AMD’s Ryzen Max+ 395 takes this tablet to the next level
Would you pay $2,000-plus for a detachable gaming tablet? That’s the basic question you face with the Asus ROG Flow Z13. To be clear, there’s a basic selling point: The latest Flow comes loaded AMD’s Ryzen AI Max processors, boosted by unified memory that lets the machine turn regular RAM into VRAM for stellar graphics performance without a dedicated GPU. It’s a much more capable gaming machine than previous X13 Flow versions, which leaned on external GPUs to do the heavy lifting.
In a nutshell, the new edition is nicely built and fully featured, delivering fast processing and midrange gaming performance in a compact package. That doesn’t answer the underlying question, though: Does the Z13 justify the price tag? True, the Z13 might be an appealing option for, say, a niche subset of demanding gamers who need a tablet. But with a starting price of $2,099.99 ($2,299.99 as tested), the Flow Z13 is hardly the best value around. If high frame rates are your priority, you’ll get more for your dollar from larger systems like the Alienware m16 R2 and Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9, or portable options such as the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).Components: Ryzen AI Max Makes the Flow Really Go
The calling card of the new Flow Z13 is the processor: AMD’s Ryzen AI Max, which reinvents the tablet’s capabilities without adding a separate graphics chip. Thanks to unified memory, up to 96GB (of a possible 128GB) of RAM can be converted to VRAM for graphics-based applications. With no discrete GPU, the chip-and-memory combo is key for this device’s gaming performance.
First, the chips themselves. All models of the Z13 run an AI Max 300 processor (with integrated Radeon 8060S graphics), in one of two variants: the AI Max 390 or the AI Max+ 395. Most will use the latter; the Max 390 only comes with the $2,099.99 base model, alongside 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. The Max+ 395 is a Zen 5 chip with 16 CPU cores and 32 threads, 40 GPU compute units, and a neural processing unit (NPU) rated up to 50 trillions of operations per second (TOPS).
From there, the various Max+ 395 models differ only in price—$2,299.99, $2,399.99, and $2,799.99—and memory capacity, ranging from 32GB to 128GB. All four models boast a 1TB SSD and a 13.4-inch 1600p screen with a 180Hz refresh rate.
We tested the $2,299.99 Max+ 395 unit with 32GB of memory, which of course meant we were going to see a lower performance ceiling than the top-end models. Still, this is already an expensive machine, and in theory the premium processor should provide the Flow with plenty of power. Did it deliver? More on this in the testing section later.
The previous Flow Z13 ran with a Core i9 chip and an RTX 3050 Ti GPU—a discrete graphics chip, but a limited one. Instead of leaning on the chip, though, you were expected to connect with a proprietary external GPU to power the system. (When you were back at your desk, of course, not on the go.) The new Z13 can still connect to an eGPU with its USB-C connection if you’d like. But the Ryzen chip and unified memory make the new Flow more capable than the previous generation without relying on an eGPU.Design: A Rare Versatile Gaming 2-in-1
The Z13’s design sticks close to the previous model we reviewed, although there are some important differences. You still get a slim and compact convertible tablet (not to be confused with Asus’ Flow X13, a rotating-screen convertible), albeit slightly thicker than the last model, at 0.51 by 11.81 by 8.03 inches (HWD). It’s also a very portable 2.64 pounds. The aluminum chassis feels high quality, with a sturdy rear kickstand and a strong hinge.
The back panel of the tablet keeps the visual flair of the previous edition, but remixes it. As in the last model, you get a window that lets you peek at a slice of the mainboard, enhanced with some RGB lighting. But the window gets repositioned in the new model and picks up some diagonal stripes.
