Asus ROG Flow X13 review
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Menstruum X13 is a compact 2-in-1 gaming laptop that'due south impressive for its price, though it delivers underwhelming gaming functioning without the external GPU.
For
- Thin and lightweight design
- Well-baked display quality
- Comfy keyboard
Confronting
- Short battery life
- Disappointing gaming performance without the external GPU
Tom'south Guide Verdict
The Asus ROG Flow X13 is a compact two-in-1 gaming laptop that's impressive for its toll, though information technology delivers underwhelming gaming functioning without the external GPU.
Pros
- +
Sparse and lightweight pattern
- +
Crisp display quality
- +
Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- -
Short battery life
- -
Disappointing gaming performance without the external GPU
Asus ROG Flow X13 specs
Toll: $1,499 every bit reviewed
Display: 13.4-inch xvi:10 screen (ane,920 x 1,200 pixels)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS CPU
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU every bit reviewed; optional GeForce RTX 3080 external XG Mobile GPU
RAM: sixteen GB
Storage: 1 TB SSD
Ports: 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A, 1 HDMI, headphone jack, external GPU port
Size: 11.77 10 8.74 x 0.62 inches
Weight: 2.87 pounds
The 2021 Asus ROG Flow X13 ($ane,499 equally reviewed) is 1 of the thinnest, lightest gaming laptops nosotros've seen nevertheless, which is notable given their reputation for being hefty, cumbersome machines. Thanks to tech advances, they've begun to slim downward in contempo years: devices like the Razer Blade 14 or Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 are cracking examples of laptops that manage to deliver serious gaming power in a thin and light parcel — and at present they take some competition.
Simply the Period X13 is more than than just an ultraportable gaming laptop. Information technology'due south a capable 13-inch 2-in-1 that can transform into a tablet, and its RTX 3050 Ti GPU and Ryzen nine CPU give it some decent gaming power for its size. The optional XG Mobile external graphics menu (not included with my review unit) boasts an even beefier Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU, giving those who opt for that model some additional graphical muscle.
Even without the eGPU, the Period X13 is a adept gaming laptop that'southward lighter and thinner than most. It's a little underpowered and, like well-nigh gaming laptops, it chews through battery, but if portability is important to you, this might be one of the best gaming laptops y'all tin purchase.
Asus ROG Flow X13 review: Price and configurations
- Y'all can buy it with or without the external GPU enclosure
- Wait to pay betwixt $1,499 - $ii,799
The Asus ROG Menses X13 is available from the Asus website and comes in two main configurations. The model bundled with the ROG XG Mobile+RTX 3080 comes in at $2,799. As mentioned above, my review unit of measurement did non come with the XG Mobile external graphics menu, and this configuration costs $1,499.
Both models sport an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
Asus ROG Flow X13 review: Design
- Remarkably thin and light for a gaming laptop
- Sturdy, minimalist chassis has a plasticky feel
At eleven.8 ten 8.vii x 0.half-dozen inches and 2.9 pounds, the Catamenia X13 is one of the smallest and lightest gaming laptops out there. In terms of size and weight, it's lighter and smaller than the Zephyrus G14. Y'all tin can toss the Menses X13 into your backpack and almost forget it'south at that place.
The minimalist, all-black blueprint is what you lot'd expect from the ROG line. Its lid and bottom have textured diagonal lines, along with an ROG nameplate on the bottom corner. You'll find similar, albeit thinner, diagonal lines on the palm rests. The textured lines aren't purely for evidence, as they provide decent grip.
Though fabricated from a magnesium blend, the laptop has a somewhat plasticky experience. There's a slight corporeality of give in the keyboard that isn't present in the palm rests. This isn't a major detriment simply it'south something you'll observe during your initial hours with the device. Despite that, the laptop feels sturdy overall.
Asus ROG Menses X13 review: Ports
- Right-side port placement makes it tricky to plug in a mouse
- Likewise like shooting fish in a barrel to accidentally hit the power push while plugging in accessories
The unit of measurement'due south right side features one USB-A 3.ii port and a USB-C three.2 port yous use for charging. The left side sports a iii.5mm audio jack, an HDMI port, and the proprietary XG Mobile external GPU port. A silicone embrace protects the latter.
Port placement isn't platonic, especially if y'all're right-handed. To accommodate the vents, the ports on the right side are located about midway down the device; I frequently brushed the side of the USB-C cable when using an external mouse. This is a pocket-size annoyance when browsing the web, only if yous're playing a game, information technology tin can be quite debilitating. Having another USB-C port on the left side would take resolved this issue.
I besides wasn't neat on the power button'southward location along the right edge of the keyboard deck. Though 2-in-1 laptops usually have power buttons on their sides, the power button on the ROG Flow X13 is especially sensitive — I had to be conscientious not to accidentally shut the laptop off when plugging in the USB-C port.
Asus ROG Flow X13 review: Keyboard and touchpad
- Comfy, spacious keyboard and touchpad
- No RGB lighting, if that'due south a thing you're into
Your fingers won't feel cramped when using the spacious keyboard, which feels like in size to those found in 15-inch laptops. Ample central spacing gives you plenty of room to move, and keystrokes experience precise. I wrote the bulk of this review on the Flow X13 and had a great feel doing so.
There are three effulgence settings for the keys' backlight. Different the Zephyrus G14, at that place are no RGB lighting options. I don't care much for RGB lighting and then I didn't see this as a major loss, though I understand it may exist a bummer for some users.
The smoothen touchpad delivers precise swiping and tracking. Its relatively small size could pose problems, particularly for those who make big gestures. But in my tests, I found the touchpad intuitive and responsive.
Asus ROG Period X13 review: Brandish and audio
- Vibrant 120Hz display looks good, simply tin be quite reflective in bright light
- Speakers lack bass but otherwise sound skilful
The Flow X13 features a glossy 13.four-inch screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display'due south 16:ten attribute ratio (which we're seeing more and more frequently in new laptops) gives yous additional verticality. Around the screen, bezels are thin on the sides but somewhat mesomorphic upward top and at the bottom.
Based on our lab testing, the brandish achieves an average brightness of 289 nits, though around the centre of the screen it hits the full 300 advertised by Asus. That's adept plenty for most situations, though even if you lot're playing in a dimly-lit environment yous will come across yourself reflected in nighttime parts of the screen. Conversely, using the device in a brilliant room or under direct sunlight makes information technology almost impossible to come across what'southward happening.
When we pointed our colorimeter at the Asus ROG Flow X13's screen, we found it achieves 113% of the sRGB color gamut and 80% of the DCI-P3 color gamut (the closer to 100%, the better). What that means, in uncomplicated terms, is that colors look practiced and are pretty accurately rendered, whether you're looking at the neon glare of Cyberpunk 2077's streets or the earthy tones in Dirt 5'southward mud-covered tracks.
If y'all're purchasing the Catamenia X13 for gaming, yous won't notice much use for tablet mode. Still, artists equipped with a stylus pen will find information technology a suitable device to use on the road. The stylus is merely arranged with sure configurations — non the one we reviewed — and costs almost $lxx when sold separately.
There'southward also a "tent mode" where yous can lay the laptop downwards similar a, well, tent. Though this weird position gives the bottom of the unit space to exhale and might make the speakers sound clearer, it doesn't seem like something you'll use oft.
Speaking of speakers, the Asus ROG Menstruum X13 produces rich sounds for a laptop. Y'all won't get thumping bass, just everything from booming shotguns to hushed whispers come through clearly. Music sounds skilful too, if you're willing to deal with weak bass. Of class, if you're not happy with the speakers, you lot tin can ever connect your favorite pair of the best gaming headsets.
Asus ROG Flow X13 review: Performance
My review unit arrived sporting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, an AMD Ryzen nine 5900HS CPU, sixteen GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVME PCIe Gen three SSD. Though impressive, don't expect to play games at annihilation in a higher place medium settings — non if you want halfway decent framerates. You tin can squeeze a few extra frames from certain games past plugging the laptop in, but don't expect to exist diddled away. Compared to the Razer Bract 14 and Alienware m15 R4, the Asus ROG Flow X13 delivers disappointing performance.
I put our review unit of measurement to the test by playing Doom Eternal, Dirt v, and Cyberpunk 2077 using the Nvidia GeForce Experience-recommended settings for each title. I saw the all-time framerates while playing Doom Eternal, where the performance hovered around the mid-50s. This isn't surprising considering how well optimized the game is; the at present infamous Cyberpunk 2077, by comparison, delivered a consistent 30 FPS in both open up-world and indoor environments. The Flow X13 struggled to run Clay 5 at an acceptable framerate: when we ran its integrated graphics benchmarking tool in our lab it hovered effectually 30 frames per second, and in my easily-on testing I consistently saw framerates in the low 20s. For a racer, such depression frame rates are unacceptable.
Below yous can see a few of the Asus ROG Flow X13's results from our lab testing stacked up confronting the similarly priced Razer Bract 14 and Asus' ain Zephyrus G14. As you lot tin can meet, the laptop's iv GB of VRAM were not enough to run some gaming benchmarks, and I noticed the lack myself when playing Dirt five.
| Razer Blade 14 | Asus ROG Menses X13 | Asus Zephyrus G14 | |
| Yard Theft Machine V (1080p) | 93 | 42 | 115 |
| Cherry-red Dead Redemption 2 (1080p) | threescore | Not plenty VRAM to run | 35 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p) | 75 | 35 | 49 |
However, when tackling day-to-twenty-four hours tasks like browsing the web, word processing, watching YouTube videos, and attending virtual meetings, the ROG Flow X13's AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS octacore CPU ensures a shine experience. And in CPU-heavy performance tests, the Flow X13 holds its own. In the Geekbench five.four multicore CPU benchmark the Menstruation X13 put upwards a solid score of 7,650, which is better than the Ryzen nine-equipped Razer Blade 14 (7,471) and the new Razer Blade 15 Advanced (half-dozen,924) packing a Core i7 Tiger Lake CPU.
Asus ROG Period X13 review: Webcam
You lot'll find a webcam sitting above the display of the Asus ROG Period X13 that's neither great nor terrible. Its 720p resolution is fine for video conferencing or having a quick conversation with friends. The image is somewhat washed out and the colors feel muted; proficient lighting will enhance the image quality, but not by much.
If you plan to stream, you'll want to connect an external photographic camera. Notation that the webcam does non have IR sensors or privacy shutters, and then you won't exist able to log in with your confront using Windows How-do-you-do.
Asus ROG Flow X13 review: Battery life
Y'all won't find the Period X13's bombardment life impressive. It took me less than two hours to bleed the bombardment when playing the same games dorsum to back. Still, I managed to get a decent 5 hours when browsing the web and watching videos.
My hands-on experience is backed up past our lab testing. When nosotros set the laptop to endlessly browse the spider web over Wi-Fi with its screen set to 150 nits of effulgence, the Asus ROG Flow X13 managed to last 7 hours and 19 minutes on a single charge. When we tried to test how long it would last while gaming by keeping the same settings and running it through a PCMark 10 benchmark which endlessly loops a 3D-rendered scene, the Flow X13 lasted but i hour and 19 minutes earlier powering off.
That's about as good equally the Razer Blade fourteen (half-dozen:02 browsing the web, 1:17 gaming) merely nowhere almost equally good equally the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which managed to final an incredible 11 hours and 32 minutes while browsing the web.
To clasp the most functioning out of the Flow X13, I recommended keeping the bundled charger plugged in, particularly if you plan on extended gaming sessions.
Asus ROG Flow X13 review: Heat
Await an average of 93.1 degrees when performing regular piece of work and 107.6 degrees while gaming. If you're watching YouTube videos or spider web-browsing you'll experience comfortable holding the Menstruation X13 in your lap. If you're gaming, yous're going to want to identify the laptop on a desk.
Fan volume is noticeable but unobtrusive. I only heard the fan during quiet loading screens. During the heat of battle in Doom Eternal, I couldn't hear the fan at all. Fans produce a soft white racket that easily blends into the background when you're non gaming.
Asus ROG Menses X13 review: Verdict
While it has its faults, the Asus ROG Flow X13 provides a solid base for time to come iterations to build upon.
xiii-inch gaming laptops with this much power under the hood aren't common, and then if yous demand a svelte portable machine with some gaming muscle, this could exist a good pick. The two-in-ane functionality also makes the unit distinct, and could exist appealing if yous like the idea of a gaming laptop that doubles as a tablet.
Yet, the underwhelming gaming functioning, mediocre battery life, and cumbersome port placement leave much to exist desired. Though impressive in its own right, y'all're better off getting the more powerful (and similarly priced) Razer Blade xiv or Zephyrus G14 if performance is your top priority.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/asus-rog-flow-x13-review
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