Asus is probably one of the most recognisable names in the laptop market. They’ve got solid offerings in pretty much all segments from the mass-market ZenBooks and affordable VivoBooks, down to the gamer-focused ROG line of devices. Today, however, they’re launching a new laptop that’s catered to the businessperson on-the-go. It’s called the Asus ExpertBook B9, and it combines incredible portability with surprising practicality.
Price and availability
Asus’ ExpertBook B9 goes on sale today and will come in five different configurations:
Asus ExpertBook B9 (33Wh battery, 870g)
Core i5-10210U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD – RM6,299
Asus ExpertBook B9 (66Wh battery, 995g)
Core i5-10210U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (TPM) – RM6,599
Core i7-10510U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD – RM8,299
Core i7-10510U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD (TPM) – RM8,599
Core i7-10510U, 16GB RAM, 2TB SSD (2x1TB) (TPM) – RM9,299
Specs
Asus ExpertBook B9 is designed to be a super light business laptop that doesn’t really compromise on performance. As a result, it can be configured with two processor configurations. There’s an Intel Core i5-10210U as well as an Intel Core i7-10510U. On top of that, you can get up to 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage via two M.2 PCIe drives.
What’s interesting is that the laptop also features MIL-STD-810G durability rating, as well as reinforcements along the I/O ports and the hinge for added durability. It also features a spill-proof keyboard in case any accidents happen.
Speaking of I/O, the ExpertBook B9 has a solid set of ports including two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports (40Gb), one USB Type A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb), one HDMI port, an audio combo jack, a Kensington lock as well a micro HDMI port that can double as an Ethernet port with the use of an adapter.
You can get the ExpertBook B9 in two battery configurations. There’s a 33Wh option as well as a 66Wh option that Asus claims will last you up to 12 hours and 24 hours on a single charge. Despite the all-day battery claims, what I like most about the laptop is the fact that both versions weigh less than 1kg. The 33Wh 2-cell unit comes in at just 870g while the 66Wh 4-cell device weighs just 995g thanks to the device’s magnesium lithium chassis.
In the display department, you’re getting a 14-inch Full HD 16:9 IPS display with a peak brightness of 300 nits. Despite its really slim bezels, Asus still managed to cram the webcam at the top of the ExpertBook’s display with support for Windows Hello facial recognition and a built-in webcam shield.
Asus has also worked hard on the cooling for the laptop, with a redesigned fan as well as wider graphite sheets to help dissipate heat better. The ExpertBook utilises the company’s ErgoLift hinge to not only give you a more comfortable typing experience, but also prop the laptop up a little to improve airflow.
Other creature comforts include a set of far-field microphones along the top of the display, a fingerprint scanner, a touchpad that also doubles as a numpad, and a surprisingly comfortable keyboard with good travel.
What’s more, Asus even worked with Harman/Kardon to develop the ExpertBook B9’s speakers, but while they’re OK for ultra-portable laptop speakers, they’re definitely not the best in the market.
That being said, if you look at the big picture, the Asus ExpertBook B9 is certainly tempting from the I/O, performance and portability perspective. I would, however, have liked a version with a discrete GPU so that it can even appeal to more content creators, but I suppose that’s not really this laptop’s target demographic.
What do you think of the ExpertBook B9? Let us know in the comments below.
