ASUS has built an impressive portfolio of Windows laptops over the years, catering to casual users, gamers, and professionals alike. Their Zephyrus, Zenbook, ProArt, and Vivobook series have all found considerable success in the Indian market. The ExpertBook lineup, however, takes a different direction. It is built for commercial use, targeting C-suite executives and MSME companies.
The company has now launched its 2026 flagship in India, the ExpertBook Ultra. Built on ASUS’s most cutting-edge research and technology, it promises a laptop experience with no compromises. In this review, we put those claims to the test and find out whether the ExpertBook Ultra truly deserves to be called the best Windows laptop available today.
Design and Build Quality
The ExpertBook Ultra embodies a design language perfectly suited for its intended audience: clean, professional, and minimalist. It looks stunning in its smooth, pearlescent white exterior, which ASUS calls Morn Grey. The subtle iridescent shimmer to the finish is a genuine highlight. The alternative colour option, Jet Fog, also looks good, though the Morn Grey stands out in a quieter, more distinctive way.
Branding is kept to a minimum. A single ASUS logo sits on the lid, with “ASUS ExpertBook” text on the bottom bezel. Nothing more, nothing less. A design element that is new to the ExpertBook is the light bar present below the bottom bezel that ASUS calls ExpertLumi Lighting. It is essentially an array of white LEDs that ASUS has configured to indicate booting up, logging in and shutting down the laptop. It does feel a bit like a gimmick at the moment, but ASUS has indicated that more functionality in the future.
For a laptop built for commercial use, the ExpertBook Ultra is engineered to last. The all-metal chassis uses a magnesium-aluminium alloy shaped through CNC machining, resulting in one of the most rigid and well-built frames I have felt on a Windows laptop. This particular alloy is typically found in aerospace and Formula 1 applications, prized for being strong, lightweight, and dimensionally stable.
There is virtually no flex on either the keyboard deck or the lid, which is remarkable for a laptop this thin. Backing this up further, the ExpertBook Ultra meets MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability standards, having passed 24 rigorous tests across a range of extreme conditions.
ASUS also applies their Nano Ceramic Technology to the exterior. This is similar to the Ceraluminum finish found on Zenbook laptops, but considerably more advanced. Using a combination of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation and Nano Liquid Ceramic Coating, it achieves a claimed 9H surface hardness. In practice, the finish resisted fingerprints and scratches impressively well during our time with the unit.
At just 10.9mm thick and 1.1kg, the ExpertBook Ultra pushes the limits of what a thin-and-light laptop can be. Impressively, the pursuit of slimness has not compromised the hinge. It feels perfectly weighted, opens smoothly with one finger, and reflects the kind of precision engineering that is increasingly rare in this category.
Display
The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is among the first laptops in the industry to feature a Tandem OLED display. Apple popularized this technology with the 2024 iPad Pro., and it represents a meaningful leap over conventional OLED panels. It enables significantly higher brightness, improved colour contrast, and a better HDR experience overall. The increased efficiency of the panel also extends its lifespan, which has historically been one of the main concerns with OLED technology.
The ExpertBook Ultra’s display is a 14-inch Tandem OLED with a WQXGA+ resolution of 2880 x 1800, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and an anti-glare touchscreen. It reaches 600 nits for SDR content and peaks at 1400 nits in HDR. Colour coverage stands at 100% DCI-P3, with a Delta-E of less than one. It is both Pantone Validated and VESA Certified DisplayHDR True Black 1000. Variable refresh rates between 30Hz and 120Hz round out an already impressive spec sheet.
It is no surprise, then, that this is one of the best displays on a Windows laptop today. The Tandem OLED panel is in a class of its own. Content looks punchy and vibrant, and HDR material is exceptional. The high colour accuracy makes it ideal for professional editing work. The 16:10 aspect ratio and touchscreen functionality add to its productivity credentials, while 120Hz refresh rate support makes it surprisingly capable for casual gaming too.
The Gorilla Glass Matte protecting the touchscreen deserves a special mention. Most touchscreen laptops use a glossy finish that attracts fingerprints and reflects light. The ExpertBook Ultra’s matte finish sidesteps both issues, reducing glare by a significant margin. It is particularly useful in office environments with strong backlighting, or when working outdoors.
The display on the ExpertBook Ultra is, simply put, a showstopper. It is the kind of screen that makes everything else feel ordinary by comparison, and it sets a high bar for what comes next, starting with the audio.
Audio
Complementing the brilliant display is an audio experience that ranks among the best on any Windows laptop. The ExpertBook Ultra features a six-speaker setup with dual magnetic woofers and two dedicated tweeters, with Dolby Atmos support rounding it out.
The audio quality is genuinely impressive, particularly given how thin the chassis is. The speakers reach high volumes without distorting the mids or highs. Bass is expectedly limited, but that is a physical constraint rather than a design oversight. The real highlight is the soundstage. There is clear separation between the left and right channels. The result is a convincingly immersive stereo effect that is rare on a laptop at any price point. In fact, the ExpertBook Ultra’s speakers are on par with those on the MacBook Air, and for a Windows laptop, that is no small achievement.
Performance and Benchmarks
The ExpertBook Ultra is powered by Intel’s latest Panther Lake family of processors, which bring meaningful improvements in both performance and efficiency over the previous generation. Our review unit is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor and an integrated Intel Arc B390 GPU. It is paired with 64GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 8533MT/s and a 2TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 5.0 SSD. The SoC also integrates Intel’s AI Boost NPU, which delivers up to 50 TOPS for local AI workloads.
The Core Ultra X7 358H is a 16-core processor comprising four Performance cores, eight Efficient cores, and four Low-Power Efficient cores. It has a base frequency of 1.8GHz, a boost frequency of up to 4.8GHz, and a configurable TDP of up to 50W. The integrated Arc B390 GPU features 12 Xe cores with a maximum dynamic frequency of 2.5GHz.
ASUS has made full use of what Panther Lake brings to the table. The Core Ultra X7 358H is a genuinely powerful processor. Whether it is 3D modelling, video encoding, software compilation, or handling large datasets, it handles demanding workloads without hesitation. Notably, ASUS has also engineered the power delivery to sustain near-full performance on battery. This is a meaningful distinction, as most Windows laptops throttle significantly when unplugged.
Powerful Integrated Graphics
The Arc B390 is another strong suit of the Core Ultra X7 358H. It performs on par with entry-level dedicated GPUs, placing it in similar territory to the Radeon 880M-powered laptops we have reviewed recently. Unlike integrated graphics of previous generations, the Arc B390 is genuinely capable of running AAA titles at 1200p resolution. In Forza Horizon 5, the ExpertBook Ultra hit 90fps on high preset. Cyberpunk 2077 at the same resolution, medium preset with ray tracing off, delivered around 68fps. On battery, that figure stayed the same, which is incredible for an ultra-thin laptop.
An added advantage of the integrated architecture is the ability to draw from the full pool of system memory. With 64GB of fast LPDDR5X available, large AI models can be loaded directly into RAM. The GPU can then access them without any bottleneck.
Here are some benchmarks:
Thermals design
Thermal performance is equally impressive. The ExpertBook Ultra uses ASUS’s ExpertCool Pro solution, featuring dual 97-blade fans, dual heat pipes, and triple rear exhaust vents. This setup allows the laptop to sustain peak performance for extended periods without throttling. Acoustics are just as noteworthy. Under everyday loads, the fans are completely inaudible. Even under sustained peak load, the noise remains a faint, low hum. You would only notice it if you were actively listening for it. This is the best thermal solution ASUS has put into a thin laptop to date. I hope to see it carry over to more of their lineup going forward.
Keyboard and Trackpad
ASUS laptops have consistently delivered strong keyboards and trackpads, and the ExpertBook Ultra takes both a step further. The keyboard features 1.5mm of key travel and ASUS’s Special Comfort Coating on the keycaps, which resists smudges and stains effectively. White backlighting illuminates the keys evenly, and dedicated indicators for microphone and mute status are a thoughtful touch for a business-focused laptop. ASUS has kept the layout sensible, there is a customizable hotkey that can be mapped to any action through the companion software.
The typing experience is excellent. The keys feel soft yet snappy, and the Special Comfort Coating gives the keycaps a silky, almost luxurious texture. The keys are well spaced and impressively quiet, making the ExpertBook Ultra a comfortable choice for office environments or quiet cafes.
Haptic Trackpad
The trackpad is equally impressive. For the first time on an ExpertBook, it is now haptic, featuring six force sensors and a centrally mounted vibration motor. Haptic trackpads remain uncommon on Windows laptops, but the advantages are immediately apparent. The feedback is tight and precise. Crucially, it registers a click anywhere on the surface, unlike conventional trackpads that only click at the bottom.
The surface is generously sized at 110cm², with a glass top that enables smooth and accurate tracking. Windows gestures worked flawlessly throughout testing. The trackpad also supports edge gestures, with the left and right edges controlling brightness and volume respectively. Overall, the trackpad on the ExpertBook Ultra is the best I have used on a Windows laptop, rivalling even the MacBook Pro’s trackpad. That is the highest praise I can give.
Ports and Connectivity
For an ultra-thin laptop, the ExpertBook Ultra offers a surprisingly complete port selection. ASUS has clearly anticipated the frustration of carrying dongles, and the port layout reflects that.
On the left side sits a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 output, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. The right side adds a second Thunderbolt 4 port and another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port.
Both Thunderbolt 4 ports support DisplayPort and Power Delivery. This means you can charge, connect an external display, and transfer data from either side simultaneously. The only notable omission is an ethernet port, though ASUS includes an RJ45 dongle in the box, which softens the blow.
Wireless connectivity is equally well equipped. The ExpertBook Ultra supports tri-band WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Using a technique called Laser Direct Structuring, ASUS has consolidated multiple antennas into a single structure. This improves signal integrity by up to 43%, according to the company. In practice, the WiFi connection remained strong and stable throughout our review period.
Battery
Battery life is another area where the ExpertBook Ultra excels. ASUS has managed to fit a 70WHr cell into the slim chassis, which is no small feat at this thickness. The battery charges quickly and manages power efficiently. In our testing, the laptop charged from 5% to 50% in under 30 minutes, with a full charge taking approximately an hour and a half.
Charging flexibility is also worth highlighting. The ExpertBook Ultra can charge from a power bank, which is a genuinely useful capability when a wall outlet is not available. Most Windows laptops require a minimum of 65W to accept a charge, making this a meaningful advantage for frequent travellers.
Battery life itself is simply excellent. The combination of Panther Lake’s efficiency, ASUS’s power management, and the 70WHr cell is a powerful one. Together, they deliver one of the longest runtimes on any Windows laptop today. In daily use, covering browsing, content consumption, word processing, and similar tasks, we consistently achieved between 10 and 12 hours on a single charge. Heavier workloads such as video and photo editing will naturally drain the battery faster, but the laptop still comfortably lasts through a full working day. It is genuinely exciting to see an Intel-powered laptop finally compete in this area. If Panther Lake is any indication, Apple’s MacBooks may have a real challenger on their hands.
The ExpertBook Advantage
Being an ExpertBook comes with a set of privileges that go well beyond the hardware. ASUS has built a comprehensive ecosystem of business-focused features around the ExpertBook Ultra. Together, they make a compelling case for its target audience.
Security is a cornerstone of the ExpertBook experience, handled under the ExpertGuardian umbrella. This covers enterprise-grade technologies including Match-on-Chip fingerprint authentication, dual self-healing BIOS, discrete TPM 2.0, and Microsoft Pluton. The laptop is also NIST SP 800-193 compliant, providing firmware-level protections that are particularly valuable for small business owners and entrepreneurs
ASUS has also preloaded the ExpertBook Ultra with MyExpert, an AI-powered software suite accessible through the ExpertPanel in the system tray. It brings together AI-assisted features alongside quick access to essential device and app settings, keeping everything a business user might need within reach.
Rounding it all out is ASUS’s after-sales support package for ExpertBook customers. This includes international warranty coverage, extended toll-free support, and a five-year battery replacement warranty. Onsite service is available across 15,000 pin codes in India as well. For a business user, this kind of support network is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
Verdict
The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is a statement product. It is ASUS’s answer to what a Windows laptop looks like when the engineers cut no corners and make no compromises. The result is a laptop that excels in every area that matters. The Tandem OLED display is breathtaking, the build quality is class-leading, the Intel Panther Lake processor is powerful and efficient, and the battery life is outstanding. The keyboard, trackpad, and audio all punch well above their weight. It even manages to do all of this in one of the thinnest and lightest chassis in its class.
At Rs. 3,49,990, it is undeniably expensive. But the ExpertBook Ultra does not feel like a laptop you are spending money on. It feels like one you are investing in. For C-suite executives, business owners, and professionals who demand the very best, nothing on the Windows platform comes close right now. The ExpertBook Ultra is the Windows laptop to beat in 2026.
The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is available from ASUS’s stores across India and on Flipkart.