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We’ve already reviewed ASUS Zenbook laptops powered by the new Intel Lunar Lake processors. Now it’s time for the ExpertBook business line. In addition to Lunar Lake processors, the lineup has an updated design and screens with high scan rates. Today we’re going to take a closer look at the ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405), the first representative of the updated ExpertBooks.
ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405) specifications
| Model | ASUS ExpertBook P5 (P5405) |
| Display | IPS, 14”, resolution 2560×1600 dots, aspect ratio 16:10, refresh rate 144 Hz |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 8 cores, 8 threads up to 4.8 GHz, Intel AI Boost NPU up to 47 TOPS |
| RAM | 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533 |
| Storage | 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0×4, 1 TB M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0×4 |
| Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics 140V, up to 1.95 GHz |
| Ports | 2x USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 2 х USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm combo jack, Kensington Nano |
| Wireless modules | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) 2*2, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Camera | 1080p, physical curtain, IR camera |
| Audio | Built-in stereo speakers |
| Keyboard | Backlit island keys |
| Battery and charging | up to 28 hours, 63 W-h, 65 W power supply |
| Dimensions | 312×223.2×16.4 mm |
| Weight | 1.27 kg |
| Cost of the configuration at a glance | Expected for sale |
Package contents
ASUS ExpertBook P5 packaging and delivery package are minimalistic. A mustard-colored recycled cardboard box with minimal printing. And a kit that includes only the essentials.
In addition to the laptop, the box contains only a 65W power supply, a power cable, and documentation. Unlike top-of-the-line ZenBooks, ASUS ExpertBook P5 has a standard power supply instead of a compact GaN one.
Design and construction
Usually, the ASUS Zenbook line is characterized by an interesting, stylish and unusual design. The ASUS ExpertBook P5, on the other hand, has a completely neutral and practical appearance, which is quite normal for a business laptop.
The ASUS ExpertBook P5 is made entirely of gray aluminum alloy. The coating is matte and practically does not collect fingerprints. The metal feels high-quality, the top and bottom covers practically do not bend. The topcase is more noticeable, but only if you put pressure on it on purpose. You don’t feel it during operation.
There are minimal decorative elements. Only a small logo of the ExpertBook line with a blue arrow on the top cover. The bezel around the perimeter of the screen is made of black matte plastic and is quite thin. Above the screen, there is a FullHD webcam with a work indicator and a physical shutter, as well as an infrared camera for owner identification.
The display unit is attached to the main body with a single wide hinge. It allows you to open the laptop with one hand. The maximum opening angle is 180°. But the hinge doesn’t feel very reliable: it creaks a little when you open the laptop and unevenly, not very well fixing the display in some positions.
Everything on the bottom of the ASUS ExpertBook P5 is quite standard: rather massive rubber feet, lots of ventilation holes, and stereo speakers. Among the interesting features of the laptop’s internal structure, it is worth noting the presence of two M.2 connectors for SSDs, which is not very common in ultraportable models.
The dimensions and weight of the laptop are quite typical for a modern 14-inch model and amount to 312×223.2×16.4 mm, 1.27 kg, respectively. The case feels quite sturdy and reliable (except for the hinge). ASUS ExpertBook P5 complies with the military-industrial standard MIL-STD-810H, which means it is resistant to temperature fluctuations, vibrations, etc.
Connectors
The compact size of the laptop does not provide for a large number of connectors. But the engineers managed to install almost everything you need. On the left side there are two USB Type-C 4 with Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort and Power Delivery, HDMI 2.1 video output , one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, a standard 3.5 mm audio jack and a battery indicator.
On the right side there is another full-size single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, as well as a Kensington Nano lock slot.
In general, there are enough connectors. Perhaps an RJ-45 for a wired network connection would be nice, given that ASUS ExpertBook P5 is positioned as a business solution. Or at least a USB to RJ-45 adapter, which many ASUS models come with. In some companies with corporate networks, this is really important.
Display
ASUS ExpertBook P5 is equipped with a 14-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2.5K (2560×1600 pixels) and an aspect ratio of 16:10. The refresh rate is 144 Hz. It is claimed that the maximum brightness is 400 cd/m², and the color coverage is 100% of the sRGB color space.
The display has a fairly effective anti-glare matte finish. Impressions of the display are pleasant: quite natural colors and good viewing angles. Although at angles, the contrast drops slightly and the black areas look grayish, which is quite usual for IPS. The brightness margin is sufficient for most situations.
The maximum brightness is 376,689 cd/m², the black field brightness is 0.365 cd/m², and the static contrast is 1032:1. The color gamut is almost identical to the sRGB color space. But the color temperature is slightly overestimated, about 6500K with a reference value of 8500K. Therefore, the picture is a bit cool.
The settings include ready-made Splendid display modes, color temperature settings, a blue filter, and the True2Life video enhancer:
Platform, performance and software
ASUS ExpertBook P5 features a new Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor of the Lunar Lake generation. The new processors have a radically redesigned structure compared to Meteor Lake. There are fewer cores and their configuration is different. Core Ultra 7 258V has only 4 productive and 4 energy-efficient cores, and multithreading is not supported. The previous generation Core Ultra 7 155H had 6 productive and 10 energy-efficient cores. The base frequency of Core Ultra 7 258V is 1.8 GHz, the maximum frequency is 4.8 GHz. The base TDP level is 17 W, the maximum short-term TDP is 37 W.
There is a separate Intel AI Boost neuroprocessor with 47 TOPS performance. Graphics are handled by the built-in Intel Arc Graphics 140V accelerator, which has 8 cores on the Xe architecture and a maximum frequency of 1.95 GHz. There is 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM. In all new Intel Lunar Lake processors, it is soldered directly to the SoC. Wireless modules: dual-band Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) 2*2 and Bluetooth 5.3.
Synthetic tests show that ASUS ExpertBook P5 has a good level of performance. Of course, given the format and positioning. First of all, this applies to single-core tasks. But, given the 8-core configuration and the lack of Hyper Threading support, the laptop is slightly inferior to current competitors in multi-core tests. Built-in graphics, of course, are inferior to discrete models, but demonstrate quite high performance among integrated solutions.
In maximum performance mode, the laptop scores 6825 points in the PCMark office benchmark. This is a very good result for an ultraportable laptop.
When operating on battery power in the same mode, the result is lower, but the performance drop is not critical.
It is stated that the Intel AI Boost neuroprocessor has a performance of 47 TOPS. And the entire system (including CPU and GPU) has 115 TOPS. Some tests, such as Geekbench AI, already know how to work with NPUs. However, there are no clear statistics and basic criteria for comparison. So for now, these are test results in a vacuum:
The laptop has two M.2 connectors with PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe interface for drives. One is 2280, the other is 2230. In our configuration, we installed two Western Digital PC SN5000S SSDs of 1 TB each. These are fast drives. The speed of reading information is about 6400MB/s, writing – 5700 MB/s
Of course, it’s hard to imagine that a potential ASUS ExpertBook P5 owner will use it for gaming. But I wanted to try out the capabilities of the new built-in Intel Arc Graphics 140V. Not the latest games run quite well on the laptop. Deus Ex Mankind Divided and Hitman in native 2560×1600 resolution with low settings run at 30-50 FPS.
The MyASUS application is used for all ASUS ExpertBook P5 settings. The set of settings is quite standard: performance modes, system updates, diagnostics, charging modes, etc.
There are also several additional utilities. ASUS ExpertPanel with quick settings for video conferencing. ExpertWidget with the ability to customize additional actions on F10 and F11. As well as the ASUS Business Manager application, which is responsible for additional security measures. Data encryption, blocking of external devices, registry lock, and unrecoverable file deletion.
Heating and stability of operation
ASUS ExpertBook P5 has an active ExpertCool cooling system with one fan and one heat pipe. Interestingly, it is designed in such a way that it should work equally efficiently with the lid open and closed.
When operating in standard balanced performance mode, there are no problems with overheating or throttling. Initially, the processor temperature rises to about 90°. After CO adaptation, the temperature drops and stays at 80°.
The cooling system is quiet, with only a slight noise at maximum load. The case heats up only slightly above the keyboard and in the area of the ventilation holes on the bottom lid.
Sound, webcam and security
ASUS ExpertBook P5 is equipped with stereo speakers that are quite typical for ultraportable models. They have a good volume margin, but there are almost no low frequencies. It’s enough to watch videos and movies.
The laptop’s webcam has FullHD resolution. The quality is quite typical for modern ultrabooks: it’s a perfectly good option for video conferencing. But in low light, the detail is noticeably reduced and a lot of digital noise appears.
ASUS ExpertBook P5 has two methods of biometric identification. A fingerprint scanner in the power button and an infrared camera for face identification. Both methods work quickly and accurately. Additionally, you can set the laptop to automatically lock when the owner leaves.
Keyboard and touchpad
ASUS ExpertBook P5 is equipped with an island keyboard with a full key travel of 1.5 mm. The keys work very quietly, while the response is very clear, informative and pleasant. There is a white LED backlight with three brightness levels.
The keyboard layout is quite usual for ultrabooks. It does not have an additional number pad, and the upper function row of keys is smaller. Instead of the right Ctrl key, there is a separate button to launch the Copilot AI assistant. Unlike Zenbook keyboards, the left and right arrows are not reduced, but standard sizes.
ASUS ExpertBook P5 is equipped with a rather large touchpad for an ultraportable model. Its dimensions are 13×8 cm. It is glass, has a very nice finish and good sensitivity. In addition, the touchpad supports signature gestures along the edges of the touchpad. Adjust the volume and brightness along the left and right edges, respectively. And scrolling on YouTube along the top.
Battery life
ASUS ExpertBook P5 has a 63 Wh battery, which is hardly a record, even for ultraportable laptops. It is claimed that this will be enough for 28 hours of work. From a standard 65W power supply, the laptop is fully charged in just over 2 hours.
The laptop turned out to be surprisingly durable, given the not-so-large battery capacity. In the office test, it lasted about 14.5 hours. In real-world conditions, when working with a browser, documents, mail, and a little Photoshop at a basic level, the laptop lasted about 10 hours. So, it’s enough for a full working day with a reserve and you don’t need to take the power supply to the office.
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