Integrated 5G connectivity is a game-changing feature of the HP EliteBook 6 G1q, a 14-inch laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor. Because HP Go is an integrated eSIM solution, it can connect to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile and offers multi-network 5G access. You never even need to consider it; it automatically swaps based on which one has the strongest signal.

Being able to set up a laptop without using Wi-Fi, carry it in a bag, and then take it out to use anywhere you like without using Wi-Fi or tying it to your phone is a wonderful experience. It was fantastic to be able to take the laptop out of my suitcase and instantly connect to the internet, whether I was in downtown Boston, at the beach, or somewhere else.

Five stars are earned for the HP Go 5G experience. Businesses are the primary target of this initial version. When I questioned, HP hinted that it might be seeking to supply more consumer laptops in the future.

Regretfully, the remainder of this laptop experience is unimpressive. A lower-end Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU and a grainy-looking webcam were features of our review model. Additionally, the display is a little dark, which is a major issue for a 5G laptop that you might wish to use outside.

Specification

The HP EliteBook 6 G1q is a 14-inch business laptop that comes with a number of Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPU options. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 CPU was featured in our review model. CDW is selling the model we examined for $1,695.

Although it quickly becomes pricey, HP also offers a configurator where you can choose alternatives like purchasing models without 5G and selecting more expensive Snapdragon CPUs. Businesses purchasing fleets of PCs may wind up negotiating prices more in line with the CDW model because this is a business laptop.

All of these Copilot+ PCs have a fast enough NPU to run the AI features Microsoft is integrating into Windows, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

The HP EliteBook G6 G1q with HP GO 5G model number and CPU X1P-42-100 Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
32GB of RAM is the memory size.
GPU and graphics: Qualcomm Adreno
NPU: 45 TOPS Qualcomm Hexagon NPU
Display: 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS screen with 400 nits of brightness and a refresh rate of 60 Hz
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage
Camera: 1080p camera
Connectivity: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x nano SIM slot, 1x USB Type-C (40 Gbps), 2x USB Type-A (5 Gbps), and 1x security lock slot
Networking: Ethernet, 5G with HP Go, Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 7
Biometrics: Reader of fingerprints
Capacity of battery: 56 watt hours
12.54 x 8.83 x 0.43 inches in size
3.17 pounds in weight
MSRP as tested: $1,695

Design and build quality

HP is happy to use recycled materials in the lightweight, silver HP EliteBook 6 G1q, which is composed of a combination of plastic and aluminum. This 14-inch laptop weighs 3.17 pounds, which isn’t heavy, but it’s also not the lightest. Here, some lightweight and thin laptop designs would save at least half a pound.

Although not extravagant, the build quality is good. This laptop is unquestionably a business laptop: Instead of being a high-end, one-off computer for the CEO, this design is intended for businesses to purchase in bulk for their staff. It has a good-feeling hinge and a durable, well-made construction.

However, it doesn’t feel like a high-end, all-metal device: I can feel the edge where the aluminum keyboard deck meets the plastic bottom as I run my fingertips over the laptop’s edges, starting from the keyboard tray and moving over the ports and underbody. It’s not going to cut me or anything, but every time I pick up the machine, I can feel that metal-meets-plastic feeling. In conclusion, it is a workhorse rather than a high-end device. A higher-end design would be lighter and include a unibody construction with no noticeable seams.

The keyboard and trackpad on the HP EliteBook 6 G1q are usable. Given that it is a 14-inch computer, there is plenty of room for a huge keyboard. The chiclet-style keys aren’t very quick, but they also don’t seem mushy. A little low-key trip. For a business laptop, where keyboards are typically the main focus, it is a little disappointing.

Also working is the trackpad. Although it is sufficiently smooth and of a decent size, it lacks the high-end glass surface found on more expensive business equipment. Only a small number of laptop configurations include a touch screen, including the one we reviewed.

Display and speakers

The display on the HP EliteBook 6 G1q is adequate for indoor illumination, but it falls short of expectations. This 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS panel can produce up to 400 nits of brightness when operating at 60 Hz. Although it won’t win any awards, I’m glad I had the 400-nit display because HP also offers versions with a 300-nit dimmer panel!

I would think that this is a serious issue for a 5G laptop. I tested both, and the perfect 5G laptop would enable me to work from anyplace, be it a park bench in downtown Boston or the beach. This panel is nearly useless in many lighting conditions because its 400 nits of brightness is unable to compete with the sun on a bright day. There are many laptops like that, but a 5G laptop, which is intended to be used while on the go, truly needs a brighter panel than this one.

The speakers are loud enough, but I wasn’t impressed either. I play Steely Dan’s “Aja” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” on Spotify to test every laptop I review. It sounds a little dirty and muted. The bass in Get Lucky wasn’t very distinct, and the instrument separation in Aja wasn’t very apparent. Although you would absolutely want headphones for music and media, these speakers are functional in an emergency.

Webcam, Microphone, and Biometrics

On paper, the 1080p webcam on the HP EliteBook 6 G1q seems nice. For a business machine, where better webcams are frequently a highlight, the webcam was disappointingly grainy and washed out in less-than-ideal lighting. Although it performed better in stronger illumination, it is not as good as many cameras found on more expensive business laptops.

It’s always wonderful to see that HP has a physical webcam shutter switch that you can slide to block the webcam.

HP EliteBook 6 G1q

HP EliteBook 6 G1q 14″ Copilot+ PC Notebook – WUXGA – Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 – 16 GB – 512 GB SSD

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The microphone has good noise suppression and a fairly clear voice. It’s superior to the webcam, in my opinion, although neither is very remarkable. This device will ensure that you are both visible and audible during an online meeting. However, it won’t produce high-quality recordings.

On the keyboard deck of our review model was a Windows Hello fingerprint reader. It functioned perfectly. Although it seems to be a possibility on some other configurations, an infrared camera for facial recognition would have been a wonderful addition.

Connectivity

The connectivity of the HP EliteBook 6 G1q is its greatest asset. I turned on the laptop, installed Windows, and began using it without ever tying it to Wi-Fi or plugging in an Ethernet wire since 5G just worked right out of the box. Better fleet management of laptops is also made possible by this. Even if a laptop isn’t linked to Wi-Fi, a company can still track and find it if it is stolen or misplaced. From the standpoint of the end user, I never bothered to configure anything. It moved between networks as needed and “just worked.” That’s rather good considering that the 5G service starts at $19 per user each month.

This machine also includes a lot of connectors, including a combo audio jack, HDMI 2.1 out, two USB Type-C (40Gbps) ports, and one USB Type-A (5Gbps) port on the left side. A security lock slot, an RJ-45 Ethernet socket, a second USB Type-A port (5Gbps), and an optional nano SIM card for models with cellular connectivity are located on the right side.

This device has Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7. With wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, and multi-network 5G all in one device, the connectivity is amazing.

Performance

The HP EliteBook 6 G1q provided respectable desktop performance while operating quietly and coolly. However, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 chipset is among the slowest options available to HP. You won’t find a slower Snapdragon X Plus chip anywhere. The Snapdragon X X1-26-100, which doesn’t even have the word “Plus” in its name, is the only slower device. It performs the duties of a web browser, office supplies, and communication applications, which are fundamental productivity activities.

As usual, we tested the EliteBook 6 G1q’s performance using our common benchmarks We start by running Cinebench R24. We can compare laptop performance because it is provided as native ARM software. On this multi-threaded benchmark, CPUs with more cores perform better. When it comes to multithreaded workloads, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100’s eight-core CPU cannot compete with CPUs with more cores.

AMD’s Ryzen AI HX 300 series hardware was clearly outperformed by this CPU, which had a multi-threaded score of 759, but it still outperforms numerous lower-tier, power-efficient Intel chips.

Battery life

The battery of the HP EliteBook 6 G1q is 56 watt-hours. For a laptop weighing more than three pounds, that is low. With its power-efficient design, this Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus hardware will last you through the workday. However, I didn’t observe the same 24-hour battery life as I observed with laptops with Snapdragon X and bigger batteries.

We repeatedly play a 4K version of Tears of Steel on Windows 11 with airplane mode turned on until the laptop suspends itself in order to test the battery life. For battery benchmarks, we adjusted the screen brightness at 250 nits. Since local video playback is so effective and real battery life in daily use will always be less than this, this is the best-case situation for any laptop.

Conclusion

5G connectivity is provided by the HP EliteBook 6 G1q, and it just works. It completely changes the way you use a laptop like this one, and I hope that more computers will soon offer seamless 5G out of the box. Like a cellular-connected phone or tablet, it also enables businesses to remotely monitor and control their fleet of laptops. It’s technically amazing how HP has provided multi-network 5G that you don’t even need to consider.

Regretfully, the remaining laptop is a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, which is a lower-end model. These will be ideal for a business that want to provide a fleet of connected yet mid-range laptops to many employees. The CEO, though, is probably going to utilize a different machine.