HP’s next-generation business laptop is so light, I thought I had been sent a dummy unit by accident

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I’m currently at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. However, I recently had a chance to test out one of the products that will be unveiled at CES 2026, well before the official event.

I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on early versions of HP laptops before, and this time it’s the EliteBook X 14 (G2) – the one everyone’s talking about. Honestly, when I first unboxed it, I was shocked by how light it was! I actually thought for a second that HP might have accidentally sent me an empty shell instead of a working laptop.

This laptop is designed to be incredibly lightweight, and it offers a lot of customization options. You can choose to configure it with processors from Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm. I received the model with an Intel processor, which also happens to be my first time testing Intel’s new Core Ultra (Series 3) chips.

We were able to do this practical test because HP sent us a sample unit before the product was officially released. HP didn’t review or influence this article before it was published.

Doesn’t catch the eye, but feels great in the hand

I looked at the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) a while ago, and it was a powerful, but bulky, laptop. This new EliteBook X is a completely different machine – it’s much more focused on being sleek and easy to carry.

This laptop actually feels like an upgrade to the fantastic HP EliteBook Ultra 14 (G1i) that I previously reviewed, but it’s even lighter and offers more choices when you’re purchasing it.

This laptop is available with processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, and all models share the same design with a weight of just over one kilogram. If you choose an Intel processor, you can opt for a lighter configuration that brings the weight down to *under* one kilogram – making it as portable as the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) that I recently reviewed.

As I mentioned earlier, this laptop feels surprisingly light in your hand – even lighter than the Zenbook A14, despite not actually being lighter. It almost feels hollow, but it’s still clearly a well-made, high-quality business laptop.

Both the Zenbook A14 and the EliteBook Ultra (G1i) have more stylish designs. The EliteBook X 14 isn’t unattractive, but HP seems to prioritize practicality and a conservative look. The good news is, they didn’t compromise on the quality of the hardware itself.

It features three USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a traditional USB-A port, with 5G connectivity available as an option. The new keyboard sits above quad speakers, and you can also add one of HP’s high-quality haptic touchpads.

The touchpad works well, but I was really eager to test the keyboard. HP’s EliteBooks have always had great keyboards, so I was a bit worried about this new design. Thankfully, the keyboard is still fantastic—though I wouldn’t say it’s an improvement over previous EliteBook keyboards, just a different feel.

The new EliteBook X 14 (G2) will feature a 2.8K OLED display that, while similar to previous models, is significantly brighter and looks fantastic. HP is offering a variety of display choices, and I’m particularly excited about trying the ultra-bright Tandem OLED option.

Limited experience with the latest from Intel

I always enjoy getting to test a laptop before its official release, but I was particularly excited about this one. The EliteBook X 14 (G2i) is one of the first devices to feature the newest Intel processors. I’ve written a lot about Intel Core Ultra (Series 3), nicknamed Panther Lake, but this is the first time I’ve actually had a chance to use the new technology.

Since this is a pre-release version of the hardware, I’m unable to share performance benchmarks or compare it to other devices right now. We’ll need to wait until we can review the final, released EliteBook X 14 (G2i) before we can draw any firm conclusions about battery life and how efficiently it performs.

After a few days with this laptop, I’m already confident that Intel’s new Panther Lake processors are going to be excellent. Even in this early version, the EliteBook X 14 feels incredibly fast and fluid – it starts up instantly from sleep and runs Windows 11 with ease.

I’ve been really impressed with how cool and quiet this laptop stays, even when I’m using it. That’s especially notable because the EliteBook X 14 is so thin and lightweight. The fact that HP offers versions with AMD and Qualcomm processors tells me they’re confident in how well it manages heat and performance.

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) series looks very promising, offering a lot of customization to fit different work needs. It’s a business laptop to watch out for when it launches in Spring 2026, though HP hasn’t announced how much it will cost yet.

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2026-01-06 03:40