I've become a big HP fan after reviewing this powerful and premium enterprise AI laptop

Generally speaking, enterprise laptops are often seen as rather unexciting. This is because their primary focus isn’t on being entertaining to attract customers, but rather on meeting the needs of corporations and businesses effectively.

Despite many devices vying for my affection, commercial-quality gadgets that truly distinguish themselves continue to capture my heart, and more often than not, these laptops originate from HP. For instance, the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is a notable example, serving as the flagship model for HP’s innovative AI PC projects.

Despite not being the sleekest or lightest 14-inch laptop available, the EliteBook X boasts impressive performance thanks to its AMD Ryzen AI technology. It truly shines in areas involving artificial intelligence.

This laptop is excellent all-around, fulfilling every requirement you’d expect from a reliable workhorse. Similar to many high-end business devices, the HP EliteBook X 14 comes with a hefty price tag. However, it seems to drain its large battery quicker than desired.

EliteBook X 14 review: Cheat sheet

What is it? The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is a 14-inch laptop designed for commercial customers, with enhanced security and remote management features.
Who is it for? Those who need those enterprise-grade features, and are willing to trade some weight and thickness for best-in-class performance and AI capabilities.
How much does it cost? This laptop starts from $2,099 at HP for the Wolf Pro Security Edition. The standard edition starts from $2,199 at HP.
What did I like? The practical design, refined hardware and comfortable keyboard, reliable performance, and gorgeous display.
What did I not like? The weight, the middling battery life, and the price tag.

EliteBook X 14 review: Pricing and specifications

The HP EliteBook X14 (G1a) is a laptop tailored for businesses, available in two variants: the regular model, and the highly specialized Wolf Pro Security Edition.

Initially, the device costs $2,199 on HP’s platform, featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processor, a standard 1200p IPS LCD display (non-touch), 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. To enhance the experience, my review configuration boasts a 2.8K OLED screen and 64GB of RAM, available for $2,749 on HP’s site.

If you’re seeking more than the usual 1-year of Wolf Pro Security, HP offers an extended protection of 3 years for just $2,099.99. The price for these configurations can reach as high as $4,299 at HP, based on your specific requirements.

enterprise laptops like the EliteBook X are often not considered affordable options for regular consumers due to their additional security and remote management features, which may be unnecessary. However, despite this, the EliteBook X is reasonably priced within its class, and for businesses aiming to purchase a large number of these devices, the cost is less significant.

Inside the box, there’s an HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) laptop and a 100-watt USB Type-C compact charger equipped with a braided charging cable.

EliteBook X 14 review: Design and build quality

During my early interaction with a prototype of the HP EliteBook X, I pointed out that surprisingly, I found its design quite appealing, even though it wasn’t as streamlined or slender compared to other high-end Windows notebooks.

Approximately 18 millimeters thick and weighing more than 3 pounds, the EliteBook X isn’t extremely portable, but it wasn’t so bulky that carrying it felt overly burdensome during HP’s Amplify 2025 conference for several days.

This device appears robust indeed, having successfully passed 19 MIL-STD 810H military-grade durability tests and surviving rigorous testing sessions within HP’s laboratories. Moreover, it boasts an eco-friendly design, as recycled materials are extensively utilized in its construction, with up to 80% recycled aluminum incorporated into the covers.

Adding extra weight indeed facilitates the incorporation of numerous connectors, and HP has certainly taken advantage of this. In fact, you’ll find a total of three USB Type-C ports on this device, with two of them being full Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Indeed, despite the laptop being AMD-equipped, it does come with Thunderbolt technology. HP strategically includes a T4 port on both sides, ensuring flexibility regardless of where your charger or docking station is placed. This adjustment was made in direct response to customer and reviewer feedback.

Moreover, it offers an HDMI 2.1 interface for visual transmission, a standard USB Type-A port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington Nano lock slot. The arrangement is thoughtful, providing ample space between ports and optimal placement.

The Dell EliteBook X 14 may not be the most stylish top-tier model, but I find its sleek, curved design appealing, and its commitment to functionality is excellent for workers who prioritize productivity.

EliteBook X 14 review: Display quality

On the EliteBook X, you have the option of installing either a standard Full High Definition Plus (FHD+) IPS LCD display, which significantly improves battery life, or an exquisite and vivid 2.8K OLED screen, similar to what’s featured on other premium HP laptops.

This 14-inch OLED screen offers an appealing size, boasting a 16:10 aspect ratio, and delivers crystal-clear visuals at 1800p resolution. What’s more, it provides a seamless viewing experience with its variable refresh rate of 48 – 120Hz, which is supported by Windows Dynamic Refresh Rate technology. In essence, this display appears to meet all the necessary requirements.

This display truly stands out, boasting vibrant, consistent colors and the distinctive high-contrast aesthetic that’s synonymous with its technology. If durability isn’t a top priority for you, it offers an eye-catching visual experience.

The EliteBook X’s OLED screen exhibits excellent color accuracy and maintains a uniform, balanced whiteness throughout varying brightness settings. Additionally, the screen achieves a suitable level of brightness for an OLED display, although it may not set any new records in this regard.

This display offers High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, but it’s not Dolby Vision and doesn’t meet the specific VESA DisplayHDR standard. Compared to standard IPS LCD displays, it performs exceptionally well for HDR content, but it doesn’t offer top-tier HDR performance.

Although the EliteBook X comes with a premium price, it lacks an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness and color temperature adjustments, which I must note.

Apart from having limited possibilities to personalize the display, such as adjusting color settings or handling OLED safety features, ASUS remains a trailblazer when it comes to OLED screens in laptops.

When it comes to customizing the display on this laptop, your choices are pretty slim, with no options for color profile adjustments or OLED safety settings management. However, ASUS continues to lead the pack in terms of high-quality OLED displays in laptops.

In summary, although this laptop boasts a 5-star TÜV Rheinland EyeComfort and Low Blue Light certification, its dimming method, Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM), may still lead to eye strain or headaches due to the fast flicker rate associated with it. If you’re prone to sensitivity, consider selecting the IPS LCD display option instead, as PWM is used consistently across most brightness levels in this model.

EliteBook X 14 review: Performance and thermals

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) utilizes the very same high-end AMD Ryzen AI processor found in the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 that I reviewed earlier. It shares a standard 12-core, 24-thread structure, but its Neural Processing Unit (NPU), specifically designed for AI tasks, is currently the most potent on the market with up to 55 TOPs of computational might.

All in all, the EliteBook X is an outstanding machine, offering top-tier CPU performance along with a capable integrated graphics unit and ample fast memory and storage. Compared to the OmniBook Ultra 14, it may not feel quite as swift, but the EliteBook X offers additional security and remote management features.

The figures demonstrate the quality of user interaction. While this gadget doesn’t frequently outperform high-end 16-inch gaming laptops, it consistently matches the top-performing and most efficient 14-inch devices we’ve reviewed.

Heatwise, it may feel quite warm to touch, yet performance remains unaffected by cooling mechanisms like throttling. The fans might become quite noticeable in sound, but they avoid unnecessary speeding up and maintain a steady, low-toned hum instead.

It appears that there are periodic pauses in performance, and when it’s not plugged in, the EliteBook X experiences about a 18% reduction in CPU power and a 9% decrease in GPU power, which is a greater level of slowdown compared to current Intel and Qualcomm processors.

EliteBook X 14 review: Software and AI experience

To clarify, the EliteBook X performs exceptionally on Windows 11, as each model includes the professional version, Windows 11 Pro, which offers extra security and remote management features. Unlike their consumer models, it’s free from the annoying pre-installed software (bloatware) that HP often adds to their consumer laptops.

HP’s built-in software remains unnecessarily divided into multiple parts, which can be cumbersome. The myHP application designed for device settings on this particular laptop is rather sluggish and not typically problematic for me. Regrettably, it lacks detailed adjustment options, particularly for the screen display.

With the EliteBook X, you’re not just purchasing an AI PC; it’s a Copilot+ computer equipped with a top-tier Neural Processing Unit (NPU), delivering one of the most comprehensive AI experiences available in the market. HP is committed to advancing artificial intelligence, so the EliteBook X fits seamlessly into this tech ecosystem. The HP AI Companion app is included for managing device functions, analyzing local data, and organizing your libraries, among other features.

One standout aspect of the EliteBook series is its inclusion of the Wolf Security for Business package, a robust security solution that safeguards data at multiple levels, even beneath the BIOS. This feature is indispensable. Each EliteBook X 14 (G1a) comes pre-equipped with at least one year of Wolf Pro Security, which offers fine-tuned hardware management, automatic recovery features, and a built-in Virtual Machine (VM) for containing potential malware.

EliteBook X 14 review: Battery experience

As a devoted admirer, I must express that the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) houses an impressive 74.5Whr battery within its frame, which is notably substantial for a device of its size. This ample power source should easily sustain this laptop’s operation for extended periods, ensuring uninterrupted usage.

Regrettably, the EliteBook X’s battery life is relatively typical compared to top-tier Intel and Qualcomm notebooks, and it doesn’t even match up to comparable AMD Ryzen AI-enabled devices.

Performing a one-hour task from Microsoft Office software and another hour of HD video playback (both under default settings) led to a 11% decrease in battery level in both instances. After several weeks of utilization, a Windows Battery Report showed an average real-world battery life lasting approximately six hours.

By changing the high-quality OLED display to a more basic IPS LCD screen, you could regain a few extra hours of battery life. However, keep in mind that the laptop’s overall battery performance would still be relatively ordinary, although it would maintain a consistent level of average performance.

The quality is sufficient for a passing mark, and HP generously provides a high-quality, braided 100W USB Type-C charger within the package. This charger is both compact and swift, quickly supplying ample power for additional working hours.

EliteBook X 14 review: Keyboard and touchpad

The HP EliteBook 1040’s forerunner is often considered by many to have had one of the finest keyboards among all laptops available.

HP enhanced the design of the EliteBook X 14 by making certain modifications, and I must say, its keyboard is truly exceptional. The arrangement is user-friendly, and the keys offer a good distance between them and respond promptly.

The keystrokes aren’t quite as gentle as desired, however, the key travel is excellent and its functioning is perfect. Additionally, it comes with a customizable macro key within the function row, which is always a beneficial feature.

Although this touchpad isn’t the biggest, it’s sleek and reactive, featuring Windows Precision drivers for seamless gesture control. While I’d ideally choose a haptic touchpad like the one on the upcoming HP EliteBook Ultra 14 (G1i), which I briefly tested, perfection comes with compromises.

EliteBook X 14 review: Other hardware

Generally, folks aren’t too hopeful about the quality of their laptop’s webcam, but HP stands out by providing some of the top-notch ones available. The 5MP front camera is quite clear, delivering precise color representation, reliable white balance, and commendable functionality.

The dual-microphone setup is equally effective, and they’re both compatible with the intelligent Poly Camera Pro app, which offers a multitude of features to enhance your video conferencing interactions.

The device offers Human Presence Detection (HPD), which is enhanced by utilizing standard Windows features along with privacy-focused upgrades of its own. Additionally, it includes an IR sensor to facilitate Windows Hello facial recognition and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button for added security. Both sensors functioned efficiently, although I noticed that the facial recognition worked better on the EliteBook X.

Within the EliteBook X, I discovered a quad speaker system that stands out on its own merits, even without extra features such as Dolby Atmos support. Although some laptops might offer more depth or a more dynamic sound, these speakers are impressively loud, clear, and balanced for various types of content.

Ultimately, the newest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 technologies take care of wireless connectivity, delivering generally top-notch performance. Occasionally, I encountered situations where the EliteBook X would unexpectedly drop a network connection, but it’s not a common occurrence.

EliteBook X 14 review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if …

You want a powerful 14-inch laptop
You want to see the best an AI PC can do
You need greater security and privacy features

❌You should not buy this if …

You highly value a thin-and-light design
You need true, reliable all-day battery life

Lately, I’ve come to understand why HP is the brand that’s compelling me about the significance of AI laptops, and it’s not hard to call the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) their pioneering piece in the emerging age of artificial intelligence.

As an analyst, I find myself captivated by this laptop, which appears to be meticulously designed with artificial intelligence as its primary focus. At the heart of it lies a unique and powerful chipset, currently unparalleled in laptops and, as far as I’m aware, exclusively available from HP.

By merging its potency with Hewlett Packard’s comprehensive, organization-wide approach to leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence technology wisely and productively, the EliteBook X 14 has become an excellent laptop, and it promises to continue improving in the future.

While it boasts significant power, the hefty battery within its sturdy frame doesn’t quite meet the long-lasting performance expectations of many experts.

For non-professionals seeking an excellent 14-inch laptop, it might be more beneficial to explore other options, such as HP’s OmniBook series. You won’t need to spend hundreds more on enterprise-oriented features that will likely remain unused.

Numerous individuals would find everything they require in this robust machine; for such people, you can now purchase the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) for $2,099 at HP.com, with different configurations to suit your hardware and software preferences.

2025-04-02 15:12

I’ve become a big HP fan after reviewing this powerful and premium enterprise AI laptop