When a standard gaming laptop computer simply will not do

On paper, the concept of a PC gaming pill does not actually make sense. Something with a display bigger than eight to 10 inches is usually too large to carry for longer classes. Their skinny chassis do not go away a lot room for giant batteries, ports or discrete graphics. However with the second-gen ROG Movement Z13, ASUS is popping that line of thought on its head with a surprisingly highly effective system that may do extra than simply sport — so long as you do not thoughts paying a premium for some area of interest engineering.

Design and show: Not precisely stealthy

For higher or worse, the Z Movement 13 appears to be like like somebody tweaked a Floor Professional to accommodate the stereotypical gamer aesthetic. It has cyberpunky graphics littered throughout its physique together with a small window within the again that’s full with RGB lighting.

Not like loads of tablets, ASUS gave the Z13 a thicker-than-normal physique (0.6 inches), which left area for a shocking variety of ports. Not solely do you get two USB 4 Kind-C ports, there’s additionally an everyday USB-A jack, full-size HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio and even a microSD card reader. This immediately elevates the pill from one thing strictly meant for enjoying video games into one thing that may additionally pull double obligation as a transportable video enhancing station.

ASUS’ 13.4-inch 2.5 IPS show leans into that much more due to a 180Hz refresh fee, robust brightness (round 500 nits) and Pantone validation. No matter what you are doing, colours will likely be each wealthy and correct. Rounding out the bundle are some punchy audio system, so you do not have to undergo from subpar sound. However there are limitations right here, as deep bass is all the time powerful to provide on smaller techniques like this.

Lastly, there are some pogo pins alongside the underside of its show for connecting its folding keyboard. Sadly, this is likely one of the system’s weak factors. As a result of the Z13 is heavier than a typical pill PC, its keyboard has to hold a hefty load. On a desk, it is effective. However when you attempt to use this factor in your lap (or any uneven floor), I discovered that the keyboard can flex a lot it may end up in unintentional mouse clicks. It is a disgrace as a result of the bounce and journey of the keys typically feels fairly good. Nothing is extra of a bummer than enjoying a sport whereas enjoyable on the sofa after which having to battle with the pill to keep away from errant clicks.

Efficiency

As a substitute of counting on discrete graphics, ASUS opted for AMD’s Ryzen AI Max 390 or Max+ 395 APUs, which characteristic as much as 32 cores and a whopping 128GB of unified RAM. Nevertheless, our evaluate unit got here with a extra modest, however nonetheless ample, 32GB. Unsurprisingly, this makes mincemeat out of primary productiveness duties whereas having greater than sufficient energy to shortly edit movies on the go.

However with out a correct graphics card, can it really sport? Sure, and somewhat effectively, I’d add. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and Extremely settings, the Z13 hit a formidable 93 fps. And whereas numbers weren’t fairly as excessive in Management at 1080p on Epic presets, 70 fps continues to be very playable. The one wrinkle is that once I examined Cyberpunk 2077 a second time on Extremely with ray tracing enabled, the Movement’s efficiency was minimize in half to only 45 fps. Except you are enjoying a model new AAA title that requires RT help (of which there are a rising quantity), the Z13 is an incredibly good transportable gaming companion for frequent vacationers.

You simply should watch out about the way you configure its energy settings. That is as a result of when you’re out in public or a quiet room, excessive efficiency (particularly turbo) may end up in a good bit of fan noise, which can draw some undesirable consideration. Or in my case, it acquired a lot more durable to speak to somebody sitting subsequent to me on the sofa.

Battery life

On the subject of longevity, you will get one among two outcomes. In regular use and on PCMark’s Trendy Workplace productiveness battery life check, the Z13 fared fairly effectively, ending with a time of six hours and 54 minutes. That is not fairly a full day’s value of labor untethered, but it surely’s ok for most people. You may simply need to preserve its chunky energy adapter close by.

Nevertheless, when you plan on gaming with out plugging this factor into the wall, simply be ready for the Z13 to conk out after two hours at greatest. Once I performed League of Legends’ Teamfight Techniques, I solely made it by two video games (about 30 to 40 minutes every) earlier than its battery acquired dangerously low (round 10 %). And suffice it to say, TFT is not a really demanding title.

Wrap-up

The Movement Z13 is a distinct segment machine that is extra of an all-rounder than it might sound at first look. This method fills an attention-grabbing hole between ASUS’ gaming machines and extra creatively-focused PCs from its ProArt household. In loads of methods, slapping an ROG badge on it does not actually do that factor justice. It is acquired greater than sufficient efficiency to breeze by common productiveness or video edits, and its built-in microSD card reader makes transferring footage to the pill a breeze. Its display is vibrant and vibrant, whereas additionally providing correct colours and a decently excessive refresh fee. And even with out a discrete GPU, the Z13 did not have a lot hassle rendering video games with plenty of graphical bells and whistles turned on.

Nevertheless, this pill’s points boil right down to a few main sticking factors. Its removable keyboard is just too flimsy, to the purpose the place when you use it wherever in addition to a desk or desk, you threat combating with it simply to make sure your mouse clicks are appropriate. However the greater hurdle is worth. Beginning at $2,100 (or round $2,300 as examined), the Movement Z13 prices the identical or extra as a comparable ROG Zephyrus G14 with a correct RTX 5070. Not solely does it have worse efficiency, it is much less steady too because of its tablet-style design. For folks attempting to get probably the most worth out of their cash, that proposition is a tough promote.

Deep down, I need to just like the ROG Movement Z13. And I do, to a sure extent. It is acquired a cool construct and unapologetically aggressive styling. However except you’ve got a really explicit set of necessities, it does not match neatly into most individuals’s lives as an equal laptop computer. And that is earlier than you contemplate how a lot it prices.