Working on the go is a thing, there is no denying that. Working from home is also a huge thing now, since the pandemic hits in 2020. In this kind of environment, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture is stronger than ever. You have the choice of bringing your own laptop for work, you even use your own smartphone at work and for work. It is a headache to the IT team though.
If you are working as a part of the IT workforce in your own company, you want to limit the number of foreign devices accessing your system and network at work. You want standardized devices that you can monitor and service quickly. At the other end though, you want a device that is powerful enough and sleek enough to make it look like you mean business in the boardroom.
You get a standardized set of laptops for business use case of course. ASUS has some new ones for 2022. Specifically, they have the ExpertBook series for 2022.
ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip
We start with the most premium option of the bunch, the ExpertBook B7 Flip. It packs Intel’s latest 12th Generation Core i7 CPU for good measure. To ensure that it will multitask like a champion you can spec it with up to 64GB of RAM. To ensure you never run out of space, you have up to 2TB SSD. To ensure you get an entire day of work, the ExpertBook B7 Flip has a quoted battery life of 11 hours.
All of these is packed in a body that weighs just below 1.5kg. While that might not sound all that light, you must remember that the ExpertBook B7 Flip is a convertible laptop that can also quickly turn into a tablet. It is not a light tablet by any means in that case, but it also carries a large battery and proper keyboard to work with. Additionally, the shell that encases all the powerful internals is an MIL-STD 810H certified construction. That also means that it will withstand all kinds of drops, scrapes, and spills without too much of an inconvenience.
All that power also gets translated into Windows 11 on the expansive 16:10 14-inch screen. You can opt for QHD+ resolution too, if you want the best experience on the ExpertBook B7 Flip. If QHD+ is not enough for you, you can also get a 4K monitor and connect the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip via the Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port. The USB Type-C also supports PD 3.0. Speaking of ports, it has a full HDMI 2.0b port for good measure. If you need, there is also a Mini DisplayPort as well alongside a full-sized 3.5mm audio jack and an SD card reader. It even has a Nano SIM slot, if you need the constant connection. For all your teleconferencing needs, there is the 720p webcam that can be covered too with a quick flick of a latch above the camera module.
As mentioned, there is a Nano SIM tray. The ExpertBook B7 Flip supports 5G connectivity to make it the ultimate productivity machine wherever you go. At the same time, if it is available to you, the ExpertBook B7 Flip connects to WiFi 6E for an extra stable and fast internet connection. For all your wireless peripherals, Bluetooth 5.2 should be more than enough while maintaining a low power draw.
ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip
Sitting slightly below the premium B7 Flip is the B3 Flip. Just because the B3 Flip is not premium as the B7 Flip, does not mean you get a lot less for your money.
You still get to spec your ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip with up to Intel’s Core i7-1165G CPU. Similarly, you do not get a dedicated GPU here, just Intel’s Xe Graphics (up to). Pair the CPU and integrated GPU with up to 48GB of RAM though, and you are still getting a rather powerful multitasker.
You get a Full HD display that measures at 14-inch. The IPS panel is not a 16:10 aspect ratio screen though, it is a regular 16:9 aspect ratio display. There is nothing wrong with that. It is also a touch screen display with stylus support, understandable since it is a convertible.
In terms of port, you get two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports that both support 4K and USB PD 3.0. There are two full USB Type-A ports, a full-sized HDMI 2.0a port, and even an RJ45 LAN port for you to work with. It even has a microSD card slot that also doubles as a Nano SIM slot if you want one.
Inside, you will find up to 1TB SSD to store all you need to store in your ExpertBook B3 Flip/ You will also find that the ExpertBook B3 Flip has support for 4G LTE bands, WiFi 6 (up to), and Bluetooth 5.0. Dig further you will see two speakers and two microphones for crisp teleconferences. For video conferencing there is the 720p webcam that also has a handy shield to cover it when it is not in use. There is also another 13-Megapixel camera that sits on the keyboard, right below the display that faces away from you in tent mode.
All of these great things are packed in an aluminium body that weighs just over 1.6kg. It is not ExperBook B7 Flip light, but it is not too heavy considering all that it packs. At the same time, the body is an MIL-STD 810H certified body, so it can withstand almost anything you can throw at it.
ASUS ExpertBook B3 Detachable
If you need to be a lot more agile, a lot more mobile, ASUS has a solution for you. The ExpertBook B3 Detachable is technically a tiny Windows tablet that can get you working from anywhere and anytime.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform, the ExpertBook B3 Detachable is more like a tablet on paper than a laptop. It is still a Windows 11 device though, making it technically a proper PC. At the same time, because the B3 Detachable is powered by a highly power efficient processor, the portable workhorse offers a longer battery life like no other PC in its range can.
The display is not a big one for a PC, a 10.5-inch display that boasts WUXGA resolution. Yes, it is an ideal 16:10 aspect ratio display too for working. It is also an IPS panel which should boast vivid and accurate colours with up to 87% NTSC colour gamut coverage. The glass out front also houses a 5.0-Megapixel camera that can be used, and mostly will be used as a webcam. There is also a 13-Megapixel camera out the back for high-resolution photos when you need it.
The keyboard it comes with, as per its name, is detachable. There is still some tactility on the keyboard though with 1.5m of key travel. At the same time, it is a spill resistant keyboard. It comes with a matching back cover too that is rather clever. The back cover acts as a two-way kickstand. You can stand it in portrait mode, or even the regular landscape orientation in almost any angle you want.
Of course, this being more of a tablet, it only packs one USB Type-C port alongside a 3.5mm combo jack. It still has two speakers and two mics for crystal clear teleconferencing. Of course, you get WiFi 802.11ac connectivity on top of Bluetooth 5.1.
Price and Availability
These are notebooks made mostly for enterprise use. In that case, you might not find them listed or displayed in your favourite PC stores. You want to contact ASUS corporate representative to get your hands on one. If you are interested to get them for your company though, the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip will set your company back MYR 8,499. The ExpertBook B3 Flip costs MYR 4,499 while the detachable variant will set your company back MYR 2,099. For more information on the new ASUS ExpertBooks can be found on their website.