ASUS Flow Z13 Laptop Review: Your Complete Guide

Introduction:

The Asus Flow Z13 (2023) GZ301 is a gaming laptop with three different graphics variations: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Laptop GPU with 8GB GDDR6, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU with 6GB GDDR6, and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2050 Laptop GPU with 4GB GDDR6. Each variation offers a unique performance level to suit different gaming needs.

All variations feature a 13.4-inch ROG Nebula Display with QHD+ resolution, IPS-level panel, 165Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync, Pantone validation, support for stylus input, MUX Switch + Optimus technology, and Dolby Vision HDR support. The glossy display ensures vibrant visuals and immersive gaming experiences.

In terms of memory, each variation comes equipped with 8GB*2 LPDDR5 onboard RAM, with a maximum capacity of 16GB, and supports dual-channel memory configuration for enhanced multitasking and gaming performance.

Overall, the ROG Flow Z13 offers a high-performance gaming experience with its powerful graphics, stunning display, and efficient memory configuration, making it suitable for gamers looking for top-notch gaming performance in a portable package.

Pros and Cons:

Pros	Cons
High-performance Intel 13th gen processor and NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU	Limited battery life
Immersive 13.4″ QHD+ IPS display with 165Hz refresh rate	Soldered memory (16GB LPDDR5)
Lightweight and portable design	Limited storage expansion (one M.2 slot)
Versatile connectivity options (Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, microSD)	Single-zone RGB backlighting
Advanced cooling system with dual-fan vapor chamber	High price point
Detachable keyboard folio for flexible use
High-quality cameras and audio

Detailed SPECS – Asus ROG Flow Z13

Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-13900H Processor 2.6 GHz (24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)	13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H Processor 2.3 GHz (24M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)	13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12500H Processor 2.5 GHz (24M Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
Graphics	NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Laptop GPU ROG Boost: 1940MHz* at 65W (1890MHz Boost Clock+50MHz OC, 50W+15W Dynamic Boost) 8GB GDDR6	NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU ROG Boost: 2105MHz* at 65W (2055MHz Boost Clock+50MHz OC, 50W+15W Dynamic Boost) 6GB GDDR6	Intel® Iris Xe Graphics
Display	ROG Nebula Display 13.4-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) IPS-level Glossy display DCI-P3:100% Refresh Rate:165Hz Adaptive-Sync Pantone Validated Support stylus:Yes MUX Switch + Optimus Support Dolby Vision HDR :Yes	ROG Nebula Display 13.4-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) IPS-level Glossy display DCI-P3:100% Refresh Rate:165Hz Adaptive-Sync Pantone Validated Support stylus:Yes MUX Switch + Optimus Support Dolby Vision HDR :Yes	ROG Nebula Display 13.4-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) IPS-level Glossy display DCI-P3:100% Refresh Rate:165Hz Adaptive-Sync Pantone Validated MUX Switch + Optimus Support Dolby Vision HDR :Yes
Memory	8GB*2 LPDDR5 on board Max Capacity:16GB Support dual channel memory	8GB*2 LPDDR5 on board Max Capacity:16GB Support dual channel memory	8GB*2 LPDDR5 on board Max Capacity:16GB Support dual channel memory
Storage	1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD (2230)	512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD (2230)	512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD (2230)
I/O Ports	1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface and USB Type-C combo port (with USB 3.2 Gen2, support DisplayPort™ 1.4) 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II	1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface and USB Type-C combo port (with USB 3.2 Gen2, support DisplayPort™ 1.4) 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)	1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface and USB Type-C combo port (with USB 3.2 Gen2, support DisplayPort™ 1.4) 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II)
Camera	13MP camera and 5MP IR camera	13MP camera and 5MP IR camera	13MP camera and 5MP IR camera
Battery	56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion	56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion	56WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
Weight	1.18 Kg (2.60 lbs)	1.18 Kg (2.60 lbs)	1.18 Kg (2.60 lbs)
Keyboard and Touchpad	Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB	Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB	Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB
Audio	Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification (for headphone) Built-in 3-microphone array 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology	Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification (for headphone) Built-in 3-microphone array 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology	Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification (for headphone) Built-in 3-microphone array 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
Network and Communication	Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2 Wireless Card (*Bluetooth® version may change with OS version different.)	Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2 Wireless Card (*Bluetooth® version may change with OS version different.)	Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2 Wireless Card (*Bluetooth® version may change with OS version different.)

Note:

• Wi-Fi 6E Support: You can enjoy the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard, depending on your region. ROG will send out a software update for Wi-Fi 6E when it’s available in your area.
• Xbox Game Pass: Make sure to redeem your Xbox Game Pass within 180 days after activating Windows.
• Battery Life: Battery life tests were done in a standard Asus setup. Remember, battery life can vary based on your settings and usage, and it will decrease over time.
• Quick Charging: You can quickly charge your device with a compatible ASUS/ROG adapter, but make sure to turn off the system first.
• HDMI: HDMI trademarks are owned by HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc., and the actual version might differ.
• RJ45 Port: The RJ45 port is for data transmission only and doesn’t support Power over Ethernet (PoE).
• Certifications: Products are FCC and IC certified for the US and Canada.
• Specs and Features: Specifications can change without notice, so check with your supplier for the latest updates. Features vary by model, so refer to the spec pages for details.
• PCB and Software: PCB color and bundled software versions might change without notice.
• Trademarks: All mentioned trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
• Performance: Performance claims are based on theoretical data, and actual performance may vary.
• USB Speeds: USB transfer speeds depend on factors like the host device and file attributes.

Pricing

1. ASUS ROG Flow Z13 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6):

• Esports Titles (e.g., Fortnite, Valorant, CS:GO): 150-200+ FPS at high settings.                  
• AAA Titles (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2): 60-90 FPS at medium to high settings.                                                              
• Open-World Games (e.g., The Witcher 3, GTA V, Skyrim): 50-70 FPS at moderate to high settings.                                                                                                                                
• Strategy Games (e.g., Civilization VI, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Crusader Kings III): 60-90 FPS, considering its powerful CPU.                                                                                                                      
• Simulation Games (e.g., Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Sims 4, Cities: Skylines): 30-60 FPS, adjusting settings for smoother gameplay.

2. ASUS ROG Flow Z13 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6):

• Esports Titles (e.g., Fortnite, Valorant, CS:GO): 120-180+ FPS at high settings.
• AAA Titles (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2): 50-80 FPS at medium to high settings.
• Open-World Games (e.g., The Witcher 3, GTA V, Skyrim): 40-60 FPS at moderate to high settings.
• Strategy Games (e.g., Civilization VI, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Crusader Kings III): 50-80 FPS, considering its powerful CPU.
• Simulation Games (e.g., Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Sims 4, Cities: Skylines): 25-50 FPS, adjusting settings for smoother gameplay.

3. ASUS ROG Flow Z13 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 2050 Laptop GPU (4GB GDDR6):

• Esports Titles (e.g., Fortnite, Valorant, CS:GO): 80-120+ FPS at high settings.
• AAA Titles (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2): 30-60 FPS at medium to high settings.
• Open-World Games (e.g., The Witcher 3, GTA V, Skyrim): 25-45 FPS at moderate to high settings.
• Strategy Games (e.g., Civilization VI, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Crusader Kings III): 30-60 FPS, considering its powerful CPU.
• Simulation Games (e.g., Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Sims 4, Cities: Skylines): 15-35 FPS, adjusting settings for smoother gameplay.

These estimates give you a heads-up on the gaming performance you can expect from each version of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 across different types of games. Keep in mind, that different specs can shake things up a bit—like choosing between an AMD or Intel processor, which can make a big difference in your gaming experience. Picking the right Intel processor is super important if you’re all about gaming.