Two-in-one laptops are popular because people like options. I get it, we all crave freedom. Given the choice between being tied down with a laptop or tablet, or having a device that can be both, I think people will often take the thing that does both—even if it’s only half as good.
The tradeoffs required to make a computer also a functional tablet are what have killed two-in-one gaming devices thus far. With a third stab at its ROG Flow two-in-one gaming machine, ASUS is looking to pave the way to that future. Right now, there’s nothing else on the market quite like it.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is, technically, a gaming tablet. It’s like a larger, beefier Steam Deck without the controller shell. It’s thick, and it’s powerful. Functionally, it’s more of a laptop. The device is sold in box with a magnetic keyboard already attached. It also has a kickstand that lets it sit free as either a tablet or laptop. And, for the time being, the package includes three months of PC Game Pass. So, what’s it like to use, and who the hell is it for?
The answer to the second question is easier because, simply put, it’s me. I’m a dedicated gamer who lacks the space for a desktop, plays on consoles and handhelds, and —when it comes to PC gaming—knows enough to know he doesn’t know shit. Personally, I love the ROG Flow Z13. But the price is a huge factor, and any self-identified PC gamer will find a lot to nitpick.
Re-Writing the Book On Integrated Graphics
The Flow Z13 is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI Max processor that unifies CPU and GPU. That’s what I mean when I say integrated graphics. It doesn’t have a discreet graphics card. PC gamers are used to that being a red flag. AMD is using AI to rewrite the book on integrated graphics, and it’s reading pretty smoothly so far.
In my tests, I found plenty of modern titles that performed excellently. I got a solid 60 fps out of Deathloop, Arkane Studios’ sardonic, violent Groundhog Day, on relatively high settings. Marvel Rivals, the Esquire editors’ latest gaming obsession, ran and looked much better than it does on my Steam Deck. That’s pretty much a brand new release. Ultimately, I found the year of the game doesn’t matter as much as the specifics. Which I honestly won’t bore you with.
To put things into more a compelling context, the Flow Z13 can run Avowed (a 2025 release) smoother at higher fidelity than Control (2019). The latter is one of the most visually impressive games ever, but it’s also notoriously unfriendly to underpowered hardware. I experienced this firsthand. It wasn’t just cutting-edge games I ran into trouble with, either. The Flow had mixed results playing older, less optimized PC titles.
When it comes Half-Life 2 or any of the well-attended to classics that you can buy on Steam, I wasn’t running into anything less than flawless performance. But those old files you have from when you bought PC games in a box at Radio Shack, or in my case a GOG (formerly Good Old Games) library of games I’d bought on sale for $1, those are a bit more unpredictable. For example, I had a lot of trouble with another 2005 shooter, horror cult-classic F.E.A.R. An hour of tinkering and not even a solid 30 fps; clearly this just wasn’t happening without a dedicated graphics card.
So it is limited, for sure, but as a way to play games that are on PC Game Pass, Steam, and the various cloud gaming platform, it’s been phenomenally reliable. Due to it’s hybrid nature, I found it to be more portable than most gaming laptops I’ve encountered (easier to stuff in a backpack and go), with some caveats. Design-wise, it still very much feels like ASUS is working out the kinks.
Still Working Out the Kinks
On a hardware level, there is a lot I love about the Flow Z13. To start, the keyboard is great. It’s got a strong magnet and the keys are sturdy enough to game on. The trackpad is even fine, but you’ll most likely want to use a mouse for comfort. In order to go full laptop mode, the Flow also has a kickstand. It’s very flush with the back of the tablet, and lifts up by a rubber tab on the side—pretty easy to use and never felt it wobble once. And then there’s the Nebula Display, which is ASUS branding for its—admittedly stunning—mini-LED HDR touchscreens.
All that being said, each of those points comes with a caveat. Occasionally, on boot up, the keyboard wouldn’t connect. It would take 15-30 seconds, or me removing and re-attaching, for it to register. While I genuinely love the kickstand, one corner dented after taking the tablet on a journey in my backpack. It’s now just kind of like that, and no longer lays flush, making a mark on the back of the device at the same time. That shouldn’t happen. And then there’s the touchscreen, which is functional, but I don’t feel compelled to use it. It’s definitely the least used touchscreen of any device I have.
There’s also some weird choices I’m baffled by in here. Other critics have noted a lack of ports. I agree (I wish there was more than a single USB-A), but this largely hasn’t hindered me. It also has a camera. I couldn’t tell you whether its good or bad because I keep forgetting it’s there at all. Does that feel required when you are selling something as a tablet for two grand?
That’s been the elephant in the room these past thousand words. This thing starts at $2,300, but even at major retailers I’ve seen it go for more than that. Here’s the truth. There’s a ton of laptops between the $1K and $2K range that will give you much better mileage for your dollar than the ROG Flow Z13. Will they be as portable or as schnazzy? Probably not, but that’s still a lot to pay for something that comes with a giant power brick and needs to be plugged in every few hours. That can get you through a short flight, sure, but ultimately we are talking a device that is less convenient to travel with than a MacBook Air. This will mostly be used at home, like most gaming laptops. As such, it’s only fair to compare it dollar to donuts against the competition. It doesn’t stack up.
Verdict: I Love the Damned Thing, But it’s A Hard Ask
I spend half my gaming time playing indies that run flawlessly on anything, and the other half catching up on single-player games nobody remembers from 2017. The ROG Flow Z13 is perfect for this, but also perfectly capable of running plenty of modern titles—just not the big ones. Despite the flaws across the board, though, every time I boot up the Flow I’m struck by what a cool piece of tech it is.
I also didn’t have to pay for it. And, truthfully, based on the review I just wrote, I don’t think I would spend the money when I could get both a Steam Deck and a decent gaming laptop for home at about the same price. Sometimes two is better than one.
ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025) Gaming Laptop
| Display | 13.4 inch 2.5K 180Hz 16:10 Nebula display |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen AI Max+395 |
| RAM | 128 GB LPDDR5ZX |
| Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL,1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x Type-C USB 4, 1x card reader (microSD) |
| Dimensions | 11.8″x 8.0″x 0.6″ |
| Weight | 2.7 pounds |
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I’ve spent the last month and change gaming on the ROG Flow. I’ve tested out dozens of titles on the machine, from classics like Half-Life 2 to the most modern AAA releases including Avowed and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
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