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| The Asus ExpertBook Ultra |
Let's be honest. When someone says "Asus," your mind likely jumps to slick ZenBook ultrabooks or the aggressive, RGB-lit world of Republic of Gamers (ROG). It’s a brand synonymous with consumer tech and hardcore gaming. But what if I told you Asus is making a serious, no-compromise play for the corner office? And I’m not talking about a modest attempt. At CES 2026, they unveiled a machine that looks ready to hunt the most established predators in the business jungle: the Asus ExpertBook Ultra B9406CAA.
This isn't just another business laptop. It's Asus's new flagship, a deliberate and powerful shot across the bow of icons like the HP EliteBook X and the legendary Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Its target? Discerning professionals—executives, consultants, and power users—who refuse to choose between uncompromising performance and elegant, travel-friendly design. The kind of user who sees their laptop not as a tool, but as a statement.
So, what makes the ExpertBook Ultra think it can run with the elite? Let's break it down.
A Featherweight Powerhouse: Specs That Defy Logic
The magic of the ExpertBook Ultra lies in its contradiction. Asus has packed top-shelf, desktop-rivaling components into a chassis that you'll double-check the scales on. Here’s the core of that power:
- The Brain: It’s powered by Intel’s next-generation Panther Lake series processors, with the top-tier option being the formidable Intel Core Ultra X9 388H. This is the engine for heavy multitasking, complex data analysis, and smooth video conferencing.
- The Muscle: Configuration options soar up to 64 GB of RAM and 2 TB of SSD storage, ensuring that having dozens of browser tabs, spreadsheets, and presentation decks open is just another Tuesday.
- The Window: The display is a showstopper. It's a 2.8K Tandem OLED touchscreen that Asus claims can hit a blinding 1400 cd/m² of brightness. Translation: colors will be vivid, blacks will be infinite, and working in a sun-drenched cafe or under harsh office lights will be no issue.
- The Stamina: Fueling all this is a substantial 70 Wh battery. The real shocker? It’s all housed in a body weighing a mere 1.09 kg (about 2.4 lbs). That’s lighter than most traditional notebooks, yet it doesn't sacrifice a large battery. It’s engineering sorcery.
The Premium Experience: Beyond the Core Specs
Asus knows that for the C-suite crowd, the devil is in the details. They haven’t just built a fast laptop; they’ve built a luxurious one.
- The unibody chassis is crafted from aluminum, promising a rigid and premium feel.
- Connectivity is robust, with two USB-A ports, HDMI, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, ensuring you can connect to legacy projectors or the latest docks without a dongle dance.
- The six-speaker system and haptic touchpad aim to elevate media playback and navigation.
- Perhaps most crucially for performance, a dual-fan cooling system is rated to handle up to 50W of sustained power, meaning the high-end CPU can run at high speeds for longer without throttling.
The One Notable Absence
In a near-perfect package, there is one glaring omission: there's no 5G option. For now, you're reliant on Wi-Fi. This is a feature that has become a staple for road warriors in competing lines from Dell, HP, and Lenovo. It's a curious gap in an otherwise impeccably specced machine for the mobile executive. For those who prioritize built-in cellular connectivity, the competition, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (available on Amazon), still holds a key advantage.
Asus ExpertBook Ultra: Pricing and Availability
As is often the case with CES announcements, Asus has been tight-lipped about the two most practical details: price and exact availability. Given its flagship positioning and premium components, expect it to command a price squarely in the competitive realm of its rivals. We will update this article the moment Asus releases official pricing and a firm launch date.
The Bottom Line
The Asus ExpertBook Ultra B9406CAA is more than a new product; it's a declaration. Asus is no longer just flirting with the business market—it’s coming for it with a machine that prioritizes extreme performance, stunning display technology, and ultra-portability in one breathtakingly light package. If the final pricing is competitive, the established players might just have a new, formidable rival to contend with. The battle for the best premium business laptop just got a lot more interesting.