As a seasoned tech enthusiast with a soft spot for AI-powered devices, I must say that HP’s EliteBook X is truly shaping up to be a game-changer. Having spent years navigating the complexities of enterprise-level security and AI integration, I can appreciate the efforts that HP has made to bring these advanced technologies to the consumer market.
I’m almost done with my assessment for the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024), however, I must confess that it’s not the most thrilling laptop I’ve evaluated so far. Don’t worry, the comprehensive review is coming soon! Interestingly, HP provided me an early pre-production version of their upcoming EliteBook X 14. It seems like they’ve taken the strong foundation of the OmniBook Ultra and enhanced it with superior security features, improved AI capabilities, and a more appealing aesthetic.
HP refers to the EliteBook X as “the world’s most potent next-generation AI computer” due to its exclusive AMD Ryzen AI PRO 9 HX 375 chipset, boasting a 55 TOPS NPU (Neural Processing Unit). However, this laptop offers much more than just impressive performance, an outstanding keyboard, or Thunderbolt 4 ports. It’s HP’s comprehensive vision for what an AI PC can be that truly sets it apart and has me intrigued by their innovative approach.
During HP Imagine 2024 in San Francisco, CA, I managed a brief hands-on experience with the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a). However, that time was quite restricted. Since the full release of this laptop isn’t scheduled until December, I didn’t anticipate having another chance to test it at home. Surprisingly, here I am given an opportunity to do just that!
Impressive hardware with justified ‘chonk’
The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 follows design inspirations from the past HP Spectre line, but visually, it’s quite unremarkable. In contrast, the EliteBook X elegantly avoids being monotonous by sporting a modern design that balances trendiness with the practicality you’d typically find in an enterprise laptop.
Firstly, while it may appear larger in terms of thickness (18.1mm versus 16.5mm), the HP EliteBook X is smaller in all other dimensions and is even lighter. HP has skillfully balanced design elements here: a large, prominent screen with slim bezels, compact size, and sufficient depth to accommodate an upgraded cooling system and traditional ports – features that are absent in the OmniBook Ultra. This results in enhanced performance and reduced need for adapters, which benefits enterprise users greatly.
It surprised me how much I’ve grown fond of this design, despite my initial reservations during HP Imagine. Spending more time with it at home has helped to eliminate any initial rough edges in my perception. The all-aluminum chassis is part of HP’s ongoing commitment to use eco-friendly materials, such as sustainably sourced and recycled metal and plastic. The screen is protected by robust glass, and the two-tone keyboard design, a carryover from past EliteBook models, has grown on me.
As for this keyboard, it’s not my top pick (there’s something about its key response), but it certainly ranks among the finest laptop keyboards I’ve used. Its design is superb, the keys are generously sized and well-spaced, the text is easy to read, and every single key offers a consistent, reactive, and satisfying tactile feedback. It’s an excellent keyboard, and at this level, further enhancements will largely depend on personal preference.
In my preliminary testing, I found the touchscreen monitor to be impressive. It resembles a common 2.8K, 16:10 OLED screen used in numerous 14-inch laptops, yet I can’t find fault with it. The display has consistently been stunningly beautiful, and HP makes good use of the Windows Dynamic Refresh Rate, offering a range of 48-120Hz. This should significantly enhance battery life compared to laptops with fixed refresh rates. It’s a refreshing change from the dull IPS LCD panel in the OmniBook Ultra, and I am quite fond of it.
Poly Studios is back to fine-tune both the webcam and the quad-speaker setup, and it’s exciting to note that, even with preliminary drivers, these speakers seem to produce a powerful and rich sound. I can’t wait to explore them further once the EliteBook X hits the market.
Unique features to help this AMD machine stand out
The HP EliteBook X 14’s sturdier build serves a dual function: it offers additional internal space for design flexibility and houses an array of ports. For instance, this model includes HDMI output for display connection, USB Type-A and Type-C ports (Gen 2), a 3.5mm audio jack, and a Kensington lock slot. To top it off, there are two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports situated on opposite sides of the laptop. Is that all? Indeed, I forgot to mention those!
It’s worth noting that although Thunderbolt 4 is primarily associated with Intel due to their ownership of the global standard, it’s not outright impossible to find this technology on non-Intel devices. However, it’s quite unusual. The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) and HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) are two recent AMD-powered laptops that have Thunderbolt ports, which we haven’t seen in a while, and they are, as a matter of fact, the first to incorporate not just one but two Thunderbolt T4 ports, as per HP’s claims.
The updated USB4 technology performs many of the tasks that Thunderbolt 4 can, making it a good choice for most consumers. However, Thunderbolt comes with extra assurances due to rigorous standardized testing, which is particularly beneficial for corporations and businesses. When reliability matters, such as when purchasing equipment to ensure it performs exactly as expected, standards like Thunderbolt are an invaluable bonus, making the AMD and HP EliteBook X stand out among its competitors.
Apart from the harbors, this beefier frame additionally accommodates HP’s enhanced cooling system, a combination of dual fans and a “hybrid hyperbolic cooling chamber”. This feature allows it to extract greater performance from its components compared to other laptops of similar size. It’s significant because the HP EliteBook X is equipped with an exclusive (for now) variant of AMD Ryzen AI PRO’s most potent chipset, the 9 HX 375. This particular model boasts a more powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for artificial intelligence tasks.
Contrasting the OmniBook Ultra’s standard Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with the EliteBook X, you’ll find an additional 5 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) of computational prowess. This added power may help ensure the EliteBook X remains more prepared for future technological advancements. However, please note that this early pre-production model has incomplete drivers and firmware, so I can’t provide specific benchmark scores or direct comparisons to other devices.
As a tech enthusiast, I must admit that based on pre-release tests, the HP EliteBook X 14 appears to edge out the HP OmniBook Ultra in terms of performance. Despite sharing a non-PRO Ryzen AI chipset, the EliteBook X seems more capable of handling heavy, sustained workloads. For now, I’m inclined to agree with HP’s claim that this is the “world’s most powerful next-gen AI PC,” as long as we’re not considering any models equipped with an NVIDIA GPU.
AI significantly enhances the PC’s performance, ensuring its speed and security for the future as well, aligning with HP’s comprehensive vision about what an AI-integrated computer should be.
A cohesive vision for an AI future that might actually make sense
When the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) hits the market, it will be part of the latest generation of PCs powered by Copilot+, thanks to the enhanced capabilities of AMD’s Ryzen AI and Intel’s Core Ultra (Series 2). This new lineup will incorporate all the AI advancements being integrated into Windows. Unlike other manufacturers, HP won’t just rely on Copilot or external software to leverage the EliteBook X’s superior NPU capabilities, nor will it offer the same underdeveloped features found in other laptops. Instead, HP is pouring significant resources into AI technology, and the EliteBook X serves as a demonstration of these initial developments.
At HP Imagine 2024 and my time using the EliteBook X, I’ve been exposed to numerous investments, and I must say that it has left me more convinced than ever about the power of AI in tech products, surpassing any other company so far. Let’s start with the smaller features offered by the EliteBook X, and then we can delve into the broader aspects. One notable feature is the return of Poly Studios, now enhanced with the Poly Camera Pro app. This isn’t just a camera tuner; it’s essentially an advanced version of Windows Studio Effects, packed with numerous options and customizations to fine-tune your camera experience. Features like Auto Frame, background blur, filters, and more can be adjusted to create the perfect setup.
The usual, repetitive aspects of Poly Camera Pro might not seem particularly intriguing at first glance. However, what truly sets it apart is its ability to consolidate all those features into one platform, right within the camera processing level. This means it’s compatible with any camera you connect to the EliteBook X—not just the integrated webcam—and your settings are automatically applied in any app that utilizes the camera. Furthermore, thanks to this integration and the EliteBook X’s NPU, Poly Camera Pro offers better efficiency and performance compared to similar solutions.
The HP EliteBook X includes an updated version of HP Smart Sense. At first glance, this appears similar to the AI-controlled “ideal performance setting” that most companies offer, but HP has streamlined the choices to either Smart Sense or “Max Performance.” Moreover, Smart Sense has been made more intelligent than ever before. A specialized hardware chip continuously monitors the laptop’s temperature, resources, and even external conditions such as its location and whether it’s being moved. Indeed, an accelerometer within the EliteBook X detects when you are holding it, allowing it to adjust itself to run cooler and quieter.
I haven’t fully tried out Smart Sense yet to confirm if HP’s claims about its benefits in everyday use are true, but it’s marketed as offering enhanced performance and energy efficiency based on your specific laptop usage habits.
Moving forward, let’s discuss crucial aspects like security. The EliteBook X, undeniably, equips HP’s Wolf Pro Security pack, a robust solution that bolsters privacy and security functions across hardware, firmware, and software. It’s a reliable choice for businesses (and soon to be available in a slightly adjusted form for consumers with the OmniBook Ultra and Ultra Flip), but it’s important to note that Wolf Pro Security may impact performance and efficiency levels.
With the HP EliteBook X, HP is shifting many of Wolf Pro’s functions towards the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which offers superior efficiency and performance for artificial intelligence-driven tasks compared to the CPU. This transition promises that the performance gap has never been narrower. Furthermore, Wolf Pro is evolving thanks to AI, becoming more adept at dynamically addressing new threats that could potentially affect your data. In conjunction with the enterprise-centric security and remote management capabilities of AMD Ryzen AI PRO, the EliteBook X emerges as a highly secure PC without any compromises.
Most of HP’s AI endeavors benefit enterprises and businesses more than consumers, but this honestly makes the most sense. Z by HP Boost allows companies to share unused GPU resources across all connected HP AI PCs — even when separated by thousands of miles. The HP Workforce Experience Platform is an all-in-one dashboard for IT departments that collects and consolidates telemetry data from across a company’s fleet. The HP Remote Remediation Service is a valuable tool for HP’s enterprise PCs (for Intel vPro at first, but I assume AMD Ryzen AI PRO is around the corner) that allows IT to offer advanced, fully remote service like BIOS repairs.
HP is additionally focusing on enhancing the dependability, safety, and credibility of their AI capabilities through the HP Gen AI development platform. This platform offers beneficial resources to AI creators and data scientists, aiming to minimize instances of false information in AI applications. All these aspects are crucial, they work unobtrusively, and they all benefit from the intelligence built into the AI.
Again, though, none of that really matters to consumers. On that front, HP is developing its AI Companion and Print AI — two features that run better on the EliteBook X and actually have real-world use.
The HP AI Companion functions similarly to other large language model chatbots for queries, but it also serves as a secure and intelligent local file organizer database. You can compile collections of files and documents, then utilize the HP AI Companion to examine, arrange, summarize, and categorize these materials. Importantly, none of your data will be transferred from your device during this process.
The HP AI Companion offers a wide range of control options for your HP device, such as managing volume and screen brightness, switching performance modes, among other functionalities. Most operations are handled directly by your device’s NPU, while encrypted and secure data transfers to the cloud only contain essential information without any personal details. In time, more features of HP AI Companion will be moved to your local NPU for enhanced performance. Currently, it is designed to introduce users to the advantages of natural language AIs without demanding additional self-learning efforts on their part.
The HP Print AI is designed primarily to simplify printer usage by eliminating common frustrations. With Print AI, users can effortlessly manage their printers, modify settings, create printing tasks, and even fine-tune files on the spot before printing – all through conversational language. Although I don’t own a printer myself, HP’s demonstrations were truly captivating. While this technology won’t be limited to the HP EliteBook X, this laptop certainly showcases HP’s innovative vision, and I eagerly await further developments.
It will take several months until I receive the completed item, but for now, I’ll manage with the versatile and potent OmniBook Ultra 14. Keep an eye out for a review of this device on Windows Central, which will be published soon.
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2024-10-10 21:09