The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 offers powerful performance for gaming and demanding software, making it suitable for heavy tasks such as 3D rendering and machine learning, but tends to be heavy and has a shorter battery life, affecting its portability. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is more affordable, lighter, and typically has longer battery life, making it more suitable for general use and those who prioritize portability and battery life over high-end performance. Choose the ASUS if you need top-tier power and aren't as concerned about cost and mobility, or pick the ThinkPad X13 for a balance of performance, cost-effectiveness, and easier handling. 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 Strix Scar 17
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its high-end GPU and fast screen refresh rate, excels in rendering detailed graphics quickly, making it ideal for gaming and 3D applications, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, sporting a more moderate GPU and refresh rate, provides adequate performance for occasional gaming and less demanding 3D tasks. Both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, but the ASUS prioritizes graphical prowess and speed essential for immersive experiences, where the Lenovo focuses on general productivity with a balance in performance and display characteristics.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
8.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its higher-end CPU, RAM, and GPU, excels in demanding engineering tasks and offers superior screen quality for detailed designs, making it very good for such uses. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while still capable for engineering with quality components, trades some performance for better portability and is noted for its durable keyboard, making it a balanced choice for users who prioritize a mix of capability and mobility.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.1/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good.
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
8.1/10
6.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen for content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both have displays with resolutions and panel types that provide crisp, clear images and accurate colors for everyday tasks and engineering software, which rely heavily on visual clarity and color precision. However, for gaming and 3D, where fast-moving visuals are crucial, their lower refresh rates may not deliver as smooth an experience as screens specifically designed for these purposes, despite having adequate resolutions and panel types. Their color gamuts cover a range necessary for professional design work, ensuring a broad spectrum of accurately represented colors, which benefits engineers and designers needing precise color fidelity for their projects.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 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.
Portability
Poor
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,499
$1,241
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a price of $2,499 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X13 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its high-end CPU and RAM, excels in performance for demanding tasks but is less portable and has a shorter battery life, which might not be ideal for users who prioritize mobility and all-day use. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while still offering solid performance for general use, provides a balance with better portability, longer battery life, and commendable screen quality, making it more suitable for users who need a laptop for on-the-go productivity.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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 Strix Scar 17 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
"Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 laptop review: liquid metal 7 nm AMD Zen 3 is stunning. The raw performance increase is absolutely bonkers if you're upgrading from a laptop on Coffee Lake-H or older. The 45 W Ryzen 9 5900HX is neck-to-neck with the thicker, heavier, and hotter Schenker Ultra 17 running on a desktop-class Core i9-11900K despite their wide TDP differences. The performance-per-watt advantages can make Intel Rocket Lake feel like a last generation platform at times. As for the chassis itself, it's a huge light show with RGB LEDs on almost all sides of the system."
"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 Strix Scar 17 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
101,295
Recommendations made
21,948
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.