HP EliteBook Ultra 14" G1i Negro 2024

A gorgeous, impossibly light OLED laptop that's a joy for work, but the small SSD and weak gaming chops mean it's not for everyone. If you want the best Windows has to offer in a MacBook Air body, this is it.

We were genuinely surprised by how well the Intel Arc integrated graphics handle everyday creative work. Don't get me wrong, it's not a gaming chip, but for photo editing, light video work, and driving that gorgeous high-res display, it's snappy and responsive. The real star is the Core Ultra 7 268V with its dedicated AI cores. Local AI tasks that would choke older machines feel almost instant here. The 32GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM is a standout, letting you keep a frankly ridiculous number of Chrome tabs and apps open without a hiccup. The 512GB SSD is a bit of a weak spot though, it's solidly middle of the pack and fills up fast if you're not living in the cloud.

This EliteBook is a direct shot at the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro. The HP wins on weight and has a slightly better screen, but the MacBook's M4 Pro chip will crush it in sustained heavy workloads and has far better reliability scores in our database. If you need raw power and don't mind a bit more weight, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a compelling alternative with a dedicated GPU for less money, though its screen isn't quite as nice. For pure Windows productivity in a stunningly light package, the HP is leading the pack. The Microsoft Surface Laptop is its closest spiritual sibling, but the EliteBook's OLED panel puts it a clear notch above.

Pricing is all over the place, with a wild spread from $1,533 to an absurd $363,826 across vendors. Ignore the crazy high listings, they're clearly errors. At the real-world price around $1,500, this is a solid deal for the screen and portability alone, but you're paying an early adopter tax for the AI features. The 512GB SSD at this price stings. If you can snag it closer to the $1,500 mark from a reputable seller, it's worth it. Just don't overpay.

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i is a stunning ultraportable that finally puts Windows laptops on even footing with MacBooks for sheer portability and screen quality. The one thing to know is this: it's a gorgeous, featherlight machine built for serious work and AI tasks, but it's not for gamers or anyone who needs a massive local file library. That 14-inch 2.8K OLED display is the absolute best right now, and at just 1.19kg, you'll forget it's in your bag. HP is clearly gunning for the MacBook Air crowd with this one, and in many ways, they've nailed it.

If you're looking for a machine that can game or handle serious 3D rendering, this isn't it. The integrated graphics are a real letdown for that. Go get an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or a Lenovo Legion Pro instead. Also, if you need tons of local storage for video editing, the 512GB drive will drive you nuts.

Buy this if you want the best Windows ultraportable screen on the market and need a laptop that disappears in your bag. The AI features are genuinely useful today, not just a gimmick, and the 32GB of RAM means this thing will feel fast for years. Just be prepared to live in the cloud or carry an external SSD, because that 512GB drive is tight. It's a fantastic machine for knowledge workers that makes a few frustrating compromises.