The Asus ROG Flow X13 is a gaming machine that defies expectations with its compact and ultraportable design, while still delivering impressive performance. With its sleek and textured black metal chassis, the ROG Flow X13 is not only visually appealing but also practical, thanks to the diagonal lines that provide a better grip and keep smudges at bay.
Display, Ports and Keyboard
One of the standout features of the ROG Flow X13 is its 13.4-inch QHD+ display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This Nebula panel offers a resolution of 2,560×1,600, 500+ nits of brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, a 3ms response time, and a 165Hz refresh rate. Despite being slightly smaller than its predecessor, Asus has managed to maintain the same ROG keyboard and include a 56% larger touchpad, along with an array of ports including USB-C 4.0, HDMI 2.1, USB-A 3.2, and a microSD card reader.
Performance
What sets the ROG Flow X13 apart is its compatibility with the XG Mobile external GPU unit. This unique feature allows for desktop-level gaming performance on the go. By connecting the XG Mobile external GPU, users can enjoy the power of an RTX 4090, taking their gaming experience to the next level. Asus has also announced that they will be releasing updated XG units with the latest Nvidia RTX 4000 GPUs, further enhancing the performance possibilities.
In terms of performance, the ROG Flow X13 delivers impressive results for its size and weight. Weighing just 1.3kg, it is truly remarkable to experience desktop-level gaming performance on such a compact device. During gameplay sessions, the fans do become slightly noisy, but this is expected and doesn’t detract from the overall experience. Plugging in the XG Mobile external GPU takes the performance to another level, providing a truly immersive gaming experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is also a strong suit of the ROG Flow X13. Despite being a gaming laptop, it offers a battery life of around seven to eight hours for everyday tasks such as web browsing, video streaming, and productivity work. This allows users to seamlessly transition from work to play without worrying about running out of power. Of course, for optimal performance, it is recommended to plug in the laptop while gaming.
While the ROG Flow X13 offers an exceptional gaming experience, there are a few minor issues to be aware of. Some users have reported Wi-Fi connectivity issues in certain rooms or locations, which could potentially be resolved with a driver update. Additionally, there have been reports of the keyboard flashing when the screen is turned off and the fans can be noisy, but these are common issues among gaming laptops and do not significantly impact the overall performance.
Price
With a retail price of ₹1,74,990, the ROG Flow X13 is a premium gaming laptop. However, for those seeking a compact and powerful gaming machine with the option of desktop-level performance through the XG Mobile external GPU, the investment is well worth it. The ROG Flow X13 combines portability, impressive specifications, and exceptional gaming capabilities, making it an attractive choice for gamers on the go.
