When a conventional gaming laptop computer simply will not do

On paper, the thought of a PC gaming pill would not actually make sense. Something with a display bigger than eight to 10 inches is usually too huge to carry for longer classes. Their skinny chassis do not depart a lot room for large batteries, ports or discrete graphics. However with the second-gen ROG Stream Z13, ASUS is popping that line of thought on its head with a surprisingly highly effective system that may do extra than simply recreation — 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 Stream 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.

In contrast to a whole lot of tablets, ASUS gave the Z13 a thicker-than-normal physique (0.6 inches), which left area for a stunning 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 responsibility as a transportable video modifying station.

ASUS’ 13.4-inch 2.5 IPS show leans into that much more due to a 180Hz refresh price, robust brightness (round 500 nits) and Pantone validation. No matter what you are doing, colours might be each wealthy and correct. Rounding out the bundle are some punchy audio system, so you do not have to endure from subpar sound. However there are limitations right here, as deep bass is at all times robust to supply 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 without doubt 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 advantageous. However in case 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 unintended 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 recreation whereas stress-free on the sofa after which having to battle with the pill to keep away from errant clicks.

Efficiency

As an alternative 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. Nonetheless, our assessment unit got here with a extra modest, however nonetheless ample, 32GB. Unsurprisingly, this makes mincemeat out of fundamental productiveness duties whereas having greater than sufficient energy to rapidly edit movies on the go.

However and not using a correct graphics card, can it truly recreation? Sure, and slightly nicely, 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 remains to be very playable. The one wrinkle is that once I examined Cyberpunk 2077 a second time on Extremely with ray tracing enabled, the Stream’s efficiency was minimize in half to only 45 fps. Until 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 need to watch out about the way you configure its energy settings. That is as a result of in case 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 tougher to speak to somebody sitting subsequent to me on the sofa.

Battery life

In the case of longevity, you may get one in every of two outcomes. In regular use and on PCMark’s Trendy Workplace productiveness battery life take a look at, the Z13 fared fairly nicely, ending with a time of six hours and 54 minutes. That is not fairly a full day’s value of labor untethered, however it’s ok for most folk. You may simply need to preserve its chunky energy adapter close by.

Nonetheless, in case 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 finest. After I performed League of Legends’ Teamfight Techniques, I solely made it via 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 Stream Z13 is a distinct segment machine that is extra of an all-rounder than it may appear at first look. This technique fills an attention-grabbing hole between ASUS’ gaming machines and extra creatively-focused PCs from its ProArt household. In a whole lot of methods, slapping an ROG badge on it would not actually do that factor justice. It is acquired greater than sufficient efficiency to breeze via basic productiveness or video edits, and its built-in microSD card reader makes transferring footage to the pill a breeze. Its display is shiny and vibrant, whereas additionally providing correct colours and a decently excessive refresh price. And even and not using a discrete GPU, the Z13 did not have a lot bother rendering video games with a number of graphical bells and whistles turned on.

Nonetheless, this pill’s points boil all the way down to a few main sticking factors. Its removable keyboard is just too flimsy, to the purpose the place in case you use it anyplace in addition to a desk or desk, you threat combating with it simply to make sure your mouse clicks are right. However the greater hurdle is value. Beginning at $2,100 (or round $2,300 as examined), the Stream 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 secure too attributable to its tablet-style design. For individuals attempting to get essentially the most worth out of their cash, that proposition is a tough promote.

Deep down, I need to just like the ROG Stream Z13. And I do, to a sure extent. It is acquired a cool construct and unapologetically aggressive styling. However until you’ve gotten a really explicit set of necessities, it would 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.