The HP EliteBook 8 G1A is a laptop that establishes itself as an AI-powered business class device designed for modern professional workspaces. It features AMD's latest Ryzen AI processor and enterprise-grade security features. £1,30,000. I've been using this laptop for over two weeks in a row and here are my thoughts about this laptop:
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Design and build quality
The design is very beautiful, simple and refreshing. The colour and finish of the lid, deck and bottom are amazing. It's not too silver, not completely white, and somewhere in between, it's amazing. At 1.39 kg, it doesn't compete with the Premium Ultra Book, but it's so light that you won't feel it on your daily commute. The laptop chassis is made of recycled materials and feels sturdy.
When I said the design was beautiful, I meant it. There are no brand stickers that will mess up the decks of these laptops. That nonsense is gone, and I'll face it, everyone hates them, but I'm really grateful because they can't remove them as they leave residue. Request all OEMs to move their stickers to the bottom of the laptop.
The choice of ports is generous. It comes with 4 Thunderbolt ports, HDMI 2.1, USB-C and USB-A ports. Basically, you'll cover everything you need without having to reach out to the dongle. The SIM card slot option always has an option to connect, but I hope it has become standard at this price range. Overall, the design and build quality was very impressive and I especially liked this amazing colour.
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Display
The 14-inch display is a different story. The 1080p panel has a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it ideal for productivity. The narrow viewing angle is not a bug, it's a feature. It is designed to prevent onlookers from peering into the display. There is an automatic filter to enable when spectators are detected. This filter further limits the visibility of the display's content.
The matte finish on the display does a great job of cutting off glare when using your laptop outside or in a bright room. The display has a peak glow of 800 nits. This is perfect for dealing with all bright conditions without sweating.
But this is important, this display is not for entertainment purposes. This laptop is not built for movie nights, but the narrow viewing angle makes me want more from this laptop. This is a serious business class device. There's nothing flashy about this display. It has a high refresh rate and no HDR support.
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Keyboard and Trackpad
HP keyboard games are powerful. The keys are tactile and provide satisfying feedback on a very consistent trip, making your typing experience comfortable. It is backlit and very responsive. It feels exactly what you expect from a business laptop.
The trackpad deserves special mention. This glass trackpad offers a smooth finish. This is one of the best trackpads I've ever used on a business laptop. The tracking is very accurate and the gestures work perfectly. The trackpad size is generous too. The only complaint I have is that this is not a tactile trackpad.
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Performance
This is where things get interesting and not necessarily a good way. The EliteBook 8 G1A runs an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with 8 cores, 16 threads, integrated Radeon 860m graphics, and 50 TOPS NPUs for AI workloads.
It sounds impressive on paper, but with its actual performance, I want more from this chipset. The Cinebench score is impressive, but is no exception to this class of processors. I tried to customize performance from the HP Customization app, but it didn't improve the situation.
The integrated graphics can handle business tasks perfectly well, but when you are pushed hard into creative work or light games, the limitations become apparent. Compared to similarly priced Intel Core Ultra Laptops, there is a noticeable performance gap that is difficult to ignore. 50 TOPS NPU works on AI-Accelerated tasks such as background blur and transcription. I found the performance to be pretty satisfying in the AI section.
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: AI Features and Security
HP loads AI features into this machine, with chipsets and HP AI companions as well as NPUs on PolyCamera Pro. These features actually work and I'm very impressed with the performance.
HP Wolf Security for Business offers corporate-grade protection with BIOS-level security, real-time threat containment, and secure browsing. For IT, these security features really justify the pricing that it comes.
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Battery life
Battery performance is where the EliteBook redeems itself. The backup is really impressive. I consistently delivered daily use from full charge throughout my typical work days, mainly browser tabs, spreadsheets and video calls.
Combined with a 62WH battery and intelligent power management means you're not looking for an outlet in the afternoon. In the test, we managed it for about 8 hours at a brightness of about 50%. This is enough for a business laptop. The 100W USB-C charger quickly lifts the battery. Charge your laptop from zero to 100 in about an hour.
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Pros and Cons
Strong Points:
- Premium, clean design with recycled materials
- Powerful keyboard and smooth glass trackpad
- Effective AI features with 50 TOPS NPUs
- Excellent battery life with fast charging
- Robust Enterprise-grade Security
Cons:
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 performance
- Limited to productivity, not entertainment
- There is no tactile feedback on the trackpad
- Not standard at this price
HP EliteBook 8 G1A: Final Line
The HP EliteBook 8 G1A is a great business laptop that does most things right. And what I loved was build quality, battery life and security features. What didn't impress me enough was the display and performance. Therefore, we recommend purchasing this laptop. This is unless you need a secure business laptop and are absolutely certain that you will provide all the AI features you need during your working hours.
