Asus ProArt PZ13 review: an impressive Microsoft Surface competitor

The Asus ProArt PZ13 is a compact and lightweight AI-accelerated laptop and tablet

Asus ProArt PZ13 laptop on a wooden table
(Image: © James Abbott / Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Asus ProArt PZ13 lacks the power to be your everyday computer if you’re a creative, simply because more intensive tasks require time and patience. But it can handle software such as Photoshop and Lightroom CC and breezes through web browsing, word processing, and other standard tasks. As a portable device, however, its small size and light weight combined with a reasonable price make it a compelling option if you can make a few compromises.

Pros

  • +

    Compact and lightweight

  • +

    Excellent build quality

  • +

    Great screen

Cons

  • -

    Lack of ports due to size

  • -

    Only 16GB of RAM

  • -

    No discreet GPU

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Tablets sit in a strange place these days and have lost the explosive growth they saw in their early days. But this hasn’t stopped computer manufacturers from producing ultra-portable and lightweight hybrid tablets and laptops with Microsoft leading the way with its Surface line.

The Asus ProArt PZ13 is a direct competitor aimed at creatives on the go, offering a fantastic OLED screen alongside AI-powered processing. It’s undoubtedly a powerful device considering its impressively svelte and lightweight design, but it offers nowhere near the power of the Asus ProArt PX13 and the Asus ProArt P16.

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CPUSnapdragon X Plus X1P 42 100 Processor 3.4GHz (8 cores, 8 Threads, Qualcomm Hexagon NPU up to 45 TOPS)
Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno GPU
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
Screen13.3-inch, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED touchscreen (0.2ms response time, 60Hz, 100% DCI-P3)
Storage1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Ports 2x USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C support display / power delivery, SD card reader
WirelessWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
CameraFront-facing 5.0MP camera 1440p / 13.0MP 4K rear-facing camera
Weight0.85kg / 1.87lbs
Dimensions29.8x20.3x0.90cm / 11.71x7.99x0.35 inches
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FeaturesA Windows 11 2-in-1 PC with pen display capabilities.★★★★☆
DesignExcellent build quality alongside the compact and lightweight design.★★★★★
PerformanceCapable for less intensive tasks but lacks overall processing power.★★★☆☆
ValueWell priced against the competition but not much less than considerably more powerful laptops.★★★★☆
Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

If you’d like a different 2-in-1 but one that’s capable enough for mobile use, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is less expensive than the PZ13 but it does also have a lower spec.

Asus ProArt PX13

Asus ProArt PX13

Processing power is essential for some creatives, and if this is you the Asus ProArt PX13 is a convertible laptop with impressive performance and some great creative features.

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James Abbott

James Abbott is a landscape and portrait photographer based in Cambridge. He’s also an experienced photography journalist specializing in camera skills and Photoshop techniques. He is also a CAA-approved drone pilot and professional aerial photographer.