Asus’ ROG Move Z13 (2025) assessment: An unassuming gaming powerhouse

I’ve by no means gone hands-on with Asus’ ROG Move line earlier than. So, once I began 2025’s mannequin, I did not know what to anticipate. Asus generally develops high-performance gaming rigs. With this in thoughts, I used to be initially thrown off by the ROG Move Z13’s small stature and footprint. Nonetheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked by this two-in-one laptop computer once I began to know the facility AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ chipset affords.

2025 has been a yr for journey for me. I have been on a aircraft almost each week and have persistently rotated by my numerous gaming gadgets. Whether or not it is my Nintendo Switch, ROG Ally X, or 16-inch gaming laptop, I’ve packed at the least one gadget away earlier than I hit the airport. Sadly, I at all times felt like I used to be lacking one thing. Both the Swap wasn’t highly effective sufficient to run the video games I needed, or my laptop computer was too massive to play on a aircraft comfortably. The ROG Move Z13 (2025) feels excellent and might run intensive titles with the one main concession being battery life.

Asus has developed essentially the most highly effective laptop-tablet gadget I’ve ever used. Given the ROG Move Z13 comes with a $2,099 price ticket, this must be considerably anticipated.

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ROG Move Z13 (2025)

A refresh to 2023’s ROG Move Z13. This 2-in-1 gaming laptop computer incorporates a new AMD Ryzen AI chip, enabling the gadget to be a Copilot+ PC, able to supporting AI capabilities. It additionally affords a 13.4-inch 2.5K ROG Nebula show, supporting 180Hz refresh charge.

Professionals & Cons

• Minimal footprint
• Use of AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip
• Tactile and slim keyboard

• No OLED show possibility
• 4-5 hour battery whereas gaming
• Followers aren’t adequate for cooling

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Value, availability, and specs

Proper out of the field, the ROG Move Z13’s sheer dimension (or lack thereof) is obvious. It solely measures 11.8 x 8 x 0.5-inches (30 x 20.4 x 1.29 x 1.49cm), making it ridiculously small given what’s underneath its hood. It incorporates a 13.4-inch 2560 x 1600 pixel decision IPS LCD show that is able to supporting as much as a 180Hz refresh charge. Despite the fact that it weighs 2.65lbs (1.2kg), it may simply be stowed in a backpack or bag.

The ROG Move Z13 I have been testing sports activities an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395. This yr, Asus ditched the Intel chip the ROG Move Z13’s predecessor utilized. Now choosing AMD’s chipset, the corporate affords a 16-core Zen 5 CPU with a 40-core GPU, a robust mixture for duties like high-end video games and video rendering. It additionally provides strategy to utilizing Copilot+ AI capabilities, if that is of curiosity.

The design of the ROG Move Z13 is greatest described as alluring. At first look, it would appear to be a pill because of its 5-megapixel digital camera with a canopy that doubles as a sturdy keyboard. The keys are very responsive and have an awesome tactile really feel whereas typing. Alongside the perimeters of the gadget, Asus consists of two USB 4 Sort-C ports, one USB 3.2 Sort-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, a microSD slot, and three.5mm headphone jack (that is all you possibly can ask for from a laptop computer).

The gadget’s rear facet incorporates a 13-megapixel digital camera and a discreet kickstand constructed into the physique. This kickstand permits the ROG Move Z13 to regulate anyplace inside 170 levels, which I’ve discovered works properly. There’s additionally a small windowed cutout within the design that is complemented by RGB lighting, permitting you to take a fast look on the motherboard.

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What I preferred concerning the Asus ROG Move Z13

Excessive-performance gaming on a small rig

Make no mistake, the ROG Move Z13’s dimension actually would not quantify its efficiency. Regardless of a comparatively small footprint, Asus leverages all the things underneath the hood to have the ability to play even essentially the most resource-intensive fashionable video games. All through my weeks of utilizing the gadget, I performed just lately launched PC video games like Horizon Forbidden West and jumped into the odd match of Marvel Rivals. With 180Hz refresh charge help, the visuals appeared buttery easy. I usually acquired secure 60fps visuals whereas working video games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider on excessive settings. Horizon Forbidden West ran regular at round 80fps on excessive graphics settings with AMD’s FidelityFX Tremendous Decision upscaling turned. Once I benchmarked the hybrid gadget, the ROG Move Z13 hit a powerful Geekbench 6 rating of two,884 for single-core and 21,006 for multi-core.

Asus’ ROG Move Z13 could appear to be it is designed to be a gaming rig, particularly given its RGB keyboard. Nonetheless, it is also a workhorse for content material creation. I may multitask successfully with no slowdown or efficiency points throughout my time with the hybrid gadget. Even whereas rendering movies, I used to be capable of proceed doing different issues. The LCD display screen won’t be as vivid or eye-catching as an OLED, however on condition that the Move Z13 incorporates a 13-inch show, the panel’s readability loss is not that massive of a difficulty.

As famous earlier, the ROG Move Z13 has a improbable keyboard. The spacing between keys feels good, and so they have a satisfying click on to them. This additionally extends to the trackpad. I am sometimes very harsh on overly delicate laptop computer trackpads, however with the ROG Move Z13, I have been delighted that it would not register mild grazes.

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What I disliked concerning the Asus ROG Move Z13

Battery life varies based mostly on utilization, however the jet engine fan sounds hardly ever cease

One of many downsides to utilizing the ROG Move Z13 as my journey gaming rig has been managing its battery life. Asus suggests the pill/laptop computer can help 10 hours of utilization on a single cost. Which may be the case should you solely reply to emails or scroll social media all through your day. The second you do some gaming or video enhancing, the battery nosedives to roughly 4 hours at most. Fortunately, the battery life has gotten me by most of my flights this yr. Nonetheless, my day-to-day workflow sometimes requires me to nearly at all times have the ROG Move Z13 plugged in.

The opposite main concern with the ROG Move Z13 is that it simply will get scorching. The followers begin sounding like a jet engine even when simply putting in video games. This, after all, persists when enjoying video games, too, even on Medium settings. It is a buzzing distraction that is troublesome to disregard should you’re not carrying noise cancelling headphones whereas working or enjoying video games.

Sadly, because of the gadget’s dimension, there’s little or no Asus can do on the cooling prevention entrance. The corporate designed the ROG Move Z13 to characteristic a vapor chamber able to providing 55 p.c higher cooling protection throughout the motherboard in comparison with its predecessors. Sadly, even with the vapor chamber, the ROG Move Z13 is a loud 2-in-1 gadget, particularly when enjoying video games.

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Do you have to purchase the Asus ROG Move Z13?

If the novelty of getting a high-performance 2-in-1 laptop computer is in your record, the Move Z13 is value contemplating — you probably have the money to spend, after all

After spending roughly three weeks with the ROG Move Z13, I have been pleasantly shocked by its energy and effectivity. I am not used to a tool this small that may competently run fashionable, performance-intensive video games so properly. Asus’ adoption of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has panned out impressively, particularly when including AMD’s FidelityFX Tremendous Decision.

I might have cherished to see Asus characteristic an OLED panel within the Move Z13. As a fan of the colour and distinction OLED screens supply, I needed extra from the ROG Move Z13’s LCD. Nonetheless, that may understandably balloon the already steep $2,099 price ticket and doubtless additional restrict battery life. Whereas Asus’ ROG Move Z13 will probably be a premium buy for many, should you can take care of its comparatively low battery life and loud cooling, you will not be dissatisfied with how properly the laptop-tablet handles your favourite PC video games.

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ROG Move Z13 (2025)