AI-Driven Laptops: HP EliteBook Ultra G1Q Leads the Charge

The laptop industry appears to be at a significant turning point. Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing hardware decisions, with nearly all modern CPUs and GPUs incorporating some form of AI functionality.

This shift poses a key challenge for manufacturers like MSI, Acer, and HP: "To what extent should a specific laptop be tailored to meet the demands of this evolving market?

The laptop I've been testing recently belongs to a new wave of Copilot+ laptops that are quickly making a significant impact on the market. These devices are designed to integrate advanced AI capabilities seamlessly, offering a more dynamic and responsive user experience.

The model in question is the HP EliteBook Ultra G1Q, which positions itself as a strong contender in the professional laptop segment. It occupies a similar niche to another laptop I reviewed recently, the Acer Swift 14 AI. Both devices showcase how manufacturers are emphasizing AI-driven features to enhance productivity and meet modern user demands.

HP's AI-Driven Evolution: EliteBook Ultra G1q
The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q, priced at $1,699 as tested, introduces a new approach within HP's EliteBook lineup, which traditionally progresses in features and performance from the 600 through 800 and 1000 series. This 14-inch slimline model distinguishes itself as a Microsoft-anointed Copilot+ PC, featuring an AI-ready Qualcomm Snapdragon Arm processor rather than the conventional Intel or AMD chips. Positioned as a sleek and capable corporate laptop, it offers a modern take on business computing. However, until more AI applications become widely available, it may not provide significant advantages over mainstream x86 systems from HP, Lenovo, or Dell.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100: A Competitive ARM Processor

The processor in question is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100, featuring 12 cores and a maximum clock speed of 3.4 GHz. It is based on the Oryon architecture, which is designed to offer high performance in various computing tasks.

The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100's multi-core performance is competitive with the Core Ultra 7 165U and Ryzen 7 7840U or 8840U when benchmarks run natively on ARM. However, performance can be up to 20 percent slower when benchmarks are emulated, with single-core operations showing even greater slowdowns, as much as 35 to 40 percent compared to Intel and AMD alternatives. Similar performance trends are seen when comparing the Qualcomm chip to Apple's M2 series or newer processors. Additionally, performance drops over time when the chip is stressed, as the high clock rates are unsustainable for long periods.

The performance dip is more pronounced than with Core-U or Ryzen-U alternatives. For instance, when running CineBench R15 xT in a loop, the Snapdragon's initial score of 2175 points drops by 27 percent after six loops, compared to only 12 percent on last year's AMD-powered Dragonfly Pro. This performance reduction is suspected to be due to the EliteBook Ultra G1q's smaller cooling solution, as the larger Vivobook S 15 OLED with the same Qualcomm CPU can sustain higher scores under similar testing conditions.

Graphics Excellence: Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 at 3.8 Teraflops

The graphics adapter is the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85, which delivers a performance of 3.8 teraflops. The version of the adapter is 31.0.56.0, designed to handle graphical processing and support high-quality visuals in applications and gaming.

High-Speed 16GB/32GB LPDDR5x RAM

The memory options for the device are 16GB and 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, operating at a speed of 8400 MHz. The memory is soldered, meaning it is permanently attached to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded or replaced. This type of memory offers high bandwidth and improved power efficiency compared to older memory types.

Fast and Reliable: 512GB/1TB SSD Options

The device offers two storage options: 512GB and 1TB SSDs, both utilizing the SK hynix PC801 model (HFS512GEJ9X101N BF). These solid-state drives deliver fast read and write speeds, enhancing the overall performance by reducing boot times and speeding up data access. The 512GB and 1TB capacities cater to varying storage needs, with the larger option providing more space for storing larger files and applications. Both SSDs offer the advantages of improved durability and energy efficiency compared to traditional hard drives.

Dynamic 14-inch IPS Touchscreen with Rich Colors

The device features a 14.00-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, offering a resolution of 2240 x 1400 pixels. This results in a pixel density of 189 PPI (pixels per inch), providing sharp and detailed visuals. The screen is capacitive, supporting 10-point touch input for interactive use. It uses an IPS panel, ensuring vibrant colors and wide viewing angles. The display has a glossy finish, enhancing color richness but may reflect light in bright environments. Additionally, the screen operates at a 60 Hz refresh rate, suitable for general use, though not optimized for high-speed gaming.

Windows 11 Home & Pro: Choose Your Power

The device comes with two operating system options: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro. Windows 11 Home is designed for everyday users, providing a user-friendly interface and essential features for personal use. On the other hand, Windows 11 Pro offers additional features aimed at professionals and business users, such as advanced security tools, remote desktop capabilities, and the ability to join a domain or Azure Active Directory. These two versions allow users to choose the OS that best suits their needs based on their intended use, with Windows 11 Pro offering more robust functionality for business environments.

Easy to Carry: Weighs Just 1.32 kg

The device weighs 1.323 kg (46.67 oz or 2.92 pounds), making it relatively lightweight and portable for everyday use. The power supply adds an additional 281 grams (9.91 oz or 0.62 pounds), which contributes to the overall weight when carrying the device along with its charger.

Built for Business: EliteBook Ultra G1q

The $1,699 test unit of the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q, which is often discounted to $1,595 on HP.com, is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor, featuring Adreno graphics and the Hexagon neural processing unit. It also includes 16GB of memory, a 512GB NVMe solid-state drive, and a 2,240-by-1,400-pixel IPS touch screen. This system runs Windows 11 Pro and has successfully passed MIL-STD 810H military standard tests, demonstrating resilience against travel-related hazards such as shock and vibration. When handling the device, there is minimal flex when gripping the screen corners, with a slight flex observed if pressure is applied to the keyboard deck.

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q: Premium Portability Redefined

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q features an attractive "Atmosphere Blue" aluminum finish and measures 0.44 by 12.3 by 8.8 inches, weighing 2.97 pounds, which places it in the ultraportable category. In comparison, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, often considered the top 14-inch business laptop, has a slightly thicker profile at 0.59 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches and is half a pound lighter than the EliteBook Ultra G1q.

EliteBook Ultra G1q: Elegant Display and Smart Security

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q features a display with thin bezels surrounding the 16:10 aspect ratio screen. The display can tilt back quite far, though it does not open fully to 180 degrees. Above the screen, there is a 5-megapixel webcam with infrared (IR) face recognition for Windows Hello logins, and it also includes a sliding privacy shutter. However, this model does not come with a fingerprint reader.

EliteBook Ultra G1q: Versatile Ports, No Mobile Connectivity

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is equipped with two USB Type-C ports on its left side: a 40Gbps USB4 port and a 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 port. On the right side, there is a drop-jaw USB 3.2 Type-A port and a headphone/microphone jack. The AC adapter connects via a USB-C port. However, there is no HDMI port, so users will need a DisplayPort adapter to connect to an external monitor. Additionally, there is no flash-card slot, and the laptop does not offer LTE or 5G mobile broadband connectivity

EliteBook Ultra G1q: Advanced Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.3

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 radios, ensuring robust wireless connectivity for fast internet access and seamless device pairing.

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q: Premium AI-Powered Webcam

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q's webcam can capture still images at a resolution of 2,880 by 1,620 pixels, while its video calls are limited to 1440p resolution, offering an advantage over lower-resolution cameras typically found in other laptops. The webcam delivers sharp, well-lit, and vibrant images with minimal noise or static. It also benefits from AI hardware, providing enhanced automatic framing and background blur features through Windows Camera's Studio Effects. Additionally, HP includes the Poly Camera Pro app for more advanced fine-tuning of the webcam's performance.

EliteBook Ultra G1q: Clear, Color-Rich Display with Excellent Contrast

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q's IPS touch screen offers rich and well-saturated colors with clean white backgrounds, free of any dinginess, and clear details, with no pixelation visible around text edges. While not exceptionally bright in everyday use, it surpassed its rated 300 nits in testing. The display boasts high contrast and broad viewing angles, providing an excellent visual experience. However, the touch glass tends to catch room reflections, which could impact visibility in certain lighting conditions.