Review and testing of the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip laptop based on the Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor and integrated Iris Xe Graphics

ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip is a family of laptops with support for tablet mode, designed for professional use in the corporate and business segments. The company tried to include everything that could theoretically be needed in this kind of activity. And the copy that got to us for review is based on the flagship Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor from the Tiger Lake-U family with the Willow Cove architecture. It is an energy-efficient model with four physical cores and eight threads, capable of operating at maximum frequencies from 2.9 to 5 GHz, depending on the load on the cores and the thermal package. The built-in graphics chip Intel Iris Xe Graphics, if necessary, allows you to play even light game projects at a low or medium level of graphics settings. But this is clearly not its purpose and it was created primarily for the purpose of hardware acceleration of working applications and programs. In general, there are many laptops with this configuration, but ASUS would not be itself if it did not add many different and interesting options to it.

The actual dimensions (taking into account the legs, protrusions in the largest part of the case) for ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip are 320x234x21 mm with a weight of 1.46 kg. In appearance and tactile feel, this is a classic 14″ model, suitable both for carrying with you and for comfortable work at a desk. All its main characteristics are listed in the table below.

Supply set

The laptop will arrive to its new owner in its original octagonal box. There is a convenient carrying handle that also prevents the box from opening if the packaging seal is broken. On the side and back of the package there are stickers with serial numbers and a list of the main technical characteristics of the product.

The only protection of the laptop from damage is thick cardboard and soft pads. But the accessories are laid out very rationally in four separate pockets under it.

The device comes with three brochures consisting of two concise user manuals (it is better to download the full manual from the official website) and warranty information. In addition, we have an adapter from the micro HDMI port to RJ45 for connecting wired Internet, a power supply, a power cable to the BZ, a stylus and a small key for unlocking the Nano SIM tray.

The power supply unit of the A19-065N3A model is designed for a load of up to 65 W. Its physical dimensions are 66x66x29 mm with a weight of 217 grams. The length of the fixed USB Type-C cable reaches 1.5 meters. A separate power cord with a Euro plug has a length of 0.7 meters and a weight of 106 grams.

Appearance

The case of the ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip is made of a fairly strong and light aluminum-magnesium alloy, pleasant to the touch. In the closed position, it perfectly withstands all diagonal twisting loads. It is not for nothing that the device is declared compliant with the MIL-STD810H military standard. The color of the “night starry sky” at the intersection of blue and black, which can shimmer with barely noticeable splashes under certain lighting angles, adds a special style. But the most important thing is that this coating resists dirt well and easily wipes off fingerprints. The top panel of the lid is smooth and plain. It has a silver ASUS logo in the middle. In the upper right corner, in the black insert with the inscription ExpertBook, a red LED is mounted, which can be turned on to warn others that it is better not to distract the interlocutor. On the sides, near the hinges, small technological growths are made, on which the lid rests at large angles of inclination.

The bottom panel of the laptop has two small rubber feet at the front corners, and one long rubber foot that runs parallel to the back edge. Below it is the main array of air intake holes. And below is product and software information. The speakers are hidden behind two grills on the sides of the front face. By the way, all sides of the device are tilted inward, which makes it easier to lift and carry.

The holes for removing warm air from the fan are located on the back edge of the lower part of the laptop, in the gap between the hinges.

A recess in the middle of the front bottom edge makes it easy to lift the lid with one hand and open the laptop. At the same time, its lower part will remain intact.

The following ports are mounted on the left side: two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 with support for charging and connecting monitors, one HDMI and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A, one micro HDMI (for wired Internet, not for video signal!), audio port 3 .5 mm under the headset and three white indicators — storage activity, charging and system operation. By the way, in profile, the laptop has a height of 18.9 mm at the front and 21 mm at the back.

The adapter from micro HDMI to RJ45 connector looks bulky and inflexible. It is unlikely that it will be used without extreme need.

On the right side, there is another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A port, a volume control rocker, a system start button with a built-in fingerprint scanner, a Nano SIM tray, a mini DisplayPort and a Kensington nanolock connector. A little lower is the slot for the smart card reader.

To open the Nano SIM tray, there is a corresponding small key in the kit.

Another nice accessory for this model is the ASUS Pen SA201H branded stylus. It is made in a metal case with a plastic cover behind and has dimensions of 150×9.5 mm and a weight of 20 grams. It works on MPP 2.0 technology, distinguishes 4096 degrees of pressure in the force range from 14 to 450 grams, taking into account the angle of inclination up to 45 degrees inclusive. With it, you can “draw” lines with a minimum thickness of up to 0.2 mm. There are two mechanical buttons in the front part of the swing. The lower one is responsible for “erasing”, the upper one performs the function of the right mouse button. It is powered by an unusual AAAA format battery, which should last for approximately 730 hours of operation. In theory, it even has variable rods.

Two magnets are hidden on the right side of the laptop display, on which you can fix the stylus when it is not in use. The main thing is not to accidentally close the cover together with it, and not to damage the screen.

ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip has several operating modes, depending on the display angle. Up to and including 180 degrees, it works like a regular laptop. At an inclination of more than 110 degrees from the horizontal, the lower part rises a little, resting on the lower supports of the display. This technology is called ErgoLift, thanks to which cooling is improved and a richer sound is created due to the formation of a “chamber” in relation to the surface of the table.

The screen has quite wide frames. At the top center is the eyepiece of the main camera, which is closed by a mechanical slider of the red curtain. On the sides of the slider there are holes for two microphones, to the left of the camera there is an indicator of its operation, and to the right of the main camera there is an infrared camera with the Windows Hello function and a proximity sensor.

Special reinforced hinges allow the laptop to be unfolded up to 180 degrees and more. The manufacturer guarantees for them up to 30 thousand cycles of opening and closing without damage.

In the range from 180 to 360 degrees, or when tilted to the side by more than 90 degrees, the system will offer to switch to tablet mode, in which the screen will become more adapted to finger touch commands. In addition, the built-in accelerometer will automatically rotate the screen depending on the orientation of the device relative to the earth’s surface.

When switching to full tablet mode or tilting the screen more than 180 degrees, the keyboard and touchpad are automatically turned off.

An island-type ANSI keyboard, without a numeric keypad, is slightly recessed into the body. Under the buttons are the pantograph (scissors) mechanisms that ensure uniform pressing with a total stroke of 1.5 mm. The English and Ukrainian layouts are softly illuminated in white. Caps Lock, Fn Lock and microphone activity indicators are built into the corresponding buttons. The keyboard is declared resistant to liquid spills in a volume of up to 78 cm3, but we did not test it in practice.

The sensitive touchpad has dimensions of 130×66 mm. Its surface is matte and slippery. Corresponding mechanical keys are hidden under the left and right lower corners. Recognition of four fingers at the same time and about 20 intuitive gestures are supported. If you hold your finger in the upper right corner for a second, the ASUS NumberPad technology will turn on and the illuminated contours of the buttons of the virtual touch digital block will appear on the touchpad. And that’s not all. An NFC reader is also installed here. For correct operation, you should place the corresponding card or device in the center of the touchpad, no closer than 5 mm from its edges.