This Tablet is Special

Gaming tablets are compromised. Either they're underpowered tablets with controllers, or they're heavy convertibles that work poorly as tablets. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025) is different. With AMD Ryzen AI+ Max 395 and integrated AMD Radeon Graphics in a 2.4 lbs tablet, this delivers real gaming performance in true tablet form.

At $2,169, this isn't cheap. But it's special.

Performance: AMD Ryzen AI+ Max 395

The AMD Ryzen AI+ Max 395 is AMD's integrated powerhouse processor.

CPU Performance

The Ryzen AI+ Max 395 delivers:

• Excellent single-core: Responsive and fast
• Strong multi-core: Handles multitasking and content creation
• Powerful integrated GPU: This is the key
• AI acceleration: NPU for AI workloads

This is AMD's top-tier mobile processor with extraordinary integrated graphics.

AMD Radeon Graphics: Integrated But Powerful

The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics surprises:

Gaming Performance (1080p):

• Cyberpunk 2077: 40-55 FPS Medium settings
• Baldur's Gate 3: 50-65 FPS High
• Call of Duty: 60-80 FPS Medium
• Fortnite: 80-100 FPS Medium/High
• Indie games: Excellent performance

For integrated graphics, these numbers are extraordinary. This rivals discrete RTX 4050 in some games.

How? AMD's RDNA architecture in the Radeon GPU provides significantly more power than typical integrated graphics.

Content Creation:

• Lightroom: Smooth RAW processing
• Photoshop: GPU acceleration works well
• Premiere Pro: 1080p editing smooth, 4K requires optimized codecs
• Blender: Basic 3D work possible

The 32GB LPDDR5x RAM handles multitasking smoothly. The 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD provides ample storage.

Display: OLED 2.8K 120Hz Touch

The 13-inch OLED touchscreen with 2.8K (2880x1800) resolution and 120Hz refresh is exceptional:

• Resolution: 2.8K provides excellent sharpness at 13 inches
• OLED: Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, vibrant colors
• Touch: Responsive 10-point multi-touch
• Refresh rate: 120Hz for smooth gaming and scrolling
• Brightness: 400 nits (good for OLED)
• Color coverage: 100% DCI-P3
• Pen support: USI 2.0 pen compatible

Gaming on OLED

The 120Hz OLED makes gaming gorgeous:

• Perfect blacks in dark scenes
• Vibrant colors pop in every game
• Smooth 120Hz reduces motion blur
• Fast response (<1ms)

Games look stunning on this display.

Build Quality: Premium Tablet Design

At 2.4 lbs (1.09 kg) for tablet only, this is light enough for handheld use. The aluminum chassis feels premium.

Design Language

ASUS's design is unique:

• Premium aluminum construction
• Futuristic ROG aesthetics
• Detachable keyboard
• Kickstand built into tablet

The design screams "gaming tablet" while maintaining premium feel.

Tablet Form Factor

As a Tablet:

• 2.4 lbs: Light enough for brief handheld use
• Kickstand: Multiple angles for desk use
• Touch optimized: Windows 11 tablet mode works well

Reality Check: At 2.4 lbs, this is heavier than iPad Pro (1.5 lbs) for extended hand-held use. Best for desk/lap use.

Detachable Keyboard

Keyboard sold separately (unfortunate at this price):

• Good typing experience when attached
• Trackpad included
• Magnetic attachment

The keyboard is needed for laptop-mode productivity. Selling it separately at this price feels wrong.

Port Selection

On the tablet:

• 2× USB-C (one Thunderbolt 4)
• 1× ROG XG Mobile port (for external GPU)
• 1× 3.5mm headphone jack
• 1× microSD card reader

The ROG XG Mobile port supports ASUS's external GPU enclosure for even more gaming power.

Battery Life: Decent for Gaming Tablet

The 70Wh battery delivers:

• Light productivity: 9-11 hours
• Mixed usage: 7-9 hours
• Gaming unplugged: 2-3 hours
• Video playback: 9-10 hours

For a gaming tablet with powerful integrated graphics and OLED display, these numbers are good. Don't expect iPad-level battery life.

Charging

100W USB-C charging. Full charge in about 90 minutes.

Thermal Management

Gaming in a thin tablet creates thermal challenges:

• Under light load: Cool and quiet
• Under gaming: Gets warm, fans audible
• Under sustained gaming: Hot on back, fans noticeable

The active cooling (fans in tablet!) keeps thermals manageable. But extended gaming makes the tablet warm to hold.

Recommendation: Use kickstand for gaming. Don't hold handheld for extended gaming sessions.

Gaming Tablet Use Cases

Portable Gaming

The Flow Z13 excels for travel gaming:

• Compact: Fits in backpacks easily
• Powerful: Plays AAA games
• Versatile: Tablet or laptop mode

Couch Gaming

With kickstand and controller:

• Comfortable: Kickstand angles work well
• Wireless controller: Xbox/PlayStation controllers work
• Good experience: Better than laptop for casual gaming

Desk Gaming

With keyboard attached:

• Full laptop mode: Works like traditional laptop
• Good keyboard/mouse: Competitive gaming viable

The AMD Advantage

The AMD Ryzen AI+ Max 395 makes this tablet possible:

• Powerful integrated graphics (rivals discrete GPUs)
• Efficient power consumption
• Good thermal characteristics

Intel equivalents can't match this integrated GPU performance.

Who Should Buy This?

The ROG Flow Z13 is perfect for:

• Travelers who want real gaming portably
• Students who game and need tablet versatility
• Enthusiasts who want unique form factors
• Anyone who wants gaming in tablet form

Skip it if you:

• Want best value (traditional gaming laptops cheaper)
• Need longest battery
• Prefer traditional laptop (2-in-1s less compromised)
• Game primarily at desk (desktop/laptop better)

Comparison to Alternatives

vs Surface Pro:

• Flow Z13: Much better gaming, OLED, 120Hz
• Surface Pro: Better tablet experience, lighter, better battery

vs Gaming Laptops:

• Flow Z13: More portable, unique form factor
• Gaming Laptops: Better value, better cooling, more powerful

vs iPad Pro:

• Flow Z13: Windows, real PC gaming
• iPad Pro: Better tablet OS, lighter, better apps

The Flow Z13 is unique - nothing else offers this combination.

The External GPU Option

ASUS offers the ROG XG Mobile external GPU:

• Connects via proprietary port
• Adds RTX 4090 mobile GPU
• Provides additional ports
• Expensive ($1,500+)

With XG Mobile, the Flow Z13 becomes a desktop-class gaming machine. Without it, the integrated graphics still impress.

Verdict

The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025) is special. The AMD Ryzen AI+ Max 395 with powerful integrated AMD Radeon Graphics delivers real gaming in a 2.4 lbs tablet. The 13-inch OLED 2.8K 120Hz touchscreen is gorgeous for gaming and content.

The 32GB LPDDR5x RAM handles multitasking smoothly. The 70Wh battery provides 9+ hours productivity use. The versatile form factor works as tablet or laptop.

Is it perfect? No. At $2,169, it's expensive - keyboard sold separately is frustrating. The 2.4 lbs is heavy for extended handheld tablet use. Thermals get warm during extended gaming.

But for travelers, students, and enthusiasts who want real gaming in a tablet form factor, nothing else competes. This proves AMD's integrated graphics can rival discrete GPUs in the right implementation.

The Flow Z13 is special. Unique. For those who want gaming versatility in the most portable form, it's worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does integrated Radeon compare to RTX 4050? A: In many games, comparable or slightly slower. Impressive for integrated graphics.

Q: Why is keyboard sold separately? A: ASUS positions it as tablet-first. But at $2,169, keyboard should be included. It's frustrating.

Q: Is 2.4 lbs too heavy for tablet use? A: For desk/lap use with kickstand, fine. For extended handheld use, heavier than iPad Pro.

Q: Should I buy the XG Mobile external GPU? A: Only if you need desktop-class gaming and have $1,500+ extra. Integrated graphics are good for most.

Q: How does Windows 11 work as tablet OS? A: Better than before, but still not as polished as iPad OS. Best for productivity, decent for tablet use.