Asus ROG Flow Z13: Gaming Tablet with AMD's Strix Halo Integrated Graphics

Asus Unveils the ROG Flow Z13: A Game-Changer in Gaming Tablets for 2025

At CES 2025, Asus has introduced its latest innovation, the ROG Flow Z13. Building on its impressive predecessor, this new gaming tablet brings notable upgrades in design and performance, reaffirming Asus's commitment to gamers who seek portability without compromising on power.

Sleek Design with Enhanced Visuals

The ROG Flow Z13 maintains its sleek, slightly chunky design—almost half an inch thick and sporting a 13-inch display. It features a built-in kickstand, a magnetic keyboard cover, and an array of ports to ensure maximum connectivity for gamers on the go. One of the standout design features is the larger glass window on its rear, which displays the motherboard adorned with RGB lighting, catering to the aesthetics that gamers love.

Performance Update: Integrated Graphics with a Power Punch

Unlike traditional gaming tablets that often rely on dedicated GPUs, the ROG Flow Z13 takes a bold step forward by integrating graphics powered by AMD’s new Strix Halo processor. Customers can choose between the Ryzen AI Max 390 at a starting price of $1,999.99 or upgrade to the Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 for $2,199.99. The latter boasts a formidable setup with 16 CPU cores and 40 graphics cores, promising enhanced gaming experiences.

Exceptional Display and Connectivity

The tablet's 13-inch touchscreen comes with a crisp 2560 x 1600 resolution and a blazing 180Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals especially during intense gaming sessions. Connectivity options are robust, featuring:

• Two USB 4 ports
• One USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port
• HDMI 2.1
• A microSD card slot capable of UHS-II speeds
• A 3.5mm headphone/mic jack

Additionally, the tablet supports Wi-Fi 7 for lightning-fast internet connectivity.

Battery and Charging: Powering Through the Day

Despite the significant power draw of the Ryzen 395 chip, the Z13 promises up to 10 hours of battery life. Reviews from users indicate that the device can seamlessly handle a full workday with intensive usage including multitasking, music streaming, and gaming without significant dips in performance.

Enhanced Keyboard and User Experience

The detachable keyboard features larger keycaps and a bigger touchpad, making it more user-friendly. The addition of the "ScreenXpert" button simplifies multitasking, allowing users to manage multiple displays, switch modes, and access settings much easier during tablet mode.

Real-World Performance: Gaming Test

Early hands-on reviews reveal that the ROG Flow Z13 performs remarkably well in gaming scenarios. A test with Helldivers 2 demonstrated the tablet's capabilities even under demanding conditions:

• At native resolution with Ultra Quality settings, it maintained 60fps.
• Switching to lesser quality settings resulted in an increase to approximately 80fps.
• Battery-powered performance was slightly lower, averaging around 45-50fps on Ultra Quality.

Does the ROG Flow Z13 Have What It Takes?

Asus's ROG Flow Z13 indeed stands out with its innovative design and impressive performance metrics for a gaming tablet. However, as the gaming industry embraces multiple portable solutions such as the Steam Deck and dedicated handhelds, it's essential to see how this tablet fits into the evolving landscape of portable gaming when it launches in February 2025.

Conclusion

The ROG Flow Z13 is shaping up to be a notable contender in the gaming tablet market, blending utility and aesthetics for an enhanced gaming experience. With its powerful hardware and practical features, it invites gamers to reconsider the dynamics of mobile gaming.