ROG Flow Z13 (2025) — tablet or laptop? Why not both
ROG Flow Z13 (2025) GZ302EA
It delivers the performance you would expect from a gaming laptop; with some of the added versatility from its tablet form factor.
What's Good?
- Excellent gamer-centric design
- Incredible ROG Nebula Display
- Complete selection of ports
- AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 slaps, even on battery life
What's Not?
- Battery life is not great
- Rather heavy and thick to use as a tablet
The ROG Flow Z13 (2025) isn’t your average tablet. I am pretty sure that when discussing tablets, the ones that would spring to mind are the iPads and Android tablets. It’s not to say that Windows tablets don’t exist, it’s just that we just can’t get the experience we expect from tablets on any device running Windows thus far. Long battery life, always-on capability just doesn’t exist on Windows until the recent developments in the Windows on Arm ecosystem. Well, the ROG Flow Z13 doesn’t offer that either, but it does bring with it a unique form factor that’s quite unlike any other Windows gaming device out there.
Unmistakably gamer aesthetics
The window on the back of the ROG Flow Z13 has been a signature of the series ever since the first generation landed in 2022. This generation it runs across the back diagonally, offering a larger window into the soul of the ROG Flow Z13 (2025). It’s more for aesthetics than anything, as you’re actually looking at the rear side of the PCB, as the side housing the incredible AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is facing the back of the display panel. Still, it’s definitely a nice conversation starter, as there just isn’t any laptop or tablet that looks this good out there.
This gamer aesthetic also lends itself well to being functional. This little tab on the edge of the ROG Flow Z13 is what gives you an easier time to open the kickstand. The built-in kickstand provides up to 170° of adjustability, giving you the freedom to choose the angle you wish to game or work with.
The detachable keyboard covers the screen with a soft leather-like finish to it. It beats the soft faux suede finish of the previous generation, which collected grime and dirt like nobody’s business. This protects the screen, while also providing ample grip when you’re carrying it around. There’s even a nice little row of magnets near the bottom of the screen, giving the keyboard a nice tilt while providing a near-bezeless look to the ROG Flow Z13.
A gaming tablet for more than just gamers
The ROG Flow Z13 is a device that boldly challenges conventional notions of what a portable gaming machine can be, seamlessly blending the power of a high-performance laptop with the flexibility of a tablet. Front and center, we have an incredible Pantone validated, 2.5K 180Hz ROG Nebula Display that covers the full DCI-P3 gamut, making it great for creators on-the-go as well. This touch-sensitive display also supports stylus input, which is also included in the box, making for a very versatile tablet that is built for way more than just gaming.
This detachable keyboard that comes included with the ROG Flow Z13 allows users to transform the device from a sleek tablet into a fully functional laptop in a matter of seconds. It also doubles as a cover to protect the screen when not in use. ROG put in quite a bit of effort into this keyboard, as it is now more rigid, making for a more satisfying typing experience than the last-gen ROG Flow Z13 offered. This versatility is key to its appeal, offering users the freedom to switch between immersive gaming sessions to productivity and creativity tasks with remarkable ease.
In terms of connectivity, you aren’t missing out on anything either. There’s WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 on the wireless front, as well as a full complement of ports. Two USB4 ports with support for charging and DisplayPort output as well as 40Gbps of data throughput, a full-sized HDMI 2.1 FRL port and even a 10Gbps USB-A port for the older devices. ROG did include a proprietary power connector that can deliver up to 200W, a huge uplift from the last generation’s 130W via USB-PD. Aside from a increased power headroom, this port also frees up the two USB-C ports for other duties even when the ROG Flow Z13 is plugged in to the wall.
Performance reimagined
At the heart of the ROG Flow Z13 is the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor. This processor combines sixteen Zen 5 cores with the outright massive Radeon 8060S integrated graphics that packs 40 RDNA 3.5 CUs. The last-gen ROG Flow Z13 packed discrete graphics, so this Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has big shoes to fill. While we didn’t get too much time to benchmark the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 in the ROG Flow Z13, the short preview we had of it was enough to convince us that we didn’t need any more horsepower in this gaming tablet. We easily maintained 25FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 with the RT Low preset on battery. Can’t wait to see how much faster it would be when plugged in!
Cooling is courtesy of a vapor chamber that combines stainless steel and copper for weight saving, mounted onto the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with liquid metal. Larger fans push more air through the 0.1mm ultra-thin fins, exhausting the heat out of the system quicker and at lower noise levels. During our short time with it, we barely heard the ROG Flow Z13, even when we were sneaking in a quick run of Cyberpunk 2077. I really wish we had more time with the ROG Flow Z13, as there is just so much more that I want to test on this laptop.
ROG Flow Z13 (2025) Specifications
| Processor | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 16C/32T (16x Zen 5) @ up to 5.1GHz 64MB L3 cache 80W TDP TSMC 4nm FinFET 50TOPS AMD XDNA NPU |
| Memory | 32GB LPDDR5X-8000 on-package, quad-channel (256-bit) |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon 8060S, 40 RDNA 3.5 CU @ up to 2.9GHz |
| Storage | 1TB SSD (M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD, M.2 2230) |
| Display | 13.4-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) 180Hz display 500 nits max brightness, 100% DCI-P3 gamut 90% screen-to-body ratio |
| Connectivity | WiFi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 2 x USB4 (40Gbps) with display-out, USB-PD 1 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps) 1 x HDMI 2.1 (FRL) 1 x microSD card reader 1 x 3.5mm combo jack |
| Audio | 2 x Dual-force speakers with Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos 3-microphone array |
| Power | 70WHr, 4-cell Li-ion battery 200W AC adapter, rectangle connector Up to 100W USB-PD support |
| Dimensions | 300 x 204 x 14.9 mm |
| Weight | 1.2kg |
| Included Accessories | ROG Zephyrus G14 Sleeve (2024) Stylus (ASUS Pen SA203H-MPP2.0 support) 100W USB-C adapter |
ROG Flow Z13 (2025) — should you buy this?
The ROG Flow Z13 (2025) brings a rather interesting concept to the table. It delivers the performance you would expect from a gaming laptop; with some of the added versatility from its tablet form factor, like a touchscreen with stylus support and a detachable keyboard. It’s not as light as I would like my tablet to be, coming in at 1.2kg, but given the performance on tap, it’s already way lighter than comparable gaming laptops. Now, onto the price. Its price of RM10,999 positions it well into the premium segment, and I think the ROG Flow Z13 (2025) lives up to it. Gamers who don’t need the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 for AI workloads or the versatility of the tablet form factor can easily get more conventional gaming laptops that might provide better gaming performance. While those who do, well, this is your only option.
