ASUS ProArt PX13 Review: Unique and Powerful

Introduction

The ASUS ProArt PX13 is one of our favorite laptops we’ve used this year. It is a somewhat miracle device delivering jaw-dropping performance in a tiny, very portable 13" 2-in-1 form factor. The last video that we published on the channel was so complex that Josh's MacBook Pro 16 with the M2 Max chip literally could not edit it without stuttering, but the little ProArt could. Even more surprising was that it didn't get nearly as hot and loud during those tasks like you'd expect. It also stayed silent and cool in light use. These awesome improvements in such a small device are surely being bolstered by AMD's newest generation of Zen 5 processors.

However, even though they are more power efficient than previous AMD CPUs, the ProArt's poor battery life is one of its biggest downsides. It is also capped at a 60Hz screen which makes it a no-go for many gamers who might've been interested in it. Lastly, we experienced some internet drops due to its MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 card. It is upgradeable, but something to keep in mind. If these cons sound manageable for you, this is truly a phenomenal laptop and we'll get into why starting with its powerful components.

Performance

These new AMD Zen 5 chips perform very well. In Geekbench, which tests a variety of common performance tasks, the HX 370 CPU in the ProArt gets the top score of comparable laptops, but still trails slightly behind Apple’s M3 Pro chip.

Common Performance - Geekbench

In Cinebench, which tests the processors under max load, the ProArt performs the same as Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 CPU in the IdeaPad 5 Pro. Keep in mind, that is a much larger 16-inch laptop. Both of them are behind the Mac in Single-Core but around the same in Multi-Core. Something to note with these graphs, is that the MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip has similar specs to the ProArt we have, but significantly more expensive.

Max CPU - Cinebench

It’s not just raw performance that makes these new AMD chips so special, it’s also their power efficiency. Taking a look at their performance per watt, these are significantly ahead of laptops with Intel’s latest processors as well as AMD’s prior generation. Over a sustained 10 minute test, this laptop’s processor has a similar max power draw as the IdeaPad’s Core Ultra, but averages 16 watts less power. This leads to a much higher performance per watt score.

Power Efficiency Measured by Performance Per Watt

Heat & Fan Noise

As far as the heat you feel goes, ASUS has done a great job with cooling the ProArt. In demanding applications, which is what this laptop is designed for, it feels warm but remains in a comfortable range. Especially considering this is a tiny laptop.

Under max load, the fans are loud and noticeable but not overly so. When the fans run they are slightly high pitched, so you may notice them more than other laptops of similar volume. On the flip side, in real-world use, we found the fan noise was quieter than the graphs would indicate. When both Josh and Taylor were video editing, the fans would spin up when doing something tough like playing a complex timeline, but the moment they stopped the fans would quickly turn off.

Now in light use, when I was writing this article, the laptop was dead silent and felt only slightly warm. Compared with ASUS’s own Zephyrus G14, we measured this one at 2 degrees Celsius cooler where you would have your hands. That laptop is larger, so this is a great result for the Pro Art.

Graphics

Which brings us to another thing we love about this laptop: it’s got dedicated graphics! The version we have is the lower tier model, equipped with an RTX 4050, but there is also a 4060 version available. This one’s GPU is fed higher wattage than the other 4050s that we’ve tested at 95Ws. The maximum recommended without boost is 100W, so it’s not far from its full capabilities here. This makes it perform so well that it beats some 4060s, like the low wattage one in the HP Omen Transcend.

Gaming

To test how it performs in games, I played Final Fantasy XIV with some friends, and a few rounds of Fortnite. I set them to the display’s native resolution and ran them at low settings. They stuck to around 60 fps consistently making them enjoyable to play on a 60Hz screen. The fan noise was loud throughout if that bothers you, but I had the same experience with the G14 and I found that laptop’s fan noise to be more high-pitched and annoying.

Overall, if you are interested in gaming we’d recommend considering the 4060 version. Do keep in mind your screen is maxed out at 60Hz, so the 4060 may not make a difference for you if you are only playing less demanding games.

Display

The 13.3-inch 2880x1800 OLED screen looks fantastic. It has a crisp 255ppi and is also very color-accurate. It covers 100% of the sRGB and P3 Color Gamut, and 95% of adobeRGB. One downside is that its brightness is a little lower than we normally like at 380 nits. It’s not bad for an OLED, but it may not be the easiest to see in a bright environment and it definitely won’t be visible outdoors. This is also due to its glossy finish which shows reflections even at higher brightness. Its screen door effect is minimal, and PWM, or pulse width modulation flickering is only detectable at lower brightness settings.

It is also a touchscreen which is comfortable to use in both tablet and laptop mode thanks to the strength of its hinges. One downside is that the pen is bought separately which is disappointing for a 2-in-1 at this price point. This increases the price you’re paying by $100 if you want one. It’s also another thing to remember to carry with you.

Chassis

Regarding portability, this is shockingly light for a device with dedicated graphics, coming in at 1,392 grams which is barely over 3 pounds. With the charger it’s only about 4.3lbs or 1,937g.

The laptop is well-built, which you can see in its screen and deck flex being minimal. It can also be opened with one hand. Overall, we found it quite comfortable to use with its rounded edges that didn’t cut into our wrists when typing.

Keyboard & Trackpad

On that note, we all really liked the keyboard. It has a standard layout besides the copilot key, and its 1.7mm key travel felt solid for a laptop this size. Some of us found it a little squishy or gummy if that bothers you, but it does lead to a quieter typing experience.

The trackpad feels as premium and as precise as you’re going to get for a mechanical one. However, the trackpad includes the “ASUS dial pad” which we didn’t find very useful. For functions such as zooming on a photoshop project or Premier Pro Timeline, it was consistently laggy. Plus, the speed at which it scrolled through just didn’t feel natural. It seemed to need a lot of tuning that you couldn’t adjust in its configuration settings. Fortunately, it’s easy to turn off if you don’t want to use it.

Connectivity

Starting on the left we have a Dedicated charging port, HDMI 2.1, USB-C 4.0 Gen 3, and a standard 3.5mm audio jack. On the right we have a power button, microSD card reader, USB-A 3.2 Gen.2, and another USB-C 4.0. This means that it supports USB-C charging on both sides of the laptop, which is always nice to see. One point of concern is the power button’s placement on the side below the ports. It can be easy to accidentally press.

As far as connectivity goes, this comes with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 but one of the downsides of this laptop is its Wi-Fi card. It uses a MediaTek one, whose cards have been known to have Wi-Fi issues. We unfortunately did experience these issues, but ASUS has informed us they are looking into a fix. The Wi-Fi card itself is replaceable if you don't want to wait for that update.

Upgradeability

If you do decide to upgrade either the included 1TB SSD, 73wH battery, or Wi-Fi card, there is a glued plug covering a screw in the middle to be aware of. The 32GB of memory is soldered which is pretty common, so it's nice that you probably won't need more than that.

Battery Life

As we've mentioned earlier, the battery life on this laptop is our biggest disappointment with it. Based on its battery remaining after a 4 hour netflix playback, it would only last a full work day in very light use.

Netflix 4 Hour Playback

In so many other categories this laptop feels like an easy, on-the-go device, but battery life is a bit disappointing. You’ll probably want to carry its charger with you.

Please note, we ran these battery tests in Eco mode, which is meant to turn off the dedicated graphics. But compared to other laptops with a similar processor and sized battery, this one did worse, indicating that perhaps it is still drawing some power. ASUS informed us they are looking into this issue as well after our video was released.

Conclusion

The 4050 version comes in at $1,700, and the 4060 right at $2,000. These definitely aren’t budget picks, but the price is about what we would expect for this kind of device. Especially when for creators it’s competitive with a $2,300 MacBook Pro 14.

Out of the hundreds of laptops we have here, this is the first one that I (Cierra) am personally considering buying for myself. I use creative apps like Photoshop and Illustrator, I like taking notes with a pen for my poetry and writing work, and I want to have a laptop strong enough in graphics to play multiplayer games like Fortnite or Final Fantasy XIV. This laptop covers all of the bases for me, and I’ve never seen a device quite like it. If it sounds like it checks a lot of boxes for you too, be sure to buy through the link here on our website. If you want more info before making a decision, check out our recently released video on the same topic where we go into more detail.