It’s been exactly a year since we called the 2021 ASUS ROG Flow X13 the ‘Gaming laptop for the boardroom’. ASUS didn’t wait too long to refresh this powerful laptop with a slinky form. Brands like ASUS have been riding a resurgence of sorts for the laptop segment. Sales have skyrocketed in a post-pandemic world; the industry grew 18% between and 2019 and 2021. That growth is likely to stabilise over the next years. The big story is not just these numbers, it’s how the industry is adapting to evolving consumer segments. The ROG Flow X13 is a case in point. This one’s at home at the boardroom and the hipster café where it’s likely to be driven to extreme gaming mode. The 2022 version of the Flow X13 comes with some timely upgrades. We bring you up to speed.

That same compact form

When the 2021 ROG Flow X13 debuted, it was one of the most compact laptops in ASUS’ ROG line. For the uninitiated, Republic of Gamers is ASUS’ gaming line with a cult following. We’ve grown accustomed to large screen laptops from the ROG line that need slightly larger backpacks to slip into. The Flow X13, on the other hand, is slim enough to slip into your leather messenger bags. The 2022 version sticks to the same design language with a convenient 360-degree hinge that allows you to flip from laptop to tablet form; it’s also a tad lighter than its predecessor. It’s the carbon black silhouette with the textured lines that has our attention. It’s more than cosmetic. These textured lines also make it easier to grip the laptop. The Flow X13 remains one of our favourite compact laptops on the design front.

Power packed

The big improvements are under the hood. The 2022 version is now powered by the latest AMD Ryzen 9 platform, DDR5 memory and gen4 SSD storage. It aces everyday tasks and comes to life when you switch to gaming mode. We enjoyed putting this to the test with Asphalt 9, our default gaming option. You can get an extra gaming boost with the Optional XG Mobile eGPU with up to an AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. ASUS has tweaked the vapor chamber for increased cooling effeciency.

Binge proof

Aside from its gaming creds, the Flow X13 range comes with a choice of 120Hz FHD or 4K UHD panels. Brightness peaks at 500 nits while the screen features an aspect ratio of 16:10. The Dolby Vision HDR adds to its entertainment creds. Sound quality gets a boost with Dolby Atmos but the speakers don’t exactly fill up the room with their sound output.

Should you go with the ‘Flow’?

ASUS has been one of the laptop brands that hasn’t been shy to experiment in different laptop segments. The ROG Flow X13 (2022) is evidence. It’s a capable work machine, we like the full-sized 15-inch keyboard and handy touches like the one-touch power and fingerprint log in.

You should manage to sail through a whole day at the office with the 62Wh battery but that might vary depending on whether you switch to gaming or Netflix mode. If you’re looking for a compact laptop that has the firepower, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 (2022) won’t disappoint.

The ASUS ROG Flow X13 (2022) costs Rs 121,990