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💻 ExpertBook B5 vs Pro Max Premium 14 vs ThinkPad X1 Carbon
AI-powered analysis across 23 matched specifications
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
ASUS
Overall Score
Best for UK organisations requiring user-upgradeable memory, comprehensive native ports including RJ45, and secondary storage flexibility.
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Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
Dell
Overall Score
Best for performance professionals needing NVIDIA RTX PRO discrete graphics, Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth, and high battery capacity.
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ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
Lenovo
Overall Score
Best for highly mobile UK executives and hybrid workers demanding sub-1 kg portability, 5G connectivity, and Copilot+ AI readiness.
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Performance Overview
Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
Performance
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
7.0
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
9.2
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
8.0
Display
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
7.8
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
7.8
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
8.2
Battery & Thermals
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
7.0
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
8.8
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
7.6
Manageability & Security
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
7.5
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
8.5
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
8.5
Expandability & Repair
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
9.0
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
6.5
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
6.0
Ecosystem & Software
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
7.0
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
7.8
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
8.2
Value
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
7.5
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
7.2
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
7.4
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604) ASUS | Dell Pro Max 14 Premium Dell | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Lenovo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | |||
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 165H/155H/155U or Core Ultra 5 135H/125H/125U (Series 1, vPro options) with AI Boost NPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 265H vPro Enterprise — 16 cores / 16 threads (6P + 8E + 2 LPE), up to 5.3 GHz, 24 MB cache, 45 W | Intel Core Ultra 5/7 Series 2 — Lunar Lake (V, Copilot+) and Arrow Lake (U/H). Stocked: Core Ultra 7 258V (Copilot+) · Core Ultra 7 255U |
| CPU cores | -- | 16 cores / 16 threads (6P + 8E + 2 LPE) | Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake, 8-core); Core Ultra 7 255U (Arrow Lake, 12-core / 14-thread) |
| Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics integrated; optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX (B5604) | NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell 8 GB GDDR7 discrete (1000 and 2000 tiers stocked — tier confirmed at quote) + Intel Arc Pro 140T integrated | Intel Arc Graphics 140V (258V) / Intel Graphics (255U), integrated |
| Discrete GPU | Optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX (B5604) | NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell 8 GB GDDR7 discrete | Integrated only (Intel Arc 140V / Intel Graphics) |
| Memory & storage | |||
| Maximum memory | DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2 slots, up to 32 GB (user-upgradeable) | 32 GB LPDDR5x-8400 dual-channel, onboard — fixed at purchase (platform maximum 64 GB, factory-configured only) | 16 / 32 / 64 GB LPDDR5x soldered, dual-channel, not upgradable — Lunar Lake LPDDR5x-8533 to 32 GB · Arrow Lake LPDDR5x-8400 to 64 GB |
| Memory type | DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2 slots (user-upgradeable) | LPDDR5x-8400 dual-channel, onboard (fixed at order) | LPDDR5x soldered, dual-channel (LPDDR5x-8533 / 8400) |
| Maximum storage | Up to 2 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD; TCG Opal 2.0 SED option; second drive on select SKUs | 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC SSD with DRAM, SED-ready; single M.2 slot accepts 2280 or 2230 (bracket kit) | M.2 2280 NVMe, Opal 2.0, up to 2 TB — PCIe 5.0 x4 (V/H) or PCIe 4.0 x4 (U). Single drive |
| Display | |||
| Display size | 14" or 16" (B5404 / B5604) | 14.0" | 14.0″ |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 × 1200 (QHD+ 2880 × 1800 tandem OLED touch to order) | 1920×1200 (WUXGA); 2880×1800 OLED option |
| Brightness | up to 500 nits | 400 nits | WUXGA 500-nit; 2.8K OLED |
| Panel | 14" or 16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS 16:10, up to 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, anti-glare; WUXGA and touch options | 14.0" 16:10 FHD+ (1920 × 1200) WVA anti-glare, 400 nits, 100% sRGB, 162 ppi, 30–60 Hz VRR, non-touch; QHD+ (2880 × 1800) tandem OLED touch to order | WUXGA IPS anti-glare / 2.8K OLED 120 Hz, DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
| Touchscreen | WUXGA and touch options | QHD+ (2880 × 1800) tandem OLED touch panel to order | WUXGA touch or non-touch; 2.8K OLED touch |
| Connectivity | |||
| Thunderbolt / USB4 ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB4) | ✓2× Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost) + 2× Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) — all USB-C with PD + DisplayPort 2.1 | 2× Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40 Gbps (DisplayPort 2.1, PD 15–65 W) |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB4), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ45 Gigabit LAN, smart-card reader, 3.5 mm combo | 2× Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C, up to 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost, PD, DisplayPort 2.1) — also charging; 2× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, 40 Gbps, PD, DisplayPort 2.1), microSD reader, universal headset jack, wedge lock slot. No USB-A, HDMI or RJ-45 on the chassis | 2× Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40 Gbps (DisplayPort 2.1, PD 15–65 W), 2× USB-A 5 Gbps (one Always On), HDMI 2.1 (4K/60 Hz), 3.5 mm combo; nano-SIM on WWAN builds. No card reader, no onboard Ethernet |
| Mobile broadband (4G/5G) option | optional 4G LTE (selected territories) | No WWAN option | Optional Quectel RM520N-GL 5G Sub-6 or EM160R-GL 4G LTE CAT16, embedded eSIM |
| Physical | |||
| Weight (from) | From 1.29 kg (14" B5404); from 1.42 kg with discrete GPU | From 1.61 kg | ✓from 986 g (Lunar Lake) / 1006 g (Arrow Lake) |
| Dimensions | 14": 313.7 x 226.8 x 18.9-23.0 mm (16" B5604 larger footprint) | 310.6 × 212.5 mm; 19.32 mm front/rear, 20.12 mm peak (FHD+ config) | 312.8 × 214.75 × 17.95 mm (WUXGA) / 16.95 mm max (OLED) |
| Security & management | |||
| Intel vPro | Intel Core Ultra vPro options | Intel Core Ultra 7 265H vPro Enterprise; vPro Enterprise on both stocked configurations | vPro Enterprise available across the family to order |
| Copilot+ PC (40+ TOPS NPU) | -- | -- | Copilot+ on the Core Ultra 7 258V (47-TOPS NPU) |
| Battery | |||
| Battery capacity | 63 Wh (50 Wh on some SKUs), 3-cell Li-ion; 65 W / 90 W USB-C charging | ✓4-cell 72 Wh | 57 Wh Li-ion, Rapid Charge to 80% in 1 hr |
| Rated battery life | -- | ExpressCharge Boost 0–35% in ~20 min, ExpressCharge ~2 h; 130 W USB-C adapter (20 V / 6.5 A) | up to ~17 hr (MobileMark 25, WUXGA) |
| Support | |||
| Operating system | Windows 11 Pro (Pro Education / Home options) | Windows 11 Pro (shipped); Windows 11 Home and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS supported | Windows 11 Pro (stocked); Windows 11 Home / Ubuntu / Fedora Linux to order |
| Base warranty | 1-year commercial warranty; ASUS extended / on-site uplift available | -- | Base 1-year or 3-year courier / carry-in / onsite; Lenovo Premier Support uplift (to 5-year + ADP) quoted per configuration |
Performance
Processor
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)Intel Core Ultra 7 165H/155H/155U or Core Ultra 5 135H/125H/125U (Series 1, vPro options) with AI Boost NPU
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumIntel Core Ultra 7 265H vPro Enterprise — 16 cores / 16 threads (6P + 8E + 2 LPE), up to 5.3 GHz, 24 MB cache, 45 W
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Intel Core Ultra 5/7 Series 2 — Lunar Lake (V, Copilot+) and Arrow Lake (U/H). Stocked: Core Ultra 7 258V (Copilot+) · Core Ultra 7 255U
CPU cores
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)--
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium16 cores / 16 threads (6P + 8E + 2 LPE)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake, 8-core); Core Ultra 7 255U (Arrow Lake, 12-core / 14-thread)
Graphics
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)Intel Arc Graphics integrated; optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX (B5604)
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumNVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell 8 GB GDDR7 discrete (1000 and 2000 tiers stocked — tier confirmed at quote) + Intel Arc Pro 140T integrated
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Intel Arc Graphics 140V (258V) / Intel Graphics (255U), integrated
Discrete GPU
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)Optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX (B5604)
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumNVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell 8 GB GDDR7 discrete
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Integrated only (Intel Arc 140V / Intel Graphics)
Memory & storage
Maximum memory
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2 slots, up to 32 GB (user-upgradeable)
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium32 GB LPDDR5x-8400 dual-channel, onboard — fixed at purchase (platform maximum 64 GB, factory-configured only)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 1316 / 32 / 64 GB LPDDR5x soldered, dual-channel, not upgradable — Lunar Lake LPDDR5x-8533 to 32 GB · Arrow Lake LPDDR5x-8400 to 64 GB
Memory type
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2 slots (user-upgradeable)
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumLPDDR5x-8400 dual-channel, onboard (fixed at order)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13LPDDR5x soldered, dual-channel (LPDDR5x-8533 / 8400)
Maximum storage
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)Up to 2 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD; TCG Opal 2.0 SED option; second drive on select SKUs
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC SSD with DRAM, SED-ready; single M.2 slot accepts 2280 or 2230 (bracket kit)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13M.2 2280 NVMe, Opal 2.0, up to 2 TB — PCIe 5.0 x4 (V/H) or PCIe 4.0 x4 (U). Single drive
Display
Display size
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)14" or 16" (B5404 / B5604)
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium14.0"
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 1314.0″
Resolution
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)2560 x 1600
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium1920 × 1200 (QHD+ 2880 × 1800 tandem OLED touch to order)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 131920×1200 (WUXGA); 2880×1800 OLED option
Brightness
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)up to 500 nits
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium400 nits
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13WUXGA 500-nit; 2.8K OLED
Panel
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)14" or 16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS 16:10, up to 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, anti-glare; WUXGA and touch options
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium14.0" 16:10 FHD+ (1920 × 1200) WVA anti-glare, 400 nits, 100% sRGB, 162 ppi, 30–60 Hz VRR, non-touch; QHD+ (2880 × 1800) tandem OLED touch to order
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13WUXGA IPS anti-glare / 2.8K OLED 120 Hz, DisplayHDR True Black 500
Touchscreen
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)WUXGA and touch options
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumQHD+ (2880 × 1800) tandem OLED touch panel to order
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13WUXGA touch or non-touch; 2.8K OLED touch
Connectivity
Thunderbolt / USB4 ports
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB4)
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium2× Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost) + 2× Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) — all USB-C with PD + DisplayPort 2.1
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 132× Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40 Gbps (DisplayPort 2.1, PD 15–65 W)
Ports
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB4), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ45 Gigabit LAN, smart-card reader, 3.5 mm combo
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium2× Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C, up to 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost, PD, DisplayPort 2.1) — also charging; 2× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, 40 Gbps, PD, DisplayPort 2.1), microSD reader, universal headset jack, wedge lock slot. No USB-A, HDMI or RJ-45 on the chassis
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 132× Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40 Gbps (DisplayPort 2.1, PD 15–65 W), 2× USB-A 5 Gbps (one Always On), HDMI 2.1 (4K/60 Hz), 3.5 mm combo; nano-SIM on WWAN builds. No card reader, no onboard Ethernet
Mobile broadband (4G/5G) option
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)optional 4G LTE (selected territories)
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumNo WWAN option
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Optional Quectel RM520N-GL 5G Sub-6 or EM160R-GL 4G LTE CAT16, embedded eSIM
Physical
Weight (from)
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)From 1.29 kg (14" B5404); from 1.42 kg with discrete GPU
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumFrom 1.61 kg
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13from 986 g (Lunar Lake) / 1006 g (Arrow Lake)
Dimensions
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)14": 313.7 x 226.8 x 18.9-23.0 mm (16" B5604 larger footprint)
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium310.6 × 212.5 mm; 19.32 mm front/rear, 20.12 mm peak (FHD+ config)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13312.8 × 214.75 × 17.95 mm (WUXGA) / 16.95 mm max (OLED)
Security & management
Intel vPro
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)Intel Core Ultra vPro options
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumIntel Core Ultra 7 265H vPro Enterprise; vPro Enterprise on both stocked configurations
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13vPro Enterprise available across the family to order
Copilot+ PC (40+ TOPS NPU)
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)--
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium--
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Copilot+ on the Core Ultra 7 258V (47-TOPS NPU)
Battery
Battery capacity
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)63 Wh (50 Wh on some SKUs), 3-cell Li-ion; 65 W / 90 W USB-C charging
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium4-cell 72 Wh
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 1357 Wh Li-ion, Rapid Charge to 80% in 1 hr
Rated battery life
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)--
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumExpressCharge Boost 0–35% in ~20 min, ExpressCharge ~2 h; 130 W USB-C adapter (20 V / 6.5 A)
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13up to ~17 hr (MobileMark 25, WUXGA)
Support
Operating system
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)Windows 11 Pro (Pro Education / Home options)
Dell Pro Max 14 PremiumWindows 11 Pro (shipped); Windows 11 Home and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS supported
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Windows 11 Pro (stocked); Windows 11 Home / Ubuntu / Fedora Linux to order
Base warranty
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)1-year commercial warranty; ASUS extended / on-site uplift available
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium--
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13Base 1-year or 3-year courier / carry-in / onsite; Lenovo Premier Support uplift (to 5-year + ADP) quoted per configuration
★
Expert Analysis
Specs web-verified from manufacturer datasheets · Servnet-reviewed · Last reviewed 8 Sept 2026
Selecting the ideal laptop depends on whether your organisation prioritises raw graphical workstation capability, modular upgradeability, or ultra-light mobile productivity. The Dell Pro Max Premium 14 leads on desktop-class throughput, pairing an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H processor with dedicated NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell graphics and dual Thunderbolt 5 ports. It also secures the largest battery capacity at 72 Wh, though its 1.61 kg starting weight and omission of native USB-A, HDMI, and Ethernet ports require reliance on USB-C peripherals. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 is engineered for executive mobility, offering an ultra-light chassis starting from just 986 g, integrated 5G or 4G LTE options, and a 47-TOPS NPU on the Core Ultra 7 258V configuration for Copilot+ computing. However, memory is soldered up to 64 GB, and graphics remain strictly integrated. The ASUS ExpertBook B5 OLED strikes an enterprise utility balance, providing user-upgradeable dual DDR5 SO-DIMM memory slots, native legacy connectivity including RJ45 Gigabit LAN and USB-A, and an optional discrete GPU. It lacks Thunderbolt 5 and modern Copilot+ certification, yet offers practical serviceability and multi-drive storage options.
ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
Best for UK organisations requiring user-upgradeable memory, comprehensive native ports including RJ45, and secondary storage flexibility.
Dell Pro Max 14 Premium
Best for performance professionals needing NVIDIA RTX PRO discrete graphics, Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth, and high battery capacity.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
Best for highly mobile UK executives and hybrid workers demanding sub-1 kg portability, 5G connectivity, and Copilot+ AI readiness.
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ExpertBook B5 (B5404 / B5604)
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