Asus unveiled the ROG Flow Z13 2-in-1 gaming laptop at CES 2022, the successor to the ROG Flow X13 introduced in 2021, the Z13 breathes new life into the hybrid gaming laptop/tablet concept and and external GPU enclosure to further enhance the gaming machine. [In our review of the Asus ROG Flow X13, we praised its lightweight design and crisp display, but its gaming performance was a bit lacking when not connected to an optional eGPU enclosure.

As for the ROG Flow Z13, the latest model with Windows 11 is expected to ship in 2022. With a refreshed design and enhanced internal components, the Flow Z13 could surpass its predecessor and rank on the list of best 2-in-1 laptops available for purchase. Below is everything we know so far about the Asus ROG Flow Z13.

Asus has yet to confirm pricing or an exact release date for the Asus ROG Flow Z13, saying only that it will be available in early 2022.

The Flow Z13 probably won't be cheap either. Last year, the starting price for the ROG Flow X13 was $1,499, but that price quickly rose to about $3,000 once the (optional) external GPU enclosure with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series card was purchased.

We do not know how much the Z13 will cost, but it is likely to be at least as expensive as its predecessor, expected to be between $1,500 and $3,000.

Like the X13, the Asus ROG Flow Z13 offers an impressive design that works as both a laptop and a tablet. The screen can be removed from the keyboard, and the back has a kickstand that can be opened up to 170 degrees, allowing users to pair a gamepad and set the screen on a table to enjoy Nintendo Switch-like games on the go.

On the back of the Z13, there is a small window that allows you to look into the laptop's mainboard, a nice touch that Asus also claims will help performance. This decision leaves room for larger components on either side of the Z13's mainboard.

The ROG Flow Z13's 13.4-inch 16:10 IPS touchscreen can be configured as an FHD (1920 x 1200 pixels) 120Hz display or a 4K (3,840 x 2,400 pixels) 60Hz display.

We liked the crisp, vivid image quality of the FHD 120Hz display on the ROG Flow X13 model we reviewed last year.

Performance-wise, the ROG Flow Z13 looks quite similar to last year's model; like the X13, the Z13 is available with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD for storage. You can purchase models with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU onboard, or you can further enhance the graphics by connecting it to the (optional) XG Mobile external GPU enclosure with up to an integrated RTX 3080.

Unlike last year's model, however, the ROG Flow Z13 can be configured with the latest Intel 12th generation CPUs, up to Core i9-12900H. This is an upgrade over the AMD Ryzen 9 5000 series CPUs powering the Asus ROG Flow X13 that we reviewed last year, and we look forward to getting the new Flow Z13 for testing and seeing what a difference this CPU upgrade can make while gaming!

Asus

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 appears to offer a fairly decent port array for a thin and light gaming laptop/tablet: a USB-A port, two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 4 support), headphone/microphone jack, microSD card reader, and a proprietary port for connecting an external ROG XG Mobile GPU enclosure.

This is more ports than were available on last year's X13, which is nice to see. Asus also seems to have moved the power button on the end of the laptop further away from the port than it was on the X13, which is great because I often accidentally hit the power button when I was connecting accessories to the X13's port.

Asus has yet to make any official claims about how long the Flow Z13's 56WHr battery will last when gaming on battery power, but we don't expect much.

In our review of the Flow X13 last year, we criticized its 62 WHr battery, which lasted less than 2 hours (1 hour and 19 minutes in lab tests) when playing loaded 3D video games. This is not terrible, but it is not ideal either, and it limits the Flow's potential as a mobile gaming device.

We expect the new Flow Z13 to be more battery efficient than its predecessor, but we can't say for sure until we test it.

When Asus announced the ROG Flow X13 gaming laptop/tablet hybrid at CES 2021, we called it the best 2-in-1 laptop at the show. This year, Asus unveiled its successor, the ROG Flow Z13, at CES 2022, and we again honored it as the best 2-in-1 at the CES 2022 Awards. The reason is simple: the Flow Z13 promises the power of a gaming laptop in a thin, light, and versatile design.

Of course, the X13 was far from a perfect device. Access to ports was clunky, and the X13's poor battery efficiency and poor gaming performance without external GPU support hindered its appeal as a portable gaming machine. We are eager to check out one of the new ROG Flow Z13 devices to see if the revamped design and upgraded internals address these weaknesses.