ASUS ExpertBook B9450: An Ultralight Ultrabook
The ASUS ExpertBook B9450 is a new entry in the thin-and-light (formerly ‘Ultrabook’) category that features a design that addressing durability and light weight in equal measure. The chassis is milled from a magnesium-lithium alloy that ASUS says is both stronger (with Military Grade 810G durability) and lighter than previous Mg-Li formulations, producing a laptop with a 0.59-inch thickness and a weight of only 2.19 pounds.
“…the ExpertBook B9450 laptop, the latest ASUS ExpertBook for business professionals that provides unmatched performance, durability and design within an incredibly thin and light form factor weighing in at just 2.2 lbs with a 0.59 inch thin profile. The new ExpertBook-series laptops maintain a professional and reliable personality while incorporating innovation and flexibility in order to meet the requirements of modern businesses.”
Specifications include a 14-inch FHD display with 100% sRGB coverage, up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U processor, 16GB of LPDDR3 memory, and up to 2x 1TB NVMe drives.
“Designed for business professionals on-the-go, the ExpertBook B9450 delivers top-tier performance thanks to up to an 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, dual-storage design with two ultrafast 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSDs, and up to 16GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) connectivity. Expect uninterrupted performance on the B9450 with long-lasting battery life delivering up to an impressive 24 hours of use on a single charge, with extra comfort features like the ErgoLift hinge, built-in voice assistant support, and a Harman Kardon-optimized audio system.”
Beyond the specs and unique appearance (and texture, apparently) of the sleek chassis is the presence of some legitimate I/O, including a pair of Thunderbolt 3/USB 3.1 Type-C ports, a full-size HDMI port, and a standard USB 3.1 Type-A port. Wired networking is also available via an included micro HDMI to RJ45 Cable.
Pricing for the Core i7 configurations (a Core i5-10210U version will also be available):
- Model B9450FA-XS74 – Intel Core i7-10510U, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD – $1699, Amazon
- Model B9450FA-XS79 – Intel Core i7-10510U, 16GB RAM, 2x 1TB PCIe SSDs – $1799, Amazon
Launched officially on April 6, online reviews of the new ExpertBook include an in-depth look at one configuration from ultrabookreview (with plenty of photos of the laptop inside and out, as well as in-depth performance analysis) where they pronounce it “ASUS’s best ultrabook to date”. We look forward to a chance to go hands-on ourselves.
