Asus has unveiled a new Windows-on-ARM convertible tablet, the ExpertBook B3 Detachable. As you can tell from the name, this can be used with or without a detachable keyboard. Also, the protective case has a kickstand that can hold the slate in landscape or portrait orientation. Asus advertises this as the “first Windows laptop powered by Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform with garaged stylus”. There is a lot to unpack here. First, yes, this is based on the mid-range 7c Gen 2 chipset.
This is intended for remote study and
remote work or being on the floor in a manufacturing plant or a retail store.
Being lightweight (590g/1.3lbs without the case) and having long battery life –
up to 21 hours – are more important than raw performance. The ExpertBook B3 Detachable
is intended for remote work or education or helping out in factories and retail
stores The ExpertBook B3 Detachable is intended for remote work or education or
helping out in factories and retail stores The ExpertBook B3 Detachable is
intended for remote work or education or helping out in factories and retail
stores The ExpertBook B3 Detachable is intended for remote work or education or
helping out in factories and retail stores
The “garaged stylus” can be stashed inside
the tablet instead of having it hang off the side with a magnetic attachment.
The stylus is active, but it only needs 15 seconds to charge and it is ready
for 45 minutes of use. The stylus is sold separately. For remote learning or
work, advanced video calls skills are vital. The Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable
features AI noise-canceling tech for audio, noise-reduction for the 5MP
front-facing camera (in case you don’t have good lighting at home) and a handy
mute key on the optional keyboard. There is also a 13MP camera on the back if
you need to snap a photo of something. Speaking of the keyboard, unlike typical
detachable keyboards this one doesn’t lie flat – its ErgoLift design keeps it
at an angle that’s comfortable for typing. The keyboard is still-resistant and
has antibacterial coating. It has 1.5mm key travel and a trackpad.
The Asus ExpertWidget will let you create
custom keyboard shortcuts using the Fn key and the 1-4 number keys. This will
be handy for actions you perform repeatedly throughout the day. Note that both
the keyboard and even the protective case with the dual kickstands are
optional. The ExpertBook B3 Detachable has a MIL-STD-810H rating. One of the
tests includes placing a 28kg weight (62lbs) on the back without damaging the
LCD panel. The tablet has been drop tested (18 times at 40g) and vibration
tested (10-500Hz for 60 minutes), is tolerant of high humidity (95%) and
extreme temperatures (-37°C to 46°C, -34.6 to 115°F).
The Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset can be
paired with 4GB or 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, storage is 128GB eMMC. On-board
connectivity includes one USB-C (with video out and charging support), one
3.5mm combo audio jack, Wi-Fi 5 (ac, 2x2) and Bluetooth 5.1. The 10.5” LCD has
1,920 x 1,200px resolution (16:10) and tops out at 320 nits. It can render a
wide color gamut with 121% sRGB coverage. The new Asus convertible has a
garaged stylus, runs Windows 11 on an Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chip
The tablet is powered by a 38Wh Li-ion
battery, which supports 45W charging using the included adapter and is good for
up to 21 hours of use. Asus sells versions of this slate with Windows 11 Pro,
Windows 11 Home in S Mode and Windows 11 Pro Education.
The Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable starts
at US$ 600 and is already available on Best Buy in the US.
