ROG FLOW X13 2023 - You won't believe what I had to do to get this.

I finally got a ROG FLOW X13 2023 in to give some impressions on!
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00:00 Introduction
00:47 Sponsor
01:56 Unboxing
04:23 External and comparisons to 2022
10:33 Internal Disassembly and 2TB SSD UPGRADE
14:57 Screen test / Ghosting
15:40 Performance Contrast with 2022 version
24:40 How to actually get 60W GPU
28:10 Battery Life Analysis and rant
38:57 Thoughts about the device

[@Shadowwe1]

An ultimate showndown video between this Flow X13, the Zenbook 14 pro, the Z13 and the G14 would be fun. Overall I think the Zenbook ticks a majority of the boxes but doesn't really specialize in one aspect like the rest of them.

[@jondonnelly4831]

I bought the X13 after examining the review above, (and many others including Dell XPS and Lenovo Yoga Pro 14.5". The Z is smaller but trackpad and cover keyboard is not for me and it runs loud. The Yoga Pro 14 in my opinion beats the G14 in price and build quality with a unibody design. Not that G14 is bad, but the lenovo is mac pro like. What went against it is that 1.73kg is hefty (G14 is same). The X is 1.32kg with 7940h cpu and only one of those that do the tent mode. Tent Mode + wireless keyboard and mouse looks like a small monitor ! Clean as fuk. 8bit do make a tiny xbox controller. We talking traytable on the plane gaming. What else does that?

[@silverpro8356]

@@jondonnelly4831 I heard someone say the x13 is louder than the z13 because of where the air vents are ? How are you liking the x13 so far did you get the 4060 model ?

[@HyperWraith]

Just wondering how you feel about the x13 laptop since you bought it? Are the fans loud and hows the battery? ​@jondonnelly4831

[@xuyong9719]

I was waiting for this video, particularly from you , for a long time. Thank you, man! I am a big fan of x13!

[@DarkFox2232]

Few things to note: - asus X13 disables keyboard/touchpad in tablet mode via software. This is in contrast to Lenovo X1 Yoga which pulls-in keys and trackpoint + disables them on HW level = works with any OS (Including chromeOS) out of the box. And since keys are pulled-in, you can't press them or damage them by side push. - asus X13 2023 wide back leg is there to prevent sucking of hot air back. It is not there for stability in tablet mode as distance is dictated by display hinge mechanism. In both 2022/2023, tablet mode has exactly same amount of space between display and back cover as when standing on flat desk in laptop mode. - asus X13 2023 hinge is bit different from 2022 model. In laptop mode, 2022 model blows air against the display, up/down and cycles part of it under laptop where it gets sucked in again. 2023 model blows good 3/4 of air under the display and away. This means that while 2022 model benefited thermally from stand/tent a lot, 2023 does not need it.

[@Unknown-jx1fp]

thanks for this. It seems that the 2023 model will have better temps when running in normal model (not stand/tent).

[@bennoboy97]

Everything i needed to know, thank you very much for this comprehensive review 👍🏻

[@andyony2]

Not sure, if someone already mentioned it: G Helper as an alternative to armoury crate is amazing for asus laptops! Not only do you get more fine tuning abilities for power management and fan control, but also a wuite acurate watt meter :)

[@user-hb5zs5hl3e]

Thanks for the wonderful work you`ve done! Watched this video before buying FlowX13 and tuned according to your advise - it really works!

[@mirko786]

Good Advice with the Balance Mode, I bought the same and test it soon. Thank you!

[@harrymorris613]

ha! I came here to find the X13 battery life, and got an education! Thank you!

[@user-hb5zs5hl3e]

Very proffesional review! Thank you so much! Best review!!!

[@niko1even]

Thank you so much for your effort to get the x13 2023 imported and reviewed. It's absolutely amazing how much its improved, especially on the screen and the keyboard/trackpad layout. I personally think that this is well worth the money over buying last year's model for cheaper. I was going to get this model, but unfortunately Asus is taking their sweet time delaying releases in the U.S, so instead of getting the combo with the xg mobile, I went ahead and got a Scar model. Once again, thank you for the review, keep up the great work.

[@Typogonewrong]

You forgot to sign your mail. Regards, Stranger on the web

[@darko6275]

Amazing review. I can't wait to get one

[@alexandreimpact]

Thank you very much man. I just got my X13 2023 and I learn so much for battery tweaking gpu etc. Love It. Awsome laptop.

[@silverpro8356]

How are you liking it in tablet mode for note taking and how is the battery life when browsing or watching movies ?

[@user-jd8bp4fw5m]

very detail comparison 👍

[@jeffersonmp4]

Great video!

[@MLHunt]

Very thorough and informative review. Thank you. With regard to upgrading the SSD, do you really just drop in a new drive and rebuild everything rather than cloning the existing boot drive onto the new one? My computer is arriving in a couple days and I already bought 2 4TB drives, and was expecting to need to clone the boot drive onto one of the new drives.

[@awtransform]

Thanks for the overall review! Did they solve the sleep mode issues? How about faulty tablet mode stuck? And how much memory you have on both? 16/32? The 4050 here is 6gb vram (comparing to the 4gb on the 3050) which is also big improvement when youuse it for rendering videos. It is crazy to feel you have to upgrade every year with their improvements. Ill wait for 2024-2025 model..

[@04070320]

great video again！same performence compare with z13,but double the battery life.that is the all in one device!

[@DarkoNomad]

Awesome, came here because I'm buying rtx4060 that not many reviewed, stayed to get amazingly well comparison with so many features that other didn't mention and learned how to calculate and optimize battery performance on my next laptop. It can't be any better.

[@NomanJohan]

Very very comprehensive review. I think this is how reviews should be done side-by-side with previous generation to see the actual improvements.

[@RockyScenes]

thanks butters. Have you tested the MSI Stealth 14? Supposedly it is extremely performant as well. Thanks

[@MrFastFox666]

I had great success with my 2022 X13 when I replaced the thermal interface material. I used Conductonaut on the CPU and PTM7950 on the GPU. CPU went from ~38w to about 50w, CB23 went from 11k to about 13k. I didn't see any performance improvement with the GPU but temps were great, mid 70s while gaming. I'll do the same with my 2023 X13 when I can finally get one.

[@awp20rokhum]

can you please share the how and the method?

[@MrFastFox666]

@@awp20rokhum it's relatively easy. Remove the bottom cover, remove the heatsink screws and very carefully remove the heatsink. Use isopropyl alcohol to remove thermal paste and existing liquid metal on CPU, GPU and heatsink. Apply ptm7950 to the gpu, apply liquid metal to the CPU, reinstall heatsink.

[@darellkaisarea1245]

is the ghosting on the 2022 that bad?

[@naturallybob]

Waiting for this one here in the Philippines

[@tsung-hanlin6150]

thanks, didn't about the limit of 15W on cpu to boost the GPU to 60W, and putting everything in balance mode was a great tip (have flow x16 but should be the same thing)!

[@frostgodx]

No it absolutely is not the same don’t do that in the x16 it’s a waste of time. It can hit 120+w stock no issues.

[@NothingMattersInLife]

I love ur vids

[@rabbitlucky9556]

Great, thanks

[@agentk9857]

I've been waiting for this in Canada too. I also considered buying from other region but so far I only found the 4070 model in US and that seems to be the only way to get 32GB ram.

[@todoroki4418]

Hopefully you do a comparison video vs the Zenbook 14 pro. Its a shame that this flow x13 is gpu thermal throttling at 86 degrees at just a measley 45 watts.

[@j1nftw1n]

Hey cbutters how would you compare the 2023 x13 4060 with the Asus Pro Oled 14 with 4060? You mentioned you would do a comparison in the Pro Oled 14 video and not sure if you did so already. Thanks!

[@ReMarkked]

Any idea when the 4050 or 4060 version will release in usa? And how will the 1600p screen look if you game at 1200p? Will it be blurry or noticeable?

[@coolkid5289]

Can you do a video about replacing the thermal paste on the X13?

[@unnamed99]

This is an awesome comparison / review . Thank you for spending time on discussibg battery life, i learned something new in general . Quick question: what is that device that you're using to measure power draw? And how much did you get yours for?

[@cbutters]

Its a kill-a-watt meter and they are like 15-20 bucks on amazon.

[@haaabik1365]

Would you do a review for G14 2023 and a comparison with 2022?

[@neotracer075]

Maybe it hasn't released in the USA due to the bios/overvolting the cpu issue? Do you know if this device is effected by this issue?

[@Happy_Snapper]

Top review

[@Erdnussflipshow]

Are all of the video-outputs still wired to the iGPU of the CPU like they are on the 2022 model? Or is the hdmi or the usb3.2 gen2 port wired to the dGPU?

[@empedance1933]

Could you also test using G-Helper in place of the Armoury Crate?

[@donnyfauzan8740]

I don't understand how you do the watt metering. The laptop doesn't look like it is plugged anywhere. Power draw should be metered by reading power draw from the battery, right? By the way, very helpful review. Thank you!

[@9Epicman]

was it expensive to import it? do you think it was worth it? also was the battery test at 60hz?

[@soowonlee4364]

Thank you for the comparison video! I can’t wait for 2023 to get in stock in USA. I have a few question regarding to build quality. You mentioned 2023 has a soft touch coating? Is it like a rubberish soft touch coating like Dell XPS/alienware laptops? Also how is the hinge stiffness compared to 2022?

[@cohenlu9963]

teoh on tech tested it and the hinge doesnt wobble it anymore unlike the 2021/2022 model

[@samal90]

very cool device. I am looking forward to next year's model with the rumored 40CU Strix point from AMD. Would be perfect for this laptop. Powerful iGPU gaming on the go and compact.

[@thefancyapple1823]

I just recently got my hands on a Flow X13 2022 model and I didn't think the ghosting was going to be that bad but I was sadly proven wrong. Everything else about it is great but I'm considering returning it and getting a 2023 model. I also recommend using the laptop in "tent" mode when running benchmarks if you have an external keyboard and mouse you can use. Great video!

[@jhojanoful]

Cual es la diferencia con el modelo 2023?

[@shaasesoria]

Were you able to fix the ghosting? Is horrible

[@darellkaisarea1245]

So is the ghosting that bad? like can you give me a detailed explanation cause im about to get the 2022 cause its cheaper

[@shaasesoria]

@@darellkaisarea1245 Yes, it's quite annoying, especially in movies and series. In games, not so much, to be honest. If you're not into watching movies on your laptop, I'd say it's an excellent option. If you project movies, that ghosting issue doesn't appear. I've tried everything, and it remains the same. ASUS's technical support literally doesn't exist. They tell you to figure it out on your own. I should have gone with a more well-known or better-supported brand like HP, Samsung, etc. The battery is excellent (lasts 7 hours or more), everything else is very good except for the dark/black parts. It all depends on the use you'll give it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Regards.

[@lucab7710]

Great video. Yet i did not get how u restore win 11. was on a separate memory ?

[@cbutters]

I used a win11 iso direct from microsoft, then install the drivers and stuff from ASUS website. The windows product key is embedded on the device so you don't have to worry about backing that up.

[@KenFat2]

Great video! I would love to know if this laptop works with a caldigit thunderbolt 3 dock? or in other words does it have usb 4.0?

[@cbutters]

Yes it does

[@GitDatPC]

I can't use an external monitor unless the laptop is open. Is there any way around that? 🤔

[@iamalwaysright1739]

Nice overview will you keep this as your main or Zenbook 14 pro? Personally I think the Zenbook beats it in way too many categories besides maybe battery life and the ability to flip it all the way.

[@cbutters]

Zenbook Pro 14 OLED is going to be the best choice for most unless you absolutely need the device to flip to tablet mode.

[@DarkoNomad]

Flow x13 has XG mobile extension which Zenbook pro 14 doesn't have. That makes it a bit more compact and much more futureproof with next generations of XG Mobile graphic cards

[@Drksyder]

How’s is the 4060 over the 4070 ?

[@manhp733]

The 2022 outtakes is facing the 2023 models, that's why it's bit hotter I think

[@AllPr0]

I have the maxed out version (rtx4070) and I saw it hitting 60W pretty often on "High on life", while on Spiderman remastered it was hanging around 45-55. I'll try limiting the wattage to the CPU but the performance is insane already.

[@oguz5136]

what happens when you turn on dlss?

[@matthewcherrington2634]

Where

[@AllPr0]

@@matthewcherrington2634 EU, Finland

[@AllPr0]

@@oguz5136 in High on Life I used DLSS so nothing happens it keeps taking 60W. Other games I tested for example Watch Dogs Legion hover around 55W with RT and DLSS

[@MrGaky]

@@AllPr0 Moi, im moving to finland to study soon and i couldn't find the flow x16 with the 4070 version, shame anything less is only 16GB of ram, i would buy it in my country but all i could find is the 4060 version of the x16, What's the biggest electronics store in Finland that i could look for it? Couldn't find anything in gigantti.

[@kinokunia]

Noise level on each of the modes?

[@BriefNerdOriginal]

Question: how do thermals change by closing the lid to use it attached to external screen and peripherals?

[@DarkoNomad]

Just place it vertically to improve the airflow, it can even save you some space on the desk

[@vzuzukin]

How can we get the 4050 or 4060 version in the states?

[@audunskilbrei8279]

What do you use to show the current power draw of the gpu and CPU on screen?

[@cbutters]

a mix of msi afterburner, rivatuner statistics and hwinfo

[@GitDatPC]

I've been eyeballing this X13 with the XG Mobile RTX 4090 for Quest 2 VR on-the-go 😁

[@cbutters]

yep that would be a killer mobile VR setup!

[@jondonnelly4831]

Hi i have mine 2 days and it's doing my head in. Why you ask. Since I did all the windows updates the machine does not auto rotate the screen or disable the keyboard and trackpad for tablet or tent mode. I have tried literally everything. Downloaded and re-installed drivers for ASUS site, Un-installed and re-installed armory crate, updated armory crate. Nothing helps. Even did bios update. I love the machine it's super fast but this is no good. I mean what else is there to try but reset the machine to factory? but surely soon as i update it again it will break that? Any ideas?

[@user-vk7gn7gk2m]

Can I replace battery in 2022 model with the one in 2023 model?

[@celinek2690]

I own the 2021 model of the X13 and I enjoy it a lot except for a few things: heat dissipation is disappointing, more annoying to connect/disconnect the XG Mobile, and the weird glitch from laptop to tablet mode. I was planning on getting the 2023 model, but I think the Asus Z13 Acronym wins over the X13 for keeping it cooler with similar specs and easier to plug in with the XG Mobile.

[@AdioAurel]

I also have the 2021 X13 + XGM. I wonder how the combo compares to the 2023 X13 without an XGM. Also if it even makes sense to connect the 3080 XGM to the 2023 X13. Where I live, I haven't seen a 2023 X13+XGM 4090 combo on the market. But the price of them separated is crazy!

[@celinek2690]

@@AdioAurel Agreed. I only have the XG Mobile RTX 3080 and AMD 6850XT.

[@harrisbudiman9748]

What do we do after replacing/upgrading ssd to get windows os back? Do we need like to copy our data to new ssd or its actually installed by just connecting our notebokk to internet

[@cbutters]

You'll need to reinstall windows with a thumb drive.

[@harrisbudiman9748]

@@cbutters what about windows license. I mean, I am planning to buy it and i want to upgrade its ssd to 2 tb before they ship it to my place..

[@randicalib]

Subscribed! Love the video, I want to upgrade from g14 2020 to either x13 2023 or legion pro 5 2023

[@seanpatrick1243]

Has anyone tried these battery saving techniques with the 2022 z13? Results?

[@DemitriX.]

After owning the 22 version since last year i want the x13 standards to be used in more laptops, tablet mode, tent mode, the ability to have these modes with a touch screen on a small portable device such as this for computer usage + light gaming is such a godsend, with what i do and with the games that i play, this is the only pc i have a need for now, i didnt bother buying a desktop setup at home for the times i wanna game at home, i just plug the x13 to an external gpu that has all the other stuff connected and play from there, its such a good multi-hybrid design and i hope they improve in the areas that need optimizations.

[@chirrupted]

what egpu do u use? xgm or thunderbolt with beta bios?

[@DemitriX.]

xgm 3070@@chirrupted

[@popohorndo3928]

Is it possible to change the bios to allow a higher gpu TDP?

[@cbutters]

A different vbios will make more powerful, but the limited cooling will eventually throttle it down to around 50-70w anyways because it will heat up quick

[@AdioAurel]

I have the 2021 X13 + XGM 3080. I wonder how the combo compares to the 2023 X13 without an XGM. Also if it even makes sense to connect the 3080 XGM to the 2023 X13. Where I live, I haven't seen a 2023 X13+XGM 4090 combo on the market. But the price of them separated is crazy!

[@shaasesoria]

Hello everyone, I have the 2022 versión, can anyone help me with the screen ghosting? Everyting is update (bios, drivers)... Thanks!

[@akshaykumarverma8644]

What is the exact model of this laptop because there are so many asus models for x13

[@akshaykumarverma8644]

ROG Flow X13 GV302XU-MU013WS Or GV302XV-MU016WS

[@gregoryv000]

Do you think that these will be able to run Final Fantasy XVI once it gets released on PC?

[@cbutters]

absolutely

[@BriefNerdOriginal]

In Europe you find it, but it's almost impossible to select a US International keyboard layout.

[@unaacaso9894]

Where can i found this Pc in Europe??

[@BriefNerdOriginal]

@@unaacaso9894 in Switzerland it's sold by more than one online retailer. But I guess it's available elsewhere in old Europe

[@unaacaso9894]

@@BriefNerdOriginal which Amazon??

[@freedomkira520]

Hi guys, as a normal user who might do some video editing, for long run it's better if i get (2022 model RTX3050Ti with 32GB Ram) or (2023 model RTX4050 with 16gb ram)? Both same price in my country 🤔

[@nguyenmanhtrung5500]

32gb ram will better in long-term use

[@freedomkira520]

i have got the 2023 version, didn't regret, its upgrade on all aspect compare to 2022 ver@@nguyenmanhtrung5500

[@RichCompMan]

At this point you can get a X13 2022 model ($850), ROG Ally ($700) and a 2022 XG-Mobile ($800) Cheaper than this model or the 4070 version.

[@vzuzukin]

Is Flow x13 expandable for RAM or SSD?

[@cbutters]

SSD Yes... but only 2230 sized m.2 ssds so 2TB is the max.

[@celinek2690]

Wait..they went with the m.2230? I thought that was only they Z13. 🤔

[@cbutters]

@@celinek2690 Nope, the X13 has always had a 2230 sized m.2

[@YOH_MUSIC]

Hello sir, please reply for my request. I have really specific needs that i dont know if a laptop like this even exist. - Touch screen with high brightness and great colors, 360 hinge. A great stylus is nice too. - 6-7 hours of battery life when under load. - Decent performance, i plan to use After effects, 1080p is enough, and FL studio. - For gaming though, I'm a light gamer, i would be fine with 60 fps on high ettings at 1080p in Forza horizon 5. - 512GB or 1 TB storage. - 16 to 32 GB of RAM - Screen size: i dont really know (im mostly going to take notes on it). - Weight and thickness doesnt matter. "It will be my everyday laptop and i am a heavy user so it should be a helpful lasting gadget throughout my college years."

[@adriano760]

x16 ticks off everything except battery life and MacBook pro ticks off everything except for touch

[@YOH_MUSIC]

@@adriano760 oh cool, but Im not a mac user and games are not good on macs, - How is the battery life on x16? - And also how battery longevity differs throughout the years?

[@cbutters]

@@adriano760 I was also going to recommend the X16, Its a great device.

[@cbutters]

Like Adriano says... ROG FLOW X16 is a good choice for this. Please note though... no laptop is going to get 6-7 hous of battery life "Under load". even for a laptop with a massive 100WH battery, your "load" would have to be only 15W to make it 7 hours.

[@YOH_MUSIC]

@@cbutters I see no problem sir, Can I take your advice ? Should I get this deal on the device or get an Ipad + Gaming laptop combo ? I'm currently looking at X16 (2022) at about $1786. These are the specs: - Ryzen 7-6800HS - RTX 3060 (6 GB) - 16GB RAM - 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD - QHD Mini LED panel

[@AC-xe7us]

great review, but just due to the price, i would go for the 2022 version.

[@yianovich]

The performance difference from the 60w is kinda noticeable

[@cbutters]

Yes... especially because it ends up being 57W if the game is light on CPU and 45W if the game is heavy on CPU. the Z13 will be a bit more performant this generation, with its vapor chamber, but its still pretty close.

[@yianovich]

@@cbutters but the z13 battery life is awful...

[@spear2824]

Bro is it normal that it's that loud? Holy shit

[@004307ec]

😢no 32gb RAM version in my region.

[@SimanSlivar]

My x13 2023 burned out it's GPU after a month... looks like they are using liquid metal for the CPU but normal paste for the GPU...

[@timtimsh8766]

Oh" is that was that😢

[@SimanSlivar]

@@timtimsh8766 yeah got it back promptly took it apart and replaced the paste with liquid metal use k5 pro on all the rest of it. Now runs cool prior mem temps it's 102... Now no problems

[@4ernuy89]

You looks like famous russian tv host aleksandr maslyakov

[@frostgodx]

No idea why your making it so absolute difficult when you can just uninstall armoury crate and use ghelper avoid all the power plan bullshit by setting all 3 modes and how they go as it controls windows power plans and refresh rate and all things without the bloatware. You can get idle on this machine down to 5.2w. It’s amazing. It’s such a mess from the factory.

[@cbutters]

I'm making a point of showing how sloppy asus is letting the default setup be. I normally write my own scripts to control everything but I'll definitely check out ghelper. Thanks for the tip

[@frostgodx]

@@cbutters that makes absolute sense in that regard it comes to the point where asus software is rivaling razer synapse lol. Cheers thanks for the video

[@SirTubeALotMore]

@@cbutters Your "rant" about the wattage was the most interesting thing I've seen in a long time for a laptop review. I mean the whole point of a laptop is to work without a wall plug ... Keep analyzing and giving tips on settings and software, thanks! 🎉

[@eric131313]

Just tried this güller,damn this is incredible u can adjust power limits even on battery mode, plus very simplistic compared to armoury crate. Thx for suggestion ❤❤❤

[@frostgodx]

@@eric131313 exactly it’s beautiful! So much nicer and the dev updates and adds new things very often for all models.

[@stage666]

In shitty Canada we still don't have this.

[@4ernuy89]

I wish they have white version of this like g14

[@na3687]

I still like flow z13 2023 better

[@northernsupernova1]

Need RGB keyboard, then its a shut up take my money

[@user-mb4xy2cz3t]

16:02 fans at 3000rpm on silent with literally nothing running ....... yikes.

[@kamm3021]

🔴 Horrible temperatures and fan noise damn that' not healthy Better to go with Asus Flow X16 it has a superior silent 3 fans cooling system and 2 SSD slots + 2 Ram Slots and wifi card

[@harambe5815]

The cooling is terrible if the gpu thermal throttles at just 50 watts. The form factor is nice but its competition blows it away with mini led and oled screens.

[@eric131313]

i have both z13 and x13 and must say that x13 is much more functional and has much better battery life. Z13 imho is such a pointless product, it isn't tablet cause of weight and poor battery life and it isn't proper laptop cause that wobly tiny keyboard

[@004307ec]

I think the point of z13 is a cool keyboard no matter what load you are running and a stiff support for simple drafting when you do not want to change the configuration of the tablet. As a surface pro user, I think such heavy tablets are quite good for coding with heavy IDEs.

[@R_S4_B5]

Never again am i buying a flow, too expensive and just a mess

[@kennysponto6568]

Absolute junk! Good concept. Useless and unusable.