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MagyarAsus ExpertBook B9 OLED (2023) review: Slim business notebook for demanding users
The Asus ExpertBook B9 OLED is a high-end business notebook, which uses a fast and economical Intel Core i7-1355U, displays content on a high-contrast and high-resolution OLED display with a practical 14-inch diagonal and weighs just 1 kg. For special requirements, the two Intel Core i5-1345U vPro and i7-1365 vPro CPUs are also optionally available, which allow for improved remote maintenance and diagnostics.
Competitors at a similarly high level include the ThinkPad X13 G4 or the Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320. In terms of weight and size, only the LG Gram Style 14 is on par.
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91.5 % | 11/2023 | Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1 kg | 17.6 mm | 14.00" | 2880x1800 | |
| 90 % | 08/2023 | LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 987 g | 16.5 mm | 14.00" | 2880x1800 | |
| 89.7 % | 09/2023 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1.2 kg | 15.95 mm | 13.30" | 2880x1800 | |
| 87.4 % | 07/2023 | Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1.3 kg | 15.3 mm | 13.40" | 3456x2160 | |
| 85.4 % | 05/2023 | Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 1 kg | 11.8 mm | 13.30" | 2880x1800 | |
| 85.3 % | 06/2023 | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y R7 7730U, Vega 8 | 1.4 kg | 16.9 mm | 14.00" | 2880x1800 |
Case - Small, solid, simple business notebook
Asus hasn't been particularly innovative in regard to design. The matte, almost black and slightly roughened surface has a typical business look. The keyboard frame and display lid are made of a magnesium-lithium alloy; the difference to simple plastic is not only tangible. The ExpertBook B9 is extremely sturdy and basically cannot be twisted, which seems strange owing to its low weight - in a good way. Otherwise, the build is of absolutely high quality. All edges and joints are perfectly straight. Only the base plate and the plastic display frame detract from the strong impression a little.
The screen itself is surprisingly rigid, given its thickness of just 4 mm. One-handed opening is easy, so the hinges are not particularly tight, which is also reflected in the noticeable swaying. The maximum opening angle is 180 degrees.
The Asus ExpertBook is remarkably light for a 14-incher. At almost exactly 1 kg, it is on par with the LG Gram Style 14, which itself feels much more fragile. The dimensions are on a similar level to those of the competition. Although the thickness of the case seems somewhat high at 18 mm, this is unlikely to affect mobility. The thickness makes sense when the laptop is opened, owing to the location of the vents and the two fans, which need their space. More on this in the "Emissions" section.
Equipment - The ExpertBook B9 has everything
The selection and number of connections are perfectly acceptable, especially considering the laptop's compact dimensions. Three video outputs are available, includng HDMI and two Thunderbolts. TB 4 is also always predestined for a docking station, which significantly increases the choice of connections. There is also the typical headset connection via jack and a single USB-A port, which can transfer data at 10 Gbit/s.
Asus has shifted the power button for the ExpertBook to the side, where the fingerprint sensor is also located. There is even a LAN port, unfortunately only with 1 Gigabit, in the form of a mini port. Of course, this saves space for a connection that laptop owners are not likely to take advantage of very often. This means you always have to use the included adapter, but at least users still have the option of connecting a LAN cable directly when on the go. There is no card reader.
Communication
In testing, the Intel AX211 WLAN module achieves the desired bandwidth of 1,600 Mbit/s at 6 GHz (WiFi 6E). With a WiFi 6 router, the measured values at close range are only around 1,000 Mbit/s, which is still equivalent to a Gigabit LAN network connection.
With the right infrastructure, data can be exchanged quickly, which allows for extensive backups and the like in short periods of time.
Webcam
The webcam's features leave nothing to be desired. At 2 MP, it produces much more detailed picture quality than an HD camera. A mechanical cover is on board for privacy. The camera is also capable of login via facial recognition.
Furthermore, there are motion sensors above the display that place the ExpertBook in energy-saving mode when inactive. Detected movement wakes up the notebook and it is immediately unlocked again if facial recognition is successful. This is extremely practical, even if a little unusual at first. The software also tracks the face during video calls. We weren't so impressed by the image quality in low light. Even a desk lamp instead of normal room lighting resulted in significant image noise.
The microphone deserves good marks, as voice recordings sound natural and the volume remains almost the same regardless of the distance to the microphone and the direction of speech.
Security
There is no option for a SmartCard slot. Otherwise, numerous security options are installed. The Kensington lock provides protection from theft.
Logging in can be done via facial recognition, the fingerprint sensor or NFC in the touchpad.
Accessories
The packaging of the Asus ExpertBook B9 is deserving of praise. Recycled paper is used throughout. Plastic or colored prints have been omitted. Unfortunately, the LAN adapter doesn't follow suit. This tarnishes the overall eco-friendly impression because it is wrapped in PE foil and is also an additional device with cable, housing etc.
The outer packaging of the power supply unit is really well thought out. It is designed in such a way that it can be transformed into a sturdy, if not exactly elegant, laptop stand in just a few simple steps. This means that the packaging still serves a purpose afterwards. It works well, with a comfortable angle for the keyboard and good ventilation for the underside of the laptop.
Maintenance
Twelve identical screws (TX5) have to be loosened first. Afterwards, finding a starting point for detaching the base plate is not easy, but it can be done via the back edge. At least this does not require much effort or excessive bending.
The SSD can be replaced without issue. The battery is screwed in and is also repleaceable. The RAM and WLAN module, on the other hand, are soldered. Also striking are the very delicate hinges, which are each screwed on four times, but sit on very small base plates. Hence, the light and thin display does not have much leverage strength and vibrates slightly.
Warranty
Asus offers a 36-month warranty for the ExpertBook, which can be seen from the "36M" label on the back of the laptop. However, the manufacturer points out that the battery warranty may vary depending on the product line, but is at least 12 months.
Warranty terms and conditions may differ in other countries outside Germany, so buyers should double check before purchasing.
Input devices - Precisely built and versatile
For a business notebook that is only 17.6 mm thick and so light, the keyboard performs very well. Even with force, only a slight yielding of the keyboard frame can be observed. The keys themselves have pleasant counterpressure and provide good typing feel with a 1.5 mm travel (our measurement).
The touchpad is very precise, responding reliably to quick inputs and multi-finger operation. At 13 x 8 cm, it offers plenty of surface area. A small highlight is the superimposed numpad, which lights up whenever keyboard input is permitted, but still allows for continued cursor operation.
The keyboard backlight only has one brightness level, the light of which is uniform throughout, with keys "1" to "4" strongly emphasized. Additional commands can be stored here via the installed "Asus ExpertWidget" software, which are almost freely programmable.
Display - ExpertBook with strong image values
The OLED panel from Samsung, which is also used by many competitors, cuts an excellent figure in the Asus ExpertBook. It offers strong contrasts because the black is almost perfect. Although the brightness of 390 cd/m² falls below the manufacturer's specifications, it is still at a good level. Added to this is the even illumination and very true-to-life color reproduction. No screen bleeding is visible. The screen eliminates black areas so that halos do not occur at all.
The 3K resolution, 2,880 x 1,800 to be precise, allows high-resolution photos to be displayed. On a screen of only 14 inches, however, fonts can hardly be seen in their original size, if at all. Even 150% still looks too small. Because edges can appear slightly uneven due to the subpixel arrangement, enlarging the font makes perfect sense, while graphics and images are displayed in great detail, especially at close range.
These outstanding image values are accompanied by a few inconvenient factors. Firstly, there is PWM flickering, albeit very moderate and not comparable to the deactivation of entire areas on a TN panel. The taskbar should also be hidden to make that gorgeous OLED panel last longer. Furthermore, Asus' software shifts pixels slightly to the left and then to the right almost imperceptibly. All of these procedures are intended to prevent burn-in, which can occur with static images and render the OLED display unusable.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 99 %
Center on Battery: 385.5 cd/m²
Contrast: 7845:1 (Black: 0.0497 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.22 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
93.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
99.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.187
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X ATNA40YK07-1 SDC4171, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE ATNA33AA02-0, OLED, 2880x1800, 13.30 | Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 SDC417B, OLED, 2880x1800, 13.30 | LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG Samsung SDC417F ATNA40YK10-1, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P Samsung 134XK04, OLED, 3456x2160, 13.40 | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y Samsung ATNA40YK07-1, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 2% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 99.9 | 99.9 0% | 99.7 0% | 99.92 0% | 99.7 0% | 99.9 0% |
| sRGB Coverage | 100 | 100 0% | 100 0% | 100 0% | 100 0% | 100 0% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 93.6 | 96.2 3% | 96.9 4% | 94.71 1% | 96.8 3% | 98.3 5% |
| Response Times | -31% | -4% | -1% | -16% | 20% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 2 ? | 1.8 ? 10% | 2 ? -0% | 2 ? -0% | 2.18 ? -9% | 1.19 ? 40% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 2 ? | 2.4 ? -20% | 1.6 ? 20% | 2 ? -0% | 2.08 ? -4% | 1.62 ? 19% |
| PWM Frequency | 360 ? | 60 ? -83% | 240 ? -33% | 350 -3% | 238.6 ? -34% | 362.3 ? 1% |
| Screen | -38% | 22% | -7% | -43% | 16% | |
| Brightness middle | 389.9 | 383 -2% | 361 -7% | 384 -2% | 361.7 -7% | 336.6 -14% |
| Brightness | 390 | 386 -1% | 365 -6% | 388 -1% | 367 -6% | 339 -13% |
| Brightness Distribution | 99 | 98 -1% | 98 -1% | 97 -2% | 96 -3% | 98 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.0497 | 0.054 -9% | ||||
| Contrast | 7845 | 7111 -9% | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.22 | 4.7 -112% | 1.2 46% | 2.47 -11% | 4.83 -118% | 0.84 62% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.75 | 9.4 -151% | 1.9 49% | 4.33 -15% | 9.34 -149% | 3.1 17% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.4 | 1.5 37% | 1.2 50% | 2.63 -10% | 1.8 25% | 1.4 42% |
| Gamma | 2.187 101% | 2.18 101% | 2.27 97% | 2.18 101% | 2.33 94% | 2.24 98% |
| CCT | 6426 101% | 6328 103% | 6486 100% | 6279 104% | 6438 101% | 6439 101% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 4.6 | 2.81 | 3.97 | |||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -23% /
-27% | 6% /
10% | -3% /
-4% | -19% /
-25% | 13% /
13% |
* ... smaller is better
The color space coverage is perfect for graphically demanding tasks. The sRGB color space, which is used in most cases, is completely covered, as is Display-P3. High-level photo and video editing is thus possible.
At most, professional image editing would require complete coverage of AdobeRGB, but this is rarely required on a 14-inch business notebook.
Color reproduction is very accurate. The average deviation is below perceptibility at a DeltaE of 2.2. Only in some red and yellow tones will experienced eyes detect inaccuracies. Otherwise the display is very well adjusted ex works. A manual calibration from our side did not result in any improvement.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 6 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 5 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 360 Hz | ≤ 100 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 360 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 360 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Despite good contrast and brightness values, the reflective display significantly limits outdoor use. On the balcony or in a shady spot in the garden, screen content is still easy to see. As soon as there is a blue sky in the background, reflections make the ExpertBook B9 very difficult to use.
Changes in color or a significant reduction in brightness do not occur at different viewing angles. Whether folded back steeply or viewed at an angle, content remains true to color and rich in contrast. Only at around 80 degrees do the effects typical of OLED displays occur with glaring deviations.
Performance - Economical Intel Core well cooled
The Asus ExpertBook B9 OLED is equipped with an Intel Core i7-1355U, which is designed for demanding and mobile applications. It clocks up to 5.0 GHz and typically consumes 15 W. The two vPro processors, which are also optionally available, are aimed at corporate customers and are comparable in terms of performance. With 16 and 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM at 5200 MHz, fast data exchange is ensured.
Computing power is at a high level. Multitasking, particularly demanding applications and image processing, pose absolutely no issues. The system is only overwhelmed by 3D applications because the Intel iGPU is too weak. Nevertheless, it is still sufficient for simpler graphical tasks and light gaming. At the same time, power consumption always remains moderate, even at full load, so that an entire working day of use is certainly feasible.
Testing conditions
The MyAsus software offers a certain amount of useful settings. In addition to customizing the key assignment and protective measures to avoid burn-in of the OLED display, three fan profiles can be selected, also via the "Fn" + "F" key combination.
This not only changes the fan noise, but the power supply to the processor also undergoes significant adjustments. The values can be found below. Performance mode was used for our benchmarks.
| Fan profile | Performance | Standard | Whisper |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU PL2 | 64 watts | 55 watts | 25 watts |
| CPU PL1 | 28 watts | 20 watts | 15 watts |
Processor
Ten cores, twelve threads, a maximum of 5.0 GHz and a TDP of just 15 watts make for a mobile Intel Core i7-1355U that combines economical operation with high performance. For example, the somewhat slower Intel Core i7-1360P in the LG Gram Style 14 is slightly behind across all benchmarks. In the former Asus ExpertBook, the Intel Core i7-1165G7 from two CPU generations ago is outperformed by more than 30%.
The Cinebench R15 loop reveals something interesting, in which the ExpertBook B9 OLED performs very well. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 and the Asus ZenBook S13 OLED with an identical CPU start with the same score, but lose ground over time and are 15% and 25% behind, respectively, at the end of the run. The business notebook from Asus thus copes better with sustained loads.
The differences between the performance modes are significantly smaller than the PL values suggest. Even in Whisper mode, performance differences are no greater than 20% and the fan is only minimally audible. Standard mode is hardly worse than Performance mode, but reduces the fan noise noticeably.
In battery mode, computing power is limited to Whisper mode, but is still impressive.
Further benchmarks and additional information can be found in our CPU benchmark list.
Cinebench R15 Multi Sustained Load
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
| CPU Performance Rating | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y -1! | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Average of class Subnotebook | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (2485 - 16201, n=68, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (6936 - 10252, n=18) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (1687 - 1889, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (598 - 1934, n=68, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (810 - 6314, n=64, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (2849 - 3907, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (654 - 725, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (216 - 738, n=64, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (514 - 2581, n=70, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (1206 - 1735, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (237 - 267, n=18) | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (91.8 - 280, n=62, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (328 - 503, n=18) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (201 - 1600, n=66, last 2 years) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| 7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (5301 - 5911, n=18) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (2197 - 6403, n=58, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (4274 - 12580, n=65, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (7507 - 9328, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (1678 - 1872, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (672 - 2350, n=65, last 2 years) | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (1.5 - 19.4, n=56, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (7.83 - 11.4, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (40.1 - 120.5, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (41.1 - 108.6, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9400CE-KC0166R | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| LG Gram 16Z90Q | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (0.4397 - 1.236, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (0.4481 - 0.832, n=18) | |
| Asus VivoBook 14X K3405 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T16 G2 21HH003AGE | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
| Performance Rating | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (343 - 25961, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (5673 - 8424, n=18) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (11867 - 111109, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (29580 - 42706, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (453 - 4646, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (1529 - 2200, n=18) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (15447 - 115300, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (21547 - 66907, n=18) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (1223 - 14944, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (4045 - 5426, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (6379 - 59053, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (14596 - 21627, n=18) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (638 - 161430, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (31432 - 75408, n=18) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (270 - 1123, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (454 - 684, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (204 - 14018, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (2991 - 4453, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (7622 - 53954, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (21800 - 46154, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
* ... smaller is better
System performance
Overall, the Asus laptop is fast. This applies to the startup process, launching programs, installation and uninstallation processes. Even a large number of open programs running in parallel have little to no effect on the system's high responsiveness. Working, surfing and more pose no problems for the ExpertBook.
The Intel Core i7-1355U, which is well cooled and is able to fully exploit its potential, is never overwhelmed by everyday tasks and does not have too many problems with complex programs. The system performance is absolutely adequate for a fast business notebook.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
| PCMark 10 / Score | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (4384 - 7428, n=55, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (5455 - 5933, n=15) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (10203 - 11822, n=15) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (8890 - 11168, n=55, last 2 years) | |
| PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (6213 - 10279, n=55, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (6763 - 7536, n=15) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (4093 - 9749, n=55, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (5723 - 6712, n=15) | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| CrossMark / Overall | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (1478 - 1643, n=15) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (718 - 1876, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| CrossMark / Productivity | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (1444 - 1665, n=15) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (685 - 1829, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| CrossMark / Creativity | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (776 - 2210, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (1563 - 1732, n=15) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| CrossMark / Responsiveness | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs (1217 - 1681, n=15) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (652 - 1899, n=61, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 5723 points | |
Help | ||
| AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (22781 - 95353, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (35017 - 71600, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (23831 - 86433, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (38551 - 73377, n=18) | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (35910 - 93342, n=18) | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (23474 - 93382, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| Average Intel Core i7-1355U (72.2 - 346, n=18) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (18.8 - 172, n=52, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC latency
Immediately after starting our LatencyMon testing routine, which consists of surfing, video streaming and maximum CPU load, the latency increased too high for the laptop to be able to perform real audio processing, which is unlikely to be necessary in a mobile business laptop anyway. Overall, the values are satisfactory. Technically comparable notebooks from our database perform even worse. An update of the drivers may improve these values significantly.
The 4K video streaming test was not convincing. A total of 70 intermediate frames were missed, which is almost 2%. All Asus drivers were up to date at the time of the test. Hopefully a future update will remedy this.
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
* ... smaller is better
Storage devices
Samsung's SSD with PCIe 4.0 works neither faster nor slower than in similarly powerful notebooks. At up to 6,600 MB/s, it can almost fully utilize its connection capabilities. It also remains at a consistently high performance level in the sustained performance test. The complete covering of the SDD with heat-conducting foil seems to be bearing fruit.
* ... smaller is better
Sustained read performance: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
The Intel Iris Xe graphics adapter is an iGPU built into the processor, which shares large parts of the infrastructure with it. With a clock frequency of up to 1.3 GHz and 96 EUs, it provides sufficient computing power for all expected tasks. Video and photo editing can also be tackled, but require more waiting time than with a separate GPU. Even one of the smallest models, such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, offers almost twice the performance.
Further benchmarks and comparative values can be found in our GPU benchmark list.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 6903 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 21984 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 4916 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 1774 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming performance
The Asus ExpertBook B9 OLED is not intended for gaming. As soon as the details are set to high, the frame rate regularly drops below 30 FPS. The titles are then no longer playable.
Outdated games can still be played at significantly reduced graphics settings and, in the best case, at Full HD resolution or less. Graphics performance remains at an acceptable level, even in Whisper and battery mode, and is not even 20% below our best recorded value for the ExpertBook, at least in the Time Spy benchmark.
| The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+) | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (8 - 44.2, n=57, last 2 years) | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| GTA V - 1920x1080 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (5.01 - 67.5, n=47, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P | |
| LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG | |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X | |
| Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE | |
In the Witcher 3 endurance test, the ExpertBook shows stable performance at a low level and continuously fluctuates around 12 FPS. The LG Gram Style 14, for example, performs quite differently here: we registered 14 FPS at the beginning, but only 8 to 9 in the further course. It performs significantly worse under continuous load than the laptop from Asus.
Witcher 3 FPS chart
| low | med. | high | ultra | 4K DLSS | |
| GTA V (2015) | 106.9 | 89 | 24.7 | 10.1 | |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 81 | 52 | 29 | 13.5 | |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 105.2 | 77 | 64.6 | 54.9 | |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 43.6 | 22.9 | 16.5 | ||
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 40.8 | 30.7 | 25.5 | ||
| Far Cry 5 (2018) | 48 | 27 | 26 | 23 | |
| Strange Brigade (2018) | 91.2 | 38.8 | 30.4 | 24.3 | |
| F1 23 (2023) | 40 | 36 | 25.1 | 18.8 | 7.7 |
Emissions - Strong ventilation in the ExpertBook
Noise
The fans only become unpleasantly intrusive in extreme cases. We typically observed 33 dB, even at higher loads. Even quiet background music can easily drown out this volume. However, the fans are always minimally audible, even in Whisper mode.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 24.9 / 24.9 / 24.9 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 33 / 45 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R (15 cm distance) environment noise: 24.9 dB(A) | ||
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1355U, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL21T0HCLR | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1355U, Kioxia XG8 KXG8AZNV1T02 | Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1355U, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL21T0HCLR | LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1360P, SK hynix PC801 HFS001TEJ9X101N | Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1360P, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y Vega 8, R7 7730U, Micron 2400 MTFDKBA512QFM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 1% | 4% | -0% | 2% | -1% | |
| off / environment * | 24.9 | 23.2 7% | 23.3 6% | 25 -0% | 23.7 5% | 22.6 9% |
| Idle Minimum * | 24.9 | 23.2 7% | 23.3 6% | 25 -0% | 24 4% | 22.6 9% |
| Idle Average * | 24.9 | 23.2 7% | 23.3 6% | 25 -0% | 24 4% | 22.6 9% |
| Idle Maximum * | 24.9 | 27.4 -10% | 23.3 6% | 25 -0% | 24.4 2% | 22.6 9% |
| Load Average * | 33 | 38.1 -15% | 37.7 -14% | 37 -12% | 37 -12% | 40.7 -23% |
| Load Maximum * | 45 | 41.5 8% | 40.1 11% | 40.62 10% | 42 7% | 52.5 -17% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 41.4 | 40.1 | 37 | 42.1 | 46.6 |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
A noticeable warming can almost always be perceived. This is hardly surprising given the compact design and powerful processor. In addition, the chassis is largely made of metal, which also effectively dissipates the heat from the inside.
The measured values in the stress test are correspondingly high, reaching almost 60 °C on the base plate directly above the SoC. However, this scenario hardly corresponds to typical usage. This shows, for example in our sustained load tests for the SSD, running demanding benchmarks several times or playing Witcher 3, the ExpertBook B9 maintains a stable performance level. The heat is therefore reliably dissipated outside.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.8 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 56.5 °C / 134 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.7 °C / 89 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.1 °C / 97 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-7.8 °C / -14.1 F).
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 Intel Core i7-1355U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG Intel Core i7-1360P, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P Intel Core i7-1360P, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 5% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 18% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 48.8 | 47.3 3% | 43.1 12% | 36.3 26% | 43.8 10% | 39.4 19% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 56.5 | 44.8 21% | 45 20% | 36.8 35% | 44.4 21% | 43.2 24% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 33.3 | 35 -5% | 27.3 18% | 29.2 12% | 24 28% | 28.6 14% |
| Idle Bottom * | 35 | 34.3 2% | 27.8 21% | 27.4 22% | 25.2 28% | 30.6 13% |
* ... smaller is better
Stress test
As already established in prior performance tests, the Asus business notebook hardly has any problems under high or maximum load. The effective clock speed of the processor remains at a stable high level, especially at standard settings. Minimal drops can only be observed in Performance mode.
The fact that the CPU can reliably handle 15 watts of power consumption can be seen during operation at standard settings and in battery mode. The effective clock speed and temperature of the Intel Core i7-1355U remain constant throughout.
Speakers
You shouldn't expect high volume from the speakers on the ExpertBook. They are also a little too reserved in the mid-bass range.
On the other hand, the complete mids and highs are convincing. This can be heard particularly well with music. Even complex pieces of music sound good, and voices in particular are reproduced in high quality. This is a respectable result for notebook loudspeakers and the weak bass was to be expected given the size of the drivers.
Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (70.45 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 12.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 9% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 88% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (4.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 0% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Power management - ExpertBook could be more economical
Power consumption
4.9 watts is a solid minimum value for a business notebook, but the LG Gram Style 14 with its larger processor and almost identical display shows that it can be done a little better. In terms of average consumption under light use, the ExpertBook ultimately shoots well above selected and comparable rivals, which are at least a third more economical.
At its peak, we registered up to 69 watts for short periods of time, which is already somewhat above the capabilities of the included 65-watt power supply unit. As these are only measurement peaks, the size of the power supply is sufficient.
| Off / Standby | 0.07 / 0.76 Watt |
| Idle | 4.9 / 12.5 / 16.8 Watt |
| Load |
43.8 / 68.1 Watt |
   
| |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL21T0HCLR, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Kioxia XG8 KXG8AZNV1T02, OLED, 2880x1800, 13.30 | Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL21T0HCLR, OLED, 2880x1800, 13.30 | LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, SK hynix PC801 HFS001TEJ9X101N, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ, OLED, 3456x2160, 13.40 | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y R7 7730U, Vega 8, Micron 2400 MTFDKBA512QFM, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | Average of class Subnotebook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 26% | 21% | 22% | 2% | -5% | 12% | 14% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 4.9 | 4.8 2% | 5.8 -18% | 3.58 27% | 6.9 -41% | 7.9 -61% | 5.26 ? -7% | 4.9 ? -0% |
| Idle Average * | 12.5 | 6.2 50% | 8.5 32% | 7.125 43% | 7.4 41% | 8.8 30% | 8.46 ? 32% | 8.36 ? 33% |
| Idle Maximum * | 16.8 | 7.1 58% | 8.8 48% | 12.1 28% | 13.6 19% | 14.7 12% | 10.7 ? 36% | 10.4 ? 38% |
| Load Average * | 43.8 | 33.1 24% | 35.1 20% | 40.67 7% | 43.5 1% | 46.9 -7% | 44.8 ? -2% | 45.9 ? -5% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 41.2 | 35.8 13% | 27.6 33% | 48 -17% | 44.9 -9% | |||
| Load Maximum * | 68.1 | 62.8 8% | 59.5 13% | 64.2 6% | 63.3 7% | 65.2 4% | 66.8 ? 2% | 66 ? 3% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption Witcher 3 / Stress test
Power consumption with an external monitor
Battery life
Due to the relatively large 63 Wh battery, the battery life values are very pleasing. Set to 150 cd/m² brightness, the notebook ran for over 10 hours in our WLAN test. Video playback also achieved similar values. The screen has a very large influence on the runtime. We achieved less than 8 hours at full brightness. On the other hand, if "dark mode" in Windows is permanently activated, as well as when surfing, the runtime can be extended by 1 to 2 hours.
Charging took a little longer than that. It took well over 2 hours for the battery to reach 100% again. But after just over 1 hour, it was usually at 80%.
| Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 63 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 21EX004QGE i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 54.7 Wh | Asus ZenBook S13 OLED UX5304 i7-1355U, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 63 Wh | LG Gram Style 14Z90RS-G.AD7AG i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 72 Wh | Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Core i7-1360P i7-1360P, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 55 Wh | Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402Y R7 7730U, Vega 8, 75 Wh | Average of class Subnotebook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -23% | 18% | 7% | -29% | 34% | 6% | |
| H.264 | 606 | 829 37% | 603 0% | 794 ? 31% | |||
| WiFi v1.3 | 614 | 438 -29% | 678 10% | 700 14% | 436 -29% | 725 18% | 629 ? 2% |
| Load | 135 | 114 -16% | 146 8% | 145 7% | 203 50% | 115.4 ? -15% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Outstanding performance, outstanding price
It doesn't get much better than this, at least not in the compact business notebook segment. The Asus ExpertBook B9 (2023) extracts plenty of performance from the mobile i7-1355U and reliably delivers it when needed. The display impresses with strong contrasts, clean color reproduction and a high resolution that also does justice to digital photos.
Added to this is the sturdy, yet only 1 kg heavy case. It looks a little conservative, which is certainly not a disadvantage in the business sector. And the high level of stability really shows during use, as the keyboard does not unnecessarily give way anywhere and everything feels precise and firm.
No real cause for criticism can be found. The ExpertBook is fast, light, mostly quiet - and expensive.
Finding the weak points takes a while. Even the camera and speakers, which are often skimped on, do their job well. The base plate in particular gets a little too hot in stress testing. The integrated graphics could also be faster, but this is more Intel's responsibility. And there's the price, which at almost US$2,149.99 is much higher than those of competing devices. But for this users get a slim, light and fully equipped powerhouse.
If you can settle for a little less, the ThinkPad X13 G4 might be a good alternative. The identical processor is a little slower, the display less detailed and the battery life shorter, but it also sells for a lot less. The Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 is on a par in terms of performance (with a stronger CPU), but costs around US$1550 for a weaker webcam and less battery life.
Price and availability
The Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA is currently listed in two configurations on Amazon: 1TB SSD and 16GB RAM or 2TB SSD and 32GB RAM. All specs are otherwise identical.
Asus ExpertBook B9 B9403CVA-KM0153X
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11/03/2023 v7
Mario Petzold
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Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
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