Watching the CES 2021 ASUS ROG launch got us excited with their new lineup of gaming laptops, monitors, and peripherals. Based on what was announced at the launch, the new ROG laptops will sport the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processors with NVIDIA graphics to deliver powerful performance in slimmer bodies.

ASUS ROG Flow X13

The most interesting laptop from the line-up, the ASUS ROG Flow X13, is a compact convertible 2-in-1 gaming laptop. Weighing in at only 1.3kg, it measures in at 299mm(L) x 222mm(H) x 15.8mm(D). As the laptop is designed to be used not just for gaming but also for work, it features a 360-degree hinge allowing you to switch between Laptop Mode, Stand Mode, Tent Mode, and Tablet Mode.

Moving on to the specifications, the Flow X13 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS with a base clock of 3.3GHz and boost clock of 4.4GHz. As for the graphics card, it comes with a GeForce GTX 1650. According to ASUS, a Supernova Edition variant of the Flow X13 is coming later in 2021 along with a Ryzen 9 5980HS that can go up to 4.8GHz on a single core.

On top of that, buyers will also have the option of choosing between two 13.4” 16:10 IPS touchscreen displays; a 120Hz FHD display for gaming or a 4K UHD display for content creators. Both displays will sport a Corning Gorilla Glass for scratch resistance and are compatible with the ASUS Pen.

Other hardware includes up to 32GB of LPDDR4X-4266 RAM, which uses 50% less power and generates less heat than the usual DDR4 memory. For storage, the laptop will have an M.2 PCIe SSD with up to 1TB of capacity. Connectivity-wise, it comes with one USB Type-A 3.2 Gen2, two USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2, one 3.5mm combo jack, one HDMI 2.0b, and the proprietary ROG XG Mobile Interface (PCIe 3.0 x8) port.

ASUS ROG Flow X13 Specifications

ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 5980HS 8C/16T @ up to 4.8GHz
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS 8C/16T @ up to 4.6GHz
AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS 8C/16T @ up to 4.4GHz
RAMUp to 32GB LPDDR4X-4266MHz Dual-channel
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6
Display13.4″ 16:10 4K 60Hz (3840 x 2400) IPS display
13.4″ 16:10 FHD 120Hz (1920 x 1200) IPS display
Storage1x Up to 1TB M.2 2230 PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD
Connectivity1x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen2
2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2 (DisplayPort 1.4 + USB-PD support)
1x 3.5mm combo jack
1x HDMI 2.0b
1x ROG XG Mobile Interface (PCIe 3.0 x8)
Battery62WHr battery (10 hours video playback)
Dimensions299mm(W) x 222mm(H) x 15.8mm(D)
Weight1.3kg

ASUS ROG XG Mobile

If the GeForce GTX 1650 isn’t powerful enough, ASUS is also releasing an external GPU, which is dubbed as the ROG XG Mobile with an RTX 3070 or 3080 inside alongside the Flow X13. It will connect directly to the Flow X13 via a custom PCIe 3.0 interface.

The RTX 3080 will be clocked at 1810MHz with ROG Boost and has a vapour chamber cooling system to keep things cool. However, there is no news yet for the RTX3070. At an incredibly portable weight of only 1kg, it measures 208mm(W) x 55mm(H) x 29mm(D), making it 6% the size of a regular external GPU.

Other features also include a DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 display output, four USB Type-A 3.2 Gen1 ports, an SD card slot, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. With this, the ROG XG mobile is not just an external GPU but also a multi-port hub. For a simultaneous plug and play, a built-in AC adapter will deliver power to both the ROG XG Mobile and laptop.

ASUS ROG XG Mobile Specifications

GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, 16GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, 8GB GDDR6
Connectivity1x Gigabit Ethernet
4x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen1
1x HDMI 2.0a
1x DiplayPort 1.4
1x SD card slot
1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (ROG XG Mobile Interface PCIe 3.0 x8)
Dimensions208mm(W) x 155mm(H) x 29.6mm(D)
Weight1kg