HP Elitebook X G1a review: Fast and portable, but lacks endurance

Premium business laptops are an unusual slice of the broader laptop arena. They tend to fall behind consumer laptops on performance-per-dollar, then make up for it with premium design and forward-looking connectivity. The HP Elitebook X G1a doesn’t stray too far from this path, but its overall performance is strong for the category.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Specs and features

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the star of this show, and not only because it provides a 12-core GPU. It also has AMD’s Radeon 890M integrated graphics and an NPU that offers up to 55 TOPS. The model I reviewed also had 64GB of RAM, which is a ton.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375
• Memory: 64GB LPDDR5x-8533
• Graphics/GPU: AMD Radeon 890M Graphics
• NPU: AMD NPU up to 55 TOPS
• Display: 2880 x 1800 OLED Multi-touch up to 120Hz, 16:10 aspect ratio
• Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 solid state storage
• Webcam: 1440p 30fps camera with IR 3D camera for Windows Hello, physical privacy shutter
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (with USB-C 4, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x USB-C (with DisplayPort, Power Delivery, 10Gbps data), 1x USB-A (10Gbps data), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition, fingerprint reader
• Battery capacity: 74.5 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.72 inches
• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• MSRP: $2,749

This is the most expensive Elitebook X G1a configuration and retails at $2,749. HP also sells a $1,999 entry-level model with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 (which still provides Radeon 890M graphics). It scales back the memory to 32GB and halves the solid state drive to 512GB.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Design and build quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

The HP Elitebook X G1a doesn’t make a strong first impression. Designed for a corporate environment, it features a simple, understated chassis adorned only by a small HP logo. But the details matter, and they hold up well.

I appreciate that the HP Elitebook X G1a incorporates rounded corners and beveled edges, giving the laptop a softer and more approachable feel. The shade of silver used is also appealing, and the materials feel premium to the touch. While it may not stand out as unique, it feels durable and expensive. Which is good, because it is, in fact, expensive. 

HP’s online store lists the Elitebook X G1a’s height at up to 0.52 inches, but that measurement is, shall we say, a bit optimistic, as it doesn’t include the rather thick rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop. The materials HP provided to me as part of the review clarified that the laptop’s full thickness is up to 0.72 inches at the rear, which more accurately represents how the laptop feels.

That’s a bit thick for a 14-inch workstation laptop with discrete graphics, but it’s mitigated by its weight of 3.3 pounds. Though certainly heavier than some alternatives like the Asus Zenbook S14, the Elitebook X G1a won’t feel like a burden when stowed in a messenger bag or backpack.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

The HP Elitebook X G1a has a fantastic keyboard that’s among best features. It offers a spacious layout with large keys—among the largest you’ll find in the 14-inch category. Key travel is generous, and each key activates with a satisfying, tactile feel. It’s not a mechanical keyboard, to be clear, but it feels crisp and responsive.

I also appreciate that HP uses a large font on the keycaps. This makes the keys easier to read, which is especially helpful if your vision isn’t perfect. A keyboard backlight is included, too, and because the backlight shines through the large-font keycaps, it remains easy to see after dark.

The touchpad is less impressive. It measures a tad under five inches wide and about three inches tall, which is average for a 14-inch laptop. And while I found it responsive, the look and feel of the touchpad didn’t stand out. There is, however, one feature some users will no doubt appreciate and that’s the right or left click at the bottom of the touchpad reveals significant physical travel.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

Most HP Elitebook X G1a configurations, including the one I reviewed, have a 14-inch OLED touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2880 x 1800 resolution. 

This is a common 14-inch display found across dozens of Windows laptops, but it’s popular for a reason. The OLED display provides vivid color, rich contrast, and excellent motion clarity with support for refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s one of the best laptop display panels available, defeated only by a rare few OLED alternatives with a higher resolution, like the 14.5-inch 3200 x 2000 panel in the Dell XPS 14. 

Brightness is the only potential issue, as the display hit a maximum measured SDR brightness of 403 nits. That’s typical for this panel but, because of the display’s glossy finish, it can seem dim when it’s used near a sunlit window or outdoors.

A pair of upwards-firing speakers line each side of the Elitebook X G1a’s keyboard. They provide good volume and clarity but can sound boomy and harsh at higher volumes as the weak speakers try to overcompensate for the lack of bass. Still, the speakers worked well when watching YouTube or listening to music at lower volumes.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Business and productivity laptops like the Elitebook X G1a are often used for video calls and HP leans into that by bestowing the laptop with an excellent 1440p webcam. It provides a crisp, sharp image with good color reproduction. A physical privacy shutter is included to block the camera when it’s unwanted. 

The dual-array microphone is solid, too. It captured my voice easily even when I spoke quietly and readily removed background noise caused by a nearby space heater. The audio can still sound a bit distant and hollow, but it’s great for video calls.

HP provides two forms of biometrics. Windows Hello facial recognition is supported via the webcam, while fingerprint recognition is supported by a fingerprint reader in the power button. Both worked flawlessly in my testing, though the same is also true of most competitors with these same features.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

The HP Elitebook X G1a takes a modern approach to connectivity. It has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one USB-C port, all of which support up to 100 watts of USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort. One Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C line the left flank, while the second Thunderbolt 4 is joined by the laptop’s lone USB-A port on the right flank.

This setup means there’s limited support for connecting older USB-A devices. On the plus side, however, this configuration provides access to gobs of data and video bandwidth, as well as USB-C charging across three ports. 

I also like that the Thunderbolt 4 ports are split with one on each side of the laptop, instead of both on one side, as that provides more versatility when connecting a Thunderbolt 4 dock or hub. Many competitors offer similar Thunderbolt and USB-C connectivity, but some place both Thunderbolt ports on one side—which is annoying if that’s not the side on which your dock or hub is located.

The included 100-watt power adapter can charge the laptop over any of the Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C ports and has a lengthy, durable six-foot braided cord.

HP Elitebook X G1a: Performance

The HP Elitebook X G1a configuration I received for review is a powerful model with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processor that packs 12 cores and 24 threads, as well as AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics. It had 64GB of LPDDR5x memory, too, plus a 1TB PCIe solid state drive. These are solid specifications, and the Elitebook X G1a’s performance lived up to expectations. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

The HP Elitebook X G1a got off to a weak start in PCMark 10, where it lagged behind the competitive set. The exact reason for this result isn’t clear, as the specification sheet suggests it should defeat the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, but repeated test runs showed no difference.