The Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable was finally made available for purchase eight months after it was first announced, but is it worth buying over Microsoft's Surface Go 3? 2-in-1 computers are becoming increasingly popular as they offer the portability of a tablet and can easily be transformed into a laptop when the need arises. While Microsoft has been at the forefront of this form factor, other manufacturers have also begun to embrace it.

This year, Dell launched the first XPS 13 with a 2-in-1 form factor. Asus also announced the ROG Flow Z13 which is a 2-in-1 targeted at gamers. While these are not cheap and are aimed at a certain demographic, there are cheaper options such as the Xiaomi Book S 12.4 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i which are available for $750 or less.

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Despite sharing a similar form factor, there are some differences between the Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable and the Surface Go 3. Asus's device has a squarish design with fewer curves and sharper angles than the Surface Go 3. Asus doesn't say what materials the ExpertBook B3 is made of, but the 2-in-1, which weighs 595g, meets the MIL-STD 810H standard. This means it can survive use in harsh environmental conditions. On the other hand, the Surface Go 3 has a magnesium casing and is lighter at 544g. It comes with an inbuilt kickstand and can be purchased in Matte Black and Platinum colorways, while the Asus ExpertBook 3 Detachable is available in Star Black and has a separate kickstand case that works in both vertical and horizontal orientations.

The ExpertBook B3 Detachable Has Better Battery Life

ASUS ExpertBook B3 Detachable can be propped up in portrait or landscape mode

Asus and Microsoft's Windows tablets both have a 10.5-inch FHD touchscreen display, but the former has a 16:10 aspect ratio while the latter has a 3:2 aspect ratio. Both displays are LCD panels and have stylus support. The Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable comes with a built-in stylus, but Asus also says that this feature is optional. The stylus has a built-in battery and charges when stowed away. Asus says a 15-second charge will provide up to 45 minutes of use. In contrast, the Surface Go 3 works with the Surface Pen ($100) or Surface Slim Pen 2 ($130), but these have to be purchased separately.

The differences between both devices also extend to their internals. There is a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chip inside the Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable, and it is paired with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. In contrast, the Surface Go 3 comes with either an Intel Pentium Gold chip or a 10th-Gen Intel Core i3 processor. The 4GB RAM models are paired with 64GB of eMMC storage while the 8GB RAM configuration is paired with a 128GB SSD. Microsoft's device also has the advantage of a microSD card slot for adding more storage. Both tablets have a 5MP camera, and on the Surface Go 3, this also provides Windows Hello face authentication. At the back, the ExpertBook B3 Detachable has a 13MP main camera whereas the Surface Go 3 has an 8MP camera.

Both devices have stereo speakers, an audio jack, and a single Type-C port. However, Microsoft's device has a Surface Connect port for charging, leaving the USB-C port available for peripherals. The Surface Go 3 also has an LTE model which has a nano-SIM tray or eSIM. It also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 while the ExpertBook B3 Detachable has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1. The Asus tablet shines with its battery life – thanks to the Arm chipset, it can provide up to 21 hours of usage before needing to be recharged. In contrast, the Surface Pro 3's battery lasts up to 11 hours. Both devices ship with Windows 11.

The ExpertBook B3 Detachable starts at $599 on Best Buy, and this model comes with the stylus included. There is also a spill-proof keyboard in the box which has an anti-microbial coating. The device has a dedicated mute button and Asus's signature ErgoLift design that allows it to be raised while typing. The Surface Go 3 has a much lower starting price of $399 for the base model with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage. Just like the stylus, those who choose the Surface Go 3 will have to purchase the detachable keyboard separately, adding at least another $100 to the price. There is also an 8GB RAM + 128GB SSD variant with an Intel Core i3 chip that is currently sold for $579 ($629 originally) which is the closest to the Asus ExpertBook B3 Detachable in terms of price.

Source: Asus, Microsoft