Asus ProArt PX13 adds Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with Strix Halo integrated graphics

Asus has quietly added a new configuration to its ProArt PX13 convertible lineup, powered by AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor from the upcoming Strix Halo family. This represents a fundamental shift in the laptop's design philosophy—moving from a discrete GPU approach to an integrated solution that AMD claims delivers discrete-class performance without the thermal and power overhead of a separate graphics chip.

The Strix Halo Advantage

The Ryzen AI Max+ 395's headline feature is its integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, which AMD has configured with 40 compute units. For context, that's significantly more execution units than typical integrated graphics and approaches the shader count of mid-range mobile discrete GPUs. The processor pairs this with AMD's latest XDNA2 NPU for AI workloads, creating a unified architecture that shares memory between CPU, GPU, and NPU.

This unified memory approach is what makes the PX13 particularly interesting for AI developers and researchers. The system supports up to 128GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory with 256GB/s bandwidth. AMD's own documentation suggests this configuration can handle LLMs with up to 120 billion parameters entirely in system memory, using quantization techniques to keep models local rather than requiring cloud inference.

For mobile developers, this means you can run larger models for testing and development without needing a desktop workstation. The trade-off is memory bandwidth—while 256GB/s is substantial for an integrated solution, it's still half of what you'd get from a desktop RTX 4090's GDDR6X memory. Real-world performance will depend heavily on how well AMD's drivers and ROCm stack mature for these APUs.

Hardware Specifications

The PX13 maintains its 13.3-inch form factor with a 2880 x 1800 OLED touchscreen. The display is Pantone-validated with 100% DCI-P3 coverage and a 60Hz refresh rate. The 0.2ms response time makes it suitable for digital art work, though the 60Hz limit means it won't be a high-refresh gaming display.

The 360-degree hinge continues to support laptop, tablet, tent, and stand modes. For developers, tablet mode with a stylus can be useful for testing touch interfaces or reviewing UI designs, while stand mode is handy for presentations or code reviews.

Storage is handled by a single M.2 slot supporting PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives. This is standard for the category, though creative professionals working with large video files might want to plan for external storage via USB4 or the microSD card reader.

Connectivity includes:

• Two USB4 ports (40 Gbps with DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Power Delivery)
• One USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps)
• HDMI 2.1
• 3.5mm audio jack
• microSD card reader
• DC power input

The USB4 ports are particularly useful for developers, supporting external GPUs if you eventually need more graphics power, though that defeats the purpose of the Strix Halo's integrated solution. They also enable fast external storage and multiple 4K displays.

Thermal and Power Considerations

The PX13 measures 299 x 210 x 18mm and weighs 1.39 kg (3.1 pounds). That's reasonably compact for a 13-inch convertible, though the 18mm thickness at its thickest point is slightly chunky compared to some ultrabooks. The weight is manageable for daily carry.

The 73Wh battery paired with a 200W power adapter suggests Asus is targeting sustained performance rather than all-day unplugged use. Strix Halo's power efficiency will be critical here—AMD's previous integrated graphics solutions often struggled with sustained workloads due to thermal constraints in thin chassis. The PX13's cooling system will need to handle both the CPU and GPU portions of the APU under load.

For developers, this means you'll likely want to stay plugged in for compilation, emulation, or AI inference work. The battery should be sufficient for lighter coding tasks, but expect significant drain during GPU-accelerated work.

Cross-Platform Development Context

For iOS/Android developers considering this as a development machine, the PX13 presents an interesting option. Android Studio and Xcode (via virtualization) will run fine on the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. The integrated GPU should handle Android emulators with hardware acceleration, and the 128GB memory option means you can allocate substantial resources to virtual machines.

However, there are platform-specific considerations:

For Android development: The Ryzen processor is fully supported by Google's Android Emulator with GPU acceleration. You can run multiple emulator instances, though each will consume significant memory. The Strix Halo's GPU should handle modern Android UI rendering smoothly.

For iOS development: You'll need to virtualize macOS. While AMD processors can run macOS via tools like Docker-OSX or OpenCore, this violates Apple's EULA and isn't officially supported. For legitimate iOS development, you'd still need access to a physical Mac or cloud Mac service.

For cross-platform tools: Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin development will work well. The PX13 can compile for both platforms, though iOS builds require macOS for final compilation and deployment.

Pricing and Availability

Asus hasn't announced official pricing or availability for the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 configuration. The existing PX13 models with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics start at $1800. Given that Strix Halo APUs are expected to command premium pricing and the 128GB memory option will add significant cost, the new model will likely start around $2000-2500.

There's also a GoPro-branded version of the PX13 mentioned in the announcement, featuring black metal finish and optional GoPro accessories. This seems to be a marketing partnership rather than a hardware differentiation.

Developer Implications

The PX13 with Strix Halo represents a meaningful shift in mobile workstation design. For developers who need GPU compute without discrete graphics drivers' complexity, this offers a unified solution. The memory configuration is particularly compelling for AI work—being able to load 120B parameter models locally removes cloud dependency and data privacy concerns.

The trade-offs are clear: you're giving up the raw performance ceiling of discrete GPUs for thermal efficiency and memory unification. For mobile development, this is probably a good trade. For game development or heavy 3D work, you might still want discrete graphics.

The real test will be AMD's software stack. ROCm support for these APUs needs to mature, and application compatibility with the integrated GPU will determine whether this is a viable development platform or just an interesting experiment.

If you're currently using a MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon, the PX13 offers similar unified memory architecture but with the flexibility of Windows and x86 compatibility. If you're on Intel/NVIDIA hardware, this represents an opportunity to consolidate your development and AI workloads onto a single portable device.

For more details on the ProArt PX13, check out Asus's product page. Information about AMD's Strix Halo processors can be found on AMD's official site.