battery lifetime of beneath seven hours in mild hundreds is disappointing. | 3.5 / 5 |
| Total | This is a flexible and superbly constructed laptop computer with cheap gaming efficiency solely let down by poor battery life. | 3.875 / 5 |
- First reviewed April 2024
I ran the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) by way of my common stress take a look at for a gaming laptop computer, together with every part from primary net looking to burning by way of my full Steam library and slobbing out with just a few films. As a 2-in-1, I additionally experimented with utilizing it as a pill together with different modes that the 360-degree hinge permits and paid shut consideration to the engineering of the chassis and the hinge.
For video games, I attempted every part from Cyberpunk 2077 with ray-tracing operating on full reheat to some extra strategic Total War battles and a few high-octane Counter-Strike 2 enjoyable. I used to be preserving a selected eye on body charges at each 1080p and the laptop computer’s 2,560 by 1,600 pixel native decision.
As for battery life, I attempted each watching video and lightweight work, together with net looking and doc modifying to get a really feel for a way the Asus ROG Flow X13 (2023) stands as much as working away from the mains.
We satisfaction ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing course of, providing up long-term consideration to the merchandise we overview and ensuring our evaluations are up to date and maintained – no matter when a tool was launched, for those who can nonetheless purchase it, it is on our radar.