With Microsoft’s Surface Pro setting the bar high for 2-in-1 devices, Asus’ ProArt PZ13 arrives as a new competitor in the category, with a premium design, OLED visuals and significant battery life. Priced at around ₹139,990 in India, the ProArt PZ13 is aimed at creative professionals and technology enthusiasts who need a versatile device that can seamlessly transition from tablet to laptop. By including the keyboard in the base price, Asus has positioned the ProArt PZ13 as a valuable alternative. Let’s see how well it performs in different areas and see if it can really compete with the established players.
Design and build quality: sleek yet sturdy
The Asus ProArt PZ13 sticks to the clean, minimalist design philosophy of the Surface line, but with some unique touches. Made from a durable one-piece metal casing with Gorilla Glass protection, it feels both premium and sturdy. It’s incredibly slim at 0.35 inches in tablet mode, making it easy to carry. Weighing 0.85 kg for the tablet alone (1.52 kg with keyboard), it is highly portable for work on the go.
Instead of using a built-in kickstand like the Surface, Asus has opted for a magnetic back that doubles as a kickstand. This provides stability, but it’s not without its quirks: the magnetic attachment can be fiddly and the stand struggles to support high viewing angles, requiring the screen to lean back slightly to remain stable.
The keyboard, which comes with the tablet, attaches magnetically via its own connector, usually ensuring a solid connection. The keyboard cover features a flexible strip that allows the keyboard to lie flat regardless of the screen angle. Although Asus omits a stylus from the standard package, the included keyboard and back cover make it a more budget-friendly choice than some competitors.
Screen: Vibrant OLED with small reflection
The 13.3-inch OLED display is one of the standout features of the PZ13. With a resolution of 2880 x 1600 pixels and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, this display is well suited for creative tasks that require precise color accuracy. The OLED panel produces deep blacks and vibrant colors, making content, whether it’s a video or graphic design work, look rich and lifelike.
Brightness peaks at 405 nits, which is sufficient for most indoor environments but can cause problems in very bright conditions due to the screen’s glossy finish. Asus has optimized it for visual tasks, but those who often work outdoors may find the reflections somewhat distracting. The screen also supports Dolby Vision, which adds value for streaming and viewing HDR content, although many streaming services still limit HDR on PCs.
Performance: Great for everyday tasks, but not a powerhouse
Under the hood, the ProArt PZ13 is powered by the Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. While Snapdragon’s efficiency is a bonus for battery life, the processor lags behind higher-end Intel and AMD counterparts in terms of raw computing power. This makes it a solid choice for tasks like web browsing, document editing and media consumption, but it struggles with heavier multitasking or applications like video editing that require intensive processing.
Benchmarks reflect these limitations. In Cinebench R24, which can run natively on ARM, the ProArt PZ13 achieves decent single-core performance, with a score of 107, putting it just above Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H on single-thread tasks. However, multi-core scores show it lagging behind by around 12% compared to similarly priced Intel and AMD models.
For creative professionals, this level of performance is sufficient for lighter photo editing or design work. Those who need more robust multitasking and speed, especially with video or 3D playback, may find this device a bit underpowered.
Graphics: Competent for basic visuals, less so for gaming
The Adreno graphics in the Snapdragon chip can handle basic visual tasks effectively. The GPU performance of the ProArt PZ13 fits well with the target group of makers and casual users. It performs adequately in light graphic design, image editing, and even some 720p and 1080p video playback.
In tests with 3DMark TimeSpy, the ProArt PZ13 scored around 2,800, lower than Intel’s integrated Iris Xe or AMD’s RDNA 3.5 iGPUs. While it won’t replace a dedicated graphics laptop or gaming device, it is sufficient for basic tasks. Casual gaming is possible on lower settings, but the performance won’t satisfy those looking for high frame rates.
Battery life: long lasting and efficient
One area where the ProArt PZ13 excels is battery life, thanks to its 70Wh battery and the efficiency of its Snapdragon processor. It lasted more than 16 hours in video playback tests and outperformed several competitors, including some Intel-based 2-in-1s. The OLED panel’s ability to disable black letterbox pixels in videos further helps save power, a feature unique to OLEDs.
For everyday tasks like document editing, browsing, and light multitasking, the ProArt PZ13 can comfortably last up to 20 hours on a single charge, making it ideal for users who need long battery life without frequent charging.
Keyboard and trackpad: functional but with quirks
The keyboard cover that comes with the ProArt PZ13 is thin and lightweight, creating minimal thickness. The key travel is moderate, with a tactile feel that’s comfortable enough for longer typing sessions. There are a few quirks, though: sometimes the keyboard would lose connection with the tablet, requiring a quick reset to restore functionality. Although the backlight is useful, the keys are not always evenly lit.
The trackpad is responsive and large for a keyboard cover, with gesture controls along the edges for adjusting volume, brightness and media playback. These controls are useful, but occasionally overlap with other functions, causing minor usability issues. The keyboard and trackpad work well on stable surfaces, but can feel uncomfortable when used on softer surfaces like a bed or lap.
Audio and webcam: mixed performance
The four-speaker setup on the ProArt PZ13 is loud but falls short in terms of audio quality. At higher volumes the sound distorts slightly, especially when playing music. For voice-oriented content such as calling or streaming, the sound quality is sufficient, but lacks depth. Despite Dolby Atmos support, the audio experience feels disappointing compared to the visual quality of the screen.
The 5MP front camera offers decent clarity and performs well under average lighting. It’s sufficient for video calls and basic video recording, although it doesn’t match the quality of high-end laptop webcams. There is also a 13MP rear camera, but performance is limited, especially in low light where noise becomes visible.
Connectivity: Sufficient but limited ports
The ProArt PZ13 has a limited selection of ports, typical for a tablet-first device. Two USB 4.0 Type-C ports cover most connectivity needs, one of which doubles as a charging port. A full-size SD card reader is a welcome addition for photographers or creators who regularly transfer files. However, the lack of a headphone jack and a standard USB-A port means users may need adapters or hubs for extended connectivity.
The wireless options are strong, with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 providing fast, stable connections. While the port selection is sufficient for a 2-in-1, users who rely heavily on wired peripherals may find it limiting.
Verdict: A stylish and efficient 2-in-1, but limited in power
The Asus ProArt PZ13 positions itself as a stylish, versatile 2-in-1 that combines a sharp OLED screen, long battery life and the convenience of tablet functionality with an included keyboard. Priced at €139,990, this is a value-conscious choice for those who want a premium tablet experience without the added cost of a separate keyboard.
While the ProArt PZ13’s Snapdragon processor handles day-to-day tasks smoothly, it lags behind Intel and AMD counterparts when it comes to heavy multitasking and intensive creative work. The beautiful display and versatile form factor make it ideal for users who value aesthetics, portability and battery life over pure power. For content consumption, light creative tasks and general productivity, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is a strong contender. But for those who need serious processing power, other options in this price range may offer better performance.
In summary, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is an attractive choice for those who appreciate flexibility and a high-quality display. It’s not the powerhouse that professional creators need, but for those who value design, battery life and portability, this 2-in-1 makes a compelling case.
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