The EliteBook Ultra G1i is HP’s premium business laptop, designed for on-the-go executives. It’s nearly identical to the HP OmniBook Ultra G1q, with additional software and security support provided by its x86-based Intel processor options.
The test unit I’ve reviewed is the $2,909 top-end model with an Intel Core Ultra 7 268V “Lunar Lake” processor featuring integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics and a built-in neural processing unit (NPU) with 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI power. Because Intel’s Lunar Lake chips have memory soldered on the CPU package, the laptop features 32GB of RAM that cannot be changed. A 1TB SSD and a 14-inch 2,880-by-1,800-pixel OLED touch display round things out.
At the time of publishing, this configuration was on sale on HP’s online store for just $1,999. Your pricing mileage may vary by the day. HP has multiple configuration options for the EliteBook Ultra G1i, with more budget-friendly Intel Core Ultra 5 226V or Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor choices available.
In terms of design, the EliteBook Ultra G1i has the same sleek, modernist chassis as the Qualcomm Snapdragon version launched last year. The Intel version even comes in the same luxe, atmospheric blue. HP has rounded the edges of the EliteBook and kept the glossy inset HP logo on the front cover, in keeping with its modernist aesthetic.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The EliteBook Ultra’s sense of luxury is also reflected in the thin bezels around the 14-inch, 16:10-aspect-ratio OLED display, which tilts back to a nearly flat position. Combined with a 9-megapixel IR webcam (ideal for Windows Hello secure sign-ins) and a sliding privacy shutter, it provides all the modern conveniences of a business laptop with just a bit of minimalist flair.
HP’s laptop is firmly in the ultraportable class, measuring 0.48 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches and weighing just 2.63 pounds. In comparison, Lenovo’s flagship ultraportable business laptop, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, measures 0.56 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches and is quite a bit lighter at 2.17 pounds.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
As for the physical connectivity, the EliteBook Ultra G1i features two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports on the right side with a 40Gbps signaling rate, and a third Thunderbolt 4 connection on the left-hand side. A drop-jaw-style USB 3.2 Type-A port and a headphone/microphone jack round out the left-side port array. This setup means you need to use DisplayPort to plug in an external monitor to one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For wireless connectivity, the EliteBook Ultra features built-in Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 technology.
