ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip review: professional laptop-transformer with 5G

For many users, laptops have become the main computer that accompanies the owner at work, are responsible for entertainment at home, stores work and personal information travels on business trips and vacations. In most cases, users lack the usual mediocre laptops. But for those who have specific requests and are reluctant to play games, there are separate enterprise models. One of the most interesting variants of such working machines is ASUS ExpertBook. Today we will get acquainted in more detail with the example of the model ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip (B7402FE).

Specifications

ASUS ExpertBook configuration

Unlike conventional laptops, professional models can have a slightly expanded configuration. In the case of the test ExpertBook, the box contains not only a power supply but also a network adapter and stylus. Because such a laptop is unlikely to have only one workplace, and is quite expensive, getting a branded case in the box would be nice. But the issue of aesthetic protection during transportation the manufacturer left to the user.

On the company’s website, among the branded accessories for this model, you can find docks with USB-C (has 3 USB-C ports, and one each HDMI, RJ-45, and USB-A, which can charge a laptop with a maximum power of 100 watts) and a small power supply unit with which it will be more convenient to travel. You can also use any other accessories with the appropriate standards. Although, given the available configuration, there is no need for additional purchases.

Design and ease of use

If you have seen or worked with ExpertBook before, you will not see anything cardinal here except for minimal changes in the design. It’s also a small black laptop (although I’d rather call it navy blue) with a nice effect, as it’s called in the automotive world, pearl paint. This fully meets the expectations of a strict office, where a dress code is an important part of the workflow. That is, no design gadgets, only practicality and “focused facial expression”.

But Flip is a transformer. The hinge allows you to rotate the display completely to the bottom of the top case, making it a tablet. This does not exclude any intermediate positions that may correspond to each situation. It is convenient during presentations, work with various calculations, drawings, etc. At home, it will be convenient for, for example, a child who can draw or play some educational games. After all, this is not the first transformer on the market, so the target audience of such laptops already knows how to use such laptops.

It should be noted at once that I liked the design of the case. It is well assembled, so there were no inconveniences or suspicious sounds during operation or any changes in the position of the display. After all, ASUS does not need advice on how to make a quality transformer. The only thing I personally lacked were rubber clamps on the front panel of the top case and the upper part of the display, which would allow the body to be better fixed in the position in the shape of the letter “L” (although I don’t think this point was missed). For other uses on the top case, there are legs and clamps. Separately, we want to praise the quality of the accelerometer, which quickly determines the position of the display, to which the system responds accordingly and changes the orientation of the display.

The case itself is made of aluminum alloy. It is rigid and bends only under the action of force (in the normal working process it is not damaged, and there are no noticeable deformations of the body). What is not very typical is the surface: unlike traditional metal cases, this one is not smooth, but a little rough. This is not a negative thing, just not for every curious user. On the other hand, such a surface has proven itself well in terms of practicality, because the traces of use on it are not so noticeable. And in the best traditions of the company, new models are tested quite roughly:

As for the set of ports – there are many. All are traditionally scattered on the sides of the top case. On the left are two ports Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.0, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, Micro HDMI (through which the complete adapter connects RJ45), a combined headphone jack, and three indicators. The right side received a Kensington lock, a nano-Sim slot, a power button, volume keys, and another USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, and under it all there is a Smart-card reader. Very good.

The open cover of the display minimally raises a part of the case above a surface. But it has legs that, along with others, hold the laptop well on the work surface. No more curiosities from below (as is the case, for example, in-game models) were found.

The dimensions of the laptop are also good. With a 14-inch display, the body measures 320 × 234.2 × 18-18.9 mm and weighs 1.43 kg. Of course, this is too much for the tablet. But it also has enough different modes of use, so it will be easy for him to find a comfortable position. Although it won’t take long to work with it in your hands, it’s too much weight to balance on one hand and tap on the display with the other. Again, nothing new for a laptop transformer. You just need to get used to the location of the warm air outlet, which is hidden near the hinge, and which opens when the display is opened.

I have had experience with ExpertBook in the past, but that model could not be transformed into a tablet. In normal operation, they are almost indistinguishable from each other. And it’s just a nice and reliable laptop. I personally don’t really need the tablet mode, but some users find it useful. I am almost sure that in any of these options, the user of such a transformer will be satisfied, regardless of whether they used laptops of this format, or just decided to try.

ASUS ExpertBook display

The screen of this model also has its curiosities, which are not found in every line or even the manufacturer. But first to the basic parameters. ExpertBook Flip has two resolution options: 2560×1600 or 1920×1200 pixels. In both cases, these are 14-inch displays with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a normal refresh rate of 60 Hz. Also, both matrices cover 81% of the area of the entire module, are protected by frosted glass, support work with the stylus, and respond well to touch. The test model is equipped with an option with a lower resolution, but it has a rare feature.

Unlike most modern displays, this one did not get wide viewing angles. And this is done intentionally to increase the level of privacy. So if you look at the display at an angle, much of the image is getting darker. This should increase the level of privacy when working in public places (cafes, trains, planes, etc.). And if that’s not enough, the display has an additional function ASUS Private View, which further narrows the viewing angles (it is also recommended to reduce the backlight level to 20-30%).

There is a disadvantage because of this. The image changes literally at insignificant deviations of the position of the user. That is, you should lean back a little in a chair or vice versa, and move closer to the table, as you immediately feel the change in the image on the display. Because of this, you have to minimally adjust the screen while working more often than with other laptops. But if the issue of increased privacy for the user is relevant, you can pay for it with comfort. It is also worth noting that when working or watching a movie with someone around, the image will be different for both people.

The IPS matrix is well calibrated. If you look directly at the screen, the image looks nice. Especially considering that the ExpertBook is a business-class laptop, which often does not pay much attention to the quality of color reproduction. Here we have good indicators of color space, temperature, and scale. If you take into account that this laptop should not work with the image, the user should be almost one hundred percent satisfied with the picture. The proprietary utility has minimal image settings, but they are unlikely to be needed because the standard settings are excellent.

The display also lacks brightness. Thanks to the matte surface, the screen has less glare than usual on touch screens, which are mostly glossy. The level of maximum illumination is 500 cd/m², which is a lot for this class. This is enough for any situation in the room. You can reduce the brightness to 26 cd/m², which will also allow you to work comfortably in relative darkness. Unfortunately, there is no automatic brightness adjustment in the settings.

ASUS ExpertBook Safety

Like modern smartphones, premium laptops have options for quick access to the system. ExpertBook can also recognize the owner’s face. But unlike most smartphones, it uses not only a webcam but also an infrared sensor. Scanning is fast and independent of lighting conditions. This is the most convenient way to unlock because you only need to open the display cover, and the laptop will do everything else in just a second or two.

If this option does not suit (for example, due to a closed camera, which we will mention later), then there is an option to scan fingerprints. The sensor is combined with the power button. After opening the lid, you only need to touch the scanner, as it gives access to the desktop with minimal delay. It takes a little longer because you need to remember its location and reach for it. But this is faster than entering a password into the system. In addition, it works quite well (although worse than similar sensors in smartphones).

But there were minimal difficulties. Sometimes the face scan does not work the first time you turn it on. Similarly, the fingerprint scanner occasionally ignored me. It happened only after a long shutdown, so the work did not have a significant impact. After exiting the “sleep” mode, everything worked properly. If such shortcomings are a massive problem rather than a test model error, then the manufacturer is likely to fix it with future software updates.

Control and multimedia

Many laptop models use the same keyboards. ASUS, in my opinion, has the most successful ones. It is also applied to ExpertBook. The small island keyboard did not have a separate NUM unit, which can slow down people who work with large tables, but managers who spend much more time with correspondence, chats, and work video calls will not experience this problem.

Those who know how to type without looking at the keyboard will not even have to get used to it, because the main keys are in place. They have sufficient stroke and are not loud at all during intensive work. There is a white backlight, but it does not adjust the brightness. It will be enough to work in a dark room. You can configure several macros separately in the system to quickly launch programs. And in general, working with the text did not disappoint. Moreover, you can even theoretically spill liquid on the keyboard. But as with any gadget, you should not try your luck.

The trackpad is not bad either. It is smaller than some competitive ones but is definitely suitable for working without a mouse. It has good sensitivity and accuracy and has support for multi-touch and gestures. It also has a virtual NUM block, although it is not comparable to a physical one in terms of ease of use. In any case, the trackpad is enough for the main work, and the touch screen can help.

The stylus may also be useful. You can make quick drawings, notes, schemes, or diagrams with it. You can also just use it to help control. Given the category of the laptop, it is unlikely that there will be great requirements for the stylus, and it will definitely meet all the basic needs. Unfortunately, there are not many options for its storage – there is only a magnetic mount on the display cover. There is no other solution here.

Usually business class did not get good speakers, but it could not go on forever. The expert book has two speakers that are located at the bottom of the top case. There is also a Harman/Kardon logo, so they sound really good, although the maximum power could be higher. Given the location of the speakers, they are better heard when the laptop is on a flat surface, but if you lift it and, say, sit on a chair or sofa, the sound will be noticeably less.

ExpertBook has a built-in webcam with low resolution in 720p. But in this case, it is much more important that the camera can physically close the “window”, because security for the user can be much more important than the quality of image transmission.

And also microphones will play a very important role here. They “hug” the camera on both sides and hear the user perfectly, and the noise cancellation system using artificial intelligence was a pleasant surprise. Microphones ignore extra sounds and distinguish the user’s voice well. Working with the keyboard, sounds from a nearby phone and similar stimuli are not a problem for them, such “accompaniment” does not get into the conversation. Also, this system can “clean” the incoming audio, leaving only the voice of the interlocutor. And it really works.

Performance and software

There aren’t many configurations for the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip, but they exist. You can choose a processor between the options Intel Core i5-1155G7 (2.5 GHz) and i7-1195G7 (2.9 GHz). In both cases, only the built-in graphics of Intel Iris Xe are used. There are two 3200 MHz SO-DIMM DDR4 slots for RAM, which support a total of up to 64 GB. The M.2 drive can also be replaced, while the standard models have bars with 512 GB or 1 TB. Any replacements should be done very carefully. The test model is assembled in such a way that it was not possible to open the case with improvised tools so as not to damage it.

With the connection to the Network and accessories here is “full stuffing”: there is already a standard Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, through the adapter you can connect via Ethernet, and the laptop has a 5G module. The latter, in addition to the SIM card slot, will offer to configure eSIM. NFC is built into the trackpad for additional authorization. That is, it really has everything that discerning users need.

The test model with Intel Core i7, 64 GB of RAM, and terabyte storage proved to be good. Of course, it does not have a large reserve of power, but with most office work, it will definitely cope without hesitation. The laptop starts quickly, installs programs, updates, launches applications, performs various tasks, and more. In a couple of weeks of daily use, it never even “thought” about something longer than you would have liked. The amount of memory and its speed is also a very pleasant factor to work with. You can even play something like GTA V, but the test in the game with mediocre image quality did not show more than 32 FPS.

There were no problems with stability. Under load, the processor temperature did not exceed 65°C, and during normal operation – 45. When the laptop is running at full capacity, the top case is heated only from below. Under such conditions, it is not very comfortable to work with it, putting it on your knees, because the heat is well felt; and if it stands on the table, there will be no discomfort. However, the cooling system, in this case, is clearly audible. Without this, the cooler still does not turn off and it is minimally audible. Warm air goes to the hinge of the display, which in the mode of a normal laptop is not felt, but is noticeable in some “tablet” positions. Due to the design features of the model, you can do nothing about it.

There were no complaints about the operation of the operating system. The only point that caused some inconvenience is the mentioned error of scanning the face and fingerprints when turned on, rather than exiting the “sleep” mode. Then for the most part everything worked as it should have. Additionally, the laptop is equipped with proprietary applications from ASUS. In addition to settings for various functions via MyASUS (such as microphone modes or battery control), there is a duplication of these settings via a smartphone. And if you need to, you can use GlideX to display images from the smartphone display on a laptop screen, or even attach a smartphone display (or tablet) as a second monitor. And all this without wires. I tried these tricks with iOS – everything works, although with a noticeable delay.

ASUS ExpertBook Battery Life

One of the critical issues for business laptops is battery life, as users of such computers often travel with them or work outside the office. ExpertBook Flip has a battery capacity of 63 W • h. The manufacturer specifies up to 12 hours of battery life. Our usual PCMark 10 autonomy test in the office scenario showed 7 hours 43 minutes at a brightness level of 100 cd/m2. With comfortable backlight settings and quiet background music, the battery loses up to 15% per hour with a browser, mail, documents, messengers, and Spotify. Viewing a two-hour film cost 26%. These are relatively mediocre results to date.

The kit charger is small and not heavy at all, it will be easy to transport. Its power is 65 watts, which allows you to fully charge the battery in two and a half hours. You can also charge ExpertBook via USB-C, which will replenish energy reserves with universal power supplies or charging hubs that can be placed at home and work, and there is no need to take the spare unit out of the backpack.