Updated January 10, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you prioritize high performance for activities like 3D rendering, machine learning, or demanding engineering tasks and are willing to invest in an upper midrange priced laptop, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is an excellent option since it offers powerful components like an Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics. However, it's worth noting that the ASUS has a moderate battery life and is on the heavier side, which may affect its portability. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" is much more budget-friendly and lighter, making it more portable, but it comes with lower-end specs such as an Intel Celeron processor and integrated graphics, which are adequate for general use but not suitable for intensive computing tasks or gaming. The Gateway also operates on Windows 10S, which may limit software installation options compared to the ASUS, which runs Windows 11 Home. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow Z13.
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
511.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is favored for general use because it packs a high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM, a superior screen with both higher resolution and touchscreen capabilities, and solid battery life, despite being less portable due to its premium build. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" falls short with a basic CPU, less RAM, a lower-resolution screen without touch, and an unverified battery life; however, it gains an edge in portability due to its lighter design.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
5.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 outperforms the Gateway 14.1" in gaming and 3D tasks because it has a much more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, facilitating smoother visuals and better graphical performance. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" has a modest Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a standard refresh rate, which are not ideal for demanding gaming or 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
5.5/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 excels in engineering and design due to its high-powered processor, substantial RAM and advanced GPU, paired with a high-quality screen, making it ideal for demanding tasks that require both processing power and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" falls short for these tasks with its lower-end CPU, minimal RAM, and basic integrated graphics, along with a lower-resolution screen, which together are less equipped to handle resource-intensive engineering software and detailed design work.
Content Creation
8.2/10
5.8/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.0/10
5.8/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.0/10
13.4in
SIZE
14.1in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 provides a clear, bright display with high resolution, making text and images crisp and easy to read, which is essential for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, the Z13's wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation, crucial for professionals who need precision in their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of the Z13 can lead to less smooth visuals, whereas the Gateway's fair screen quality across the board offers balanced, but not exceptional, performance for various tasks without excelling in any specific area.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.4in
SIZE
14.1in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has excellent portability, while the Gateway 14.1" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
5.1/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has very good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,860
$99
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a price of $1,860 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
"The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet with powerful Alder Lake i9 CPU. The ROG Flow Z13 impresses with its good cooling. After our review, the impression is predominantly positive. Besides a very fast Alder Lake CPU and stable gaming performance, especially the cooling system is surprisingly effective and quiet. You can use the integrated speakers without any issues while gaming. The 1200p display in the 16:10 format also impresses with good color reproduction and high brightness. Since the battery runtimes aren't particularly long as it is, we wouldn't recommend the optional 4K panel."
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
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About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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