Asus ROG Flow Z13: Everything we know so far

(Paradigm credit: Asus)

Asus unveiled its ROG Menstruum Z13 two-in-1 gaming laptop at CES 2022. A successor to 2021'due south ROG Menstruum X13, the Z13 is a fresh spin on the concept of a hybrid gaming laptop/tablet with an external GPU enclosure for extra gaming muscle.

Information technology'southward a not bad idea, and in our Asus ROG Flow X13 review nosotros praised that device for its lightweight design and well-baked display, even if its gaming performance was a little underwhelming when not plugged into the (optional) eGPU enclosure.

As for the ROG Menses Z13, the updated model is due to send in 2022 with Windows 11. A revamped blueprint and beefier internal components could help the Period Z13 outshine its predecessor and earn a spot in our list of the best two-in-1 laptops you can buy. Hither's everything nosotros know and so far nigh the Asus ROG Flow Z13.

Asus ROG Menses Z13 price and release date

Asus has even so to confirm pricing or an exact release date for the Asus ROG Menstruation Z13, noting only that information technology's due out in the kickoff one-half of 2022.

The Period Z13 probably won't be cheap, either. Concluding year's ROG Flow X13 had a starting price of $1,499, but that price quickly climbed up to around $3,000 if y'all paid for the (optional) external GPU enclosure with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-serial card in it.

While nosotros don't know how pricey the Z13 will be, it will likely price at least every bit much equally its predecessor — so look to pay between $1,500 to $3k.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 pattern

Like the X13, the Asus ROG Flow Z13 offers a striking design that lets information technology function as either a laptop or a tablet. You tin can detach the screen from the keyboard, and since it has a kickstand on the back that tin open upwardly to 170 degrees, you can try pairing a gamepad to it and setting the screen upwards on a tabular array for some Nintendo Switch-esque gaming on the become.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 promo image — (Paradigm credit: Asus)

On the back of the Z13 y'all'll detect a lilliputian window that gives you a peek at the laptop's mainboard, which is a nice touch that Asus likewise claims aids performance. The decision decision leaves more than space for placing larger components on either side of the Z13'south mainboard.

Asus ROG Menstruation Z13 brandish

The ROG Menstruation Z13'southward 13.4-inch 16:ten IPS touchscreen can be configured equally either a FHD (1920 x 1200 pixels) 120Hz display or a 4K (3,840 x 2,400 pixels) 60Hz display.

We liked the crisp, vibrant quality of the FHD 120Hz display in the model of last yr'south ROG Flow X13 we reviewed, and nosotros're excited to see what a difference a 4K display makes when gaming on the Flow Z13.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 operation

In terms of performance, the ROG Menses Z13 looks to be pretty similar to terminal year'south model. Like the X13, the Z13 will exist available with 16GB of RAM and up to a 1TB SSD for storage. You can buy models with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU onboard, though you tin become some more than graphical musculus past plugging it into the (optional) XG Mobile external GPU enclosure with up to an RTX 3080 inside.

However, unlike last twelvemonth'southward model, the ROG Menses Z13 volition be configurable with the latest Intel 12th Gen CPUs, upwardly to a Core i9-12900H. That'south a decent upgrade over the AMD Ryzen nine 5000-series CPU powering the Asus ROG Flow X13 we reviewed terminal yr, and we're excited to go a new Flow Z13 in for testing so we can see how much of a difference this CPU upgrade makes while gaming.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 ports

The Asus ROG Menstruation Z13 looks to offer a pretty decent port array for a sparse-and-lite gaming laptop/tablet. It sports a USB-A port, 2 USB-C ports (one with support for Thunderbolt four), a headphone/mic jack, a microSD menu reader and a proprietary port for plugging in the external ROG XG Mobile GPU enclosure.

That'south more than ports than were available on last year's X13, which is nice to see. It also appears every bit though Asus has moved the power button on the edge of the laptop farther away from the ports than information technology was on the X13, which would be great since it was too like shooting fish in a barrel to accidentally hitting the power push while plugging accessories into the X13'due south ports.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 bombardment life

Asus hasn't made whatsoever official claims yet almost how long the Menses Z13'south 56WHr bombardment volition last when gaming on battery, just we don't have high hopes.

In our review of last year's Flow X13 we criticized its 62WHr battery for lasting less than two hours (i:nineteen, according to our lab testing) when playing demanding 3D video games. That's not terrible, but it'south not ideal either, and it curtailed the Menstruation's viability as a mobile gaming device.

While we're hopeful the new Menses Z13 volition be more bombardment-efficient than its predecessor, we won't be able to say for sure until we get one in for testing.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 outlook

When Asus unveiled its ROG Flow X13 gaming laptop/tablet hybrid at CES 2021, we called it the best 2-in-1 laptop of the show. This yr the company announced a successor at CES 2022, the ROG Menstruum Z13, and once over again we honored it as the best ii-in-1 in our CES 2022 Awards. The reason is simple: the Flow Z13 delivers the promise of gaming laptop ability in a thin, calorie-free and versatile design.

Of class, the X13 was far from a perfect device. The ports were inconvenient to admission, and the X13's poor bombardment efficiency and lackluster gaming functioning without the back up of an external GPU hampered its appeal equally a portable gaming machine. We're eager to bank check out 1 of the new ROG Flow Z13 devices to see whether the revamped blueprint and upgraded internals address these weaknesses; stay tuned for our full review!

Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Programmer, Blackness Hat, and PC Earth mag. He currently serves as a senior editor at Tom'south Guide covering all things calculating, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.