Verdict: The 2023 Asus ROG Flow X16 is one of the most versatile gaming laptops available in its class. Its Core i9 processor, RTX 4060 graphics, bright 16-inch touchscreen, 360-degree hinge and pen support make it a capable gaming machine, creative workstation and occasional tablet. The trade-offs are equally clear: it is heavy for tablet use, loud under load, mediocre for gaming away from a charger and expensive unless you find the right discounted or refurbished configuration.
There is one crucial buying warning: not every Flow X16 has the same display. The reviewed RTX 4060 model used a fast IPS panel, while selected higher-end versions used a much brighter mini-LED screen. Check the exact SKU before buying.
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What Asus ROG Flow X16 was reviewed?
This review covers the 2023 ROG Flow X16 GV601V tested by Notebookcheck in a configuration with:
- Intel Core i9-13900H
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with up to 120W including Dynamic Boost
- 16GB DDR5-4800 memory
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 16-inch 2560×1600 16:10 IPS touchscreen at 240Hz
- 90Wh battery
- Windows 11 Home
- Approximately 2.09kg chassis weight
The original European review configuration cost €2,599. That is historical pricing, not a current August 2026 street price. The 2023 model is now a legacy-generation product, so the condition, battery health and exact specification of a used or refurbished unit matter more than the original price.
#1 Best Overall
- THE ULTIMATE 2-IN-1 – Stay in the zone with a larger touchpad, up to 10 hrs of battery life, and a flexible 170° kickstand that adapts effortlessly to create, game and work on the go.
- POWER MEETS PORTABILITY – Equipped with a brand-new one stop shop chipset experience in the AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor with 16 cores, up to 50 tops NPU power and RDNA 3.5 graphics in a 13-inch chassis, the Flow Z13 is designed for next generation portable power.
- GAME CHANGING AI ASSISTANT – Experience productivity boosts and improved power efficiency curtesy of ROG Intelligent Assistance with Copilot + PC powered by AMD Ryzen AI.
- SEAMLESS PERFORMANCE – The LPDDR5X 8000MHz quad-channel memory dynamically balances the integrated CPU and GPU. With 32GB of low-latency memory, it ensures smooth gaming.
- ROG NEBULA DISPLAY, BRILLANCE UNLEASHED – Experience brilliance with the 16:10 WQXGA 180 Hz/3ms PANTONE Validated touchscreen, covering DCI-P3 color space.
A genuine 16-inch convertible
The Flow X16’s defining feature is its 360-degree hinge. The screen folds into conventional laptop, tent, stand and tablet positions. Unlike a detachable gaming tablet, the keyboard remains attached, but that makes the laptop more practical for everyday typing and gaming.
Tablet mode is useful for sketching, annotating documents, browsing, watching video and playing controller-based games. The large display gives artists and designers a generous canvas, and the touchscreen supports compatible pen input. However, a 16-inch laptop weighing about 2.09kg is not comfortable to hold like a small tablet for long periods. The convertible design adds real flexibility, not ultralight portability.
The keyboard is suitable for productivity and gaming, with single-zone RGB backlighting. It is less configurable than a per-key RGB keyboard. The large touchpad is helpful for work, while the 1080p IR webcam supports Windows Hello. Asus lists a four-speaker Smart Amplifier system; it is useful for general media, although headphones remain preferable for competitive gaming.
The Tool Desk
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The tested panel was a 16-inch, 16:10 IPS touchscreen with 2560×1600 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. Notebookcheck measured approximately 469 nits average brightness, 99.9% sRGB coverage, 96.6% Display P3 coverage and 84.6% AdobeRGB coverage. It also recorded fast response times and no problematic PWM in testing.
That makes the reviewed screen strong for games, office work, photo work and general creative use. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides more vertical space than a conventional 16:9 gaming panel, while 240Hz is useful for fast games when the GPU can produce sufficiently high frame rates.
Selected 2023 configurations instead used a mini-LED panel with 2560×1600 resolution, 240Hz refresh, up to approximately 1,100 nits HDR peak brightness and 1,024 dimming zones. Asus lists this premium option primarily with higher-end configurations such as the RTX 4070 version. Its HDR contrast and brightness are substantially more ambitious than the IPS model.
Do not rely on a generic product title or a photograph. Asus’s specifications show that panel technology varies by configuration. An RTX 4060 Flow X16 should not automatically be described as mini-LED. Verify whether the seller is offering IPS or mini-LED, and ask for the exact model number if the listing is unclear.
Performance
Core i9 productivity performance
The Core i9-13900H has 14 cores and 20 threads, consisting of six performance cores and eight efficiency cores, with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.4GHz. In Notebookcheck’s testing, it performed strongly for a relatively thin convertible and exceeded the average of other Core i9-13900H systems in its database.
Rank #2
- THE ULTIMATE 2-IN-1 – Stay in the zone with a larger touchpad, up to 10 hrs of battery life, and a flexible 170° kickstand that adapts effortlessly to create, game and work on the go.
- POWER MEETS PORTABILITY – Equipped with a brand-new one stop shop chipset experience in the AMD Ryzen AI MAX 390 processor with 12 cores, up to 50 TOPs NPU power and RDNA 3.5 graphics in a 13-inch chassis. The Flow Z13 is designed for the next generation of portable power.
- GAME CHANGING AI ASSISTANT – Experience productivity boosts and improved power efficiency curtesy of ROG Intelligent Assistance with Copilot + PC powered by AMD Ryzen AI.
- SEAMLESS PERFORMANCE – The LPDDR5X 8000MHz quad-channel memory dynamically balances the integrated CPU and GPU. With 32GB of low-latency memory, it ensures smooth gaming.
- ROG NEBULA DISPLAY, BRILLANCE UNLEASHED – Experience brilliance with the 16:10, WQXGA, 180Hz, 3ms, PANTONE Validated touchscreen, covering 100% DCI-P3 color space.
It is easily fast enough for office work, programming, photo editing, compiling and moderate workstation workloads. It is not equivalent to a thick desktop-replacement laptop with a higher-power HX processor. Sustained rendering, simulation and long compilation jobs will generally favor a larger chassis with more cooling headroom.
Performance also depends heavily on Asus’s operating modes. Turbo delivers the highest plugged-in performance at the cost of noise and heat. Performance mode is a more practical compromise for everyday gaming and work, while battery operation restricts performance considerably.
RTX 4060 gaming
The RTX 4060 configuration is best understood as a high-refresh 1080p-class gaming laptop that can also handle 2560×1600 well with sensible settings. Notebookcheck found smooth performance at maximum details in Full HD in nearly all tested games. Many titles also ran well at the panel’s native resolution.
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Performance was broadly comparable with other RTX 4060 laptops despite the Flow X16’s thinner design. However, the RTX 4060 model could fall behind the previous-generation Flow X16 with RTX 3070 Ti graphics in some GPU-heavy tests. Buyers should therefore compare the actual GPU and price rather than assuming the newer generation is faster in every workload.
Heat, noise and sustained workloads
The Flow X16 avoids the worst performance compromises of many thin gaming laptops, but it does not defeat the laws of thermodynamics. Turbo mode is loud, and the fans can continue running after a demanding workload ends.
During Notebookcheck’s sustained stress testing, the CPU reached approximately 96°C early in the run. CPU power and clock speeds then dropped substantially before fluctuating, while GPU behavior also varied under the extreme load. This is evidence of how the cooling system manages prolonged maximum stress, not proof that every game will throttle in the same way. Short and medium-duration workloads remain a strength, but a thicker HX gaming laptop is a better tool for hours of continuous rendering or simulation.
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The laptop is thin for a gaming machine, not silent. Performance mode is likely to be more comfortable for routine use, while Turbo makes the most sense when maximum plugged-in performance matters.
Rank #3
- CUTTING-EDGE PERFORMANCE – Experience next-level performance with Windows 11 Home, an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and featuring DLSS 4 and Max-Q technologies.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask seamlessly with 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory and store your game library on 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD.
- PREMIUM ROG NEBULA DISPLAY – Immerse yourself in stunning visuals with the ultra-fast 240Hz/3ms display ideal for gaming, creation, and entertainment. Featuring a new ACR film that enhances contrast and reduces glare.
- STATE-OF-THE-ART ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – ROG’s advanced thermals keep your system cool, quiet and comfortable. State of the art cooling equals best in class performance. Featuring an end-to-end vapor chamber, tri-fan technology and Conductonaut extreme liquid metal applied to the chipset delivers fast gameplay.
- CUSTOMIZABLE FULL-SURROUND RGB LIGHTBAR – Showcase your style with a full-surround RGB light bar that syncs with your keyboard and ROG peripherals. In professional settings, Stealth Mode turns off all lighting for a sleek, refined look.
Battery life
Notebookcheck measured approximately:
- 7.9 hours in its Wi-Fi test
- 8.9 hours in its H.264 video test
- 1.5 hours under maximum load
- 0.9 hours in its Witcher 3 gaming test
Those are laboratory results from a 2023 review, not guaranteed runtimes for every Windows installation or an older used battery. They indicate reasonable light-use endurance for a powerful gaming convertible, but poor unplugged endurance for gaming or serious workstation work. Gaming performance also falls sharply on battery.
The bright touchscreen, powerful components and large 16-inch panel all work against long runtimes. Treat the Flow X16 as a laptop that can travel between outlets, not as an all-day mobile workstation.
Ports and the XG Mobile advantage
According to Asus’s 2023 specifications, connectivity includes:
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- One USB-C port with DisplayPort and power delivery
- One Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort and power delivery
- One proprietary ROG XG Mobile Interface/USB-C combination port
- HDMI 2.1 FRL
- 3.5mm headset jack
- MicroSD card reader on the tested configuration
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth, with the listed Bluetooth version varying by configuration
The proprietary XG Mobile interface lets the Flow X16 connect to Asus’s external GPU ecosystem. This can turn the laptop into a more capable desk-based system while preserving portability, but it is not a generic eGPU connection. Compatible XG Mobile hardware is expensive, and exact compatibility must be checked for both the Flow X16 generation and the accessory.
For most buyers, XG Mobile is an ecosystem bonus rather than a reason to pay a premium. If you need maximum desk performance, a conventional desktop or a thicker gaming laptop may offer better value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Upgradeability
Asus lists two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and support for up to 64GB of memory in the 2023 family. That is a meaningful advantage over many thin laptops with soldered RAM.
The review unit’s 16GB is adequate for gaming and general work, but 32GB is a more sensible target for heavy creative applications, large projects, virtual machines and long-term use. The listed 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is a reasonable starting point, although exact drive layout and service access should be confirmed for the specific GV601 revision.
Opening the chassis carries some risk and warranty policies differ by region. Check Asus’s applicable service terms and the machine’s documentation before upgrading.
Rank #4
- DUAL-SCREEN ADVANTAGE - Enjoy a spacious workflow with a two 16-inch touch screen, 3K OLED ROG Nebula Display HDR that keeps games, chats, streams, tools, calendars in view—giving you more room to game, create, and multitask.
- 5 MODES THAT MATCH WHATEVER YOU DO - Switch between laptop, dual-screen, book, and sharing so you can game, work, stream, code, read, or present in any environment, whether you’re at home or on the go. Enjoy tent mode for a new take on two person gaming.
- POWER TO GAME AND CREATE - An Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor with 16 cores, an NPU of 50+ TOPs, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU deliver immersive graphics, smooth gameplay, and the performance needed for demanding high-level creative work and intensive gaming sessions. Experience the power and creativity of AI in a Copilot + PC.
- BUILT FOR MULTI-WORKFLOW - With 32GB LPDDR5X 8533 Mhz memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, the Zephyrus Duo handles multiple windows, software, and applications at once—making multitasking smooth whether you're gaming, creating, coding, or presenting.
- REFINED CRAFTSMANSHIP - The CNC-milled aluminum chassis is carved from a single solid piece of metal, giving the Duo a stronger build with a premium finish. Paired with the new Stellar Grey color and iconic slash lighting across the lid, it delivers both durability and standout style.
Portability: slim, but not light
The review unit measured approximately 355 × 243 × 19.4mm and weighed about 2.09kg. Its power adapter weighed roughly 725g. That is impressive thickness for a gaming laptop with an RTX GPU, but the complete travel load is much greater than the chassis figure suggests.
It is best compared with other gaming laptops, not ultrabooks or tablet-first devices. The Flow X16 is portable enough for regular travel, but it is a large and heavy tablet in convertible mode. Buyers who want to draw while holding the device should consider the smaller ROG Flow Z13, accepting its smaller screen and different stand-and-keyboard design.
Configuration guide
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| GPU | RTX 4060 is the practical middle option; RTX 4070 may accompany the premium display. |
| Display | Confirm IPS or mini-LED independently. Do not infer it from the Flow X16 name. |
| Memory | 32GB is preferable for workstation use; Asus lists support up to 64GB. |
| Storage | 1TB is a reasonable baseline for modern games and creative files. |
| Stylus | Pen support does not guarantee that a stylus is included. |
| Charger | Verify that the original high-wattage adapter is included. |
| Used condition | Check battery health, hinge movement, fan noise, display defects and dust. |
| XG Mobile | Confirm connector and accessory compatibility; promotional images do not mean an eGPU is bundled. |
2022 versus 2023 models
The Flow X16 name covers multiple generations. The 2022 family included Ryzen 9 6900HS options, RTX 3050 Ti, RTX 3060 and RTX 3070 Ti graphics, plus a listed 165Hz mini-LED option. A discounted 2022 RTX 3070 Ti model can still appeal to buyers who prioritize gaming or display quality, but battery condition and platform age matter more in the used market.
Do not combine specifications from the 2022 and 2023 families. Check the full model number, processor, GPU, refresh rate, panel type and included accessories.
Who should buy the ROG Flow X16?
The Flow X16 makes sense for a buyer who genuinely needs several machines in one: a capable gaming laptop, a large touchscreen creative surface, a pen-enabled convertible and a mobile workstation with upgradeable memory. It is particularly appealing when used plugged in and bought at a substantial discount.
It is a poor fit for an esports-focused buyer seeking maximum performance per dollar, someone who requires silent operation, a tablet-first user, or anyone expecting all-day gaming and workstation battery life. It is also difficult to recommend at a price close to a newer conventional gaming laptop with faster hardware and better cooling.
Ultimately, the Flow X16 succeeds because its unusual combination of features is genuinely useful. It fails only when buyers treat its versatility as free: the cost is paid in fan noise, heat, weight, battery life and configuration complexity.
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