ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) review – Ideal for Mobile Creatives, But Consider Your Workflow
In modern times, content creators are blessed with a huge variety of devices suitable for their specific needs. They can choose from huge behemoths with plenty of power to detachable laptops like the ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306). Despite its compact form factor, this one is still a capable machine. It’s powered by the 8-core Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 which isn’t the most powerful SoC that Qualcomm can offer for the Copilot+ PC range but it packs a punch for daily or office workloads. This processor excels at AI tasks, thanks to its 45 TOPS NPU.
Since this device can also be considered as a tablet with an external keyboard, don’t expect good upgradability. Still, it has an NVMe and a fast LPDDR5x memory under the hood. The connectivity is modern, you get the latest and greatest Wi-Fi 7 standard.
The star of the show should be the 13.3″ HDR OLED touchscreen with a 2880 x 1800 resolution and stylus support. We can confirm that this unit is pretty color-accurate out-of-the-box. The manufacturer claims that the HT5306 can survive -30°C temperatures and super high altitudes. If you’re planning a trip to Everest, bring the PZ13 and let us know how it holds up.
Security isn’t hindered. You get fTPM 2.o, a Microsoft Pluton security processor, and an IR Web camera. The IP52 rating ensures that a few water sprays on the chassis shouldn’t be a problem.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-proart-pz13-ht5306/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
- Display
- 13.3”, 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED
- HDD/SSD
- up to 1000GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x PCIe NVMe 4.0 x4
- RAM
- up to 16GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home
- Battery
- 70Wh
- Body material
- Aluminum
- Dimensions
- 297.5 x 202.9 x 0.90 mm (11.71" x 7.99" x 0.04")
- Weight
- 0.85 kg (1.9 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-C
- 4.0, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- Card reader
- SD (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- Audio jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- 5.0MP front-facing camera + 13.0M Ultra HD (4K) rear-facing camera
- Backlit keyboard
- optional
- Microphone
- Array Microphone
- Speakers
- Speaker with Smart Amp Technology
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
All ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.asus.com/laptops/for-creators/proart/proart-pz13-ht5306/helpdesk_download?model2Name=HT5306QA
What’s in the box?
The retail box of this thing is huge. At first sight, you get the feeling that a 17″ machine is fitted on the inside. However, you’ll find the laptop/tablet itself well-protected in a smaller box alongside a useful stand. The included ProArt backpack seems like a quality one and it can handle up to 16-inch notebooks.
We also found in the package the ASUS Pen SA203H-MPP2.0 stylus (which is optional) and a compact and light 65W Type-C adapter.
ASUS also provides a Micro SD adapter and a Type-C charging cable for the pen.
Design and construction
The included keyboard is a nice touch since you can start using the device as a standard laptop as soon as you unbox it. Aside from the board, you get a good-looking Windows-based tablet with vertical stripes around the display. This design feature is inspired by the pro-grade photo cameras. The fingerprint-resistant finish that is applied on the back is doing a decent job but the display looks like a smudgy mess after an hour of usage.
The magnetic stand in Moss Green color has cutouts for the rear 13MP camera (that can record 4K videos) and the fan mesh. The keyboard also protects the display while transporting the gadget in a bag. The optional stylus could be found in many other ASUS machines meant for content creation. We have no complaints regarding the pen itself, it’s light and comfortable to use. It’s also a great tool for sketching, taking notes, or just browsing the Web when the keyboard is detached.
The stand offers great grip. We even tried to push the keyboard slightly towards the laptop and the chassis didn’t move at all – nice!
The OLED display is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass NBT. The aluminum shell is impressively rigid. In tablet-only mode, the machine stops the scales at 0.85 kg, and the profile thickness is impressive as well – 9 mm. The top bezel houses a 5MP IR Web camera for Windows Hello. The ASUS AI Noise Cancelation is onboard to reduce the background noise during calls.
For an external unit, the keyboard is rather capable. It has a backlight and the sizable keycaps offer an average travel (which is understandable considering the low profile of the board) and really nice feedback. That’s enough for comfortable typing. The Copliton shortcut is positioned close to the Arrow keys which are too small for our likings.
Aside from a bit noisy clicking mechanism, the touchpad is all you need for work – it’s smooth and precise.
The OLED screen looks (almost) completely dark when the device is turned off. The back panel is home to a ProArt logo, a rear camera, and a mesh that protects the fan from dust and water splashes.
Ports
All the ports are on the left side. There, we can spot a USB4 port and an SD Express 7.0 card reader hidden beneath a tall cap followed by another USB4 port and a speaker. Both Type-Cs support 40 Gbps data transfer, DisplayPort (for up to 5K external displays), and power delivery functions. Nothing fancy on the right – just a speaker cutout and Volume buttons.
The air vents and the power button are on the top and the combo of hinge holes and docking port is on the bottom.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) | ATNA33AA08-0 (SDC41B0) |
Diagonal | 13.3 inches (33.8 cm) |
Panel Type | OLED Touch |
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 pixels |
Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
Pixel Density | 255 PPI |
‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 36 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
[VIEWING ANGLES PHOTO]
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306): the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut
The “MyASUS” app emulates Display P3 and sRGB color spaces.
(Fig.2) Display P3
(Fig.3) sRGB
The MyASUS app is complemented by ProArt Display Color Management Software aimed at helping the user make the most of accurate color matching for any workflow.
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in HDR mode is 572 cd/m² at 8% white fill and 395 cd/m² on a full white screen.
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 394 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 394 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 1%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6350K (“Native-Default, Normal” mode in “MyASUS” app).
The contrast ratio of OLED panels is excellent because the pixels turn off completely when displaying black.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 182 nits (Windows slider = 70%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306). We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Below are the results of the ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) in its factory condition (HDR off) compared to Display P3 and sRGB color spaces.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The luminance of the ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) display is PWM controlled up to about 100 cd/m2 (the “Flicker-Free Dimming” mode of the “My ASUS” app eliminates it). Therefore, we consider the display to be sufficiently comfortable for vision in the considered aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the ASUS ProArt’s screen is 145 GU.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) configurations with ATNA33AA08-0 (SDC41B0), 2880 х 1800, OLED panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Office Work
Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.
Design and Gaming
This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.
Health-Guard
Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.
Get all 3 profiles with 33% discount
Sound
The ASUS ProArt’s speakers are of very good quality. The low, mid, and high frequencies are clear.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Best Performance” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu. Also, the “Performance” preset is activated in the “ASUS ProArt Creator Hub” app.
CPU options
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 is the only CPU model for this ASUS series.
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU options
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Adreno GPU is fitted inside the SoC.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
Counter-Strike 2 | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Very High (Check settings) |
Average FPS | 46 FPS | – | – |
Gears 5 | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
Average FPS | 24 FPS | – | – | – |
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Storage performance
Our tablet-like laptop has a 1TB WD PC SN740 SDDPTQD-1T00-1102. Its speeds are above average but the drive gets hot during benchmarking which is normal considering the thin chassis of the notebook.
Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average core frequency; CPU temp.
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
---|---|---|---|
ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) | 3.33 GHz @ 88°C | 2.98 GHz @ 95°C | 1.94 GHz @ 74°C |
The Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 can sustain 3.30 Ghz and 3.00 GHz in short and medium loads which is a respectable result for a thin detachable laptop. The SoC becomes toasty after half a minute of max loads reaching a whooping 95°C. In longer stress, the clock is a bit below the 2.00 GHz mark while the temperatures are much lower.
Comfort during full load
When the processor is pounded with long heavy loads, the single fan becomes noisy but not too intrusive.
The fan is turned off in light loads when the CPU temperature is lower than 49°C.
The hot spot on the display reaches 48°C, the one on the chassis is ~2°C warmer, and the back zone that is close to the camera hits 50°C. The rest of the chassis is notably cooler.
When the CPU is loaded at max, the “Performance mode” and the “Standard” preset offer the same clocks (1.94 GHz) but the latter comes with a bonus – less noise. The fan isn’t exactly whispering when the “Whisper” mode is turned on but the noise levels are comfortable because the CPU frequencies are hammered to just 1.44 GHz.
Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows’ Power Efficiency setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 180 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 70Wh battery pack lasts for around 18 hours of video playback. The result is great~ To achieve that, you have to apply the “Energy Saver” preset in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu and select the “Whisper” mode in the “ASUS ProArt Creator Hub” app.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Verdict
The ASUS ProArt PZ13 (HT5306) is a great companion for content creators who travel a lot and need a compact and light machine with a color-accurate display. Speaking of which, the 13.3″ panel (ATNA33AA08-0 (SDC41B0)) also covers fully the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts and reaches almost 400 nits of max brightness in SDR mode. The included external keyboard is surprisingly capable and the same can be said about the touchpad. The kickstand provides a good grip while using the device in laptop mode.
In most cases, a creative professional or an artists need a good variety of ports. Here, you get just two USB4s and an SD card reader which doesn’t sound like plenty of connectors and this could be a limitation factor for some users. Because of the Qualcomm SoC, the memory is soldered and the only available configuration is only 16GB LPDDR5x-8448 MHz. This amount of RAM isn’t future-proof at all.
Now it’s time for some good news. The build quality is impressive and the tablet is solid as a tank. The performance of the 8-core processor is enough for normal tasks and the NPU is ready for heavy-duty AI workloads. Just don’t forget the fact that this is a tablet with a keyboard attached to it so the overall power in longer loads such as 3D Rendering isn’t something to write home about.
The ProArt PZ13 offers a lot of bang for its money including a very long battery life, good performance in short and medium loads, a crisp OLED touchscreen, and a capable keyboard.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-zenbook-s-14-ux5406/
Pros
- Great OLED display with 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage (SDC41B0)
- Infinite contrast ratio and 2880 x 1800 resolution (SDC41B0)
- 572 nits in HDR and 394 nits max brightness in SDR mode (SDC41B0)
- Good default color accuracy (SDC41B0)
- Quality sound
- Comfortable external keyboard
- Smooth touchpad
- 5MP IR Web camera
- Good CPU clocks in short and medium load given the thin profile (~3.30 GHz / 3.00 GHz)
- The fan is turned off when the CPU temperature is below 49°C
- Very long battery life (~18 hours of videos)
- Great aluminum build quality + Corning Gorilla Glass NBT for the screen
- 2x 40 Gbps USB4 ports with DisplayPort and power delivery capabilities
- SD Express 7.0 card reader
- Decently fast SSD (WD PC SN740 SDDPTQD-1T00-1102)
- Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
- Light and thin in tablet mode (0.85 kg / 9 mm)
- Laptop + tablet mode
Cons
- Low CPU frequency in long loads (1.92 GHz)
- Just 16GB of soldered LPDDR5x RAM
- High processor temperatures, especially in medium loads (95°C)
- High NVMe temperatures during benchmarking (80°C)
- Just two USB ports
- Noisy fan when the CPU is heavily loaded