Gaming convertibles, particularly the 13-inch selection, are an extraordinary breed. Asus nearly dominates this area with the ROG Drift lineup. We’ve up to now reviewed the ROG Drift Z13 and the ROG Drift Z13 ACRNM, each powered by means of Intel Raptor Lake-H and Nvidia RTX 40 sequence GPUs.
Now, we check out the AMD-flavored ROG Drift X13. Our ROG Drift X13 pattern boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS APU and a 60 W Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Pc GPU in conjunction with 16 GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM and a 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD. This configuration will set you again by means of ₹1,84,990 or US$2,500.
The ROG Drift X13 takes a unique design manner than the removable Z13. The Drift X13 lacks Thunderbolt, the usage of USB4 as an alternative. MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E replaces Intel connectivity. There is not any secondary digicam, however the Drift X13 sports activities a bigger 75 WHr battery in comparison to the 56 WHr mobile within the Z13.
Each the ROG Drift Z13 and X13 are priced in a similar way, which brings up a purchase order conundrum. On this assessment, we take a just right have a look at the ROG Drift X13 and spot whether or not this AMD-based convertible makes for an general higher instrument in comparison to its Intel-based opposite numbers.
Clad in minimalist aluminum, the ROG Drift X13 eschews ostentatious “gamer” aesthetics for refined sophistication. There is not any inner “viewing window” as we have observed with the ROG Drift Z13.
The Drift X13’s 13.4-inch body moves an excellent steadiness between portability and productiveness, weighing simply 1.3 kg for simple one-handed sporting. The unique textured lid provides stylistic aptitude whilst offering a grooved grip, opening easily with a unmarried finger.
As a convertible, the Drift X13 can seamlessly morph between computer, pill, tent, or stand modes with strong, wobble-free hinges. In spite of being simply 18.7 mm skinny, the chassis reveals no flex or structural weaknesses in any mode.
General, Asus has delivered a top class convertible in a compact 13.4-inch shape issue with none visual workmanship compromises.
In spite of its compact dimensions, the Drift X13 impresses with flexible connectivity. An unique ROG XG Cellular interface lets in linking Asus’ exterior GPU dock for extra graphics horsepower as much as an RTX 4090 Pc GPU in conjunction with expanded I/O.
The ROG Drift X13 is without doubt one of the handful of AMD laptops in 2023 with a USB4 port. We confronted no obstruction whilst connecting more than one peripherals immediately.
The Drift X13’s microSD card reader plays admirably, with sequential speeds as much as 256 MB/s. Different JPG reproduction speeds are similar with the ones noticed with the Drift Z13 fashions.
Being an AMD-powered instrument, the Drift X13 sports activities a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E card slightly than an Intel resolution discovered within the Drift Z13. The Drift X13 positive aspects minimum real-world receive advantages leaping from 5 GHz to the 6 GHz band, however the latter is much less liable to interference.
When examined with Asus’ ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 router, 6E obtain speeds proved nearly equivalent between the 2 fashions. Alternatively, the Drift X13 confirmed a slight merit in 6E transmit assessments.
The convertible struggled to care for stable throughput first of all within the check, however the efficiency smoothened out through the years.
The Drift X13’s 1080p webcam will get the activity executed with a baseline of readability. The webcam captures serviceable photographs with respectable colour replica. Main points seem good enough for a computer digicam, although the sharpness leaves some room for development.
The built-in IR digicam lets in rapid and correct Home windows Hi-based biometric authentication. Moreover, a TPM 2.0 module is provide for encryption.
Asus features a to hand ROG Sleeve within the field for simply sporting across the Drift X13. Retail gadgets additionally come with the Asus Pen SA203 stylus in some areas. Patrons can hook up non-compulsory equipment such because the ROG XG Cellular eGPU.
In India, the ROG Drift X13 comes with a normal one-year guaranty. Patrons find a way of choosing quite a few guaranty extension and unintended injury coverage plans starting from ₹999 for a one-year extension to ₹4,999 that features a two-year extension and 3 years of wear coverage.
Additional info and person pricing will also be discovered right here.
Taking out the ten PH00 screws at the backside offers simple get right of entry to to the Drift X13’s internals. The RAM comes soldered, however the WLAN card and M.2 2230 SSD will also be swapped out if wanted. It’s conceivable to unscrew and take away the battery.
Typing at the Drift X13 is a delightful revel in because of well-spaced, tactile keys with respectable commute. The highest row gives to hand shortcuts for quantity, mic, and Armory Crate that may be custom designed as wanted.
Further purposes like Charisma Sync lighting fixtures and fan profiles are a button press away too. The half-height arrow keys paintings for fundamental navigation however can get tedious for gaming.
In lieu of flashy RGB, the keyboard employs soothing white backlighting adjustable in 3 brightness ranges. The crisp white illumination stays obviously visual during the keycaps for relaxed typing at midnight.
The expansive 7.5 cm x 13 cm touchpad supplies a continuing float floor for easy keep an eye on and is absolutely suitable with Home windows Precision gestures.
Clicks factor softly with out resistance or noise. Enter registers correctly even on the corners. All of the floor acts because the left mouse button, although the clicks themselves appear to localize close to the ground of the touchpad.
The Drift X13 gives a multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, which Asus says has been given the Gorilla Glass DXC remedy. We had no problems with touchscreen, even in opposition to the corners, in all supported modes.
The ROG Drift X13’s 13.4-inch 2560 x 1600 16:10 contact IPS panel gives a 165 Hz refresh price with Nvidia G-Sync give a boost to and a dense 225 PPI pixel density. The panel helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient however now not HDR10.
We measured a most brightness of 473 nits with a just right 89% distribution and minimum gentle bleed-through. The measured 1,231:1 distinction ratio lends itself to a subjectively just right viewing revel in.
Although now not at the similar stage because the OLED-based VivoBooks, the Drift X13’s IPS show nonetheless gives an expansive colour palette with superb protection throughout sRGB, Adobe RGB, and Show P3 colour gamuts.
Whilst the default colour profile is serviceable, it displays top deviations in whites, cyan, and pores and skin tones. Our calibration regimen the usage of the X-Ceremony i1Basic Professional 3 spectrophotometer and Calman Final tool from Portrait Presentations fixes this to a big extent.
Lets reach important enhancements in Grayscale (reasonable Delta E 0.8) and ColorChecker (reasonable Delta E 1.09) values post-calibration. Alternatively, the panel nonetheless turns out to have bother in correctly reproducing the 100% Blue a part of the spectrum.
Our calibrated ICC report will also be downloaded from the hyperlink above.
The Drift X13’s show displays rather fast 100% black to 100% white transitions. The panel makes use of overdrive by means of default, which permits for a quick 4.79 ms 50% gray to 80% gray reaction time.
Disabling panel overdrive by the use of Armory Crate will increase the mixed 50% gray to 80% gray transition to 9.6 ms.
We didn’t follow PWM in any respect examined brightness ranges. Our article “Why PWM is any such headache” explains why this can be a just right factor.
In line with Asus, the Gorilla Glass DXC coating will have to lend a hand with higher visibility outdoor. Whilst out of doors visibility turns out higher than OLED VivoBooks, the shiny display screen can nonetheless be moderately reflective on a vibrant summer season day.
Viewing angles are moderately solid save for some lack of brightness and colour on the extremes.
In India, Asus gives two configurations of the ROG Drift X13 GV302, each with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS APU and QHD+ shows. Patrons can choose from 60 W RTX 4050 Pc GPU or 60 W RTX 4060 Pc GPU choices.
US and Eu markets have get right of entry to to a variant with a 60 W RTX 4070 Pc GPU and 32 GB LPDDR5 RAM. There is additionally a SKU that downgrades to a Complete HD+ show and is predicated only at the Ryzen 9 7940HS’s built-in Radeon 780M graphics.
The Drift X13’s compact chassis naturally limits the Ryzen 9 7940HS’s persistent ceiling. It will probably hit as much as 65 W in Turbo mode right here as opposed to 114 W within the Asus TUF Gaming A16.
Asus’s Armory Crate tool lets in adjusting quite a lot of efficiency facets of the Drift X13. Our benchmarks use the Turbo profile with GPU set to Final, enticing unique dGPU mode. Battery assessments make use of the Home windows profile and Same old GPU mode.
The ROG Drift X13’s Ryzen 9 7940HS lags at the back of the contest because of its decrease running headroom however now not by means of a lot. The computer displays a well-sustained efficiency within the Cinebench R15 multi-core loop check. Efficiency deltas in person multi-core assessments are quite upper than single-core runs general.
There is just a 4% general efficiency deficit in comparison to the 100 W PL2 Core i9-13900H-powered ROG Drift Z13 ACRNM, the 88 W PL2 Ryzen 9 7940HS within the Razer Blade 14, and the 114 W configuration within the TUF A16, indicating substantial potency positive aspects in spite of a smaller shape issue.
The Ryzen 9 7940HS is in a position to reach boosts as regards to the 5 GHz mark at a height package deal persistent of 65 W in all examined efficiency modes. We don’t see a lot distinction between the Turbo and Efficiency profiles within the first loop of the Cinebench R15 multi-core run.
Alternatively, stressing the CPU for 30 loops ends up in the clocks averaging out at about 4 GHz (39 W) in Turbo, 3.7 GHz (32.15 W) in Efficiency, and three.48 GHz (28.7 W) in Silent modes. We see as much as a 12% efficiency drop going from Turbo to Silent.
Efficiency regression on battery persistent turns out moderately important with about 23.5% and 9.6% drops in Cinebench R20 unmarried and multi-core ratings, respectively.
Additional info and benchmarks will also be present in our devoted AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS web page.
The ROG Drift X13 achieves a just right PCMark 10 general ranking, handiest subsequent to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with an RTX 4090 Pc GPU. The instrument trails the contest in CrossMark, however we didn’t understand any specific spaces of outrage or sluggishness in daily utilization.
DPC latency is at the upper aspect because of upper execution instances of the Community Driving force Interface Specification (NDIS) driving force. This may purpose minor hiccups with real-time audio and video workflows.
Take a look at our DPC Latency Rating web page for a comparability of measured latency throughout reviewed units.
Our Drift X13 unit packs a 1 TB Micron 2400 PCIe Gen4.0 M.2 2230 SSD. And not using a scope for inner garage growth, customers are confined to this lone pressure. Extra capacious 2 TB M.2 2230 fashions are rising however stay moderately pricey as opposed to the bigger M.2 2280 SSDs.
General pressure efficiency trails at the back of the WD PC SN740 M.2 2230 within the Drift Z13 fashions however will have to nonetheless be amenable for many gaming and artistic workflows. We noticed no throttling all through the DiskSpd learn loop check at a queue intensity of 8.
Our HDD and SSD benchmarks web page gives extra garage efficiency comparisons.
The Drift X13’s 60 W Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Pc GPU has a slight edge over the 65 W model discovered within the ROG Drift Z13 GZ301V whilst trailing the 65 W RTX 4070 Pc GPU within the Drift Z13 ACRNM by means of 10% in cumulative 3DMark efficiency.
Curiously, the 95 W RTX 4050 Pc GPU within the Acer Predator Triton 14 trades blows in 3DMark with the 60 W RTX 4060 within the Drift X13. The Lenovo Legion Slender 5‘s 100 W RTX 4060 has a 9% lead, although we discovered that it operates most commonly at 60 W very similar to the Drift X13.
The ROG Drift X13, with its 165 Hz G-Sync show and the RTX 4060, comes throughout as a extremely succesful gaming convertible. At 1080p Extremely, it cumulatively trails the Drift Z13 ACRNM’s 65W 4070 by means of 10% and the Blade 14’s 140W 4070 by means of 17%.
4K Extremely proves too not easy, however QHD Extremely gives a good taking part in revel in in quite older titles. In the end, players will in finding themselves applying upscaling algorithms corresponding to DLSS, FSR, or XeSS in supported titles for easy gameplay.
The Drift X13’s RTX 4060 appears to be cooled effectively for the reason that we see a moderately stable efficiency with out a main body drops when stressed out with The Witcher 3 at 1080p Extremely.
Fan noise underneath load is at the upper aspect with the Drift X13 in comparison to the Drift Z13 GZ301V. Asus turns out to have capped the noise ranges underneath each and every efficiency mode. Silent maxes out at 35 dB(A) whilst the Efficiency and Turbo modes can move as much as 40 dB(A) and ~50 db(A), respectively.
Those modes can affect efficiency as proven within the Cinebench R15 multi-core assessments above, and in addition in The Witcher 3 1080p Extremely fps indicated within the desk beneath.
Asus employs liquid steel at the CPU and slimmer heatpipes to chill the Drift X13 within the slender chassis. The program capably sustains daily efficiency with out noticeable throttling. However rigidity assessments nonetheless pressure up floor temperatures as proven beneath.
Our rigidity assessments constitute excessive eventualities and are not going in day by day utilization. The usage of the Drift X13 as a pill or at the lap for productiveness or multimedia will have to now not pose any issues, particularly within the Silent or Efficiency profiles.
Stressing the ROG Drift X13 with Prime95 in-place FFTs sees the Ryzen 9 7940HS achieve reasonable clocks of four.1 GHz whilst eating about 41 W. Including FurMark reasons the CPU clocks to drop all the way down to ~3 GHz and the package deal persistent to about 26 W. The remainder headroom is shared with the RTX 4060, which takes about 26 W and clocks at 1,638 MHz on reasonable.
With a real-world rigidity like The Witcher 3 at 1080p Extremely, we see the RTX 4060 attaining its most clock at 2,070 MHz whilst eating a height persistent of 60.5 W. The Ryzen 9 7940HS is stays moderately unused right here with reasonable clocks of simply 2.5 GHz at 10 W.
Necessarily, the Drift X13 can’t maintain max clocks underneath rigidity for longer classes. The CPU and GPU in combination can devour as much as a most of 110 W underneath load within the Turbo persistent profile.
The Drift X13 isn’t the loudest computer, however audio from the integrated audio system will have to nonetheless be transparent at most quantity in a quiet surroundings. Bass is perceivable however now not very deep. The mids and highs sound balanced and are reproduced effectively.
Customers can get a greater audio revel in with exterior stressed out audio or by the use of Bluetooth 5.3.
The Drift X13’s idle persistent intake is at the upper aspect, however the convertible is moderately economical underneath load. We noticed fluctuations in idle persistent intake without reference to the facility profile selected.
The Lenovo Legion Slender 5’s Ryzen 7 7840HS/RTX 4060 combo displays a 73% upper persistent intake in The Witcher 3 at 1080p Extremely. The equipped 130 W AC adapter can stay the Drift X13 adequately fed even underneath rigidity.
The 75 WHr mobile supplies longer term instances that are supposed to simply will let you get by way of a standard workday, particularly at decrease brightness ranges. Whilst that is true for conventional internet surfing and video playback, the battery lasts just for about 90 mins whilst gaming.
The Asus ROG Drift X13 2023 sports activities nice construct high quality, and the sublime 13.4-inch convertible shape issue makes for simple adaptability relying on whether or not you wish to have to create or devour content material.
This yr, Asus has delicate the total convertible revel in together with applying a more effective QHD+ 165 Hz G-Sync touchscreen as an alternative of final yr’s UHD+ 60 Hz panel, higher touchpad and with ease spaced keyboard, USB4, and a FHD webcam.
The Drift X13’s makes just right of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and RTX 4060 innards. Although power-limited in comparison to higher machines, the elements nonetheless galvanize by means of hitting a mixed 110 W underneath rigidity. Idle persistent intake wishes some fine-tuning, however the 75 WHr battery, up from the 62 WHr up to now, allows true all-day productiveness.
With its svelte chassis housing succesful AMD and Nvidia {hardware} along side nice battery existence and plentiful connectivity, the Asus ROG Drift X13 is without doubt one of the handful of gaming convertible that moves an clever steadiness between efficiency and poise.”
So, is the AMD-based ROG Drift X13 a better option over the Intel-powered ROG Drift Z13 given the equivalent pricing? In some ways, that is a powerful sure!
The ROG Drift Z13 ACRNM and the ROG Drift Z13 GZ301V are extra transportable with their removable shows. The Drift Z13s’ Core i9-13900H, and the RTX 4070 within the ACRNM, do have perceivable efficiency benefits, however the Drift X13 moves a greater steadiness for on-the-go use and gives a bigger battery with hugely longer run instances. Avid gamers can additional improve the Drift X13’s graphics features by means of splurging any other two grand at the ROG XG Cellular with an RTX 4090 Pc GPU if desired.
The Drift X13 trades blows with the Acer Predator Triton 14, however the latter’s Core i7-13700H has glaring multi-core benefits because of its upper thread depend. Asus’s convertible could also be inside of putting distance of the Razer Blade 14 in the case of general CPU efficiency, however the Blade 14’s RTX 4070 offers it moderately a lead in GPU ratings.
In spite of everything, the Asus ROG Drift X13 is a convertible that has few friends. You are going to be coughing up a beautiful sum for what’s in the long run a power-limited RTX 4060 Zen 4 computer, however the general revel in of the usage of it makes it appear definitely worth the top class if you happen to cherish this kind issue.
The examined Asus ROG Drift X13 GV302 (2023) configuration will also be had immediately from the Asus India on-line retailer for ₹1,84,990. Amazon India is lately providing the RTX 4050 variant for ₹1,77,999.
In america, the ROG Drift X13 with the RTX 4070 lately retails for US$2,499.99 at the Asus on-line retailer and Very best Purchase. The bottom SKU with FHD+ show and Radeon 780M iGPU could also be to be had on Very best Purchase for US$1,249.99.
Allow 48h for review and removal.