The Asus ExpertBook Ultra is not just another incremental update in the business laptop market—it’s a bold leap forward, powered by Intel’s newly unleashed Panther Lake architecture. This isn’t the first laptop to adopt the chip, but it’s one of the most polished, blending cutting-edge performance with a refined design that challenges the dominance of traditional premium brands like Lenovo and Dell.
The ExpertBook Ultra isn’t just fast—it’s a full-system upgrade. A 14-inch 2880×1880 tandem OLED touchscreen with a matte Gorilla Glass Victus finish ensures visibility in bright conditions, while the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics deliver RTX 4050-level performance in synthetic benchmarks. But with a $2,500 price tag looming, the real question is whether it’s worth the premium over established alternatives.
Here’s what you need to know before it hits shelves in April.
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (16 cores, 4.8GHz Turbo)
- Graphics: Intel Arc B390 (12 Xe cores, 2.5GHz)
- Display: 14-inch 2880×1880 tandem OLED touchscreen (120Hz, matte Gorilla Glass Victus)
- Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x-8533
- Storage: 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
- Ports: 3.5mm combo audio jack
- Battery: 70Wh (real-world ~12–15 hours)
- Weight: 2.42 lbs | Dimensions: 12.24 x 8.38 x 0.65 inches
- Biometrics: Windows Hello (facial + fingerprint)
- Audio: 6-speaker system with bass enhancement
- Webcam: 1080p FHD IR (privacy shutter)
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
- Expected Price: ~$2,500 (comparable to ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Dell Pro 14 Premium)
The ExpertBook Ultra’s Core Ultra X7 358H isn’t just a incremental refresh—it’s a 16-core beast with 4.8GHz Turbo speeds, outpacing last-gen Intel chips in multi-threaded workloads. Pair that with 32GB of LPDDR5x and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and this machine is built for power users who demand both speed and reliability.
But the real standout is the Arc B390 integrated graphics. In benchmarks, it crushes competitors like the AMD Radeon 890M and even Intel Arc 140V, delivering RTX 3050/4050-level performance in synthetic tests. Real-world gaming? Expect ~79 FPS in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p High and ~46 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra—playable without upscaling. It won’t rival a dedicated RTX 5050, but for a business laptop, it’s a revelation.
The 14-inch tandem OLED is another highlight. Most OLED screens glare under bright light, but Asus’s matte Gorilla Glass Victus finish keeps it readable outdoors while preserving the 120Hz refresh rate and deep blacks OLED is known for. The haptic touchpad and spacious keyboard (with 1.5mm key travel) elevate usability, while the Thunderbolt 4 ports on both sides simplify cable management—a rare touch in this class.
Yet no laptop is perfect. Battery life, while solid at ~12–15 hours, isn’t groundbreaking. The webcam is functional but unremarkable, and the audio—while loud—can get harsh at max volume. Still, these are minor quibbles for a machine that redefines what a premium business laptop can do.
If the $2,500 price holds, the ExpertBook Ultra won’t just compete with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon or Dell Pro 14 Premium—it will redraw the category. For professionals who need CPU muscle, discrete-like graphics, and a premium build, it’s a serious contender. The only question left is whether Asus can deliver on that April launch date—and whether the price will match its performance.
