ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip Review – The 360 Workstation With High Security

Unboxing the ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip

The ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip comes in a standard ExpertBook recyclable packaging with its components neatly tucked inside its compartments.

Unfortunately, we did not receive the complete set for the laptop. However, inside the box, you can find the following items:

• Power cable
• 65W USB-C charging brick
• The ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip laptop

Specifications

CPU	Intel Core i5-1235U
RAM	20GB DDR4 3200MHz 1x Onboard 1x SO-DIMM
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Storage	500GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD (Micron 2450 NVMe SSD) 1x M.2 Slot (Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 Performance SSD)
Connectivity	2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x Gigabit RJ45 1x microSD card and nano SIM card 1x 3.5mm audio jack 1x Kensington lock slot
Display	14” FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, 16:9 Touch Screen, LED Backlit, 250nits, 80% screen-to-body ratio, stylus support
Audio	2x Speaker 2x Multi-array microphone ASUS two-way AI Noise-Canceling Technology Cortana Voice-recognition support
Power	50Wh, 3-cell, Li-polymer 65W Type-C power adapter
Dimensions	32.9 x 22.39 x 1.93 mm
Weight	1.61 kg

Performance

First up is CrystalDiskMark, and as you can see from the results, the speed is rather subpar for an PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. Realistically, this wouldn’t matter much because you’d still get fast boot-ups and loading speeds. In case you’re wondering, the Micron 2450 NVMe SSD is used in this laptop.

From the Cinebench R20, we can see that the ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip achieved quite a decent score with the Intel Core i5-12500H. It outperformed almost every other i5 CPU we’ve tested. The only thing that managed to outperform it overall is a 12th Generation Intel Core i7 CPU, which says a lot. Of course, it is outperformed in multi-core by older i7 but that is to be expected.

The ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip falls in Unigine SuperPosition in the 4K Optimized benchmark. However, this laptop only has Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and a powerful discrete GPU would be needed to do better on this test.

We found a similar pattern to the prior benchmark in 3DMark Time Spy, with the device scoring poorly. With that being said, it still did relatively well for a laptop running an iGPU.

The ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip is a decent laptop, with the exception of Digital Content Creation, according to PCMark 10. The findings also indicate that this laptop will be great for productivity.

Unfortunately, the battery life of the ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip was fairly short with up to 4 hours and 39 minutes (279 minutes) when tested in PCMark’s Modern Office endurance test as opposed to the 9 hours of battery life as promised. Sure, you could get better results with some tweaks like lower brightness among other things, but I wasn’t expecting this much of a difference.

The Good

The ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip build quality is great due to its ultralight and durable magnesium-aluminum alloy body which makes the laptop light yet still durable. The laptop features a 14″ FHD IPS panel with a touch screen and stylus support which is good for those looking for a laptop to help in writing notes or drafting out materials.

The keyboard was fairly comfortable to type on when doing my work or responding to messages as it features a dish-shaped indentation that assists me in typing quickly. Watching videos was enjoyable for me as the speakers are rather immersive and I could pick up words clearly during an online conference call. However, the speakers’ location at the bottom of the laptop serves as a minor inconvenience for me as the audio is muffled when I place the laptop on any soft surfaces such as a bed or a sofa.

Not only that, the laptop has a great thermal cooling system as I did not get uncomfortable despite having the laptop on my laptop for at least 45 minutes. The HD camera Webcam shield works well for me as it curbs my anxiety about being watched. Other security features like the power key fingerprint serve as a safeguard against those who want to log in to the laptop without my permission.

The feature that was rather unique for me is its exclusive ASUS NumberPad 2.0 as I was able to activate the calculator immediately by swiping the touchpad and activating a LED keypad that is integrated into the touchpad for easier and more convenient calculations.

Looking for a dual-monitor gaming laptop that is unique? Click here to read our review of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED.

The Bad

Despite having a build made of durable and light material, the surface of the laptop is a fingerprint magnet and it picks up grime and grease easily. Furthermore, the display screen has a rather thick bezel, which is unattractive given today’s laptops.

The laptop had a surprisingly long startup time despite featuring a PCIe 4.0 SSD but as we saw in the benchmark, it’s a result of using a slower SSD. Lastly, the status LED indicator on the back of the laptop, which offers an indication of my status whether I am on a call or not, is rather dim in a brightly lit room.

ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip Verdict

Due to its portability and excellent thermals, the ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip, which costs RM4,499, is a good convertible laptop for work and light entertainment. If you think the features that were mentioned above are noteworthy, you can consider getting this laptop despite its thick bezels and short battery life.

At the end of our ASUS ExpertBook B3 Flip review, I award this laptop with our Bronze Pokdeward.

Big thanks to ASUS Malaysia for sending us this laptop for the purpose of this review.