Asus ExpertBook Ultra: Premium 2.2-Pound Panther Lake Laptop Now Available

Asus has made its ExpertBook Ultra (B9406CAA) business laptop available in the United States, bringing an impressively thin and light design packed with high-end specifications to the market. The laptop stands out with its 2.18-pound weight and slim profile, measuring between 10.9mm and 16.4mm thick, while delivering enterprise-grade performance.

At the heart of this premium device is Intel's latest Core Ultra X7 358H 16-core processor paired with an Intel Arc B390 12-core integrated graphics solution. This combination provides substantial processing power for business applications while maintaining the energy efficiency needed for such a lightweight design.

The display is equally impressive, featuring a 14-inch tandem OLED panel with a resolution of 2880 x 1890 pixels and brightness up to 600 nits. This high-quality screen is complemented by an audio system consisting of six speakers, making it suitable for both productivity and multimedia consumption.

Storage and memory configurations include 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 onboard memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD in the M.2 2280 slot. The laptop features a distinctive "ceraluminum" finish—a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis treated with a ceramic-like, scratch-resistant surface.

Connectivity options are robust for a device of this size:

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports (40 Gbps)
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (10 Gbps)
• 1 x HDMI 2.1 port
• 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

Additional features include WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 support, a 70 Wh battery, dual microphones, and a 1080p webcam with privacy shutter. Asus highlights the webcam's "AI image upscaling to 5MP" capability. For security, the laptop includes both an IR camera for Windows Hello face recognition and a fingerprint sensor.

The ExpertBook Ultra runs Windows 11 Pro and comes with a 3-year warranty, distinguishing it from consumer devices that typically include only a 1-year warranty. However, these premium features come at a premium price point of $3,599, making it an investment primarily suited for business users with substantial budgets.

Looking ahead, Asus has indicated that higher-spec variants may become available, potentially featuring the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H processor, up to 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage configurations. These models haven't yet been released in the US market but were showcased during CES in January.

For developers and business professionals who prioritize portability without compromising on performance, the ExpertBook Ultra represents an intriguing option, though its price will likely limit its adoption to specific enterprise use cases or professionals with generous equipment budgets.