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Updated January 10, 2024·
If performance during intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming is important to you, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is designed for these uses, with a superior graphics card and higher refresh-rate display. However, its larger size and weight mean it's less portable. Alternatively, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is more affordable, offers better battery life, and its lighter, more compact build makes it highly portable, ideal for general use and business purposes. It also has a touchscreen and a higher resolution display in a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is good for productivity and content consumption. 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 engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4
6.3
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
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
9.1/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is equipped with a higher-end GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, and a high screen refresh rate of 360, which are pivotal for smooth and detailed gaming and 3D experiences. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a more modest GPU, the AMD Radeon 680M, and a lower refresh rate of 60, which, while sufficient for general use and possibly some lighter gaming, doesn't match the Scar 17 in terms of gaming and 3D capability.
Engineering and Design
8.6
7.3
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 executes engineering and design tasks superbly due to its powerful Intel i9 processor, ample RAM, high-performing Nvidia RTX GPU, and a quality display; however, it's less portable and has a larger screen, which could affect convenience.
Screen Quality
8.1
7.0
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
379.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
If you prioritize a vivid display with sharp details for everyday tasks, both ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offer excellent resolution and brightness, making them great for general use. They also cover a wide range of colors, which is crucial for engineering and design work where color accuracy is key. However, for gaming and 3D applications that benefit from smoother motion and quick screen response, the lower refresh rates of these laptops' screens might not deliver the best experience.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has 10 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
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,499
$1,000
$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 Z13 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
292.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
379.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is outstanding for general use because of its powerful Intel i9 CPU and high RAM, complemented by an excellent-quality screen suitable for all sorts of applications; however, its weight and size reduce its portability compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 which, while also good for general use with its capable AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and impressive portability due to its lighter weight and smaller form factor, falls slightly behind in screen size and GPU power, which makes it less ideal for graphically intensive tasks. The ASUS has a shorter battery life than the Lenovo, making it less suitable for long periods away from a power source, while the Lenovo's longer battery life and superior portability make it more convenient for on-the-go use.
Content Creation
8.2
7.8
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good.
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
7.5
7.7
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 are both 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 | Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,499 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.1'' x 1.02'' | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.39 lbs | 2.78 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 11.59" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.1" | 7.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900H | AMD Ryzen 7 6850U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 51.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 292 nits | 379 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | No Webcam | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2021
"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."
Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Brian Westover | September 2022
"In the premium ultraportable space, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 competes with the best of the best, and still manages to shine. The design is an impressive departure from the bland bare-metal laptop that's become so popular in recent years, and the AMD-powered system has performance that's just as impressive. It's a stark alternative to the Intel-based majority, and it stands up well enough to the impressive Apple M2 processor."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
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.
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