Asus recently launched its new ExpertBook P series laptops in India, which are catered towards professionals and feature the latest Intel chipsets with integrated AI capabilities, powered by a built-in NPU. The Asus ExpertBook P1 is also a serious business laptop from this series with a clean and lightweight design, enterprise-focused features, and reliable performance.
Talking about the specifications, the unit we have received for review comes with an Intel i7 13620H processor, 32GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. Let’s now take a closer look at what the Asus ExpertBook P1 offers, with a detailed review of the laptop.
Design and build
The ExpertBook P1 comes with a sleek and lightweight design, as the laptop weighs just 1.63kg. It also has 1.2 mm-thick stainless-steel hinges with large screws, enhancing the durability. Asus claims it has used a thicker plastic exterior chassis, and thanks to its US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard certification, the laptop withstood normal wear and tear, even while traveling or rugged home usage.
The lid is also stiff enough to hold the laptop steady while typing, and can be bent over 180 degrees, which enhances the machine’s usability. The company has provided a large trackpad, which also holds the fingerprint sensor on top. However, this placement makes it hard to access while typing, especially when a user wants to log back on the PC or while authorizing web payments.
If we talk about the ports availability, you get dual USB-C, single USB-A ports, an HDMI, and a full-size RJ45 Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity. Overall, the Asus ExpertBook P1 offers a durable and lightweight design, which is prone to normal bumps, drops, and general abuse during daily usage, and its lightweight build makes it easy to carry for office use, which would be appreciated by most professionals.
Display
Asus has provided a 14-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS panel with the ExpertBook P1. The panel offers satisfactory viewing angles, and thankfully, it doesn't come with a glossy finish, which is why there are not a lot of glares and annoying reflections, even during outdoor usage. The 14-inch screen size also feels like a sweet spot and is a tiny bit bigger than standard MacBooks, offering a slightly bigger screen estate for multitasking and media consumption.
However, the big bezels at the side and bottom could have been reduced, especially when the competition is offering slimmer borders. The Full HD resolution means that the screen is sharp and bright enough to work indoors, or for occasional photo and video edits. However, because it only comes with a maximum brightness of 300 nits, which is pretty dim to view under direct sunlight.
Keyboard and trackpad
An essential part of any business laptop is its keyboard, and the ExpertBook P1 excels in this department. The supplied keys are large and offer good spacing between them, making them easy to type without any issues. The keys also have a satisfying amount of travel and feel responsive when a user inputs the command. While typing out lengthy documents, scrolling, or using it for playing games, our experience remained smooth and consistent, even during long hours of nonstop usage.
Talking about its backlighting capabilities, the keyboard comes with a plain white colour option and offers four brightness levels, including the option to turn it off entirely. The keycaps feel adequately bright enough for most low-light environments and pair well with the contrasting black keycaps. As for the touchpad, it supports most common multi-touch gestures and tracks smoothly with a reassuring click. However, the haptic feedback could have been better.
Performance
As mentioned earlier, our unit of the Asus ExpertBook P1 runs on the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H CPU with 32GB of RAM, which is the series’ highest configuration. During day-to-day tasks, we noticed zero lags or stutters, and multitasking is also handled seamlessly. The presence of 512GB of PCIe 4.0 storage ensured that app launches and file transfers feel snappy and consistent.
Talking about benchmarks, the laptop posted respectable scores in Cinebench R23 and R24, while Geekbench 6 generated a multi-core score of 11,192, which is great for a productivity-focused machine. However, the ExpertBook P1 with its integrated Intel UHD graphics is only suited for occasional visual tasks or light photo editing, as the laptop struggled in our gaming test, barely moving past 20 FPS while playing GTA V.
While the thermals don’t directly affect the performance, the large heat dissipation sink at the bottom also feels uncomfortable on the lap with prolonged usage, even for light tasks like browsing or switching between multiple apps. Thankfully, the machine stays quiet during such tasks, and the fan noise is not highly noticeable. In terms of external display support, this laptop offers one HDMI and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, allowing you to connect up to two external monitors, which is great for editors and multitaskers.
Battery
Despite the power-hungry processor and thermal issues, the ExpertBook P1 offers decent battery life for everyday users, especially if you are on the move frequently during travel in meetings, or even in places without power outlets. The company claims its 50Wh battery can last up to eight hours, and in our experience, the laptop gave close to seven hours of screen time on average with a single charge, with screen brightness at 70%.
As for charging, ASUS has included a 65W Type-C charger inside the box, which can top up the laptop in just under an hour. The machine can even be paired with third-party GaN chargers. Interestingly, the laptop also supports full-range USB-C Charging as well, meaning it can even be topped up using a standard power bank or the basic Type-C outlet found on various public platforms.
Verdict
At an asking price of Rs 72,990, the Asus ExperBook P1 is a solid recommendation for professionals seeking a reliable and lightweight laptop. Its comprehensive port selection, smooth multitasking, and satisfactory battery backup make it a practical choice for students as well, who prioritise performance and portability without breaking the bank. Moreover, the robust build quality and excellent keyboard act as the cherry on top.
However, it’s a machine that is built with compromises, as the dim display, the plastic chassis, and the inconsistent heating issues do ruin the experience occasionally, especially for users who want a more travel-friendly laptop for outdoor usage. Overall, the Asus ExpertBook P1 can easily become a day-to-day companion that you can rely on for studying, work, routine tasks, and more.
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