Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405) Review: Affordable, Durable, and Long-Lasting Battery Designed for All-Day Performance
The Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405) is a top choice for professionals seeking a combination of durability, strong battery life, and affordability. This laptop is designed with business users in mind, prioritizing productivity and security features, yet it holds appeal for students or anyone needing a reliable device for daily work. With its Intel Lunar Lake processors, robust battery, and enterprise-grade security, the ExpertBook P5 aims to meet the demands of modern, on-the-go professionals.
Design and Build Quality
The ExpertBook P5’s design is clean and professional, with a sleek matte finish that resists fingerprints. Constructed from durable materials, the laptop has a MIL-STD 810H certification, ensuring it can withstand extreme conditions like high altitude, temperature fluctuations, and even shocks. Despite its ruggedness, it’s lightweight at 2.8 pounds, making it easily portable for frequent travelers.
The 180-degree hinge adds flexibility, allowing the screen to lie flat—a handy feature for collaborative work. However, the device’s short feet can occasionally restrict airflow when placed on softer surfaces, like a sofa, so it’s best to use it on hard surfaces for optimal cooling.
Display Quality
The 14-inch 2.5K IPS display is one of the brightest in its class, reaching 465 nits of brightness, which makes it suitable for bright environments. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a 144Hz refresh rate, it offers excellent clarity and smooth visuals, which is often more common in gaming laptops than business models. This high refresh rate minimizes screen flicker, reducing eye strain over long workdays. However, color coverage is slightly below the premium average, reaching 77.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut—fine for everyday work but limiting for color-intensive tasks like photo editing.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard on the ExpertBook P5 has 1.5mm key travel and Chiclet-style keys, making typing comfortable and fast. During testing, users achieved high typing speeds and accuracy, thanks to the well-spaced keys. The backlit keyboard is also convenient for low-light environments, adding to its user-friendliness.
The touchpad is large and supports multi-finger gestures, though it may feel a bit “mushy” for some users. For those who rely on precise movements or heavier navigation, an external mouse might be preferable. Overall, the keyboard and touchpad perform well, although minor improvements could enhance user experience further.
Processor and Performance
Powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, the ExpertBook P5 delivers dependable performance for office tasks, web browsing, and light multitasking. The laptop’s Luna Lake architecture features a balance of performance and efficiency cores, allowing it to handle moderate workloads with ease. For AI-driven applications, the integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) provides basic AI acceleration, which is adequate for tasks like voice recognition but not designed for heavy AI workloads.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the highlights of the ExpertBook P5. Its 63Wh battery offers impressive runtime, with up to 15 hours on idle and around 12 hours for typical office tasks like document editing and web browsing. With video playback, it can last approximately 14 hours on a single charge. These durations make it highly reliable for users who need long-lasting performance without frequent recharging. The Windows power modes and efficient components contribute to this excellent battery life, making it an ideal option for business trips or long workdays.
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Gaming and Graphics Performance
While not a gaming laptop, the ExpertBook P5 can handle casual gaming thanks to Intel’s integrated ARC 130V graphics. Popular games like The Witcher 3 and Doom run smoothly at lower settings, delivering frame rates in the 50-60 fps range at 1080p. This performance is reasonable for integrated graphics, but it’s best suited for light gaming or older titles rather than demanding AAA games.
Thermal Performance and Cooling
Acer has incorporated a single-fan cooling system with heat pipes to maintain optimal temperatures. In Performance mode, the fan noise reaches around 40-42 dBA, which is noticeable but not disruptive. In Standard mode, the fan noise reduces to 35 dBA, balancing quiet operation and cooling efficiency. The laptop remains comfortable to the touch during regular use, though it can get warm around the exhaust areas under heavier loads.
Connectivity and Ports
Connectivity is excellent on the ExpertBook P5, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a MicroSD card slot. This variety accommodates multiple peripherals and external monitors, enhancing its versatility. For wireless connectivity, it includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, with a promised upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 in 2025. While it lacks a LAN port, using a Thunderbolt dock can easily add this functionality.
Software and Bloatware
The ExpertBook P5 includes some pre-installed software, which may not be ideal for all users. Corporate buyers often reinstall a fresh Windows image, removing unnecessary applications. For individual users, it’s recommended to spend some time uninstalling bloatware to improve performance and storage. However, the PredatorSense software is a useful inclusion, allowing control over fan speeds, power modes, and system diagnostics.
Security Features
Security is a priority on the ExpertBook P5, equipped with NIST SP 800-155 compliant BIOS, a fingerprint reader, and Windows Hello IR webcam functionality. It also includes a privacy shutter for the webcam, an important feature for privacy-conscious users. For businesses, the BIOS security updates and three-year warranty add peace of mind regarding data protection and device reliability.
Audio and Speaker Quality
The speakers on the ExpertBook P5 provide decent audio, sufficient for conference calls and video streaming. However, the sound quality is average, with limited bass depth, so external speakers or headphones may be preferred for richer audio experiences.
Camera and Webcam
The 720p webcam is functional but basic, offering IR functionality for Windows Hello. In well-lit environments, it performs adequately, though quality diminishes in low light. While sufficient for video calls, users seeking higher video quality may want an external webcam.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Excellent battery life, durable build, versatile port selection, enterprise-level security.
- Cons: Average display color range, audio quality could be improved, pre-installed bloatware.
Conclusion
The Asus ExpertBook P5 is a solid choice for professionals needing a reliable laptop with extensive battery life and security features. With its efficient performance, durable design, and impressive connectivity options, it’s suited for users on the go. Though it has minor drawbacks, the ExpertBook P5 balances functionality, portability, and affordability, making it an excellent investment for business use.
FAQs
How long does the battery last on the Asus ExpertBook P5?
The Asus ExpertBook P5 can last up to 15 hours on idle and around 12 hours for typical office tasks like web browsing or document editing. Video playback can yield approximately 14 hours on a single charge, thanks to its efficient 63Wh battery.
Is the Asus ExpertBook P5 good for gaming?
While it’s not a dedicated gaming laptop, the ExpertBook P5 can handle light gaming. Its Intel ARC 130V integrated graphics provide acceptable frame rates on lower settings for games like The Witcher 3 and Doom, though it’s best suited for less demanding games or older titles.
Does the Asus ExpertBook P5 have a good display for graphic work?
The display offers a 14-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. However, its color coverage is around 77.3% of the DCI-P3 gamut, which is sufficient for regular tasks but may fall short for detailed color-sensitive work.
How is the keyboard on the ExpertBook P5?
The ExpertBook P5 features a 1.5mm key travel Chiclet-style keyboard that provides a comfortable typing experience, with well-spaced keys that make it easy to type quickly and accurately. The backlit feature is also helpful in low-light conditions.
Does the laptop have sufficient connectivity options?
Yes, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a MicroSD card slot, providing ample options for connectivity and external displays. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4.
How loud does the laptop get during intensive use?
The fan noise in Performance mode reaches around 40-42 dBA, which is noticeable but generally not disruptive. In Standard mode, the noise drops to around 35 dBA, balancing cooling and quiet operation well.
Does the ExpertBook P5 come with any security features?
Yes, it includes NIST SP 800-155 compliant BIOS, a fingerprint reader, an IR webcam with Windows Hello support, and a webcam privacy shutter. These features make it suitable for business and professional use.
Is the laptop durable for travel?
Absolutely. The ExpertBook P5 is MIL-STD 810H certified, meaning it’s built to withstand shocks, extreme temperatures, and vibrations. At 2.8 pounds, it’s also lightweight and portable for frequent travelers.
Does the ExpertBook P5 come with bloatware?
Yes, the ExpertBook P5 includes some pre-installed software, which may be unnecessary for corporate users. Many business users may choose to reinstall Windows for a clean setup, but for individual buyers, manually uninstalling unused programs can improve performance.
