The "thin and light" mantra has dominated the laptop market for the last decade. Except for workstations and gaming laptops that focused mainly on GPU performance, most devices were made to be as thin and lightweight as possible. The more expensive the laptop model, the thinner and lighter it tended to be, that was the rule.

At HP's Imagine 2024 show, the US giant showed off a brand new commercial laptop that breaks with that rule. The new HP EliteBook X G1a is a premium 14-inch business laptop, not a workstation. Yet, it prioritizes performance over being as thin and lightweight as possible. We were able to get some hands-on time with the new HP business laptop.

HP EliteBook X G1a: Made for users who need more CPU performance

First off: The HP EliteBook X is not a replacement for the existing HP EliteBook 1040 G11. That Meteor Lake based design is significantly more lightweight (1.18 kg vs. 1.49 kg) and thinner compared to the EliteBook X. When handling the device, it does not feel lightweight at all, being more like an older laptop design in that regard. The target group for this device according to HP: Analysts and developers, people who require a lot of CPU performance, but do not need a beefy GPU.

For this reason, instead of using the new Intel Lunar Lake CPUs that cut down on multicore performance for the sake of efficiency, HP is using AMD's Strix Point platform, which scales well with a higher power level. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 375 we found in the pre-production unit on display will be allowed to consume up to 40 W under sustained load - double the typical power limit of most business laptops. This is made possible by two large fans and a thicker chassis. Fittingly, the battery goes up to 74.5 Wh, considerably more than most other EliteBooks. Such a large battery ensures that the device lasts long, even if the power of the CPU is utilized often.

Design: Like the EliteBook 1040 G11, but thicker

In terms of the physical design, the HP EliteBook X G1a takes a lot of its design cues from the EliteBook 1040 G11, albeit in a thicker package. The keyboard has the same layout and keycap design. With its springy action and well-defined actuation point, it provides an excellent typing experience, though the layout could be better. Beneath the keyboard is a large glass touchpad - HP uses a normal mechanical clickpad instead of a haptic one. It works well, though it can only be clicked in the lower half, as is typical for a mechanical solution.

The chassis is made out of unpainted silver aluminum. This material has the typical metallic premium feel to it, and it hides fingerprints well, but it is heavier than a comparable magnesium design. Stability is great, with the HP EliteBook X G1a providing an extremely stiff base unit - this feels like a true premium device in terms of build quality. A rather sad design decision: HP uses Torx screws instead of normal Philips head ones, making maintenance harder. At least there are only four screws, so getting the bottom cover off is not that hard. Also, the hinge of the EliteBook limits the opening angle to 160 degrees. At least, opening the screen with one hand is no issue.

Less screen options for EliteBook X G1a

A premium experience is also provided by components like the screen, webcam and the port selection. Here, HP offers three USB-C ports, two of which support Thunderbolt 4. Great: HP places a Thunderbolt port on either side. The webcam has a resolution of five megapixels. The image quality appeared to be good in our short time with the device, especially with good lighting.

In the screen department, HP provides two options, both of which have traditional sharp corners: Either a high quality 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED panel that is glossy or a matte WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) screen. This signifies the separation of the EliteBook X from the more regular EliteBook lineup, as HP forgoes the SureView privacy panels - a notorious option that is very popular with large businesses, but impacts the user experience negatively. Likewise, HP skips providing a 5G or 4G option that business laptops normally provide.

HP EliteBook X: Versions with different CPUs are possible

The HP EliteBook X G1a will be the first AMD-exclusive EliteBook laptop design when it launches in December - but it is not set in stone that it stays that way. The naming gives it away: EliteBook X G1a, with the A standing for AMD. It is certainly possible that we will see an HP EliteBook X G1i at some point as well, though HP had nothing to announce in that regard.