HP EliteBook 14" G1i 2025, Core Ultra 5 228V, 32GB, 512GB SSD, Atmospheric blue

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i is a lightweight 14-inch business laptop with a stunning 120Hz OLED display and 32GB of RAM. It's great for productivity and multitasking, but the integrated graphics make it a poor choice for gaming or heavy creative work. Pricing varies widely, especially in Canada, so shop around before buying.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V is an 8-core chip running at 2.1GHz, paired with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. In our database, the CPU lands around the 62nd percentile for laptops, which means it's solid but not a standout. For everyday productivity, spreadsheets, video calls, and light multitasking, it'll feel snappy. The 32GB of RAM is a real highlight, sitting in the 93rd percentile, so you can keep a ton of browser tabs and apps open without sweating.

The integrated Intel Arc Graphics 130V is where expectations need to be managed. It's fine for driving the display and handling basic photo edits, but gaming performance is a weak spot. Our gaming score for this machine is 20.8 out of 100, which is about as clear a signal as you'll get that this is not a gaming laptop. The 512GB NVMe SSD is middle of the pack at the 52nd percentile, so storage is adequate but not generous for a machine pitched at creators.

The EliteBook Ultra G1i goes up against some serious competition. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is probably the most direct rival, with a similar focus on portability and premium build, and it tends to offer better all-around performance for the price. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is in a different league for raw power and battery life, though it's also heavier and more expensive. If you're on Windows and want a thin machine with a great screen, the Surface is the one to cross-shop.

For anyone considering this HP for gaming or creative work, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i are far better choices. They're bulkier, but they come with discrete GPUs that completely outclass the integrated Arc 130V. The HP's gaming score of 20.8 out of 100 tells the story. It's not built for that, and you shouldn't buy it expecting it to be.

Value is tricky here because the price varies a lot depending on where you shop. In Canada, we're seeing a spread of CAD 964 between the lowest and highest listings, from CAD 2,824 to CAD 3,788. That's a huge gap, and it means you could overpay by nearly a thousand dollars if you don't shop around. The best deal in our data comes from the lower-priced Canadian listing, so it's worth checking multiple vendors before you commit. In the US, pricing is tighter at $2,079 to $2,100. For that money, you're getting a fantastic screen and solid build, but the lack of a discrete GPU and the middling storage capacity make it harder to justify against alternatives like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition or even a MacBook Air.

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i is a 14-inch business laptop aimed at people who want a thin, light machine with a gorgeous OLED screen and enough AI-focused hardware to handle Copilot+ workloads. It sits in the premium ultrabook bracket, with US listings around $2,079 to $2,100 and Canadian pricing spread from CAD 2,824 to CAD 3,788. That's real money, so the question is whether the screen, build, and AI story justify the cost.

We've seen a lot of laptops come through our database, and this one is a bit of a mixed bag. The display is genuinely top-tier, the RAM is generous, and the whole package is impressively compact at 1.19kg. But the reliability and social proof numbers are rough, and the integrated graphics mean this is not a machine for gaming or heavy creative work.

If you're searching for a business laptop with a 120Hz OLED display and strong portability, the EliteBook Ultra G1i checks those boxes. If you're hoping for a do-everything machine, you'll want to keep reading.

Skip the EliteBook Ultra G1i if you're a gamer, video editor, or 3D artist. The integrated Intel Arc 130V graphics simply can't keep up with discrete GPUs, and our gaming score of 20.8 out of 100 makes that clear. If you need serious graphics performance, look at the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or Lenovo Legion Pro 7i instead. Also skip it if you want a lot of storage, since 512GB fills up fast for anyone working with large files. And if you're the type who likes to see lots of positive reviews before dropping two grand, the near-empty social proof on this model might make you nervous. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a safer bet in that regard.

Should you buy the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i? If you want a very light business laptop with one of the best screens we've seen and you don't care about gaming, it's worth a look. The OLED panel is a genuine standout, and the 32GB of RAM means it'll handle serious multitasking without breaking a sweat. The AI features are a nice bonus if you're into Copilot+ and local AI workloads.

But the weak reliability numbers and the near-total lack of customer feedback give us pause. We can't point to a strong track record from actual owners, and that matters when you're spending over two grand. If you can find it at the lower end of the Canadian price range or around $2,079 in the US, it's a more compelling buy. At the top of the range, you're paying a premium for a screen and a thin chassis, and the competition gets very attractive.