HP EliteBook Ultra G1i boasts quiet cooling but has to make compromises
We recently reviewed the new HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14, which is a lightweight and well-made business laptop. Due to the new naming scheme, it's not easy to keep track of the current EliteBooks. The more conventional models are now called EliteBook X, and the EliteBook Ultra is positioned as the flagship in the new lineup. But in return for a lower weight, users will have to make some compromises and live without certain business features.
The compact aluminum chassis is colored in dark blue and left a very good impression. The laptop offers a sufficient selection of ports, even though HDMI is missing. Compared to the EliteBook X, an optional smart card reader is not available, and the thinner chassis also affects the keyboard. Its key travel is shorter, and the typing feel isn't quite up to the usual EliteBook standard. Depending on personal preferences, this could definitely be a dealbreaker. Also surprising is the omission of dedicated Page Up/Down keys, which are present on the EliteBook X.
If these limitations aren't an issue, you are looking at a snappy everyday companion with a beautiful 120Hz OLED screen. While Intel's Lunar Lake processor doesn't sport the best multi-core performance, single-core performance is decent. The integrated GPU is also fast, so there won't be any issues in regular office use. Furthermore, the processor is tuned for efficiency and cooled by two fans, which results in an extremely quiet laptop, even under full load.
Compared to the Snapdragon-equipped EliteBook Ultra G1q, the Intel configuration offers several upgrades. In addition to the better webcam and Thunderbolt 4 support, this includes the aforementioned 2.8K OLED display, which has very good picture quality. In contrast, the IPS panel found inside the Snapdragon variant is noticeably inferior. The battery life doesn't set any records, but it's still good.
Lenovo currently offers a very similar business laptop with the ThinkPad X9, which also makes some compromises compared to the more traditional ThinkPads. We've already reviewed the 15-inch model, and we're in the process of reviewing the 14-inch version. We're eager to see how the match between HP and Lenovo will turn out. Until then, please refer to our in-depth review for all technical details and information on the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14.
Source(s)
HP EliteBook Ultra G1i 14 review by Notebookcheck
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