If you prioritize gaming, creative tasks, or more demanding applications, and you're okay with a higher cost, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 offers superior graphics and performance. However, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is more affordable, highly portable, and has a robust build, making it ideal for business users who need reliability and better battery life but are okay with less graphical horsepower for everyday tasks. Choose the ASUS if performance in graphically intensive tasks is critical, or opt for the Lenovo if portability, battery life, and cost savings are more important. 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
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 boasts a more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for smooth, detailed gaming and 3D tasks, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with a less capable GPU and lower refresh rate, may not deliver the same level of performance in these areas. However, the ThinkPad's strengths lie in its reliable CPU and screen quality, which are more than adequate for general use and less demanding tasks.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.9/10
13.4in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 boasts a high-resolution display and excellent brightness, making it attractive for general use, while its expansive color gamut benefits tasks like engineering and design with accurate color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate may not satisfy users looking for the smooth visuals critical in fast-paced environments. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13's good screen quality and sufficient brightness offer a reliable experience for everyday tasks and professional design work, but like the ASUS, it falls short for gaming due to a refresh rate that doesn't cater to the high-speed nature of many modern games.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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.
Cost
$1,575
$1,241
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a price of $1,575 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and ASUS ROG Flow Z13 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13, with its powerful CPU and high-quality screen, offers exceptional performance for intensive tasks like gaming or 3D modeling, and its portability makes it a flexible choice for on-the-go use, although it may have a shorter battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, known for its robust build and efficient heat management, provides a balance between performance and longer battery life, making it ideal for those who prioritize a dependable machine for everyday work with a comfortable keyboard and quieter operation.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.0/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 offers a higher-end CPU, more RAM, and a more powerful GPU, which are crucial for demanding tasks such as 3D modeling and computational simulations, along with a superior screen quality for sharper visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while still capable for engineering tasks, emphasizes easier portability and a more comfortable typing experience due to its renowned keyboard quality, with trade-offs in raw power and display fidelity.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.1/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and ASUS ROG Flow Z13 are both very good for software development.
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.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.4in
SIZE
13.3in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow Z13 to have excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
"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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,195
Recommendations made
22,143
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.