The ProArt PX 13 Laptop from ASUS is a masterclass in creative computer design. Built with content creators in mind, the PX 13 aims to provide a powerful and portable solution for creators. Armed with impressive specs, the ProArt PX 13 offers users a convertible, touch-screen-enabled content creation powerhouse with four modes to choose from—catering to every type of creator.
Measuring 11.74” L x 8.28” W x 0.70” D, the ProArt PX 13 boasts a compact form factor while still managing to fit a 13.3-inch display. The outer casing, coloured in what ASUS calls Nano Black, is designed to reduce reflections, resulting in a sleek and sharp design. The aluminum casing makes the PX 13 feel solid and durable, with hinges that offer nice resistance when adjusting the display angle.
It is by far the sleekest generation of the ProArt series, standing out in a crowd of similar laptops. One minor critique of the design is the Nano Black finish—while it looks stunning and effectively reduces reflections, it’s a magnet for fingerprints. More than once during testing, I found myself reaching for a microfibre cloth to wipe down the lid and palm rests.
Designed to cater to creatives, the ProArt PX 13 is built to be an incredibly adaptable laptop. With four distinct modes of operation, the PX 13 can easily shift from laptop to drafting tablet with a flip of the lid. Thanks to the included ASUS Pen 2.0, the ProArt PX 13 quickly becomes a go-to drawing tablet on the fly.
“The ProArt PX 13 Laptop from ASUS is a masterclass in creative computer design.”
The 13.3-inch display is a vibrant 3K OLED panel, certified with DisplayHDR True Black. It offers an impressive 500 nits peak brightness (400 nits for regular use), delivering a brighter and more detailed visual experience. During testing, the screen looked stunning, whether for video editing or gaming (more on that later), and performed exceptionally well for colour grading, making it a joy to work on.
One interesting note is that while the 3K OLED display boasts a beautiful 16:10 aspect ratio, the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, which might seem unusual at first. However, the ProArt PX 13 is purpose-built for creators who prioritize colour accuracy and brightness over higher refresh rates. This design choice reflects ASUS’s focus on catering to professionals who value precision in their creative work.
The touchscreen is incredibly responsive, both to the pen and human touch, with no notable issues during testing. Thanks to the ASUS Pen 2.0’s impressive pressure sensitivity (4096 levels of pressure), the PX 13 simulates brush strokes or pencil sketching with remarkable accuracy, depending on the selected tool.
As an editor, while the Pen is a nice accessory, the ASUS DialPad is the centerpiece of the creative process. Although the DialPad has been around for some time, the latest iteration of both the hardware and software makes integrating it into your workflow a much more streamlined and user-friendly experience.
For those new to the DialPad, it is a small touch-activated section of the mousepad that activates by swiping from the upper-right corner inward. Once activated, it becomes a contextual dial that can control everything from media to timelines. While previous versions of the DialPad felt cumbersome, the ProArt PX 13 offers a smooth, user-friendly experience and is easy to program for any creative software suite you prefer.
Most of my testing took place within DaVinci Resolve, with some light testing in Affinity Photo and general Windows operations. In DaVinci, the DialPad by default acts as a timeline scrubber. Navigating the timeline has never been smoother and requires nothing beyond the existing hardware. It’s a much simpler solution than connecting an external controller. Additionally, the DialPad is completely programmable and can be customized to fit your workflow. While I was skeptical of earlier versions, this latest iteration is a solid improvement.
“The ASUS Pen 2.0 quickly becomes a go-to drawing tool, with impressive 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity for accurate brush strokes and pencil sketching.”
In terms of hardware, the PX 13 is packed with powerful, creator-focused components. The review unit I received includes the Ryzen AI 9 365 2.0GHz processor (up to 5.0GHz, 10 cores, 20 threads), 24GB of LPDDR5X 7500MHz RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB video card. At first glance, the specs seem a bit unbalanced, with the CPU and RAM feeling more powerful than the GPU.
However, the Ryzen AI 300 series CPU is designed for two primary purposes: powerful AI support for assistant tools and exceptional multitasking performance. The onboard AMD Radeon 880M graphics help handle much of the processing load, effectively freeing up the GPU for creative tasks. This is complemented by the fast 24GB of 7500MHz RAM, resulting in a more holistic approach to process management. The components work well together, requiring less overall “horsepower” to achieve the same results.
In testing, the ProArt PX 13 handled power-hungry tasks like 4K editing and high-end gaming with ease, despite its lower-powered video card. The AI engines in the Ryzen 300 series CPUs allow for more throughput, reducing processing time and boosting overall performance. For example, in DaVinci Resolve, editing complex video projects with Fusion transitions, text overlays, multiple audio tracks, and Multicam setups was smooth, with no delays or slowdowns in live previews—something even my more powerful desktop rig struggles with occasionally. All of this is accomplished on a laptop physically smaller than a 13-inch MacBook Pro.
While not marketed as a gaming laptop, I tested a few games on the ProArt PX 13 and was impressed with the results. Although it struggles with ray tracing (tested using Studio drivers), when disabled, games like DOOM Eternal and Cyberpunk 2077 ran well. DOOM Eternal maintained a consistent 120+ frames per second on ultra settings. The OLED display added to the experience, presenting a vibrant and smooth gaming session. While the 60Hz refresh rate was a bit of a limitation, it was nonetheless impressive for the NVIDIA 4050 6GB card, showcasing the synergy of the ProArt’s hardware.
During high-end processing, the ProArt maintained adequate temperatures for the CPU and GPU, but the chassis did get quite warm. This is partly due to the aluminum body, which acts as a passive heatsink, and the directional exhaust design of the ProArt PX 13. The dual fans push hot air through four exhaust ports, but the heated air still runs along the top portion of the keyboard. While normal for compact laptops, it’s something to be mindful of when using the device in tablet mode. Thankfully, high-end processing tasks like video rendering or gaming typically wouldn’t be done in this mode, so it’s more of a design note than a critique.
One design feature that stands out is the impressive number of I/O options. Two USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C ports provide fast charging and data transfer options. Additionally, the ProArt PX 13 includes a Micro SD 4.0 card reader, making it ideal for video creators. You’ll also find two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and a combo headphone jack for connecting a mixing headset.
“The ProArt PX 13 offers a powerful, portable solution for content creators on the go, with a beautiful OLED display and a robust creative toolset.”
For wireless connectivity, the PX 13 is equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4 for lossless Bluetooth audio streaming. The built-in Harman/Kardon speaker system, while not the loudest, offers clear and well-rounded audio with solid clarity across the spectrum.
Battery life on the ProArt PX 13 is decent, lasting through a full day of office productivity and some content creation. However, things change with more demanding tasks like video editing and streaming. While 1080p streaming at full brightness resulted in about seven hours of battery life, 4K streaming dropped that to just over three and a half hours. Gaming, as expected, quickly drains the 73WHrs, 4-cell Li-ion battery. For everyday work and moderate content creation, the ProArt PX 13 should easily last through the day.
In terms of software support, the PX 13 comes with a suite of AI-driven tools to enhance the creative process, all accessible from the ProArt Creator Hub. This hub serves as the central interface for everything from hardware monitoring to AI tools. Two notable AI tools included are StoryCube and MuseTree. StoryCube is an AI-driven photo and video organizer, which worked well during limited testing.
The more interesting tool, however, is MuseTree, an AI image generator that maps your creative thought process in the form of an image map. As you type and build ideas, the software cross-references and generates images based on your input. While it didn’t inspire me to write a novel, it could help spark creative ideas or sharpen conceptual thinking.
The ProArt PX 13 is an impressive piece of hardware. The Ryzen AI 9 365 processor redefines how PCs manage processing, resulting in a laptop that pushes the limits of what’s possible in a compact 2-in-1 design. With a beautiful OLED display and the included ASUS Pen 2.0, it’s the perfect portable PC for creatives. While heat dissipation could be refined and the battery struggles under heavier tasks, the ProArt PX 13 offers a powerful, portable solution for content creators on the go.
