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日本ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) review – a Lot of Business Features but a Few Major Drawbacks Too
Many of you have requested reviews of more affordable models, so after covering all the 16″ Series 5 laptops by Lenovo, we’ve decided to turn our attention to ASUS’s entry-level business machine—the ExpertBook B1.
The ExpertBook lineup is categorized into Premium, Advanced, and Essential tiers. The higher the number, the more upscale the category, so the B1 falls into the Essential line as the base model. It’s available with either 12th or 13th-generation Intel Core processors. To keep things current, we’ll opt for the newer CPU.
It’s particularly intriguing to examine how ASUS, a brand better known for its high-end offerings, tackles the challenge of crafting a budget business laptop. While the specs look promising on paper, given the price point, we’re bracing ourselves for potential surprises.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) series – Specs and Prices
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 1000GB SSD
- RAM
- up to 32GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home
- Battery
- 42Wh, 3-cell
- Dimensions
- 361.6 x 233 x 19.9 mm (14.24" x 9.17" x 0.78")
- Weight
- 1.69 kg (3.7 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 1x USB Type-A
- 2.0
- 1x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 1.4
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- 10, 100, 1000 Mbit/s
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ax
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- optional
- Web camera
- HD with IR function to support Windows Hello
- Backlit keyboard
- optional
- Microphone
- Array Microphone
- Speakers
- Speakers by Dirac
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
- Kensington Nano Lock
All ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) configurations
Drivers
You can find the official drivers for the ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) here:
ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) – Official Drivers
If you have ordered the ExpertBook B1 variant with 12th Gen Intel processor, you can find its drivers here:
ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 12th Gen Intel) – Official Drivers
What’s in the box?
For an entry-level product, we shouldn’t expect many extras in the package, and indeed, there weren’t any surprises. Inside the box, we found just the laptop and its compact 65W USB-C power adapter.
Design and construction
ASUS ExpertBook B1 looks stylish. Simple, elegant, without unnecessary design elements.
The chassis has passed the MIL-STD 810H US military standard but caution is advised as the lid tends to flex easily when pressure is applied while closed.
We like what we see when we open the notebook. The bezels are narrow, the hinges work well. Additionally, the palm rest offers a reassuring rigidity, contrasting nicely with the flexibility of the lid.
We tested the screen’s maximum opening angle and were pleased to find that the hinges allow it to lay flat at 180 degrees:
It’s not broken, the screen just turned off.
The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience, also benefitting from the 15-inch diagonal that provides enough space for accommodating a full NumPad. However, it shares the same drawback noted in our review of the IdeaPad Slim—the Up and Down arrow keys are notably small. Those frequently using these keys may need some time to adjust to their half-size.
Another small but pleasant surprise is the keyboard backlight that can be activated by pressing F7.
The trackpad is good sized for ease of use, and it features a convenient addition in its upper right corner: a fingerprint reader. This is a thoughtful inclusion for a business-oriented laptop.
There’s a physical privacy shutter for the camera and that is important for a business notebook.
We’re very happy with the portability of ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502) – it weighs just 3.73 lbs (1.69 kg), and its 0.78″ (19.9 mm) thick. Here we should note that the average weight for a 15.6-inch laptop in our Specs System is 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg), which is 22% higher than B1’s.
Ports
As a work machine, ExpertBook B1 is equipped with a lot of ports starting with a full-sized USB 2.0, and Kensington Nano lock on the left. On the right, we have another USB-A (but faster – 3.2 Gen 1), along with two USB-C: 1x 3.2 Gen 1 with power delivery (this is the charging port), and 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 with external display support. There’s also a full-sized HDMI 1.4 (up to 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz), a 3.5mm audio jack, and an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet.
Most of them are budget solutions but we prefer having slower ports over not having them at all.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| Model | Innolux N156HRA-EA1 (CMN1521) |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Diagonal | 15.6 inches (39.6 cm) |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Pixel Density | 142 PPI |
| Retina Distance | Greater than or equal to 60 cm |
Viewing Angles
We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of ASUS ExpertBook B1 can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
ASUS ExpertBook B1: the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 57% of the sRGB color gamut and 45% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) ASUS ExpertBook B1 covers just 57% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness is 268 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 255 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 13%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 7280K.
The contrast ratio is good – 1280:1.
HDR is not supported.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 180 nits (Windows slider = 66%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the ASUS ExpertBook B1. We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the ASUS ExpertBook B1, the Average color accuracy was 4.2 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 3.2 dE (Fig. 3). In other words, the color accuracy with our display profile becomes acceptable but still not suitable for professional work with colors.
(Fig. 2) ASUS ExpertBook B1 in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) ASUS ExpertBook B1 with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space (primaries and D65 white point specified in ITU-R BT.709, sRGB encoding curve).
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Gaming profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Gaming Profile
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Design and Gaming profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 20.0 ms. This is rather slow response time. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
ASUS ExpertBook B1’s display doesn’t use PWM which is good for the health of your eyes.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses it to control brightness but also reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the ExpertBook B1’s screen is 50.7 GU. Another good result, health-wise.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for ASUS ExpertBook B1 configurations with Innolux N156HRA-EA1 (CMN1521), 1920 x 1080, IPS panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Office Work
Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.
Design and Gaming
This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.
Health-Guard
Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.
Get all 3 profiles with 33% discount
Sound
The speakers of the ASUS ExpertBook B1 produce very high-quality sound. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear without any significant deviations.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
The ExpertBook B1 (B1502) is divided into two sub-series:
– ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 12th Gen Intel) with Intel N100, N200, i3-N305, i3-1215U, i5-1235U, or i7-1255U, and their iGPUs
– ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) with Intel Core i3-1315U, i5-1335U, or i7-1355U, and their iGPUs
If you want to do more than surfing the web with one tab in Chrome, you have to choose at least the i3-N305 option. Intel N100 and N200 are next to unusable – i3-N305 is more than 3 times faster than Intel Processor N200.
We ordered our B1 with i5-1335U which should provide us with enough horsepower for a lot of tasks.
Additionaly, we’ve chosen the Performance mode in MyASUS.
CPU Performance
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU Performance
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
The Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU) in 1335U is not intended for gaming but we’ll give it a try with the Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
As expected, you can’t really game on the native resolution even at the lowest settings but you can enjoy Lara Croft at 720p. It’s something.
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1920 x 1080, Lowest | 1280 x 720, Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Average FPS | 22 fps | 33 fps |
AI Performance
Intel Core i3-1315U, i5-1335U, or i7-1355U don’t have NPUs (let alone their predecessors). The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU) also doesn’t pack a lot of computational power.
Here is what it looks like, compared to Intel Arc iGPU and the AI Boost NPU:
| Laptop | AI Computer Vision | |
| Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU) | ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502) | 69 |
| Intel Arc (8-core) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i (16IMH9) | 184 |
| Intel AI Boost NPU | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i (16IMH9) | 208 (+22%) |
If you’re planning to work with AI, you should look for a laptop with a dedicated GPU.
Storage performance
Our ASUS ExpertBook B1 came with a 512GB Solidigm P41 Plus Series SSD (SSDPFKNU512GZ).
It’s far from the fastest but works at impressively low temperatures even when heavily loaded. Still, a 3.5GB/s sequential read is not bad.
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Battery Life
We’ve tested the battery life of ExpertBook B1 in the Standard mode, Panel Self Refresh: On, Display Power Savings: Off.
5 hours and 51 minutes is a lower result than what we were expecting given the power-saving hardware but that is because of the tiny 42Wh battery.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Conclusion
We weren’t particularly impressed with the ASUS ExpertBook B1. It’s not a bad laptop, but perhaps our expectations were skewed by the numerous high-end models we’ve tested from ASUS before. The B1 has its strengths, including a stylish design, lightweight build, and features like a backlit keyboard, privacy shutter, and fingerprint reader.
However, there are stronger alternatives out there. For instance, the Acer Aspire 15 (A15-41M) is not only lighter and thinner but also boasts better battery life, a metal chassis, superior ports, and more robust performance.
The display on the ExpertBook B1 also left something to be desired, with low maximum brightness and inaccurate colors. On the plus side, it’s eye-friendly, not using PWM and sporting an anti-reflective coating.
ASUS offers a wide range in its ExpertBook series, from the base model B1 up to the premium B9. If you’re committed to the brand, there are plenty of options to explore.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: ASUS ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 13th Gen Intel) series – Specs and Prices
Pros
- Elegant and minimalistic design
- Very light – just 3.73 lbs (1.69 kg)
- Many extra features: Keyboard backlight, Privacy shutter, Fingerprint reader…
- Display with no PWM usage, anti-reflective coating
- Passes the MIL-STD-810H military-grade tests (but…)
Cons
- The lid flexes easily when closed
- Short battery life – 5h 51m
- Limited upgradability (1x RAM slot, 1x SSD slot)
- Low maximum brightness – 268 cd/m²
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Thank you for reviewing more affordable laptops.
You’re welcome, Paweł! We saw your other comment and we’ve ordered some more budget machines, the reviews will be ready in the coming days 🙂