ASUS ExpertBook B9 OLED (B9403CV) — sub-1kg business maestro
If you’re in the market for business laptops, I would say that you are spoilt for choice. Just about any laptop can be used for business, but if you want one that gives you extensive warranty coverage, exceptional performance while also being nigh weightless, well, your list begins to look really short. Let’s check out the ASUS ExpertBook B9 OLED (B9403), the creme de la creme of the ExpertBook series.
Ultralight yet ultra-durable
The ASUS ExpertBook series’ claim to fame are their military-grade durability and extensive 3-year warranties that help them remain a prime choice for discerning businesses. And despite the ASUS ExpertBook B9 OLED weighing in at just 0.99kg (2.18lbs for our freedom-loving friends), it still delivers on the reliability aspect that ExpertBooks are known for. In fact, it’s even lighter than the ASUS ExpertBook B9 we checked out previously. ASUS manages this with a refined thixomolding process that ensures the ultralight magnesium-lithium alloy chassis does not compromise on strength while also being more environmentally-friendly.
Quieter, faster
Now, compared to the ASUS ExpertBook B9 we reviewed, we have a newer 13th Gen Intel Core processor. So it definitely checks out on the performance front. Cooling has also been improved, with a new dual-fan design, that delivers on quieter operation. One thing that we noted with the ASUS ExpertBook B9 is that it does start throttling the processor much earlier than the consumer-oriented designs from ASUS, whereby you will see it aggressively drop the power limit as early as 80°C. This translates to it being more comfortable to use, but it also means that ASUS is leaving some performance on the table in exchange for possible better longevity and lower skin temperatures. Interesting choice, although I can see the point made that the users of the ExpertBook B9 OLED aren’t going to be editing or doing any heavy lifting themselves, thus the lower temperatures and longevity will be of more value than sheer performance.
Finally, OLED!
You won’t need it for content creation, but your eyes will probably thank you for the 70% lower blue light emitted by the ExpertBook B9 OLED’s screen. Perfect for business users who have to scrutinize spreadsheets all day. The newer 16:10 aspect ratio is also very welcome, for the exact same reason: spreadsheets. The extra rows you can see will definitely come in handy. And when it’s time to kick back, the sweet 100% DCI-P3 colors and deep blacks will definitely make all the movies you watch look that much better.
ASUS ExpertBook B9 OLED — should you buy this?
For RM8,999, there are many laptops to choose from, but as we have established at the very start of this article, there aren’t many that offers what the ASUS ExpertBook B9 OLED does. At just 0.99kg, it’s already pretty much in a class of its own. But when you consider that it is also touts military-grade durability, the list of competitors just shrinks further.
Speaking of which, the only one that probably comes close right now is the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro. For the same price, it’s slightly thinner and offers a newer CPU under the hood. But it is also not rated for military-grade endurance, and it doesn’t come with the ASUS ExpertBook B9 OLED’s impressive 3-year global warranty with on-site service, 3-year battery warranty and 1st year Perfect Warranty, so I guess it really depends on your priorities?
