Buzz
Whether you're a basic user looking for a laptop that excels in office tasks or a small to medium-sized business user in need of durable, efficient, and highly secure computing devices, the ASUS ExpertBook B1 is indispensable. ASUS's flagship product brings many highlights to the business environment, and especially Intel's 12th Gen processors ensure smooth handling of everyday tasks.
Starting with the design, the ASUS ExpertBook B1 features a sleek style with its entire outer shell crafted from solid aluminum. Combined with the electrostatically applied black Anodized finish, it provides a solid feel, minimizing unnecessary details to help you focus more on your work.
The A-side is elegantly finished with a simple layer of matte black paint and adorned with the ASUS logo in the center. On the back edge of the A-side, ASUS also equips 2 small rubber edges to support the device when you open the hinge, minimizing scratches and preventing slips.
Upon opening the laptop, the ErgoLift hinge leaves a lasting impression by gently raising the device at a slight angle, enhancing typing comfort and ensuring effective heat dissipation for the underside.
Furthermore, the keyboard's 1.5mm deep key travel is designed in a chiclet style for a satisfying and precise typing experience. Additionally, the keyboard is equipped with spill-resistant capability to better protect the device in business environments.
The touchpad below is relatively small, providing a less comfortable user experience compared to many other personal laptop models. However, multitouch gestures and swiping are executed smoothly and seamlessly. Moreover, you can switch between the touchpad and numpad using a small control key in the upper right corner.
The most underwhelming aspect of the device is its screen. The ASUS ExpertBook B1 only sports a 14-inch display, an IPS LCD panel with FullHD resolution. It reaches a maximum brightness of 220 nits and covers 45% of the NTSC color gamut (approximately 65% sRGB).
This provides a good viewing angle experience, but usage under strong light conditions can be uncomfortable with faded colors. However, the screen is equipped with an anti-glare layer and has a ratio of 84% compared to the body, helping you stay focused on work and reducing reflected light.
Above the screen, the product is equipped with a webcam supporting 720p resolution for online meetings. When not in use, you can also turn off the webcam for safety with a physical cover on top or disable it via software with a shortcut key below.
In terms of security, the ASUS ExpertBook B1 features biometric security through a fingerprint sensor located in the upper left corner of the C surface. This allows you to increase device security and access the desktop faster. Additionally, the product is equipped with a TPM 2.0 security chip to store all information securely.
ASUS ensures a comprehensive array of basic connectivity ports to facilitate users in easily connecting external peripherals. On the left side, the product provides a Thunderbolt 4.0 port, a D-Sub port, an HDMI port, and 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Conversely, the right side features a Kensington lock slot, a USB-A 2.0 port, an RJ45 LAN port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader slot.
Overall, the ASUS ExpertBook B1 boasts remarkable durability with MIL-STD 810H military standard certification. The product undergoes rigorous testing under various harsh conditions, from freezing temperatures to scorching heat and daily impact shocks. This ensures long-lasting durability for your usage.
The configuration of the version I got hands-on with includes an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Intel Core i5-1235U processor, belonging to the 12th generation, is a power-efficient model balancing performance and power consumption with 2 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores. It boasts a Turbo Boost clock speed of up to 4.4 GHz and provides a 12MB cache.
However, despite having a Gen 12 processor, the ASUS ExpertBook B1 still features DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MHz and PCIe Gen 4 SSD.
A quick test with the Cinebench R23 software yielded quite impressive scores on the power-efficient processor, reaching 4467 multi-core points and 1532 single-core points. These scores are comparable to the Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor with a TDP of up to 28W.
Moving on to the Geekbench 5 software to delve deeper into the processor's single-core and multi-core performance. The ASUS ExpertBook B1 performs well with 1629 single-core points and 4857 multi-core points, and over 13,000 OpenCL points.
Moreover, the device is well-supported with SSD PCIe Gen 4, offering read speeds up to 3718.5 MB/s and write speeds reaching 3334.42 MB/s. This significantly enhances the smoothness of basic operations like booting up, launching applications, or general usage. Data reading or copying is also faster, ensuring smoother workflow.
When necessary, ASUS ExpertBook B1 also provides you with the flexibility for upgrades, a feature not commonly found in many other ultrabook products. Specifically, ASUS ExpertBook B1 supports upgrades up to 48GB RAM, 2TB HDD 2.5 inches, and 1TB SSD (replacing the old SSD with a new one).
Finally, to sustain the operational energy of ASUS ExpertBook B1, it relies on a 65W power supply. Additionally, it comes with a 42Wh battery for extended continuous usage over many hours.
Overall, ASUS ExpertBook B1 possesses numerous advantages stemming from its durability and stability, enabling you to achieve high work efficiency over extended periods. If you can overlook the screen aspect, this device is a worthy and outstanding choice in the mid-range segment for office tasks. Stay tuned for our upcoming detailed review for the most comprehensive and accurate assessment.
ASUS ExpertBook B1 boasts many merits deriving from its durability and stability, facilitating high work efficiency over prolonged periods. If the screen aspect can be overlooked, this machine is a commendable choice in the mid-range segment for office tasks. Await our forthcoming detailed review for a thorough and precise evaluation.
