WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.190
- The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is

2
00:00:02.190 --> 00:00:04.100
one of the most fascinating devices

3
00:00:04.100 --> 00:00:06.644
I've tested in a very long time.

4
00:00:06.644 --> 00:00:09.227
(upbeat music)

5
00:00:10.410 --> 00:00:13.000
Part Surface Pro, part
full-blown gaming rig,

6
00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:15.650
the Z13, like other hybrid tablets,

7
00:00:15.650 --> 00:00:17.530
can connect with detachable keyboard.

8
00:00:17.530 --> 00:00:20.420
But unlike its rivals, it
has a discrete graphics card,

9
00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:22.860
an RTX 3050 Ti in fact,

10
00:00:22.860 --> 00:00:25.500
which gives it enough power
to run most modern games.

11
00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:26.940
But wait, it gets even stranger

12
00:00:26.940 --> 00:00:29.610
because the Z13 has a
companion device called

13
00:00:29.610 --> 00:00:33.360
the XG Mobile which is an
external graphics card slash dock

14
00:00:33.360 --> 00:00:35.750
with an RTX 3080 inside.

15
00:00:35.750 --> 00:00:38.590
Connecting the XG Mobile
to the Z13 is kind of

16
00:00:38.590 --> 00:00:41.350
like modding a sports car;
you get a ton more horsepower

17
00:00:41.350 --> 00:00:43.330
to play all the latest triple-A games

18
00:00:43.330 --> 00:00:46.330
at super-high frame rates
at Ultra graphics settings.

19
00:00:46.330 --> 00:00:48.740
But does it all work? I mean, sort of?

20
00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:50.630
The execution here is actually quite good.

21
00:00:50.630 --> 00:00:53.410
The Z13 has a fun design
with a glass panel

22
00:00:53.410 --> 00:00:54.980
on the back that glows RGB.

23
00:00:54.980 --> 00:00:56.360
It gets great performance,

24
00:00:56.360 --> 00:00:59.350
and the 13.4-inch display
is both bright and vivid.

25
00:00:59.350 --> 00:01:02.300
It's just really expensive,
particularly when you pair it

26
00:01:02.300 --> 00:01:04.390
with the XG Mobile eGPU.

27
00:01:04.390 --> 00:01:07.800
Combined, that package
will cost you over $3,000.

28
00:01:07.800 --> 00:01:10.780
Also the tablet is kind of
chunky and can be awkward to use,

29
00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:11.700
and for those reasons,

30
00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.010
I'd recommend you shy away from the Z13

31
00:01:14.010 --> 00:01:15.230
as cool as it might be.

32
00:01:15.230 --> 00:01:16.370
Now if you like this concept,

33
00:01:16.370 --> 00:01:18.040
you might consider the laptop version,

34
00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:21.150
the X13, or just go with a
good portable gaming system,

35
00:01:21.150 --> 00:01:25.800
like Asus' own Zephyrus
G14 or the Alienware x15.

36
00:01:25.800 --> 00:01:28.590
Now if you're an artist
or a dev who's on the go,

37
00:01:28.590 --> 00:01:30.660
and you like the idea of a Surface Pro,

38
00:01:30.660 --> 00:01:32.270
but want more graphics performance,

39
00:01:32.270 --> 00:01:34.880
then the Z13 actually might
be the right device for you.

40
00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:36.950
To read more about this device and others,

41
00:01:36.950 --> 00:01:39.350
check out our full written
review at Gizmodo.com