The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is hailed as the fastest gaming tablet globally, and it truly delivers on the promise. It’s the most distinct and captivating gaming laptops out there, sporting a remarkably bold design that could easily double as a fashion statement.
The tablet boasts exceptional speed and is equipped with up to a 13th generation Intel Core i9 processor, an RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB storage capacity. Additionally, users have the choice to enhance graphics power further by upgrading to the XG mobile dock, which can accommodate up to a 1490 GPU.
Specification
It has a 13.4-inch screen with a sharp 165Hz Quad HD+ display, boasting 500 nit HDR brightness using IPS tech instead of OLED or mini LEDs. Under the hood, you’ll find an H-series Intel Core i9 CPU and a powerful 4070 GPU. However, there’s a catch: to get the top-tier specs with the 4070 GPU and 32GB RAM, you have to opt for the acronym version.
Asus ROG Flow Z13 also boasts an upgraded Vapor chamber cooling system and Nvidia’s Advanced Optimus, which manages the mux switch, this feature lets the laptop seamlessly switch between integrated and discrete GPUs for better battery life when not gaming. The adjustable kickstand offers up to 170 degrees of flexibility almost lying flat making it ideal for creative tasks like drawing with a pen, and you can also be used in portrait mode handy for coding or just adding a cool factor. Plus the full-sized backlit keyboard is detachable transforming the laptop into a tablet.
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Design and Build Quality
Asus ROG Flow Z13 acronym is one of the most standout 2-in-1 laptop designs I’ve seen in a while, this marks the second collaboration between ROG and Acronym, known for their high-tech cyberpunk/utilitarian designs. As someone into fashion I must say the custom aluminum alloy chassis, CNC machine lines, and laser-etched logos really stand out.
The rubber grips and metal bumpers not only add to the look but also offer some protection, though I doubt they’d fully safeguard the Intel components in a big fall. However these bulky bumpers make it larger and less portable. Plus the design gives off an industrial prototype vibe, and the metal adds weight with the Acronym version weighing 1.32 kilograms compared to 1.18 on the regular ROG Flow Z13 even more with the Folio keyboard.
These corner bumpers also double as attachment points for the included straps, adding a fashion element. The versatile strap serves as a carry handle, shoulder strap, or hands-free producer mode, although I prefer using a backpack. The ROG Flow Z13 also includes a Velcro pouch with a strap for the power adapter and pen, compact and portable enough to fit in your hand.
The 130-watt power adapter charges via USB-C, and it comes with the Acronym edition of the Asus Pen 2. Despite “Gamers” being in the ROG name, this laptop targets creatives, editors, developers, and designers needing a portable, powerful machine with a color-accurate touchscreen.
Keyboard
The keyboard is quite pleasant to use for a folio and Acronym’s design is evident throughout from the three-tone keycaps to their unique font. However it can feel a bit cluttered. They’ve incorporated their own alphabet-style typography below the regular characters, which can initially confuse about which key you’re pressing. So, it functions well enough. I just don’t particularly adore the design of the Asus ROG Flow Z13 acronym.
Display
The screen stands out as a highlight, although OLED or mini LED would have been welcome, their absence is a bit surprising for an Asus ROG product, particularly with their Nebula HDR branding. Nonetheless, this IPS display offers top-notch performance, covering 100% sRGB, 85% Adobe RGB, and 98% P3. It also supports HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, perfect for HDR content on Netflix, I measured a peak brightness of 475 nits. Additionally there’s a 5-megapixel webcam upfront with Windows Hello support. We also have a 13 megapixel rear camera, stereo mics, and stereo speakers which do a decent job, but they’re nothing really special.
Performance
How fast is the world’s fastest gaming tablet?
Well consider that despite the amazing i9 and Nvidia RTX 4070 specs on paper, these are more efficient mid-range parts in terms of power. Both the H-series i9 and the 4070 run at around 65 watts, with the latter benefiting from ROG’s 15 watts of dynamic boost. The wattage of the CPU and GPU will adjust dynamically based on the task and performance mode. Also, note that only the storage is upgradable here. If you’re purchasing one, I’d recommend opting for the highest spec 16 gig version on the regular Z13, although this Acronym model comes with 32GB.
GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | 2393 |
GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | 11710 |
CINEBENCH R23 (Single-Core) | 1982 |
CINEBENCH R23 ( Multi-Core) | 16315 |
3DmARK Time Spy | 9835 |
The results from Geekbench 6, 3DMark Time Spy, and several games, all tested at high settings with native quality and DLSS enabled where supported.
Forza Horizon 5 | 98 FPS |
Cyberpunk 2077 | 59 FPS |
Rainbow Six Siege | 271 FPS |
F1 2022 | 65 FPS |
Flight Simulator | 104 FPS |
Forza Horizon 5 almost hits triple digits in the benchmark, though during actual gameplay, it hovered more in the 110s. Cyberpunk in RT ultra mode averaged just under 60fps, aided by Nvidia’s frame generation exclusive to the 40 series of cards, preventing drops to around 48 without it. Frame gen also significantly improves performance in Flight Simulator, while in Rainbow Six Siege, maxed out, we easily utilize the 165Hz refresh rate. I’m testing the 4070 version here, which is roughly 20% faster in GPU performance compared to the 4050.
Armory Create App
The Armory Crate app is your gateway to hardware info, lighting control, audio settings, and those sleek ROG wallpapers. There are four standard profiles: silent, performance, turbo, and manual, with additional GPU-only options, like Ultimate, utilizing only the dedicated GPU. During testing, I’ve mainly stuck with standard, which activates the advanced Optimas. Under load like when running gaming benchmarks you’ll hear it humming around 50dB.
Switching to “silent” mode keeps it completely quiet unless the temperature exceeds 50 degrees Celsius. During everyday use browsing, watching videos, or office tasks the fans do kick in, but it’s not too noticeable. Even under load the cooling vents at the top expel warm air efficiently, aided by the vapor chamber cooling inside. The folio keyboard design prevents heat transfer, unlike traditional laptops where components heat up underneath. So the touchpad and keyboard stay comfortably cool throughout.
Battery Performance
The battery ROG Flow Z13 Acronym has a respectable 56watt-hour cell inside, which I find pretty good for a 13-inch tablet. Using the standard profile for regular, non-gaming tasks, I get around five hours of usage, maybe just under, It’s not amazing, but not terrible either.
Final Thought
Asus ROG Flow Z13 Acronym has a truly unique design standing out as an incredibly powerful 2-in-1 gaming laptop and tablet, especially with the collaboration with the acronym designer. The stunning display, impressive performance, and 32GB of RAM are noteworthy. It maintains coolness and quietness and is relatively portable for a gaming laptop, although the chunky bumpers and metal chassis do add some bulk compared to the regular ROG Flow Z13.
On the downside, some may dislike the design and the extra bulk it brings. Battery life is mediocre at best and comes with a hefty price tag starting at around 50 for the NVidia RTX 4050 model and possibly starting around 00 or more for the acronym version in the US. Additionally there’s the option of the XG mobile dock, albeit expensive, which offers potential GPU upgrades down the line externally.
Asus ROG Flow Z13 Acronym Review
Asus ROG Flow Z13 Acronym design is truly unique especially as a powerful 2-in-1 gaming laptop and tablet, and the collaboration with the acronym designer adds to its appeal. Excellent display, amazing performance and 32GB RAM are also standout features.
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Design8.9
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High-resolution Screen7.5
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Battery Life6.5
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As A tablet6