Laptops

ASUS ExpertBook B5 review: Stay on top of your business

It surely keeps up with your busy mind and hectic life

Published

July 29, 2024

MJ Jucutan

I’ve always been on-the-go for the past few months, juggling life as a journalist, an athlete, an entrepreneur, and a sports event organizer. I’ve been used to working remotely ages ago, making my laptop my entire life.

This entire ordeal had me depending on bulky machines when I was younger. I’ve always held a belief that for heavy work, I’ll need a big laptop that weighs too much for my back.

Such belief contributed to my poor posture, added stress in my body, and various inconveniences when working remotely. Fast forward to today, I’m grateful for business laptops made for people who are constantly on the go.

Like the ASUS ExpertBook B5, these business laptops are thin, ultra-portable, yet packs a punch while keeping your data secure.

Strong, durable, but light enough to bring wherever you go

The ExpertBook B5 uses an all-metal chassis, and still keeping it thin at 1.89cm and weighing only 1.29kg. In addition, it has a military-grade durability (rated MIL-STD 810H) which meant it underwent intense panel-pressure, shock, and drop test.

For someone who’s always on-the-go, a military-grade laptop is a feature I always consider. The added safety for my machine, which basically has everything in my working life, is something I wouldn’t take a compromise with.

Most likely, you came across hilarious videos on TikTok where most remote workers work under intense situations. For instance, typing inside trikes, continuously working even when walking–at the airport or at the beach–or just having a call inside a ferry or speedboat. Yes, that’s how I look like on most of my trips.

Thankfully, the ExpertBook B5 came with a luxurious design and light build, even for a business notebook. I don’t have any qualms carrying it wherever I go.

Staying secure

My work in media, communications, and events gave me insurmountable confidential projects. If you travel a lot, you’d know how unsafe most public WiFis are, especially in hotels and airports.

On certain occasions, my mobile data hotspot would fail on me and I have to connect my laptop to an accessible network. This opens up my device to possible attacks.

But when you have enterprise-grade security, you can calm down for a bit. Inside-out, the ExpertBook B5 is heavily protected and guarded.

A minimum for ASUS laptops, for instance, is having a trusted platform module. The ExpertBook B5 uses TPM 2.0, which helps store essential and critical information–safely and securely.

The sensitive information is kept behind a hardware barrier, protecting it from external attacks.

Most data breaches also come from stolen or lost, unprotected devices. Having the Kensington Nano Security Slot ensures that you can lock your device down whether you anchor it to a device, to a desk, or another fixed object.

With all these sophisticated security features, you get to enjoy working remotely, especially when the place uses WiFi 6E or even better, WiFi 7, which the ExpertBook B5 supports.

Aside from making sure your data is safe and secure, there’s also something within your control. The ExpertBook B5 uses a webcam shield, so you can be assured that your webcam doesn’t record without your knowledge.

Keeps up with your multiple tabs

There came a time when I had more than 20 tabs open. I was reading various sources for an article, updating a proposal, responding to emails and chats, having an audio meeting, and reviewing video submissions.

I’m not saying I did all of that at once, it would be absurd. But I’ve been known to multitask and juggle all my responsibilities like a mad man, and still able to deliver.

My attention span might be shorter than a goldfish’s, but that’s just how my brain is wired. It’s probably built to thrive in dysfunction.

With the way I use my laptop just like how my mind works, the ExpertBook B5 surely kept up. It came to a point when my brain lagged and froze first than the machine I was using.

Thanks to the ExpertBook B5’s configurations, I was able to keep going without needing for a pause. My unit sports an Intel i7-1360P for its chipset, and comes with a 1TB SSD storage, and powered by a 16GB DDR5 RAM.

It maybe an overkill if your tasks involved drafting proposals, signing documents, reading and writing articles, and managing your businesses remotely.

But if having an overpowered machine enables me to keep going wherever I am without overheating and freezing, I will take it in a heartbeat.

Smart and Intelligent working

The ExpertBook B5 is designed as a business laptop, no doubt. Beside the ExpertBook logo on its top cover, sometimes, it indicates your status like glowing up when you’re on a call. This wards off anyone from disturbing you since it signals being in an important meeting.

Speaking of meetings, the ExpertBook B5 levels up the way you do your conference calls. It uses AI-powered noise cancellation, isolating unwanted noise picked up around you.

This helped me deliver clear speech even when inside crowded and noisy coffee shops.

I also got to enjoy a stellar video quality during my virtual meetings with clients and sponsors. When waiting for other people to join the meeting, I enjoyed staring at myself — that’s just how good the video quality is.

The ExpertBook B5’s AI-powered camera comes with motion-tracking technology, so it keeps my face centered and adjusts its focus on my eyes.

It also adjusts the image quality and brightness, depending on your lighting condition.

Moreover, there’s a dedicated Copilot key so you can improve your productivity. Now, I’m not a fan of having AI assist me in my day-to-day tasks since that’s another learning curve and I already have a lot on my plate. But for some people, I’m certain that this feature is a godsend.

Connected, always

As someone who juggles with various hard drives for different workloads, the ExpertBook B5 came with a handful of ports.

It has two (2) ThunderBolt 4 Type-C ports which you can use for charging and data transfer, and two (2) USB 3.2 Type-A ports. There’s also an HDMI 2.1 slot, and even a smart card reader and nano SIM slot option.

I already use Anker’s 7-in-1 dongle to cover all my other needs, which enables me to use various cables and connect with my laptop on other ports. Honestly, it’s got a lot of ports enough to keep me stationed in a desk and do my work for long hours.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The ASUS ExpertBook B5 demonstrates how business laptops should be. It’s smart, strong, powerful, keeps up with how fast your mind and thought process change, and enables you to show up the best way you should in the world you live in.

It sounds like I’m describing the ideal partner for an entrepreneur, an achiever, and the goal-driven individuals out there, but it’s really true. What you want out of a partner may have the same qualities, traits, and features as your laptop.

If you want to stay on top of every commitment you have, you just need a machine–or a companion–that would help you achieve every goals you set. Like the ASUS ExpertBook B5.

Learn more about the ASUS ExpertBook B5 via www.asus.com/ph/business/.

Laptops

Apple introduces Apple Upgrade leasing program

Flexible leasing arrives

Published

July 31, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Apple has introduced Apple Upgrade, a new leasing program that makes it easier to get an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch through monthly payments. The program also gives customers more flexibility to upgrade to newer devices over time.

Apple Upgrade replaces new enrollments for the iPhone Upgrade Program with a single offering that covers four product categories. Apple partnered with Klarna to power the service.

Customers can lease an iPhone or Apple Watch for one or two years. Mac and iPad leases are available for two or three years.

At the end of the lease, customers have three options. They can upgrade to a newer device, purchase the leased device by paying the remaining balance, or return it with no further obligation.

Monthly payments start at US$17.99 for iPhone and US$24.99 for Mac, depending on the selected model and configuration. Customers must also qualify through Klarna before enrolling.

More than iPhones

Apple Upgrade expands beyond the company’s previous iPhone-only financing program. It brings iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch under one leasing service, making upgrades more consistent across Apple’s hardware lineup.

Customers can manage their lease through Apple, while Klarna handles financing and lease administration. They can also pay off their device early, although additional terms and fees may apply depending on the agreement.

Apple Upgrade is currently available only in the United States. Apple has not announced plans to expand the program to other regions.

Accessories

OBSBOT’s Meet Flip is your next best pocketable 4K webcam

Fold the Flip for further protection

Published

July 29, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Several months ago, you might remember that OBSBOT revealed the Tiny 3 series of web cameras.

Six months after, they also unveil the all-new Meet Flip. From the name itself, it’s the company’s latest foldable 4K webcam that puts hardware privacy front and center.

Foldable and pocketable

Despite weighing just 37.7 grams, the Meet Flip aims to deliver premium webcam features for all types of users. Be it remote workers, professionals, or content creators.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Undoubtedly, the biggest highlight has got to be the webcam’s folding design. Not only it’s portable, it protects your privacy too.

Closing the device physically blocks the lens, giving users a visual confirmation that the camera is no longer active. When it’s time for a meeting, simply unfold it and it’s ready to go.

That lightweight body also features a built-in mounting clip that works with laptops, monitors, and tripods. Users can mount it in landscape, portrait, or even upside-down orientations depending on their setup.

Despite that absurd amount of lightweightness, the OBSBOT Meet Flip is still able to house a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology. That’s something more commonly found among bigger and higher-end web cameras.

Other camera features include:

4K video recording / 30fps
1080p recording / up to 60fps
HDR support for challenging lighting
Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
4x digital zoom
f/1.8 aperture with ISO 100-6400 support for low-light environments

Beyond just video calls

The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t just packed with serious camera hardware, it’s seriously intelligent as well.

The Meet Flip supports AI Auto Framing. This automatically keeps users centered during meetings — regardless if they are presenting alone or with a group. Gesture controls also let users activate framing or adjust zoom without touching the keyboard or mouse.

Another standout feature is AI Magic Notes which provides real-time meeting transcription and automatically generates summaries, action items, and key discussion points.

The feature works with Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams through OBSBOT Center. Every webcam includes complimentary transcription of 120 minutes.

With that being mentioned, OBSBOT Center also makes users gain access to software features such as background blur, virtual backgrounds, beauty mode, and picture-in-picture overlays for presentations.

Those who want more advanced controls can enable Smart Eye Tracking, teleprompter support, and manual image adjustments.

Audio also gets an upgrade through an intelligent dual-microphone system that offers four recording modes:

Directional Mode / solo calls
Dual-Directional Mode / interviews
Smart Omni Mode / group meetings
Pure Audio Mode / unprocessed stereo recording

AI Noise Reduction and Automatic Gain Control are also available across most modes to help improve voice clarity.

OBSBOT’s Meet Flip is also compatible with mobile devices through the OBSBOT Live app and supports integrations with accessories including Elgato Stream Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and UVC-to-NDI/HDMI adapters.

Pricing and Availability

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is available starting today for US$119 through OBSBOT’s online store, Amazon US, and select retailers worldwide. Regional pricing may vary.

Laptops

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra wins you over

The laptop sneaks up on you

Published

July 3, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

This is coming from someone who has done countless unboxings and has touched a wide variety of devices — the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra was… alright.

My first impression was that it certainly didn’t wow me as much as I expected it to after having read the brief, nor even after attending the tech seminar where ASUS laid out its vision for the laptop.

That’s probably the strangest thing about the ExpertBook Ultra. Because after having spent more time with it, the laptop grew on me.

Put cheekily, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra wasn’t the laptop that made my head turn. Instead, it was the laptop that kept showing up consistently. Before I realized it, it’s become the one I wanted to keep coming back to.

And I think that’s the best way to describe my experience with ASUS’ flagship business notebook.

The laptop sneaks up on you.

Built to be carried

I got the laptop right after Computex 2026 coverage. That meant my days were closer to how they normally are. That also meant I had to be more intentional about going out and bringing it with me as I tackled my day-to-day duties.

I normally carried it using my trusted EDC — the Alpaka Bravo Tote — and I have to say it definitely felt lighter than my usual laptop, which is the MacBook Pro M4.

The Apple laptop I regularly carry is, I have to admit, chunkier than I would prefer. So having the ExpertBook Ultra for about a week or so literally felt like some load was taken off my shoulders.

Did I ever forget it was there? I wouldn’t go that far.

But if you’re asking me which one I’d rather carry based on build and weight alone, I would, with no hesitation, reach for the ExpertBook Ultra.

That says a lot considering how attached I am to my usual setup.

ASUS likes talking about how light the ExpertBook Ultra is. Normally, that’s the sort of marketing line I acknowledge and quickly move past.

This time, I actually felt it.

The Nano Ceramic effect

One of the first things ASUS will tell you about the ExpertBook Ultra is its Nano Ceramic finish. I’ll admit, it felt like one of those things that sounds good on a slide presentation.

It’s one of those things that look gimmicky at first but actually feels incredible once you come across it on a daily basis.

It’s still early, so you can consider this very much part of the honeymoon phase with the laptop. Even so, the Nano Ceramic finish continues to inspire a bit of awe every time I pick it up.

I do feel like a little weirdo caressing the laptop ever so gently before I begin the day’s work wherever I may be. But that’s just a testament to how good it feels to touch.

And yes, it does reinforce the feeling that, “Hey, I’m working on a pretty fancy piece of machinery.”

It’s easy to underrate the effects of that feeling, but it’s those little intangible things that can sometimes help unlock perspectives and possibilities.

That’s not something you’ll find on a spec sheet. But it’s absolutely part of the experience.

A display that’s difficult to stop staring at

It also helps if STAYC Isa is on screen.

The display is magnificent.

As Captain America would say, “I can look at this all day.” Not the exact phrase, but you’re smart. You get it.

The OLED and matte coating is just a killer combo. Kind of like the Chaewon and Yeji “That’s a No No” challenge collab. Pardon the months-old K-pop reference. I’ve been so busy I haven’t really kept up with what’s new.

Anyway, the combination just comes at you unapologetically and you have no recourse but to bask in it. Maintaining the deep blacks and crisp colors is such a gift to your eyes.

I often sit right next to big windows when I’m out in cafés and the light did nothing to dull the effect of the display.

Two love, two love. I’m falling.

It was so good I often found myself fully diving into STAYC’s 2 LOVE music video in between writing this very review and coordinating with my team.

The matte coating deserves special mention here.

OLED panels already look fantastic. Pairing one with a matte finish that helps cut reflections without sacrificing the strengths of OLED makes for one of my favorite laptop displays in recent memory.

Typing just clicked

This is one of my favorite keyboard experiences. Things just clicked right from the start. No awkward feeling-out phase whatsoever.

I was touch typing like I was Doctor Strange trying to look into over 14 million possible outcomes and still landing on the right key every single time.

The keys feel closer to chiclet-style keyboards than anything else. Even so, the spacing is perfect and the travel satisfying.

Then there’s the haptic touchpad.

I typically don’t like using mice, especially when I’m out and about. With most Windows laptops I’ve used in the past, that eventually becomes a necessity.

That wasn’t the case with the ExpertBook Ultra. It’s easily one of the best-feeling touchpads I’ve used in recent memory.

My standard for touchpads has always been MacBooks. While the software is also doing some heavy lifting in that particular setup, the ExpertBook’s own comes pretty close.

That’s not praise I hand out lightly.

Performance that feels like overkill

Performance is one area where I cannot claim I fully pushed the capabilities of the ExpertBook Ultra.

Most of my tasks are browser-based. Plenty of tabs open, sure, but I don’t think I ever came close to really testing the capabilities of this business notebook. I imagine that would be the case for most of ASUS’ target audience.

Upon seeing the specs, I already knew this was going to be a bit of an overkill for my own use case. My time with it only proved that assessment.

The most I did with it was jump between browser tabs and chat apps, letting ChatGPT help me process unresolved feelings and questionable timing while I dealt with coordinating shoots, writing scripts and reviews, and dealing with external forces that leave me feeling drained.

Never once did the laptop feel slow. Never once did I find myself waiting.

What noise?

Speaking of things I didn’t notice, let’s talk about fan noise.

Again, since I didn’t really push this thing to its absolute limits, the fan never really kicked into high gear at any point during my time with it.

The same goes for thermals.

No task I did ever raised the temperature to uncomfortable levels. The laptop simply went about its business. Which, come to think of it, is probably the most business-laptop thing I can say about it.

Battery life that simply works

I was very impressed with its overall efficiency.

When I go out to work, I typically don’t stay out longer than five to six hours. Most of the time that’s five to six hours of really focused work—with some K-pop loving in between.

Being generally risk-averse, I still always brought my usual charger with me. Not once during my time with the device did I feel the need to plug in while working outside.

I would typically end my café work days somewhere between 30 to 40 percent and only juice the thing up once I got home while it was closed and not in use.

That’s exactly the kind of battery experience I want from a business laptop.

The AI question

The thing I struggle with when it comes to AI features on this machine is that a lot of them are Windows-based and that’s just not the AI I find reliable.

Right now, many of these features are nice-to-have.

I’m sure one of ASUS’ target users will likely find a use case for them.

As for me personally, this is one area I’d have to dig deeper into to actually find ways to integrate them into my workflow and general usage.

And honestly, that’s okay. The AI features weren’t the reason I kept reaching for the laptop.

Who is this actually for?

That’s a loaded question. Really, it’s built for anyone who can afford it.

With a starting price of PhP 129,995, this device comfortably sits in aspirational territory.

What I know for sure is that this is a machine for someone who’s already built some momentum in their chosen field and would like to level up.

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra gives you a machine that can handle your business now and inspire you to dream bigger about your future.

Is the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra your GadgetMatch?

The thing I kept coming back to with the ExpertBook Ultra is that there is no one thing that made me turn to it.

Instead, it’s the combination of everything that it brings to the table. The premium-feeling build, lightweight design, wonderful display, excellent keyboard and touchpad. efficient performance, and the thoughtful extras. Together, they make it a laptop that’s easy to recommend to anyone who’s ready for it.

But what does ready for it actually mean?