We’ve always been a fan of compact laptops that slip into your slimmest backpacks or portfolios. It’s one reason why we’ve always kept an eye on ASUS’ line of ROG Flow X13 laptops over the past couple of years. In 2021 we called the ASUS ROG Flow X13 the Gaming laptop for the boardroom. 2022 enhanced that experience with some useful upgrades. Now it’s time for us to put the 2023 edition of the ASUS ROG G302 under the scanner.

The Rise And Rise Of Gaming Laptops

According to Statista, the global laptop market was valued at USD 18.67 billion in 2022. A total of 17.75 million units were produced in 2022. The prediction was 2028 is a global market size of USD 26.85 billion and 26.93 million units. ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) is one of the brands that’s fuelling this demand. The ROG brand has developed a cult following with serious gamers. The Flow X13 stands out in this line with its slim form; it’s a gaming beast and can still make a statement in the boardroom. It’s the type of device that works perfectly well for Gen Z buyers who need to switch from work mode to ‘no jacket required mode’ when they indulge in extreme gaming.

Flexible Form

While large-screen, heavy-duty laptops usually dominate the gaming laptop landscape, the Flow X13 stands out with its lightweight appeal. It’s the same familiar design language with a convenient 360-degree hinge. You can effortlessly switch from laptop to tablet form. At 1.3 kg. it’s one of the lightest gaming laptops out there. It’s even lighter than its predecessor. One of our favourite design elements is the textured lines that run across the chassis which also make it easier to grip. ASUS has sought inspiration from the gravitational waves of stellar objects for the design of this laptop. The backlit chicklet keyboard is super comfortable to type on. You get multiple ports that include a Micro SD slot. We would have liked one more Type-C port in the mix though.

Vibrant Colours

One of the standout features of this laptop is the 13.4-inch QHD+ Nebula display (2560 x 1600 pixels). It supports up to 165Hz refresh rates and maxes out at 500 nits of peak brightness. You’re sorted even if you’re gaming on a pool deck under direct sunlight. Colours are vibrant and the blacks are inky. It’s sheer joy whether you’re binge-watching or gaming on this device. The Dolby Atmos-tuned speaker system adds to its immersive appeal.

Power Packed

Ultimately this device is about raw power. Just like its predecessor this one’s powered by a best-of-breed AMD Ryzen processor. At its heart is a Ryzen R9 7940HS (up to 5.2GHz octa-core processor), chip with integrated Radeon 780M GPU that’s complemented by nVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. ASUS bolsters this with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD. It’s serious firepower and have you covered whether you’re in the middle of boardroom or gaming battles. The 75 Whr 4-cell Li-ion delivered decent battery life. You

should manage around 6 to 7 hours depending on your usage patterns. There are gaming laptops with a better battery life but they don’t offer the same slinky form.

The 2023 edition of the ASUS ROG Flow X13 sticks to the same script as its 2021 and 2022 predecessors. It’s pricey but brings the same compact, flexible form and firepower that serious gamers thrive on. It’s why it’s one of the best premium work + play machines out there.

The ASUS ROG Flow X13 (2023) starts at Rs 1,74,990.