Asus’ ROG Circulate Z13 (2025) evaluation: An unassuming gaming powerhouse

I’ve by no means gone hands-on with Asus’ ROG Circulate 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 Circulate Z13’s small stature and footprint. Nonetheless, I used to be pleasantly stunned by this two-in-one laptop computer once I began to know the facility AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ chipset gives.

2025 has been a 12 months for journey for me. I have been on a airplane almost each week and have constantly rotated by means of my varied gaming units. Whether or not it is my Nintendo Switch, ROG Ally X, or 16-inch gaming laptop, I’ve packed at the very least one gadget away earlier than I hit the airport. Sadly, I all the time felt like I used to be lacking one thing. Both the Change wasn’t highly effective sufficient to run the video games I needed, or my laptop computer was too huge to play on a airplane comfortably. The ROG Circulate Z13 (2025) feels good 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 Circulate Z13 comes with a $2,099 price ticket, this must be considerably anticipated.

Beneficial

ROG Circulate Z13 (2025)

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

Professionals & Cons

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

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

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Worth, availability, and specs

Proper out of the field, the ROG Circulate Z13’s sheer dimension (or lack thereof) is clear. 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 includes a 13.4-inch 2560 x 1600 pixel decision IPS LCD show that is able to supporting as much as a 180Hz refresh price. Although it weighs 2.65lbs (1.2kg), it could actually simply be stowed in a backpack or bag.

The ROG Circulate Z13 I have been testing sports activities an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395. This 12 months, Asus ditched the Intel chip the ROG Circulate Z13’s predecessor utilized. Now choosing AMD’s chipset, the corporate gives 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 offers option to utilizing Copilot+ AI capabilities, if that is of curiosity.

The design of the ROG Circulate Z13 is finest described as alluring. At first look, it’d seem like a pill due to its 5-megapixel digicam with a canopy that doubles as a sturdy keyboard. The keys are very responsive and have a fantastic tactile really feel whereas typing. Alongside the edges of the gadget, Asus consists of two USB 4 Kind-C ports, one USB 3.2 Kind-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, a microSD slot, and three.5mm headphone jack (that is all you’ll be able to ask for from a laptop computer).

The gadget’s rear facet includes a 13-megapixel digicam and a discreet kickstand constructed into the physique. This kickstand permits the ROG Circulate Z13 to regulate anyplace inside 170 levels, which I’ve discovered works nicely. 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 appreciated concerning the Asus ROG Circulate Z13

Excessive-performance gaming on a small rig

Make no mistake, the ROG Circulate Z13’s dimension actually does not quantify its efficiency. Regardless of a comparatively small footprint, Asus leverages every little thing underneath the hood to have the ability to play even essentially the most resource-intensive trendy 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 price assist, the visuals appeared buttery easy. I usually acquired secure 60fps visuals whereas operating 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. After I benchmarked the hybrid gadget, the ROG Circulate Z13 hit a formidable Geekbench 6 rating of two,884 for single-core and 21,006 for multi-core.

Asus’ ROG Circulate Z13 could seem like 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 in a position to proceed doing different issues. The LCD display may not be as vivid or eye-catching as an OLED, however provided that the Circulate Z13 includes a 13-inch show, the panel’s readability loss is not that huge of a difficulty.

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

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What I disliked concerning the Asus ROG Circulate 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 Circulate Z13 as my journey gaming rig has been managing its battery life. Asus suggests the pill/laptop computer can assist 10 hours of utilization on a single cost. Which may be the case in case you solely reply to emails or scroll social media all through your day. The second you do some gaming or video modifying, the battery nosedives to roughly 4 hours at most. Fortunately, the battery life has gotten me by means of most of my flights this 12 months. Nonetheless, my day-to-day workflow usually requires me to nearly all the time have the ROG Circulate Z13 plugged in.

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

Sadly, as a result of gadget’s dimension, there’s little or no Asus can do on the cooling prevention entrance. The corporate designed the ROG Circulate Z13 to function 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 Circulate Z13 is a loud 2-in-1 gadget, particularly when taking part in video games.

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Do you have to purchase the Asus ROG Circulate Z13?

If the novelty of getting a high-performance 2-in-1 laptop computer is in your record, the Circulate Z13 is value contemplating — if in case you have the money to spend, in fact

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

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

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Beneficial

ROG Circulate Z13 (2025)