Key Takeaways
– The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14 is a sleek, lightweight business laptop but sacrifices some features for its design.
– The laptop has a stylish aluminum body and a decent range of ports, but lacks an HDMI port and dedicated Page Up/Down keys.
– It features a stunning 120Hz OLED display and performs well in single-core tasks, although the Intel processor is not the best for multi-core performance.
– Compared to the Snapdragon version, the Intel model offers improvements like an enhanced webcam and Thunderbolt 4 support, along with a superior 2.8K OLED screen.
– Battery life is satisfactory, and competition includes Lenovo’s ThinkPad X9, which also makes compromises in its design.
We just took a look at the fresh HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14, a sleek and nicely built business laptop. Keeping up with the new naming system for the EliteBooks can be a bit tricky. The standard models are now called EliteBook X, while the EliteBook Ultra stands out as the top model in the updated range. However, to make it lighter, users will need to make some sacrifices and forgo certain features that are common in business laptops.
Design and Build Quality
The compact aluminum body comes in a stylish dark blue, leaving a good impression overall. It features a decent range of ports, but unfortunately, it lacks an HDMI port. When compared to the EliteBook X, you won’t find an optional smart card reader here, and the slimmer design also impacts the keyboard. The key travel is shorter, and the typing experience doesn’t quite meet the high standards usually associated with EliteBooks. Depending on what you like, this might be a significant drawback. It’s also worth noting that the dedicated Page Up/Down keys found on the EliteBook X are missing here as well.
Performance and Display
If these drawbacks don’t bother you, you’ll find a fast everyday laptop with a stunning 120Hz OLED display. Although Intel’s Lunar Lake processor isn’t the best for multi-core tasks, it performs reasonably well in single-core tasks. The integrated GPU is quick too, so you won’t face issues with regular office work. Additionally, the processor is designed for efficiency and is cooled by a dual-fan system, making this laptop super quiet, even when it’s working hard.
Comparison with Competitors
When you compare it to the Snapdragon-powered EliteBook Ultra G1q, the Intel version has quite a few improvements. Besides the enhanced webcam and support for Thunderbolt 4, it features the previously mentioned 2.8K OLED screen, which delivers excellent picture quality. In contrast, the IPS screen in the Snapdragon model is noticeably less impressive. The battery life isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s still satisfactory.
Lenovo is currently marketing a closely related business laptop, the ThinkPad X9, which also makes some compromises when compared to the more conventional ThinkPads. We’ve already taken a look at the 15-inch model and are currently reviewing the 14-inch variant. We’re looking forward to seeing how HP and Lenovo stack up against each other. In the meantime, feel free to check out our extensive review for all the technical specifications and details regarding the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14.
