Customers are impressed with the ROG Flow Z13's powerful performance, especially its ample RAM and high frame rates, enabling smooth gameplay and efficient multitasking. The vibrant, bright screen and portable design are also frequently praised. However, some users note that the battery life could be improved. The unique design is a point of discussion, with some finding it initially unusual but ultimately appreciating its functionality.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 30 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Design, Frame rate, Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
This is a keeper for me!
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I originally owned the Z13 2022 version and debated getting this one. The specs seemed too good to be true and the design of the ACRNM seemed a little bizarre to me... until I had it in my hands and realize that it's function and form are unique in a good way. I actually like the feel of the unit and the design. It feels well protected, very sturdy and well-built. I could not feel any creaking or any issues with the screen. I even like the keyboard, which looks completely normal at night with the backlight on. The keyboard is unique looking but not much different than what my son does with his gaming keyboard in changing some of the key caps to different colors. I find that it is a pleasure to type on and feels sturdier than the 2022 version.
Performance is on another level. I have tried other gaming laptops, such as the G14 and the Razer 14 3070ti. This one performs incredibly well compared to those. I'm maxing out my framerates to 150-165 on Ultra settings in Doom Eternal at 1080p. I'm getting 70-90 frames at high settings in Hogwart's Legacy at 1440p. The best part is that this system stays much cooler and quieter than almost every other gaming laptop out there.
Battery life is okay for what you are getting. I can run normal office applications, web browsing, Netflix, etc. anywhere from 4-6.5 hours depending on your settings and brightness. I just updated my bios recently and noticed that Armory Crate now allows you to disable Performance and Efficiency cores to either increase battery life further or increase gaming performance in CPU bound games. I have not tried this out yet, but I really like that Asus keeps making this device better.
Also, I haven't yet figured out how to get my eGPU (Aorus Gaming Box) with a RTX 3080 working through TB4; (it worked fine on my Z13 2022 version), however I also have the XG Mobile with the 3080 and it still works great with that eGPU. You will need to still plug it in if you want to set your system to Turbo mode.
Overall, I would highly recommend this system, especially if you can get it from Best Buy. I have not had any issues with Best Buy and as a member of the Total Tech program, I have even greater peace of mind knowing I have that protection.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ram, Screen brightness
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate All-In-One Powerhouse
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
By far the best small form factor professional and gaming capable device on the market. 32gb of ram and the ASUS XG mobile eGPU interface ensures the future-proofness of this device. The CPU is very powerful and will last years, all you need to do is connect future models of the ASUS XG mobile eGPU to the device to keep up with the demand of future games.
The Good:
- Its light. Its heavier than the 4060 model by 0.2 pounds, but coming from a 16inch laptop, its very light.
- Screen is very bright and has multiple modes that are software enabled to improve display conditions for situations like games, video streaming, etc.
- Pen accurancy and responsiveness blew me away. This is the most competitive windows based pen to the ipad that i've ever seen. Great for notes and drawing.
- Gaming and computing performance is phenominal for such a small device. Advanced cooling system ensures stable temps and low fan noise.
-Comes with a very sturdy built-in kickstand.
-Its every device you could ever want all in one. Its a 13 inch full windows tablet at its base, but the accompanying keyboard makes it an excellent professionally capable laptop. Connect it to a TV or a monitor to get the desktop experience, with the added ability to turn into a mobile console, ready to stream games at ultra high settings and with no delay due to the blazing fast Thunderbolt 4 data transmission to the display that you connect to.
-Its just really fun to use. Imagine having an incredibly powerful gaming capable computing beast that you can carry in your hand as easily as a notebook. Its a very sturdy device, and the back metal plate does grow on you, very visually appealing.
The Bad:
- The all metal backplate takes some time getting used to. Its not the prettiest, but the greatly improved thermals and quieter fans make it worth it.
- Battery life isn't good or bad. With half brightness and power saving + advanced optimus, web browsing/video streaming will get you up to 6 hours, which is pretty adequate for normal use. Intense workloads such as gaming or high utilization processing tasks can shorten that to as low as 1-2h.
- The external bumpers on the corners that act as hook points are quite large and also take a bit of time getting used to.
- Not the greatest selection of ports. The Thunderbolt 4 does support DP output and daisychaining, allowing for potential expansion via a Thunderbolt4 expander. You will need a conversion cable if you want to connect from TB4 to DP or HDMI.
-The keyboard is not the best in terms of appearance. The ACRONYM-style lettering on all of the keys is meant to be a cool gimmick, but instead it just makes the keyboard confusing to use and type with, especially if you look down visually every now and then when you type.
Overall, the best laptop/tablet purchase i've ever made, with an amazingly fun user experience. Initial price is a bit steep, but this device is built to last for many years, making it very much worth it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ram
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The best laptop I've ever owned in my life
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
**Performance**
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 with its Intel Core i9 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 offers excellent gaming performance. Whether it’s for AAA games or demanding creative applications, this laptop handles them smoothly. The 32GB of RAM ensures that multitasking is seamless, and the 1TB SSD provides fast loading times and ample storage.
**Battery**
The battery life is decent for a gaming laptop, but like most high-performance devices, it struggles under heavy loads. When gaming or running intensive tasks, the battery drains quickly. For general productivity, you can expect a few hours of usage, but for gaming, it’s best to stay plugged in.
**Heat**
Heat management is solid, though the laptop can get warm during extended gaming sessions. The fans do a good job at keeping temperatures manageable, but they can get quite noisy under heavy load. Investing in a cooling pad might be a good idea for longer gaming sessions.
**Portability**
One of the standout features of this laptop is its portability. At 13.4 inches, it’s compact and easy to carry around. The detachable keyboard and touchscreen make it versatile for both work and entertainment, and it’s one of the more lightweight options for a gaming laptop with these specs.
**Price**
The price is on the higher end, but given the premium build, high-end specs, and unique design, it feels justified. However, it may not be the best option for those on a budget or casual gamers.
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Overall, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 is an excellent choice for gamers and creative professionals looking for a portable yet powerful device. While there are some drawbacks like battery life and heat, its performance and portability make it a strong contender in the high-end gaming laptop market.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Frame rate, Ram, Screen brightness
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Top of the Line - Its a 4070
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First Best Buy, its a 4070 with 32gb of RAM. Your screwing this up. Anyways, nothing but love. QHD, high refresh, and great gaming. This is great as an extension to your PC or can be primary depending on what you game. Its super fast, screen is bright and made me return the 3050TI version. Recommend you get total tech with this for protection bit its insanley sturdy.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ram
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I love this Birtday gift to myself!
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I didn't have a chance to get it brand new when it first came out, so I bought an open-boxed one. Lucky me, it was almost brand new, and all the accessories had never been used. However, I had second thoughts about what might have been returned if the performance was not as powerful as I expected. It has an i9 processor, a 4070 graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. After 2 days, I decided to keep this little beast! I made the right decision to save money by not buying the Flow Z13 2022 Version last year, and I won't spend any more money on StockX or eBay. Patience has finally paid off. The only thing is that the battery life is not so good, but it doesn't bother me since I only play this at home and plug it in. You can do everything gaming-wise on this amazing device.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ram, Screen brightness
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Unleashing Power and Portability: The Z13-ACRNM
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming laptops, a new titan has emerged, setting unparalleled benchmarks for performance, design, and versatility. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 is not just a gaming laptop; it's a testament to what the future of mobile gaming can aspire to be. With its sleek, silver chassis, this machine is as much a piece of art as it is a technological marvel, making it a standout choice for gamers who demand the best.
Unmatched Performance
At the heart of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 lies an Intel Core i9 processor, a powerhouse that breezes through the most demanding games and applications without breaking a sweat. Combined with 32GB of RAM, this laptop offers blistering fast performance, ensuring smooth gameplay and efficient multitasking. Whether you're battling it out in the latest AAA titles, streaming your gameplay, or working on intensive video editing, the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 handles it all with unprecedented ease.
Stunning Visuals
The 13.4” QHD display is nothing short of a visual feast, offering crystal-clear images, vibrant colors, and razor-sharp details that bring games to life. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card further enhances the visual experience, delivering realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections through ray tracing, alongside silky smooth frame rates thanks to DLSS technology. Gaming on this laptop is an immersive experience, with visuals that are as breathtaking as the gameplay is exhilarating.
Design and Portability
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 redefines the notion of a gaming laptop's portability. Its slim profile and lightweight design make it incredibly easy to carry around, offering the power of a high-end gaming PC in a form factor that's ideal for on-the-go gaming. The silver finish gives it a sleek, modern look that stands out, making it a stylish accessory for any gamer.
Storage and Connectivity
With a 1TB SSD, the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 offers ample storage space for all your games, applications, and media, ensuring quick load times and a seamless gaming experience. The range of connectivity options is equally impressive, offering versatility for peripherals, external displays, and high-speed internet connections, making it a versatile tool for both gaming and productivity.
Final Verdict
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 is a game-changer in the realm of portable gaming laptops. Its exceptional performance, stunning display, and sleek design make it an outstanding choice for gamers who refuse to compromise on power and portability. This laptop not only meets the expectations of the most demanding users but exceeds them, offering a gaming experience that's unparalleled. Whether you're a professional gamer, a content creator, or someone who demands the best from their technology, the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 is a laptop that will not disappoint.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Frame rate, Screen brightness
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Upgrade From the 2022 Asus ROG Flow Z13!
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First and foremost: I am an ASUS ROG Flow line enthusiast. I currently own the Asus X13 2021 model, the Asus Z13 2022 model, and now the Asus Z13 Acronym variant. I have to say, the new model is absolutely amazing! On the days where I just need my tablet for school, I take only that and the small pouch with the accessories all in it with me. The aluminum chassis feels amazing and doesn't feel so heavy when wearing it. I still feel extremely protective of both the pouch and the device, worrying I might scratch them as I take it stand alone.
The 32GB, 3.0 USB-A port, the RTX 3070, and the included stylus makes this tablet much better than the Asus X13, especially when it comes to gaming and for outdoor use (the 2021 X13 has a 300 nit screen and this version has a 500 nit screen, with a 165Hz refresh rate). Although the battery life does fall a bit shorter, with some slight adjustments (10-15 on the brightness, on silent), I can easily maintain two one hour classes of taking notes and lecture with some to spare (at 80% battery capacity). I love how Hello! works with facial recognition so that I don't need to login each time and the endogenous stylus works so much better than the Bamboo: the response and the sensitivity makes this stylus much more user friendly for writing notes.
A few things I did encounter that were minor: the included tips does not have a small carrying case, so replacing tips are at home or carry that original brown package box it came with on you. The second issue was the sudden loss of Nvidia software and drivers after updating. It took me a while to realize that there were gone (screen brightness did not change and graphics card was not recognized) so that was interesting. Last, the Armoury Crate had to be reinstalled due to issues when updating (so many updates, I mean, I wish they were updated to most up to date first because it was deciding which updates it wanted to do and caused a hiccup?). Just minor issues.
I love this device! This is now my primary portable, on the go tablet! I have not tested it with my two XG Mobiles but I will definitely give it a shot soon!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Performance, Ram
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Amzing gaming laptop/tablet
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Posted . Owned for 4 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I was looking for a system that works both as my desktop and laptop, and this one is both and more. Very powerful pc, any game I installed, plays with no issues, and to top it off, I also purchased the Rog egpu 4090 16gb. Together it is amzing how well plays all my games. I'm talking about AAA games.
Overall I am very happy with this laptop and definitely recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Performance
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great. Bad kickstand. TSA precheck issues.
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I had the z13 2022 version. The battery is better on this. Performance is as well. Getting 89 4k call of duty ultra settings.
HOWEVER, they changed the kickstand. It was a flat line, now it is in two points that jab your leg when you use it on your lap without protection. Also, from last year, they had a cut out which made for a nice hand hold, now, it isn't there. Please go back to the old kickstand design. Also, the metal backing requires me to unpack it now when going through TSA precheck, which I did not have to do before. High class problems I know. Would I buy it again....YES.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Special Edition at a Cost
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This gaming laptop/tablet is a 2-in-1 computer that is very powerful. It is very pricey but for the cost you receive a special edition version of the Asus Rog Flow Z13, a stylus, charger, and magnetic keyboard. The battery life is not great but plugged in is where you see the i9, 32gb, and 4070 shine. Thanks to DLSS 2.0 and Frame Generation, it will handle every new AAA game you throw at it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Awesome!
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Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Really impressive with specs and portability! I've paired a ROG Azoth and ROG Keris with my Z13 to be a great on the go setup. Able to play any game I throw at it, while looking great with milled aluminum body. Battery can be better, but for the trade off of specs and size, I can overlook it for my use case.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Compact Stylishly and powerful
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I would have to say that I wish Best Buy had more stock of this powerful tablet. I bought mine open box but discovered that someone switched the power supply for a 60-watt charger, and the stylus was missing. So I have to return it; that was a big mistake because it has been out of stock for a while now. It was soooo good when I had it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Design
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Asus
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
tI love this pc tablet, it is a lot of power in a small forum factor, I love the design and all the accessories, gaming is so good on this device it's kinda unbelievable considering the compactness, not only are the straps cool looking they are also practical for on the go computing. Really happy with this purchase.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Design
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great design with power
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is the second Window laptop that I ever buy. I always purchase Macbook Pro for my everyday use. However, when Apple changes its chips to its own design, I can no longer install Windows. So, I purchase this laptop. It is amazing so far. It is not too big or too small to carry around and has a great design just like the fashion brand. It has enough power to run all the games that I want to play with the highest setting. That is everything that I want from the laptop. The only downside to this laptop is that the SSD has only 1 TB, and all the games nowadays are heavy, so I need to upgrade it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Almost Perfect
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Posted . Owned for 8 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Easily one of the best laptop/tablets on the market (if not the best).
PROS:
Runs all my games, including AAA, in high or ultra quality on a laptop
Keeps thermals under control with liquid metal and a full metal body
Decently durable and drop safe with the metal edges
CONS:
Keyboard is a little flimsy and the custom characters can throw you off in the beginning
Looks kinda silly to anyone who sees it
Can get Blue Screen of Death error pretty frequently*
Overall:
Great laptop/tablet I have been using for almost a year so far and I love it. Needs a little bit of maintenance and care to run its best, but when it runs, it runs!
*I've found that fully turning off the PC when I'm done using it and turning it back on can mitigate this issue. If I don't restart minimum of once daily, I usually get BSoD upon waking the PC up. If I get especially unlucky, I'll get a permanent freeze instead of the BSoD and I'll need to hold down the power button to force shut off and restart.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Great hardware - abysmal software. BEWARE UPDATES.
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Worked great 5/5 stars until a sudden and unwarranted update, that I did not ask for, bricked the unit. The firmware update tool came up during a match while playing an online game and disabled my USB-C charger while it was plugged in and then its progress halted for more than an hour. I figured something went wrong and stopped it and did a restart only to find the unit no longer charges. Essentially dead
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from ASUS Answers
Posted .
Dear Blake R,
We sincerely apologize for the issues you've faced with the notebook and the inconvenience caused. This is not the kind of quality to expect from ASUS products and it's not the norm. All ASUS products undergo intensive quality control, testing, and inspections. What you've experienced was not intentional or representative of our brand. Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we strive to make every purchase enjoyable.
Please allow us to make your experience with ASUS a better one. We recommend following the steps in the FAQ below to troubleshoot the USB-C issue. In the event the issue persists, feel free to contact our support team at https://www.asus.com/us/support/CallUs to further investigate the problem or assistance with getting the device repaired.
We stand behind our products and continuously strive to improve our products and processes to achieve customer service excellence. For more information, email us at [email protected] and include the case number "N2401036047-0001" as a reference. We will do our best to resolve your case quickly. Your feedback is very important to us and enables us to improve our support channels. Thank you for choosing ASUS.
Best Regards, Chantae ASUS Customer Loyalty US Support
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1042417/
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Buyer Beware
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
First, I want to say this is my first time buying from Best Buy in almost 30 years. Circa 1997 or so, Best Buy was involved in a class action lawsuit for re-shrink wrapping returned / used products and selling them in store as brand new. I'm a bit of an authority on the subject because I worked for Visioneer, and we were one of the plaintiffs. Best Buy didn't fair well in the suit. Fast forward to 2024, and Best Buy was the ONLY option for getting a hold of what I'd been looking for for months. I call it the 5 legged Unicorn - the Asus ROG Flow Z13 ACRNM RMT02. This model is so rare that it's been scalped on Amazon and eBay for $4k pretty regularly in sealed box condition. So when I found one on Best Buy's website in "Open Box-Excellent" condition for $125 less than it's normal, TRUE RETAIL, I couldn't refuse. They've probably straightened up their act in almost 30 years. Right?
Before summarizing my own experience, I want to be clear that I am not alone here. As I jumped into this rabbit hole, I found review after review, complaint after complaint, nearly identical to my own experience. And I've screen captured them all.
What is Best Buy's definition of "Open Box-Excellent" condition? Quoting from their own website on the sale page :
Open-Box Excellent
What you'll get :
A Geek Squad-verified product that looks and works like new, restored to factory settings. Plus, all original parts and accessories.
What might be missing :
Original packaging, owner's manual, and manufacturer registration
Of course, there are other grades of "Open Box". such as good, and refurbished. Each say they could have cosmetic issues, or even be missing parts. This should mean that "Open Box-Excellent" is their top tier, and for all intents and purposes it is implied that it's as close to how the manufacturer intended the product to be sold as possible. Typically this can be as simple as a customer wanting to inspect the contents of the box and back out of the sale, to the customer had it for a couple of weeks and decided it wasn’t right for them, or they got buyers remorse.
That was not the case here. After the two weeks it took to arrive, I opened the box surrounding the manufacturer's packaging, and found the original manufacturer box for the product mostly intact and taped with Best Buy Security tape. Good on Best Buy though, for putting it all "inside" of another box for shipping. But that's as far as my compliments go. Everything seemed to be there at first. There were individual boxes for each component included with the kit. Such as the matching limited edition Stylus Pen.
After opening the individual boxes I found that the matching limited edition Stylus Pen "tip" replacements were there. But no pen. The webbing carry straps were mostly there, but looked like they had been cut into pieces for some reason. The power supply was present, but appeared to be used, and fit very loosely into the computer. The screen glass on the computer had several small scratches on it, but later realized that it had a meticulously applied screen protector installed that I didn't notice the first day. The scratches are on the screen protector as far as I can tell but was unwilling to remove it. It is was pretty obvious that this computer was used, but I decided to look a little deeper to try to get an idea of how used it was. To make that longer story a little shorter, I used a software utility to check the status of the internal SSD drive. It turns out that the unit had been powered on 99 times, and had approximately 377 hours of use with over 1TB of data written to it. It was absolutely used, plain and simple. Certainly not just "open Box" condition, as if it were a customer dissatisfaction return, or a buyer's remorse return inside Best Buy's 15 day return policy.
The next thing I did was check the computer’s warranty status through Asus using the serial number, and attempted to register it. It came back as already registered, and was already 5 months into the manufacturer’s 12 month warranty, with 7 months remaining. One can surmise that this computer was wholly owned by someone, for months.
How it could have ended up back in the for sale pool in any kind of "Open Box" condition some 5 months after it was "registered" through Asus, is the real question here. There’s always the potential that someone used the "Trade In" option to buy another device using this device to get trade in toward a new purchase, but I can’t see anyone being that reckless with a $2500 machine. The money lost on this device just months into ownership. would have been unreasonable to consider.
Everyone seems to be doing it now, though. Best Buy has "Open Box" sales on their website. Amazon sells "Renewed" on their website, eBay sells "Refurbished on theirs (but they’ve always been a big digital rummage sale anyway). Ironically, even Best Buy has a presence on eBay for that matter, where they sell what I now have to assume wasn’t good enough to be sold on their website or in one of their retail stores. And with only 1000 negative feedbacks in the last 12 months, and over 600 neutral, I’d say they’re crushing it, right?. This is the new "Yard Sale" side model for these "too big to fail" companies.
Everyone expects Amazon Renewed to arrive broken, greasy, full of cat or dog hair, or smell like smoke. Because that’s become the norm. Amazon get’s away with it sometimes. Most of the time they’re called out on it. eBay? No one really even cares about eBay anymore, but let’s face it, you’re always gambling with eBay. Everyone knows that. In all cases though, this is especially true with expensive electronics.
When it comes to one of the nation’s largest electronics retailers (or is it the only one left?), I would have expected more from Best Buy. This is where "too big to fail" comes into play. And that became perfectly clear the very first day my computer arrived, the first thing I did was call Best Buy. I didn’t mention it yet because that’s an entirely different rabbit hole that I’ll touch on at the end.
What the condition of this computer really tells me, is that this is an seedy internal thing with Best Buy, such as an employee took it home for a test drive, rang it out a little and threw it back into Best Buy's yard sale bin. I have other theories, too. But this was the most likely to me. And, because of my previous experience and history with Best Buy, I suspect it happens more often than not. This computer should have gone straight to Best Buy’s bargain basement venue – eBay. I saved a grand total of $125 buying "Open Box – Excellent" over it’s retail. I would have gladly paid full retail for a brand new machine sealed in the box, but it wasn’t an option, anywhere. And hasn’t been for months. It should have been listed as fair or good condition with a significantly larger discount so the buyer was more aware what they were buying. What I find abhorrent, is that there are so many mirrored experiences that are documented online that it represents a clear pattern of behavior that is unacceptable ....
Let’s talk about customer service. I call Best Buy. At this point I didn’t know the extent of how used this computer was yet. I simply called to see if I could get them to send a replacement Stylus Pen. I did what anyone would do, and called my nearest Best Buy to speak to a manager about my order (75 miles one way for reference). It didn’t matter. As it turns out, the pandemic changed how Best Buy takes customer calls. You can call any local store in the country, you’ll get routed to an outsourced call center in India. One of their reps told me how and why this had changed. I was also told they were unable to connect me with a local brick and mortar even if they wanted to. If I wanted to speak to a local store manager, I’d have to drive 150 miles round trip to do so, and that there would be no way that Best Buy Customer Service would be able to authorize a replacement Stylus Pen, or even offer a partial refund etc.
There’s much more to this chapter. I even recorded each and every call on speaker with my tablet. Someone needs to say this. If you are spending your money at Best Buy, you’re risking aggravation like you’ve never experienced.
Realistically - these kinds of problems are certainly something you could classify as "first world problems", I know. Why didn't I just return the computer and be done with it? Well, I wasn’t done exploring options yet. I wanted to get in touch with Asus to see what they had to say about all this. My thought was, if Asus would transfer registration to me, then I could purchase an extended warranty – in case the previous owner stressed it out in a gaming frenzy over the course of 5 months.
After a few emails back and forth with Asus, I was told they were unwilling to offer me an extended warranty. What is important to note here is actually "why". As it turns out, if you buy anything "Asus" from Best Buy, let alone in open box condition from anywhere ... Asus will not allow you to buy an extended warranty on your product. I’m sure this means they’ve been bitten by Best Buy before and had to put their foot down.
So I’m left with two options at this point. Take my chances on a thoroughly used, re-packaged product that I paid a mere $125 less than retail for that was missing components, or return it and admit defeat. If only. Because of waiting for communications from Asus and Best Buy, I have now passed my return window. All because I legitimately tried to retain this purchase in spite of the flaws and disappointments. Think about the bigger picture here. If Best Buy does this to even 10% of their customer base, they’re making multi-millions of $$$ on shady business practices. Best Buy should be boycotted. Again, I’m not alone. I will be posting this review everywhere and anywhere I can that will support the character count.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ram
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Amazing tablet
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Its amazing and that it comes with 32gb ram makes it even better
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Wow
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
A beast of a machine. Work and entertainment on the go!
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
So far Im loving it !
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Im just loving this thing so far, outstanding performance to be only 13 inch display 165Hz and QHD , one of the best smaller laptop/tablet I ever seen, I really like the feature of detachable keyboard making it like a all built in monitor, for gaming I like to use it with a xbox controller.