The Surface Pro tablet for gamers is coming back with AMD’s most powerful AI processor, and it looks cool as hell

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2025’s CES is in full momentum, offering us a clear glimpse into the future of consumer and business technology. This year, AI and gaming are the main focuses, and ASUS has just made a significant announcement that merges these two realms. Behold the brand-new ASUS ROG Flow Z13, often referred to as the “gamers’ Surface Pro” which was eagerly awaiting an upgrade. This tablet is shaping up to be quite remarkable.

The upgraded ROG Flow Z13 is an ultrathin 13.4-inch tablet, measuring only 13mm thick, and it’s fueled by AMD’s cutting-edge (and mightiest) Ryzen AI processor. This transforms the device into a complete Copilot+ PC, loaded with all the AI advantages that come along, while also ensuring top-tier gaming performance from AMD in a mobile-integrated GPU. I can hardly wait to test this gadget out!

The Surface Pro for gamers has returned

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The Surface Pro 11 is a fantastic device in many aspects, yet it may not be your go-to for extensive PC gaming. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 shares its versatile tablet design with a foldable stand and detachable keyboard, but it’s equipped with hardware that can handle even the most demanding PC games.

Instead of the previous model ROG Flow Z13 tablet featuring a powerful Intel processor and NVIDIA discrete GPU, which can be limiting in a tablet format, opting for an energy-efficient AMD chipset could provide a more balanced system in terms of power and cooling. The latest AMD Ryzen AI chipsets have shown promising performance, with the Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 being their best offering this generation.

Initially, it appears that the ROG Flow Z13 laptop will come in two versions, both sharing common features such as a 13.4-inch, 180Hz IPS LCD screen, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. The main distinction lies in the processor: the less expensive version will feature a 12-core Ryzen AI chipset, while the pricier option, costing an additional $200, will sport a top-tier 16-core chipset from AMD’s current mobile range. It’s possible that further configurations with increased RAM or SSD storage may be introduced in the future.

Typically speaking, the ROG Flow Z13 is enclosed in a CNC-milled aluminum frame, approximately 13mm thin and weighing about 1.2kg. It features customizable RGB lighting at the rear and an integrated metal stand. The front showcases a 13.4-inch display with slim borders and Dolby Vision HDR compatibility, along with a detachable keyboard. This keyboard is included in the package, attaches magnetically to the tablet’s base, offers per-key RGB lighting, 1.7mm key travel, and a spacious touchpad.

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Maintaining the cool temperature of the ROG Flow Z13 is achieved through ASUS’ Intelligent Cooling system by ROG, featuring liquid metal, a sizable vapor chamber, and second-generation Arc Flow fans. This tablet design doesn’t skimp on ports either; it offers two USB Type-C 4.0 ports, a USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, an HDMI 2.1 port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

This laptop, the ROG Flow Z13, is equipped with several noteworthy features. It boasts a quad-speaker system enhanced by Dolby Atmos for superior audio quality. For video calls and facial recognition, it has a 5MP front camera that supports Windows Hello. On the rear, there’s a 13MP camera as well. This device offers Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, full multi-touch support, and is compatible with a stylus (though it’s uncertain if one comes in the package). Lastly, ASUS has added a dedicated button to quickly access their Command Center or customizable shortcuts and tools. In essence, this laptop appears to have all the essential components you’d expect from a high-end Windows laptop or gaming PC.

As a researcher, my curiosity is piqued by examining the performance of the AMD Ryzen AI chipset in gaming scenarios and comparing it to other thin-and-light gaming laptops such as the ROG Flow Z13, or even handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally. This laptop, destined for 2025, is one I’m eager to delve into and review, uncovering its potential in the gaming world.

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2025-01-07 20:40