Asus ExpertBook B7 Flip evaluation: A well-connected 5G-equipped enterprise 2-in-1

Asus has a fame for pushing the envelope on the subject of laptop computer design and specification. Its highly effective Zenbook Professional 16X OLED has a tilting keyboard and a touchpad with an embedded digital quantity pad, for instance. However Asus additionally has a robust line in additional typical enterprise laptops, such because the ExpertBook B1 B1500. 

The ExpertBook B7 Flip brings a 360-degree rotating display screen to a no-nonsense configuration that features 5G help and loads of ports. However with a price ticket of $2,149.99 for a Core i7 mannequin with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, this laptop computer is not for the finances strapped. So, do its capabilities justify the expense? 

The ExpertBook B7 Flip is a demure trying laptop computer at first look. Asus calls the color Star Black, and the darkish chassis does have a sure ‘deep sky’ blueish tinge in a sure gentle. The case has a barely textured end, which helps with grip. 

There’s an modern characteristic on the lid that some customers would possibly admire. A small ExpertBook marque in a single nook features a crimson LED that lights up should you faucet Fn+1; this can be set to activate mechanically whenever you begin a video name, functioning as a ‘don’t disturb’ sign for co-workers. Would it not work in your workplace? Maybe, however it’s good to see laptop computer makers implementing new concepts. 

The ExpertBook B7 Flip meets MIL-STD 810H requirements and includes a magnesium alloy chassis. There are 16 supporting posts connecting the inner fasteners to the bottom of the laptop computer, a strengthened palm relaxation, and a few inside steel helps that assist scale back interference that may have an effect on a 5G sign.  

These sturdiness options do have an effect on the load, and 1.44kg is on the heavy aspect for a 14-inch laptop computer. However that is a good trade-off to make for a tool that is more likely to be carried round loads. 

The 14-inch 16:10 IPS contact display screen is out there with QHD+ (2,560 x 1,600) or FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) decision and 400 nits or 500 nits brightness respectively. Asus presents a characteristic known as Non-public View, which lets you stop individuals sitting on both aspect of you from viewing the display screen. Non-public View is just out there on the lower-resolution FHD+/500 nits display screen; I had the QHD+/400 nits model, so could not check this characteristic. 

The ExpertBook B7 Flip comes with an Asus Pen stylus which attaches to one of many display screen’s quick edges magnetically. That is helpful whenever you’re utilizing the system, however not so nice for travelling. Take care to not go away it behind.  

The display screen’s bezels are fairly small however not tiny – Asus claims a display screen to physique ratio of 81%. That is advantageous on a 360-degree convertible: when working in pill mode it may be helpful to have slightly body across the display screen’s edges to keep away from unintended display screen faucets. There’s room for a webcam — a 720p unit with IR help and a sliding privateness shutter – above the display screen. 

A pair of Harmon Kardon licensed audio system sit on the underside of the chassis, in direction of the entrance in laptop computer mode. On this place the audio system are on an upward tilting angle, so their output just isn’t totally absorbed by a desk. You get a pleasant stability between treble and bass, with no distortion at larger quantity ranges. The audio system must be completely ok for on a regular basis use in a piece setting, and are additionally satisfactory for a little bit of after-hours listening. 

The keyboard is a cushty typing platform with 1.5mm of key journey, slight resistance and slightly bounce-back, making the motion really feel agency and responsive. The 1, 2, 3 and 4 keys have a blue border, signifying their hyperlink to Asus ExpertWidget. This app lets you outline your personal Fn key mixtures: Fn+1 is already set to toggle the busy gentle talked about earlier; others could possibly be set to toggle cellular broadband or Bluetooth on and off, for instance. 

The touchpad is slightly small by at this time’s requirements, however it has an embedded NFC space and tapping an icon in its prime proper causes a digital quantity pad to look on it. This can be utilized concurrently customary touchpad options. The touchpad picks up finger-smears very readily. 

My evaluation unit (B7402F) had an eleventh era Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD and ran Home windows 10 Professional (Home windows 11 Professional can be out there). Priced choices I’ve seen embrace Home windows 11 Professional, and a Core i5-1155G7 CPU. RAM can go as much as 64GB and SSD storage to 2TB. The newest B7402FBA mannequin runs on 12-generation Core i7 and i5 processors. 

Our quad-core Core i7-1195G7 evaluation unit delivered Geekbench 5 CPU scores of 1069 (single core) and 3952 (multi core), and registered 12425 on the Compute GPU benchmark utilizing the OpenCL API. By comparability, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Professional 360 — which, like the newest ExperBook B7 Flip mannequin, makes use of the 12-core Core i7-1260P – scored 1052 (single core) and 7303 (multi core) and 18842 on the Compute check. 

Asus is beneficiant with ports and slots, and has additionally thought in regards to the wants of customers working in pill mode. So, on the suitable edge there’s a USB-A port, a sensible card reader, a Nano SIM card slot and a mini-DisplayPort connector, in addition to a quantity rocker and the facility swap, which includes a fingerprint scanner. 

The left edge presents a pair of USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a full-size HDMI connector, a USB-A port, a Micro-HDMI Ethernet connector (Asus suppliers an RJ-45 adapter) and a 3.5mm audio in/out jack. Arguably all that is lacking from this wonderful line-up is a MicroSD card slot.  

Asus says the 63Wh battery will maintain the ExpertBook B7 Flip going for as much as 12 hours. I examined battery life with my normal mainstream regime of writing into net apps, streaming music and video, and net looking. From a 100% cost the laptop computer dropped to 63% over three hours, suggesting whole battery lifetime of simply over 8 hours. If you happen to want longer battery life, take into account choosing the lower-resolution FHD+ display screen.

Charging is pretty speedy: with the battery at 31%, a 15-minute cost noticed it rise to 49%; after half an hour it was at 65%, and after 45 minutes it had reached 76%.  

Conclusions 

The Asus ExpertBook B7 Flip is an attention-grabbing convertible laptop computer. It’s kind of costly for broad deployment throughout work groups, however those that do get it can have some great benefits of 360-degree display screen rotation, loads of ports, all-day battery life and a bundled stylus. The touchpad-integrated quantity pad might show helpful too. 

Whereas off-the-shelf configurations are restricted, Asus talks of as much as 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, so there’s potential to stretch this laptop computer’s specification if required – and if funds permit. 

Asus ExpertBook B7 Flip specs

Alternate options to think about

The ExpertBook B7 Flip is a premium-priced 14-inch 2-in-1, however there’s loads of alternative at this measurement, a lot of it at lower cost factors. The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 and Dell Latitude 9430 each have 360-degree rotating screens, just like the B7 Flip, whereas Microsoft’s Floor Laptop computer Studio makes use of a slide-forward mechanism.

RECENT AND RELATED CONTENT

OLED laptops for creators: New Zenbooks and Vivobooks from Asus

Asus Zenbook Professional 16X OLED (UX7602) evaluation: A high-spec creator laptop computer with an outstanding display screen and tilting keyboard

Asus ExpertBook B1 B1500 evaluation: A sturdy enterprise laptop computer with wonderful connections

Lenovo Yoga 9i seventh Gen evaluation: The most effective 2-in-1 laptop computer, if you should buy it

The ten greatest Home windows laptops: High notebooks, 2-in-1s, and ultraportables

The most effective 2-in-1 laptops: High versatile, hybrid, and convertible notebooks

Learn extra opinions