HP EliteBook X Flip G1i review: This laptop is CEO material

What: HP EliteBook X Flip G1i | Value: Rs 258,985 (as reviewed)

Refined design

The EliteBook X is a 14-inch pocket book — small and lightweight sufficient to be comfortably held with only one hand. Its dimension falls proper within the center, which makes an enormous distinction if you happen to journey continuously for work, and want to remain productive on the go.

The audio system are full, loud, and appear to be comimg from all over the place. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)

Like different high-end HP units, the construct high quality is wonderful. The physique is made from steel and has a premium, costly really feel — no surprises right here. The design has been barely refreshed, and though it’s a enterprise pocket book, the EliteBook X seems to be way more trendy. It’s the type of pocket book that pairs completely along with your Rimowa bag for enterprise journey.

Its 2-in-1 design permits it for use in a number of methods. The 360-degree hinge works easily, but it’s tight sufficient that the display screen by no means feels unstable. The touchscreen is responsive, and my fingers glided simply throughout the floor.

One other design function I care loads about is the ports, and the brand new EliteBook X delivers. It consists of two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, a further USB-C port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headset jack. The inclusion of an HDMI 2.1 port is particularly necessary for enterprise professionals who continuously give shows or have to share their display screen in several assembly rooms. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have an SD card reader or a LAN slot.

Terrific audio and show, however I want it had an OLED display screen

I’ve at all times been an enormous fan of how Apple’s MacBook Professional sounds. Nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked to see that the EliteBook X now matches the MacBook Professional by way of sound high quality. Since HP acquired Poly, previously often known as Plantronics, I’ve seen a major enchancment of their audio efficiency. The acquisition has clearly helped enhance HP’s audio sport.

The pocket book has a 14-inch IPS display screen, though I might have most popular an OLED panel at this value. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)

The quad audio system and discrete amplifiers on the EliteBook X sound higher than my 55-inch TV. The highest- and side-firing audio system create a strong, immersive sound. Whereas watching Minnal Murali, the audio system by no means sounded muddy or harsh, and made watching a full film pleasurable. Not solely have been the vocals clear, however there was additionally a way of realism within the sound, which gave the viewing expertise a totally completely different stage on a laptop display screen.

The 14-inch, 1980 x 1200 IPS touchscreen is strong. It’s shiny, the colors look good, and I haven’t seen any obtrusive points. The bezels at the moment are slimmer, but you continue to get the total 16:10 facet ratio. For content material creators, a 14-inch display screen would possibly really feel small for studio-level manufacturing work. Nevertheless, for enterprise executives, it strikes the best steadiness — providing sufficient portability whereas nonetheless being massive sufficient to remain productive, whether or not it’s engaged on shows, managing Excel sheets, or checking emails. That mentioned, I do want HP had gone with an OLED panel on the EliteBook X — it will have made an enormous distinction. The pocket book additionally helps a stylus and comes bundled with the Energetic Pen G3.

I did a number of Zoom calls, and so far as I might inform, the standard of the 5-megapixel 1080p webcam was wonderful. In case you are on a whole lot of video calls, you’ll undoubtedly recognize the improved high quality.

The keyboard is an enormous improve

The keyboard is a jot to tytpe on. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)

The keyboard feels a bit completely different from the one on the earlier HP pocket book I examined. The keys are well-spaced, and the keyboard on the EliteBook X produces a deeper, extra satisfying sound. I actually like this keyboard. The F11 key will be customised for varied features utilizing the MyHP app, whereas the facility button additionally doubles as a fingerprint reader for safe logins. And naturally, the trackpad has vastly improved too — it’s bigger, extra responsive, and works brilliantly.

Good efficiency and battery life

Intel-powered laptops have at all times been dependable and highly effective, and I discovered the identical to be true for the EliteBook X. I’m not essentially an influence person, and the EliteBook X isn’t designed for content material creators or players. My overview unit got here with an Intel Core Extremely 7 268 V processor, 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 1 TB of SSD storage, and Intel Arc graphics. The underside panel is secured with simply 4 screws. Inside, you get entry to the battery, followers, a replaceable Wi-Fi module, and the SSD. Nevertheless, the RAM is not expandable.

There are not often any factors in my day-to-day that this machine feels taxed. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)

I received’t go too deep into CPU efficiency or the technical particulars. It’s quick, has a built-in NPU for dealing with heavy AI workloads, and the chip may even handle duties like picture enhancing. However since this is a enterprise pocket book, I doubt most enterprise customers would use it for content material creation, 3D modelling, or color grading on a tool like this. The EliteBook X is extra fitted to searching the net, engaged on Google Docs and Sheets, constructing shows, and perhaps performing some gentle inventive duties utilizing instruments like Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT.

As a enterprise laptop, the EliteBook X consists of a number of safety features — one thing no enterprise govt or firm can afford to miss, particularly in at this time’s setting the place privateness and safety are extra necessary than ever. The EliteBook X comes with HP Wolf Safety, which supplies safety in opposition to malware and phishing assaults, screens vital purposes, and might restore the working system in case of an an infection. In the meantime, HP Positive Click on is designed to guard your PC from browser-borne malware.

HP has additionally launched its personal AI companion along with Microsoft Copilot. Presently in beta, this AI companion performs lots of the similar duties as Google Gemini and Copilot, reminiscent of summarising your paperwork and emails. It additionally features as a chatbot that may allow you to create to-do lists or help with different on a regular basis duties. The laptop doesn’t produce a lot noise or warmth.

The battery often lasts between 13 and 14 hours for me, and I believe it may possibly final even longer. I’m a heavy laptop person, typically working a number of apps and Chrome tabs within the background. General, the EliteBook X gives good energy effectivity and battery administration.

Closing ideas

Coming in at Rs 2,58,985, the HP EliteBook X Flip is an costly enterprise pocket book (the vary begins at Rs 172,000). I wouldn’t say it’s the very best enterprise laptop I’ve ever used, but it surely undoubtedly comes shut.

A skinny and lightweight design turns into vital for customers like me. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)

The EliteBook X Flip is designed for CEOs and CXOs, but it surely’s additionally a decidedly skilled laptop (with a value to match). There are lots of optimistic points of this pocket book: a light-weight design, a small footprint, lengthy battery life, good efficiency, a terrific keyboard, quick Wi-Fi 7, and quite a lot of safety features. In case you are planning on utilizing it professionally (or another person is shopping for it for you), the HP EliteBook X Flip is probably the greatest enterprise laptops I’ve used shortly.

This is a CEO laptop for me, however in fact, opinions range, and I respect that.