Asus ExpertBook B5 Flip B5302FEA

The latest to join the Asus family is none other than the ExpertBook B5 Flip. In terms of its design, this device comes in an aluminium case in anthracite. The model definitely has a high-quality build and is quite robust, as a certification according to the US military standard MIL-STD 810H shows. As claimed by Asus, the B5 Flip should survive drops from a height of 120 cm which is about 47 inches, icy temperatures and more without any problems. On the other hand, the base unit is torsion-resistant. Therefore, the device can be easily carried around on a corner. While the hinges are quite stiff, it helps to prevent "sloshing around" during movements. However, it does make opening with one hand a game of skill though. As for its connectivity, this device has been equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI 2.0 port which allows up to three external monitors to be connected. However, it is worth noting that one of the two USB-C ports will be occupied by the power adapter when the device is plugged in. In addition, there is also a single USB-A port and a combined audio port, but unfortunately there is no card reader. Asus has opted for without a LAN port to keep the convertible as thin as possible. Nevertheless, there is good news for users as wired Internet connections are still possible via the corresponding port on the left side thanks to an included LAN-to-micro-HDMI adapter.

In terms of its keyboard, Asus has made good use of the device's width for the keyboard. While there is no room for a number pad in this device size, the keys are still of decent size. The typing might feel good, but it could be a bit quieter and the haptic feedback could be of higher quality. A backlight is definitely available, but it can only be turned on and off, not dimmed. As for the touchpad, it is positioned in the centre and measures a good 10 x 6 cm. This size is more than enough to move the mouse from one edge to the other when moving quickly. Precision and haptics are okay. This Flip B5 comes in with either a matte IPS display with LED backlight or an optional OLED display with FHD resolution in a 16:9 format. As for its processor, the B5 Flip carries an Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-core processor, which is known to boost up to 4.2 GHz along with the Intel's Iris Xe graphic. Asus has also installed a 16 GB DDR4-3200 MHz SO-DIMM RAM module, which is soldered and works in single-channel mode. Apart from that, a memory expansion of up to 48 GB is optionally possible, thanks to a free slot. In a nutshell, it is a great device with more room for exploration by the user.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam