Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of business laptops, the Asus ExpertBook B5 (B5404CMA) emerges as a formidable contender. This latest addition to Asus's enterprise-focused lineup brings together cutting-edge technology and practical design, aiming to meet the diverse needs of today's professionals. As a tech enthusiast with a keen interest in business-oriented devices, I've had the opportunity to thoroughly test this laptop over a three-week period, using it as my primary work machine. This extended hands-on experience has allowed me to gain deep insights into its performance, features, and overall value proposition.
Design and Build Quality: Pragmatic Professionalism
The Asus ExpertBook B5 embodies a philosophy of understated elegance, prioritizing function over form in a way that resonates with its target audience. The laptop's chassis is crafted from a carefully selected blend of aluminum and magnesium alloys, striking an optimal balance between durability and weight. At just 1.29 kg, it's remarkably portable for a fully-featured business laptop, making it an ideal companion for professionals on the move.
Asus has gone the extra mile to ensure the ExpertBook B5's resilience, subjecting it to rigorous MIL-STD-810H durability tests. This military-grade certification provides peace of mind, assuring users that their device can withstand the rigors of daily business use and frequent travel. The laptop's Star Black finish adds a touch of sophistication, featuring a subtle sparkle effect that becomes apparent under certain lighting conditions without compromising its professional appearance.
Measuring 31.37 x 22.68 x 1.89 cm, the ExpertBook B5 maintains a slim profile that easily slips into most laptop bags or briefcases. The matte finish on the lid is not just an aesthetic choice but a practical one, effectively resisting fingerprints and smudges to maintain a clean look throughout the workday. While the overall design language might not break new ground in terms of innovation, it's precisely this timeless approach that ensures the laptop won't look out of place in any professional setting, from startup offices to corporate boardrooms.
Display: Balancing Functionality with Room for Improvement
At the heart of any laptop's user experience is its display, and the ExpertBook B5 offers a 14-inch IPS LCD panel that aims to cater to business needs. The 1920 x 1200 resolution provides a 16:10 aspect ratio, offering slightly more vertical screen real estate compared to traditional 16:9 displays. This extra height can be particularly beneficial when working with documents, spreadsheets, or coding interfaces.
The anti-glare coating on the display is a standout feature, effectively minimizing reflections and reducing eye strain during extended use. This is particularly appreciated in varied lighting conditions often encountered in office environments or while working on the go. The touch-enabled screen, compatible with the included Asus Pen 2.0, adds an extra layer of versatility to the device, allowing for quick note-taking, document annotation, or even creative sketching when inspiration strikes.
However, it's important to note that the display does have some limitations. The peak brightness of 300 nits, while adequate for most indoor scenarios, can struggle in brightly lit environments or outdoor settings. This may pose challenges for professionals who frequently work in diverse locations or near large windows. Additionally, the 60Hz refresh rate, while standard for many business laptops, may feel less smooth compared to higher refresh rate options that are becoming increasingly common in the market.
Color reproduction is another area where the ExpertBook B5's display shows room for improvement. With 45% NTSC coverage, the color gamut is relatively limited, which may not satisfy professionals in fields such as graphic design or video editing who require more accurate color representation. However, for the majority of business tasks involving document creation, data analysis, and web browsing, the display performs adequately.
Keyboard and Trackpad: A Triumph in User Input
Where the ExpertBook B5 truly shines is in its input devices, offering an exceptional typing and navigation experience that sets it apart from many competitors. The keyboard features a 75% layout, striking a balance between compactness and functionality. The star of the show is the 1.5mm key travel, which provides a satisfyingly tactile typing experience reminiscent of high-end desktop keyboards.
Each keystroke offers crisp feedback, allowing for confident and accurate typing even during long work sessions. The single-level white backlighting ensures visibility in low-light conditions without being overly distracting. Asus has also included dedicated shortcut keys for frequently used functions, streamlining workflow efficiency.
The glass trackpad is equally impressive, rivaling the quality found on premium ultrabooks. Its large surface area provides ample room for multi-touch gestures, while the precision and responsiveness of the tracking make navigation a breeze. The smooth texture of the glass surface offers just the right amount of resistance, allowing for accurate cursor control and gesture recognition.
It's worth noting that the ExpertBook B5 doesn't include a dedicated number pad, which is common for laptops in this size category. However, Asus has implemented a clever solution with their NumberPad 2.0 technology, which overlays a virtual numeric keypad onto the trackpad when activated. This feature offers the best of both worlds, providing a full-sized trackpad for general use and a numeric input option when needed for data entry tasks.
Performance: Empowering Business Productivity
At the core of the ExpertBook B5's capabilities lies the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor, a cutting-edge chip that brings significant improvements in both performance and efficiency. This 12-core, 14-thread processor is part of Intel's latest generation, featuring a hybrid architecture that combines performance and efficiency cores to optimize power consumption and responsiveness.
In my extensive testing, the ExpertBook B5 handled multitasking scenarios with impressive ease. The combination of the powerful processor, 16GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM, and a speedy 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD resulted in a system that felt consistently snappy and responsive. Common business tasks such as juggling multiple browser tabs, working with large spreadsheets, and running video conferencing software simultaneously posed no challenge for this machine.
The integrated Intel Arc Graphics, while not designed for intensive gaming or professional-grade 3D rendering, prove more than capable for business applications and light creative work. In my tests, the ExpertBook B5 handled basic photo editing in Adobe Photoshop without any noticeable lag, and even managed some casual gaming at lower settings during off-hours.
To provide some context with benchmark results, the ExpertBook B5 achieved a PCMark 10 score of around 5,500, placing it firmly in the upper echelon of ultraportable business laptops. In Geekbench 5, it scored approximately 1,650 in single-core and 7,800 in multi-core tests, showcasing its strong performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.
One area where the Intel Core Ultra processor truly shines is in its AI acceleration capabilities. This becomes evident in tasks such as natural language processing, image recognition, and video conferencing enhancements. For instance, the AI-powered noise cancellation in video calls was noticeably more effective compared to previous generation laptops, efficiently filtering out background distractions.
Battery Life and Charging: Endurance for the Long Workday
In today's mobile-first business environment, battery life is a critical factor, and the ExpertBook B5 delivers impressively in this regard. The 63Wh battery may not seem exceptionally large on paper, but when combined with the power-efficient Intel Core Ultra processor and optimized system management, it results in excellent real-world endurance.
During my testing, which involved a mix of document editing, web browsing, video conferencing, and occasional media consumption, the ExpertBook B5 consistently achieved over 7 hours of use at 70% screen brightness. This translates to a full workday for most professionals, alleviating the need to carry a charger for typical office use scenarios.
The inclusion of 65W USB-C charging adds a layer of convenience, allowing users to top up their laptop using the same charger as their mobile devices. In my charging tests, the ExpertBook B5 went from 0% to 80% in approximately one hour, providing a quick boost when time is of the essence. The ability to use standard USB-C chargers also means you're more likely to find a compatible power source in a pinch, whether at an airport, cafe, or client's office.
Software and Security: Tailored for Enterprise Needs
Recognizing the unique requirements of business users, Asus has equipped the ExpertBook B5 with a comprehensive suite of software and security features designed to streamline IT management and protect sensitive data.
The inclusion of Windows 11 Pro as the operating system provides access to advanced features such as BitLocker device encryption, Windows Information Protection, and the ability to join Azure Active Directory. These enterprise-grade capabilities make the ExpertBook B5 an attractive option for organizations of all sizes.
Asus's proprietary Business Manager software offers a centralized platform for system management, allowing IT administrators to easily deploy updates, monitor system health, and enforce security policies across a fleet of devices. The MyASUS app complements this with user-facing tools for diagnostics, system optimization, and customer support.
On the hardware side, the ExpertBook B5 incorporates multiple layers of security. The built-in TPM 2.0 chip provides hardware-based encryption capabilities, while the fingerprint reader and IR camera offer convenient and secure biometric authentication options through Windows Hello. These features work in tandem to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.
The AI-enhanced camera and audio features deserve special mention. Leveraging the AI acceleration capabilities of the Intel Core Ultra processor, the ExpertBook B5 offers advanced noise cancellation, background blur, and lighting optimization for video calls. In my testing, these features noticeably improved the quality of virtual meetings, even in less-than-ideal environments.
Asus Pen 2.0: Enhancing Productivity Through Precision
The inclusion of the Asus Pen 2.0 with the ExpertBook B5 is a thoughtful addition that extends the laptop's versatility. This active stylus boasts 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, allowing for nuanced input that closely mimics the feel of writing or drawing on paper. The Bluetooth connectivity enables customizable button functions, while USB-C charging ensures you're never caught with a dead stylus.
While the ExpertBook B5 doesn't feature a 360-degree hinge like some convertible laptops, the stylus still proves incredibly useful for a variety of tasks. During my testing, I found it particularly effective for annotating PDFs, signing digital documents, and quickly jotting down ideas in note-taking applications. The palm rejection technology works well, allowing for a natural writing position without accidental inputs.
The build quality of the Asus Pen 2.0 is commendable, with a solid feel and well-balanced weight that makes extended use comfortable. Its performance rivals many dedicated tablet styluses, making it a valuable tool for professionals who incorporate handwritten notes or sketches into their workflow.
Conclusion: A Dependable Workhorse for the Modern Business Landscape
After weeks of intensive use, the Asus ExpertBook B5 (B5404CMA) emerges as a solid, if somewhat conservative, choice in the business laptop market. Its strengths lie in its robust build quality, exceptional keyboard and trackpad, long-lasting battery life, and comprehensive suite of business-focused software and security features.
The ExpertBook B5 doesn't aim to be the flashiest or most innovative laptop on the market. Instead, it focuses on delivering a reliable, secure, and efficient computing experience tailored to the needs of business professionals. The inclusion of the latest Intel Core Ultra processor ensures that it has the performance headroom to handle current and future business applications with ease.
However, it's important to acknowledge that the ExpertBook B5 isn't without its drawbacks. The display, while functional, falls short of the color accuracy and brightness levels offered by some competitors in this price range. Additionally, the overall design, while professional and durable, may feel somewhat dated to users accustomed to the sleeker aesthetics of modern ultrabooks.
Ultimately, the Asus ExpertBook B5 is best suited for:
- Business professionals who prioritize reliability, security, and battery life
- IT departments seeking easily manageable laptops for their organization
- Users who value an exceptional typing experience and the versatility of stylus support
- Professionals who require strong performance for productivity tasks but don't need dedicated graphics for creative work
On the other hand, it may not be the ideal choice for:
- Users seeking cutting-edge design or the thinnest possible form factor
- Creative professionals who require high color accuracy and wide gamut displays
- Power users needing discrete graphics for intensive 3D applications or gaming
In the crowded field of business laptops, the Asus ExpertBook B5 carves out its niche by offering a balanced combination of performance, durability, and enterprise-friendly features. While it may not boast the most exciting specifications or design elements, its focus on core functionality and reliability makes it a worthy contender for businesses and professionals seeking a dependable computing companion. As with any significant technology investment, potential buyers should carefully weigh their specific needs and compare the ExpertBook B5 against other options in the market to ensure it aligns with their requirements and budget.
