4 reasons I ditched my iPad Pro for the Asus ROG Flow Z13

Summary

• The ROG Flow Z13 is better for gaming than the iPad, with access to more games and higher-quality visuals.
• Windows 11 offers more desktop apps and customization settings than iPadOS.
• The Flow Z13 provides better connectivity with more ports, HDMI 2.1 support, and offers versatility thanks to its kickstand and detachable keyboard.

I’ve been using an

iPad Pro
as my go-to tablet for a long time. Every night, I use it to watch videos, play games, or read. It’s also the device I use while traveling when I don’t want to carry my

MacBook Pro
. However, all this has changed recently because of the

ROG Flow Z13
.

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a 2-in-1 laptop primarily designed to function as a

portable gaming tablet
. While it’s significantly heavier and thicker than the iPad Pro, the Flow Z13’s versatility and power are hard to match.

The Flow Z13 features a 13.4-inch IPS display, and the configuration I’m using includes 1TB of storage, 32GB of RAM, and AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, which costs $2,300. In contrast, the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro costs $1,800, and when you factor in the $349 Magic Keyboard, the price gap becomes even narrower.

I have used an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard for about two years now, but after using the Flow Z13 for over a month, I quickly realized how much better it is for me and how it’s worth the price difference, primarily for these four reasons.

4

It’s way better for gaming

You can play the latest games on the Flow Z13

The ROG Flow Z13 is a

gaming-oriented device
first and foremost, so one of its significant advantages over the iPad Pro is undoubtedly its more expansive selection of games and its ability to run them at higher settings and smoother frame rates. This is thanks to the Flow Z13’s AMD Ryzen Max AI+ 395 processor, which AMD touts as having the “world’s fastest integrated graphics.” This revolutionary APU’s graphics chip, the AMD Radeon 8060S, is comparable to an RTX 4060, which is extremely impressive for an iGPU.

The M4 chipset in the iPad Pro is indeed powerful, but its potential diminishes if you can’t play any games on it. However, this isn’t a problem with the Asus ROG Flow Z13. Unlike Apple, which limits users to the App Store on the iPad, the ROG Flow Z13 lets you download and enjoy games from Steam, Epic Games, the Xbox app, and others, all thanks to the flexibility of Windows 11. Moreover, a vast majority of the latest AAA games are released on PC nowadays, and even PlayStation has begun releasing some of its popular titles that were once console exclusives on Steam, like The Last of Us Part II: Remastered and

Spider-Man 2
.

3

The full power of Windows 11

Access to all the desktop apps and customization settings you need

Since its release, Windows 11 has experienced its

ups and downs
, but there’s no denying that having its full capabilities on a tablet is valuable. Don’t get me wrong; iPadOS is convenient for basic productivity tasks and entertainment purposes. But one of its drawbacks is that most of its apps are scaled-down versions of desktop apps. This isn’t a problem for Windows 11, as it’s Microsoft’s flagship operating system, and supports full desktop applications like Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere, Lightroom, Photoshop), along with all the other apps you can download online, like Discord or VLC media player.

Additionally, with the design of Windows 11, Microsoft definitely took a design note from Apple, incorporating features such as a centered taskbar and an overall more modern and user-friendly experience. Windows 11 has many customization options, including its improved Start Menu, Taskbar, and Desktop themes and widgets. The Flow Z13 even supports Windows Hello, which functions similarly to Face ID, so it’s just as easy to unlock as the iPad Pro, and even more straightforward than the MacBook, which still does not have Face ID.

2

Better connectivity

More ports is liberating

Another advantage of the Asus ROG Flow Z13 over the iPad is a more extensive port selection. I’ll admit though, this benefit is a bit of a double-edged sword. While the iPad only has one Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, it’s like that because of how slim it is. The Flow Z13, on the other hand, has a much wider selection of ports, mainly because it’s thicker than the iPad and doubles as a PC. The M4 iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick, while the Flow Z13 is 13mm thick.

The Flow Z13 has one HDMI 2.1 port, two USB Type-C ports, one USB Type-A port, one microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The two Type-C ports are USB 4, with data speeds of up to 40Gbps, and they also support charging the device. It also has a proprietary port for connecting the 200W charger it comes with.

I’ve found the most handy connection is the HDMI port, which makes quickly hooking up the Flow Z13 to my OLED monitor really easy. Plus, since it’s HDMI 2.1, it supports my monitor’s higher 360Hz refresh rate. While you can connect the iPad Pro to an external monitor, you need to buy an adapter if your monitor doesn’t have a USB-C connection (like mine).

1

2-in-1 design

The ROG Flow Z13 is versatile

One of my favorite aspects of the ROG Flow Z13 is its 2-in-1 design, which makes it a distinctive device compared to the iPad Pro and other laptops or tablets. On the back of the tablet, there is a kickstand with a sturdy hinge that can hold up the device and be adjusted up to 170 degrees, allowing you to angle it to your liking. It is incredibly convenient to take this tablet anywhere and prop it up, whether at my desk, kitchen counter, or a coffee shop. It’s convenient to have a kickstand built into the tablet, rather than relying on a case for a stand like you would with an iPad.

Another feature I appreciate is the detachable keyboard that comes with the ROG Flow Z13, which also acts as a cover for the screen. Similar to the iPad’s Magic Keyboard, you can easily detach and reattach the keyboard, thanks to its magnetic connector. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, and the keys have a 1.7mm travel distance, providing a tactile experience. Additionally, the trackpad is spacious, making scrolling effortless, and the keyboard itself is backlit with RGB lighting that you can customize in the Asus app, although you have the option to turn off the RGB if you desire.