Main points
- The Surface Pro 9 has a slightly better display overall, but the ROG Flow Z13’s higher refresh rate makes it a better choice for gaming.
- The Surface Pro 9 offers a wide range of connectivity options, including two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a microSD card slot.
- The Surface Pro 9 is compatible with a range of accessories, including the Surface Pen, Surface Keyboard, and Surface Mouse.
In the realm of 2-in-1 devices, two formidable contenders stand out: the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 and the ASUS ROG Flow Z13. These sleek and versatile machines offer a unique blend of power, portability, and versatility, making them ideal for professionals, students, and creators alike. But which one emerges as the ultimate victor? Let’s delve into a comprehensive comparison to find out.
Design and Build
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 retains the iconic design of its predecessors, featuring a sleek magnesium chassis with a built-in kickstand. Weighing in at just 889 grams, it’s incredibly portable yet durable.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 boasts a more aggressive design with angular lines and a metal chassis. It’s slightly heavier than the Surface Pro 9 at 1.2 kilograms, but its compact size makes it easy to carry around.
Winner: The Surface Pro 9 wins in terms of portability, while the ROG Flow Z13 impresses with its stylish and sturdy design.
Display
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 sports a 13-inch PixelSense Flow display with a resolution of 2880 x 1920 pixels. It offers excellent color accuracy, brightness, and touch sensitivity.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 features a 13.4-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. It boasts a fast refresh rate of 120Hz for smoother scrolling and gaming.
Winner: The Surface Pro 9 has a slightly better display overall, but the ROG Flow Z13’s higher refresh rate makes it a better choice for gaming.
Performance
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 is powered by 12th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. It offers solid performance for everyday tasks and light creative work.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 features a more powerful 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics. This combination provides exceptional performance for gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks.
Winner: The ROG Flow Z13 is the clear winner in terms of performance, making it a more suitable choice for power users and creatives.
Battery Life
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 offers up to 15.5 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is impressive for a device with such a thin profile.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 has a smaller battery, resulting in a shorter battery life of around 10 hours. However, it comes with a Thunderbolt 4 port that supports fast charging.
Winner: The Surface Pro 9 has a significant advantage in terms of battery life.
Connectivity
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 offers a wide range of connectivity options, including two USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a microSD card slot. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 has a more limited selection of ports, including one USB-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a microSD card slot. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Winner: The Surface Pro 9 offers more connectivity options overall.
Accessories
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 is compatible with a range of accessories, including the Surface Pen, Surface Keyboard, and Surface Mouse. These accessories enhance the productivity and versatility of the device.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 also supports a variety of accessories, including the ROG XG Mobile external GPU, which significantly boosts its graphics performance.
Winner: The Surface Pro 9 has a wider selection of accessories available, making it more customizable.
Price
Surface Pro 9: The Surface Pro 9 starts at $1,099 for the base model with an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.
ROG Flow Z13: The ROG Flow Z13 starts at $1,449 for the base model with an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.
Winner: The Surface Pro 9 is the more affordable option, especially if you don’t need the additional graphics power of the ROG Flow Z13.
Which One is Right for You?
The decision between the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 and the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Choose the Surface Pro 9 if:
- You prioritize portability and battery life.
- You need a versatile device for everyday tasks and light creative work.
- You want a wide range of accessories to enhance functionality.
Choose the ROG Flow Z13 if:
- You need exceptional performance for gaming or demanding creative tasks.
- You’re willing to trade off portability for a more powerful device.
- You want access to the ROG XG Mobile external GPU for even greater graphics performance.
FAQ
Q: Which device has a better display for content creation?
A: The Surface Pro 9 has a slightly better display overall, with higher color accuracy and brightness.
Q: Can either device be used as a tablet?
A: Yes, both the Surface Pro 9 and the ROG Flow Z13 can be used as tablets with their built-in touchscreens and kickstands.
Q: Which device is better for gaming?
A: The ROG Flow Z13 is a better choice for gaming thanks to its dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics.