By HP’s new business laptop lineup now includes the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i in addition to the HP EliteBook X G1i. Although 2-in-1s usually have some trade-offs, the firm has done a remarkable job of keeping the 2-in-1 extremely close to the non-flip model in appearance. Compared to the non-flipping EliteBook X G1i, this 2-in-1 laptop is heavier, more expensive, and has (typically) marginally worse performance. Although it’s still a good laptop, anyone who doesn’t require the full corporate package won’t find it worth the extra money for HP’s business capabilities.
Specs and features
- Number of model: B89B7UA#ABA
- CPU: 268V Intel Core Ultra 7
- 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 of RAM; Intel Arc Graphics 140V for graphics and graphics
- 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS, anti-glare display
- 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage
- 5MP + IR webcam
- Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2.1 Alternate Mode, 1x USB-C 10Gbps with DisplayPort and Power Delivery 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-A 5Gbps, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, 1.4 Alternate Mode
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.4, WiFi 7.
- Biometrics: facial recognition, fingerprints, and Windows Hello
- Capacity of battery: 68 watt-hours
- 12.36 x 8.66 x 0.7 inches in size
- Measured weight: 3.17 pounds
- As-tested MSRP: $2,869 ($2,689 basic)
The starting price of the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i is $2,689, and it includes 512GB of storage, 16GB of memory, and an Intel Core i5 226V processor. Our test model costs $2,869, but it is also available from CDW for $2,449; it doubles the memory and increases the CPU to an Intel Core Ultra 7 268V. Additionally, HP provides setups with 5G modems and 1TB of storage. However, as you delve deeper, the prices become somewhat perplexing. For pre-configured models, the prices listed thus far are the “MSRP.”
HP permits customisation as well, but the starting price is far higher at $3,755, and the specifications are even lower. Even though the pre-configured models have just recently been released, they are already heavily discounted, which further complicates the situation. Even though our test configuration had an MSRP of $2,899, it was just $1,699 when we tested it (and a model with the same specs but a 5G modem was somehow even $200 less expensive). The base specification was $1,349, which was nearly half of its MSRP.
As an added twist, HP also provides distinct configurations that are identical to other configurations but have three-year warranties and Wolf Pro Security packages (rather than the one-year warranties that other models come with).
Design and build quality
The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i offers some understated elegance while having a somewhat sleepy design that won’t stick out in a professional setting. Smooth curves and a unified color palette give it a sophisticated yet understated appearance. Although the thicker top bezels and additional display beneath the screen bezel somewhat distract from the design, it generally looks well-thought-out when in laptop mode.
HP also deliberately built a few features for the laptop that may be used as a tablet. To keep the base and lid from flopping around, they magnetically click together. When not in use, the stylus can also be magnetically attached to the lid or placed on the left edge. Nevertheless, when the laptop is folded open, the base and lid do not line up. Folded open, 2-in-1s usually seem a little strange to me, but this only makes it appear a little stranger.
A large portion of the project is beautifully constructed out of aluminum. Surprisingly robust, the monitor flexes much less than other laptops do. There is also remarkably little give in the keyboard deck. The laptop rests on basic rubber feet underneath to make room for the bottom grille, which conceals two fans and is surprisingly paired with a low-power processor.
Seeing a laptop that doesn’t perform tricks is also gratifying. Both the slots at the front of the base and the grilles next to the keyboard feature speakers, although a tiny portion of them. Additionally, heat is primarily expelled by the back vents. I can’t take any of it for granted after trying a Dell laptop with a fake exhaust port and an HP laptop with an attractive grille.
HP utilized the existing space effectively as well. HP managed to fit the Page Up and Page Down keys in despite the arrow keys being packed in. To create room for the Home, End, Insert, and Delete keys, it also kept the function row small (although F12 and Home must share a space).
The placement of the webcam at the top of the screen is a little unfortunate. I discovered that every time I open the laptop, I touch it. Additionally, I frequently unintentionally close the built-in privacy shutter there. On the good side, HP included a small cutout to facilitate lid opening, something it did not do with the most current OmniBooks, which disappointed me when I tried to open those laptops. However, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1’s base isn’t hefty enough to open with one hand.
With a thickness of 0.7 inches and a weight of 3.17 pounds, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i is neither extremely thin nor extremely light, but it is still sufficiently small to fit inside luggage. It weighs somewhat more than the normal model, which weighs only 2.72 pounds and is made of magnesium, but otherwise has nearly identical dimensions and is even thinner.
Additionally, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i has a small 65W charger that weighs less than half a pound and splits into three parts, allowing you to select your own USB-C cable (or swap it out if something goes wrong).
Although it doesn’t have my ideal keyboard, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i is still a decent keyboard. It can be a little challenging to position my fingertips on the keycaps because they don’t have much curve. Additionally, they have a softer feel and don’t give off a strong tactile sensation when pressed. Nevertheless, they are swift and lively, which makes typing quickly quite simple. Additionally, they have good stability, which helps offset their generally flat shape. 118 words per minute is about as fast as I can type without a great keyboard, so I was able to come up to speed quickly. After moving about, I would sometimes make a mistake with my hand position, but most of the time, I was accurate.
The trackpad is large enough for a laptop that is 14 inches. Although it is tall and takes up most of the available area, it is not particularly wide. In addition to the incredibly smooth gliding surface, there is a soft physical click that isn’t at all cheap.
Connectivity
The connectivity of the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i is decent. Although it doesn’t have many ports, it has plenty. There are two Thunderbolt 4 connections, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an audio combo jack on the left side. Both Thunderbolt ports are capable of charging and video output. Unexpectedly, there is a USB-C port on the right side of the machine as well, albeit a 10Gbps port. However, the benefit of having an extra USB-C connection is that it can also be used for charging, making it easy to charge the device from either side. A 5Gbps USB-A port and a small lock slot are also located on the right side. A SIM card slot is also present if you purchase a 5G variant, albeit our test unit had that slot occupied.
With Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 built in, wireless communication is strong and has been tested to be dependable and quick. With 5GHz Wi-Fi having to pass through several walls, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i managed to make decent use of my fiber internet connection, even under less than ideal circumstances. Additionally, pairing and reconnecting to devices via Bluetooth happened quickly.
Performance
The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i is designed to be a powerful but not particularly impressive computer. When using a low-power processor, that is just a fact of life. However, at $2,899, the machine’s price adds up, and it’s vulnerable to competition from a variety of machines. The HP EliteBook X G1i, which does not flip, costs $2,283 and has identical internal specifications. Despite not being intended as an enterprise laptop, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, which costs $1,749, has comparable features. The OmniBook X Flip 14 from HP has a comparable design and costs $1,509, which is significantly less. Additionally, the $1,699 Asus ProArt PX13 has a discrete Nvidia RTX 4050 and a high-performance AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 for demanding applications. In addition to that, other EliteBooks, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i’s dual-purpose designs and 2880×1800 OLED screens are shared by all of these rivals.
Overall, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i performs well. A score above 5,000 often indicates a well-rounded machine that can handle daily computing. PCMark 10 is a comprehensive office benchmark that tests the system with a wide range of regular workloads. Even though the system works well in this case, it is by no means at the forefront. It trails behind the other three systems and performs in a close race with the non-flip model. The other three systems all scored noticeably better in the App Startup and Spreadsheets sections of the test, where SSD performance can give an advantage, suggesting that the system’s storage is the main cause of that deficiency.
The CPU performance of the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i isn’t doing it any favors. Although the AMD chips in the OmniBook and Asus ProArt systems offer faster multi-core speeds, the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V is still a decent processor with good single-core and moderate multi-core performance. Compared to its non-flipping sibling, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i also tends to extract less performance out of its processor, and it even manages to lag behind the Lenovo machine with a Core Ultra 7 258V that should be slower. The Yoga 9i outperforms the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i in multi-core performance across four Cinebench versions, although it lags in single-core performance, indicating that it can withstand the strain of all-core workloads better than the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i.
In our huge encoding test, Handbrake may severely tax a CPU, particularly on thin and light devices that are unable to handle the heat generated by a laborious multi-core job. The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i is indeed lagging behind the competition. Its non-flipping sister triumphs once more, confirming another disadvantage of 2-in-1s in comparison to conventional computers. Additionally, the Lenovo Yoga 9i defeats the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i once more. Here, the AMD CPUs found in the ProArt and OmniBook systems once more demonstrate their excellent raw performance.
At least when it comes to integrated graphics, Intel continues to lead, which helps the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i regain some ground over the OmniBook. In our 3DMark tests, it outperformed that system by a significant margin. However, it kept lagging behind the Lenovo Yoga 9i, which is a flaw that is difficult to justify repeatedly. The Asus ProArt PX13, which uses its RTX 4050 (a weak GPU, mind you) to demonstrate that there is still a significant gap between integrated and discrete GPUs, outperforms the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i, despite the latter’s apparent advantage over the OmniBook in terms of integrated graphics.
Battery life
Regarding battery life, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i regains part of its credibility. The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i goes a long way toward improving battery life, which is something I always hope to see in a computer with less performance. In our 4K offline video playback test, it outperforms the AMD-powered OmniBook and ProArt notebooks with more than 20 hours of runtime. In this test, it also maintains pace with its non-flipping sister, which is not surprising given that the two devices share the same processor, battery life, and display.
Unfortunately, the Yoga 9i defeats the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i by nearly three hours once more. It’s important to note that the Yoga 9i has certain advantages in this particular test because of its OLED display, which uses less power to display the black letterboxing in the movie.
Additionally, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i performs admirably in daily use. It’s probably not possible to work for 20 hours on a single charge with the display set to 250 nits, but it’s manageable enough to browse, respond to emails, and create documents over a full workday. Even better, because of the anti-glare display, I can reduce the brightness of the screen significantly and still have good visibility, which allows me to save even more battery life.
This is not the case for the glossy OLED display of the Lenovo Yoga 9i, which will not only need to be brightened to provide a comparable degree of visibility but will also lose the black-pixel advantage it possessed during the video playback test. Thus, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i may reclaim some ground in terms of actual battery life, contingent on ambient lighting conditions.
Conclusion
It’s reasonable to assume that the system will maximize its capabilities and go above and above when you’re spending almost $3,000 on components that you could find in a $1,000 laptop. Despite its respectable performance, the HP EliteBook X Flip G1i still falls short of significantly less expensive computers in a number of important areas. Despite its bezel-flanked design and 1200p resolution, I adore the monitor. However, a screen by itself won’t make this system any easier to endorse. I would buy it if it were heavily discounted, but as long as the Yoga 9i and ProArt PX13 are less expensive, they will be far more affordable options for people who need more performance but don’t need the enterprise features, or who need more performance but don’t want to sacrifice battery life.
