Review Summary
Expert Rating
Typically, the ASUS ExpertBook lineup has been catering to business users, and as you’d imagine, it works on a B2B model. In fact, the ASUS ExpertBook P5 P5405 that I previously reviewed is also available for business and corporate users. Well, that changes with the ASUS ExpertBook P1 P1403CVA.
This laptop is exclusively available on Flipkart for anyone to buy, and it focuses on practicality, portability, and power. There’s a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processor coupled with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and for something that’s under Rs. 75,000, that sounds like a pretty good deal. ASUS claims it’s the perfect laptop for everyday use, making it a solid choice for office workers, remote employees, or college students. But is that so, or is there more to this laptop than just the spec sheet? Let’s find out in our in-depth ASUS ExpertBook P1 P1403CVA review.
Table of Contents
Design and Display
From first glance, the ExpertBook P1 makes it clear it’s all about business. It sports a clean, professional design with a matte finish that doesn’t attract fingerprints easily. It’s built using sturdy polycarbonate plastic, which keeps the weight down to just around 1.42kg. That means it’s light enough to carry in a backpack without causing shoulder strain, making it ideal for professionals as well as students who are constantly on the move.
While the chassis isn’t metallic, it still feels reasonably solid with minimal flex, especially around the keyboard deck and display hinge. ASUS has clearly focused on build quality here, and it shows. The display hinge is smooth and lets the screen tilt back enough for comfortable use, whether you’re sitting at a desk or working on your lap. Another thing worth appreciating is that it’s MIL-STD-810H certified. This doesn’t make it bulletproof, of course, but it does suggest the laptop can handle daily knocks and bumps without falling apart.
The branding is also kept at a minimum here, with just a subtle ASUS ExpertBook logo on the lid. It’s a bit above the surface, so if you’re thinking of applying a vinyl over it, the finish wouldn’t be clean. Then again, you don’t really have to. It’s a laptop that knows its audience — professionals who prefer subtlety and reliability over unnecessary flair.
Moving to the display, the ExpertBook P1 features a 14-inch Full HD panel. It’s an average panel, that’s good enough for basic tasks like writing reports, browsing the web, or working on spreadsheets. However, if colour accuracy is important to your work, then you should know that the panel only covers 45% of the NTSC colour gamut. This means that colours won’t pop or look very vibrant.
Another thing that I was kind-of bummed about is that it’s a standard 16:9 display. For a laptop that’s supposedly part of a professional lineup, I really would have preferred a 16:10 aspect ratio on this. The additional vertical aspect is much appreciated, especially in productivity-oriented use cases, so I feel that’s a missed opportunity from ASUS.
That said, the matte coating is great for reducing reflections. So even if you’re working near a window or under bright lights, the screen stays readable without becoming a mirror. Brightness levels are average, around 250-300 nits, which is good enough for indoor use but can feel a bit dim outdoors.
As far as entertainment goes, the display is aided by the dual speaker setup, which proves to be fine for basic use—video calls, online classes, or watching YouTube. They get decently loud but don’t expect deep bass or crystal-clear treble. Voices are clear, which is what matters most for meetings and lectures. That being said, if you’re someone who listens to music or streams Netflix often, a good pair of headphones will significantly improve the experience.
Ports and Webcam
ASUS has been generous with the port selection on the ExpertBook P1, which is refreshing in a world where many laptops are trimming down on connectivity. On the left side, there’s a USB-C port, an HDMI 1.4b port, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, another USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Over on the right side, there’s an additional USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port along with a full-sized RJ45 Ethernet port. The inclusion of the Ethernet jack is a practical choice, especially for office environments where wired LAN connections are still common, whether it’s for accessing shared drives, printers, or achieving more stable internet during critical tasks. It’s also a valuable addition for IT professionals, who often rely on direct network access for troubleshooting, configuring devices, or managing enterprise networks efficiently.
The older HDMI port means it’s best for 1080p resolutions only, since anything above that will drop the refresh rate to a measly 30Hz. That said, both USB-C ports are 3.2 Gen 2 ports with support for both USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort, so you won’t have any trouble outputting to any modern displays.
The ASUS ExpertBook P1 also comes with a 720p HD webcam, which is pretty standard for business laptops in this price range. While it won’t blow anyone away with crisp detail, it does get the job done for everyday video calls, Zoom meetings, or online classes. The image quality is decent in well-lit environments—faces appear clear enough, and there’s minimal lag during video chats. However, under low lighting, things can look a bit grainy or soft, which is typical for most built-in webcams. Another thing that’s typical but always appreciated is the physical privacy shutter.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Moving on to the keyboard, the ExpertBook P1 features ASUS’s familiar chiclet-style layout, offering a comfortable typing experience. The keys have a satisfying amount of travel and feel responsive without being overly firm. Whether you’re typing out lengthy emails, working on documents, or writing code, the experience remains smooth and consistent, even during extended sessions.
The keyboard comes with a plain white backlight and offers four brightness levels, including the option to turn it off entirely. At its highest setting, the backlight is bright enough for most low-light environments and pairs well with the contrasting black keycaps. ASUS has also added a nice touch by giving the F1 to F4 keys a blue accent, helping them stand out visually, especially useful during video calls.
Just to clarify, these keys still have a white backlight like the rest of the keyboard; the blue tint is simply a styling choice on the keycaps. Additionally, there’s a dedicated Copilot key next to the arrow keys, perfect for users who have already started integrating Microsoft’s AI tools into their workflow.
As for the touchpad, it’s quite generous given the compact 14-inch chassis. It supports multi-touch gestures, tracks smoothly, and offers a reassuring click. While the haptic feedback could feel a little more refined, it’s perfectly functional for the price point. ASUS has also smartly included a fingerprint sensor on the top-right corner of the touchpad area, which works seamlessly with Windows Hello for quick and secure logins, making up for the lack of an IR sensor in the webcam department.
Performance and Battery Life
Now let’s talk about what really matters, which is how this laptop performs in the real world. The ASUS ExpertBook P1 runs on the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H, a 10-core chip with a mix of performance and efficiency cores, coupled with 32GB of DDR5 RAM. What this means in simple terms is that it can handle both heavy and light tasks efficiently, allocating power where it’s needed. Add the 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD into the mix, and app launches and file transfers feel snappy and consistent.
To back these impressions with numbers, we also ran our usual suite of benchmarks. The laptop posted respectable scores in Cinebench R23 and R24, while Geekbench 6 returned a multi-core score of 11,483, which is solid for a productivity-focused machine. Of course, it’s not built for gaming or graphics-heavy workloads, and that shows in the 3DMark scores. A GTA V average benchmark of 16 FPS further cements the state of the graphical performance of this laptop. Then again, that’s to be expected with Intel UHD integrated graphics, which are better suited for everyday visual tasks rather than gaming or 3D design. Thankfully, on the productivity front, the PCMark 10 Extended score of 5,548 paints a more realistic picture. It’s a reliable machine for office use, multitasking, and light creative workloads.
One standout here is the 32GB DDR5 RAM, which is rare at this price point. Most laptops in this segment ship with 16GB, so having double the capacity, and that too with newer-generation RAM, gives the ExpertBook P1 a noticeable edge for users who work with heavy spreadsheets, multiple PDFs, or browser tabs open side-by-side.
That said, there’s something to consider—the i7-13620H chip is about two years old. This becomes more noticeable when compared to newer laptops in the same price bracket. For instance, ASUS itself offers the Vivobook 16 (review), powered by the newer Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, a 14-core chip that outperforms the i7-13620H in most benchmarks, even with only 16GB of RAM. It also has better integrated graphics thanks to the newer Intel Arc GPU, making it more suitable for light creative work.
So what makes the ExpertBook a viable product? Well, the ExpertBook P1 is purpose-built for professionals. It’s compact, easier to carry, and loaded with business-grade features like a self-healing BIOS, chassis intrusion detection, and a discrete TPM 2.0 chip—all geared towards better security and reliability. These don’t boost performance, but they do make it a safer and more robust choice for business users, IT admins, or enterprise setups where data security matters.
Lastly, there’s the battery life, and the ExpertBook P1 comes with a 50Wh battery. In the PCMark 10 Battery Video loop test, the laptop lasted a little under 8 hours, with 80% battery life and Balanced power profile. That’s about what you’d expect from a work laptop in this price segment.
As for charging, ASUS has included a 65W Type-C charger inside the box. Interestingly, the laptop supports full-range USB-C Charging (5V-24V). That means it can even be topped up using a standard power bank or the basic USB-C outlet on a flight, making it super convenient for professionals who travel often.
Verdict
At a price point of Rs. 72,990, the ASUS ExpertBook P1 offers a compelling package for business users seeking a reliable and efficient laptop. With its 13th-Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD, it ensures smooth multitasking and quick data access. The laptop’s lightweight design, comprehensive port selection, and business-centric features like a fingerprint sensor and TPM 2.0 chip make it a practical choice for professionals who prioritise performance and security without breaking the bank.
Its direct competitor would be the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5, which is priced similarly and comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. While the ThinkPad series is renowned for its robust build quality and excellent keyboards, the ExpertBook P1 offers a more powerful processor and double the RAM, providing better performance for multitasking and demanding applications. However, if brand legacy and keyboard experience are top priorities, the ThinkPad E14 remains a strong contender.
That said, for students and home users, the ASUS Vivobook 16 with the newer Intel Core Ultra 5 225H processor might be a more suitable option. It offers a modern design, enhanced graphics capabilities, and is better equipped for multimedia tasks and casual gaming. While the ExpertBook P1 could certainly serve students and professionals alike, it lacks the versatility and freshness that make the Vivobook 16 a more well-rounded everyday machine. So while it can be bought by a wider audience, it’s hard to justify why they should, especially when better-balanced alternatives exist at the same price.
Editor’s Rating: 7 / 10
Pros:
- Good multitasking performance
- Portable and durable
- Rich I/O selection
- Business-grade features
Cons:
- Average display
- Not the newest chip on the block