The ASUS ExpertBook product family is primarily aimed at the corporate environment in terms of parameters, durability and, of course, an elegant design. I tested an ultrabook with the type designation B5404CVA with a 13th generation Intel Core i7 processor. The metal body gives the ultrabook durability that you will appreciate especially on business trips and also contributes to efficient cooling. ASUS ExpertBook B5 meets the demanding durability requirements according to the American military durability standard MIL-STD-810H
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The elegant, slightly matte and pleasant to the touch surface has the Star Black marketing label. The display can be tilted up to 180 degrees, which you will appreciate if you are showing something to people sitting at the table across from you.
The heart of the device’s notebook is the 13th generation Intel Core i7-1355U processor, codenamed Raptor Lake, which can run at a frequency of up to 5 GHz with high demands on computing power, with a TDP of up to 55 W. The processor has two performance cores for computing intensive tasks and eight Efficient cores for common tasks. These cores are optimized for the lowest possible consumption. A well-designed cooling system and a metal body make it possible to run at full power longer. On the other hand, under normal load, this processor can be very economical, it can reduce the working frequency to 1.8 GHz, when it consumes only 18 W. The processor supports the Intel vPro platform, which provides support for virtualization technologies and also advanced hardware security functions, such as Intel Trusted Execution, or Active Management, which facilitate the management and security of end devices in companies. Fast LPDDR5 memories also contribute to the overall performance, the tested notebook had 32 GB and a fast NVMe disk with a capacity of 1 TB using the latest PCIe Gen4 interface. it is difficult to say why the manufacturer did not use the latest generation of Intel Core Ultra processors with NPU, perhaps because in the corporate sphere there is a slight conservatism and a preference for proven components, perhaps in order to achieve a favorable price-
The display with a diagonal of 14 inches has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels and an effective anti-reflective treatment. The 16:10 aspect ratio allows you to display more content in portrait, which you will appreciate especially when working with documents. The manufacturer states 45% coverage of the NTSC color space. .I measured the display backlight brightness at 322 nits in the center and 314 nits was the smallest value in the corner quadrants. The manufacturer states 300 rivets. The maximum brightness is sufficient even for work on a bright sunny day, of course in the shade, for example on the terrace of a cafe
For a device intended for business, the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 security chip is a matter of course, which is required by an additional layer of security in Windows 11. The TPM chip securely stores authentication information used by software, such as passwords or encryption keys, to protect important data and transactions. Your data remains encrypted, which virtually eliminates the risk of information leakage through hacker attacks. The device is Intel Evo certified. For biometric authentication, you can use either the fingerprint sensor or facial biometrics via the integrated camera and infrared camera. ASUS AdaptiveLock technology monitors your presence and automatically locks the laptop when you move away. After returning, it will automatically unlock again.
The webcam with fullHD resolution (1080p) with IR function for Windows Hello has several smart functions using AI. I recommend activating the lighting optimization, which continuously adjusts the image according to the current lighting conditions and motion tracking when your face is kept in the center of the image, possibly also blurring the background. Also try the Gaze Correction feature, which adjusts the image so that it looks like you’re still looking at the camera. A safety lens cap is a matter of course. During video calls, you will also appreciate the microphone with AI noise and noise suppression, which optimizes the recording of the human voice. The AI ClearVoice function ensures optimal voice reproduction of your communication partners. Of course, turn off this function when listening to music or watching videos. The pair of speakers is directed diagonally downwards. The sound is significantly better than you would expect considering the size of the laptop
I have to praise the high-quality backlit keyboard. It has a standard layout of the keys, including their dimensions and spacing, so that those who can control fast typing with ten fingers can use their skill to the fullest. The keys have a stroke of approximately 1.5 mm, pleasant tactile and sound feedback. The manufacturer declares that the keyboard is spill-resistant. The epithet “standard keyboard layout” was meant for the future, because the button with the Windows Copilot logo on the keyboard immediately catches your eye, which allows you to activate the AI assistant immediately.
The connector equipment is superior in terms of thickness. In addition to two USB-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 4.0 technology (40 Gb/s), the user also has two USB-A connectors, HDMI for connecting a monitor or projector, and an Ethernet connector. There is also a 3.5 mm audio jack connector.
Connectors on the right side
Ethernet connector on the left side
Thanks to two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port, you can connect up to three external displays with 4K resolution. For example, you can hold a video conference on your own laptop display and use three screens at the same time to keep an eye on information related to the topic of the meeting. The power supply with an input of 65 W is connected via USB-C. The battery with a capacity of 63 Wh lasts for 12-13 hours with adequate display brightness and work in Word
Verdict A powerful work tool with an elegant design.
Specifications: Processor: Intel Core i7-1355U Raptor Lake, clock frequency 1.8-5.1 GHz; 32 GB RAM LPDDR5; 1 TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 drive, Intel Iris Xe graphics; display: 14″ OLED resolution WUXGA 1920 x 1200 px 16:10, 300 nits, NTSC: 45%; connectivity: 802.11ax (WiFi6E) 2, Bluetooth 5.3; operating system: Windows 11 Pro; connectors: 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB- C, 2 x USB 3.2 (Type-A), HDMI 2.1, RJ45 Ethernet, battery: three-cell 63 Wh, dimensions 313 x 226 x 19 mm, price 1329 euros
+ design, performance, low weight, battery life, rich connector equipment
– a latest generation processor would be nice
Rating: 9
Source: www.nextech.sk
