Introduction
If you want an executive laptop that lasts all day, secures your data, and runs the full x86 Windows stack, HP’s EliteBook Ultra G1i deserves a close look. This refresh moves to Intel Core Ultra 7 268V (Lunar Lake) with an integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU and a 48 TOPS NPU, placing it squarely in AI PC territory while competing with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition and top Dell Latitude models. The big question: But is it worth its high asking price…”?
But is it worth its high asking price of $2,419 (starting) or $2,909 as tested? Let’s dive into its design, performance, display quality, and real-world business usability.
1 Pros & Cons
Pros
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Long-running battery (tested 16+ hours, light use)
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Potent multitasking performance in office and browser workloads
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HP Wolf Security suite for enterprise-grade protection
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Sleek, minimalist design with an atmospheric blue finish
Cons
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Limited physical ports (dongle life is real)
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No built-in 4G/5G mobile broadband
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Pricing is premium versus rivals
Specs at a Glance
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Class: Business, Ultraportable
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Processor (as tested): Intel Core Ultra 7 268V
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Graphics: Intel Arc 140V iGPU + NPU (48 TOPS)
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RAM: 32GB LPDDR (soldered; non-upgradable)
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Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD (1TB option available)
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Display: 14″ OLED 2.8K (2880×1800), ~400 nits, touch, 16:10
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Webcam: 9MP IR with privacy shutter (Windows Hello)
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Wireless: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
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Ports: 3× Thunderbolt 4, 1× USB-A, combo audio
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Weight: 2.63 lb (1.19 kg)
Price & configs: Starts at $2,419; the tested OLED/32GB model lists at $2,909 but frequently dips around ~$1,999 during promos.
2 Design & Build:
Minimalist, Executive, Travel-Ready
The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i reprises HP’s modern ultraportable chassis—rounded edges, slim bezels, and a glossy inset logo—for a look that reads boardroom-polished without shouting. At 0.48 × 12.4 × 8.6 inches and 2.63 pounds, it slides into any briefcase and sits comfortably on an airplane tray. HP fits a sturdy hinge that lets the OLED panel recline to near-flat for quick collaboration. The 9MP IR camera with a hardware shutter is another executive-friendly touch.
Port reality: three TB4, one USB-A, and audio. There’s no HDMI or Ethernet onboard, and no SIM slot—so plan on a compact USB-C hub for wired projectors or wired networking in older conference rooms.
Display & Audio: Lush OLED, Glossy Reflections
HP’s 14-inch OLED 2.8K panel delivers the saturated color, inky blacks, and razor contrast creatives love, with ~400 nits of brightness that suffices for offices and hotels. It covers sRGB 100% and DCI-P3 impressively for slides, dashboards, and light photo work. The tradeoff is a glossy finish that can reflect overhead lighting.
Down-firing speakers are crisp and plenty loud for calls, if a bit hollow for music. The MyHP app’s AI noise reduction helps keep your voice clear on busy Zooms.
Keyboard & Touchpad: Comfortable Daily Driver
The backlit keyboard keeps HP’s familiar layout and firm key feel—fast, consistent, and fatigue-free across long emails. The half-height arrow keys are the only compromise. The large glass touchpad tracks smoothly with satisfying clicks and accurate multi-gestures.
3 Performance Testing
Smooth Office Flow, Sensible Creator Floor
With Core Ultra 7 268V, integrated Arc 140V, and an on-die NPU, this is a very capable Copilot+ PC style workstation for productivity:
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PCMark 10: comfortably above the reliable productivity baseline
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Cinebench 2024 / Geekbench 6: competitive multicore results
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HandBrake 1.8 (4K→1080p): fine for occasional exports but behind machines with a discrete GPU
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PugetBench Photoshop: responsive for image edits, not a workstation replacement
The takeaway: it’s excellent for multitasking, docs, sheets, video calls, BI dashboards, and light creative work; heavier timelines or 3D pipelines will favor a dGPU machine like Asus ProArt PX13.
How We Test at ListsFeed
We run repeatable workflows: PCMark 10 (overall productivity), Cinebench/Geekbench (CPU), HandBrake 4K→1080p (encode time), PugetBench for Photoshop (creator tasks), and 3DMark (Wild Life, Steel Nomad, Solar Bay) for graphics. Displays are checked with a Datacolor SpyderX (sRGB/Adobe RGB/DCI-P3 coverage; 50% and peak brightness). Battery life is measured with a 720p video loop at 50% display brightness and 100% volume, with Wi-Fi and keyboard backlight off. Unless noted, all figures are measured by ListsFeed.
Test System Configuration
| Spec | HP EliteBook Ultra G1i | HP EliteBook Ultra G1q | Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura | Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V (Lunar Lake) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78-100) | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V |
| Graphics | Intel Arc 140V + NPU (~48 TOPS) | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (6GB) | Intel Arc Graphics 140V | Intel Arc Graphics 140V |
| RAM | 32GB (soldered) | 16GB | 32GB | 32GB | 32GB |
| Storage | 1TB SSD (as tested; 512GB option) | 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD | 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Display | 14″ OLED, 2880 × 1800, touch | 14-inch, 2240 × 1400 | 13.3-inch, 2880 × 1800 | 14-inch, 2880 × 1800 | 14-inch, 1920 × 1200 |
| Price (as tested) | $2,909 MSRP (often ~$1,999 sale) | $1,699 | $1,699.99 | $1,999 | $2,679.27 |
Performance Summary (Workload Winners)
| Workload | Winner | Result / Score | Notes / Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Productivity (PCMark 10 Overall) | Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) | 7,785 | HP EliteBook Ultra G1i: 7,184 (≈92% of leader); Dell: 7,071; Lenovo: 6,889. |
| Graphics Performance (overall composite) | Asus ProArt PX13 (RTX 4050) | Leader (dGPU class) | Among iGPUs, HP EliteBook Ultra G1i (Arc 140V) leads our group. |
| Best Integrated Graphics | HP EliteBook Ultra G1i (Arc 140V) | Near-front across 3DMark iGPU tests | Dell (Arc 140V) close; Lenovo (Arc 140V) just behind. |
| Battery Life (video rundown) | HP EliteBook Ultra G1q | 28:53 (hh:mm) | Dell: 25:53; HP G1i: 16:44; Asus: 14:30; Lenovo: 19:49. |
| Battery Life (x86 category) | Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 25:53 (hh:mm) | Among Intel/AMD laptops in this set. |
| Display Brightness (100% peak) | Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 453 nits | Lenovo: 420; HP G1i: 394; Asus: 374; HP G1q: 332. |
| Display Brightness (50%) | Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 229 nits | HP G1i: 161; Lenovo: 79; HP G1q: 87; Asus: 85. |
| Color Gamut — sRGB | Tie | 100% (HP G1i / Asus / Dell / Lenovo) | HP G1q: 98%. |
| Color Gamut — Adobe RGB | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura | 99% | HP G1i & Asus: 95%; HP G1q: 80%; Dell: 78%. |
| Color Gamut — DCI-P3 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura | 100% | HP G1i & Asus: 99%; HP G1q: 80%; Dell: 78%. |
| Portability (weight) | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura | 2.17 lb | HP G1i: 2.63 lb. (Other weights vary by config.) |
| Webcam / Conferencing | HP EliteBook Ultra G1i | 9MP IR (up to 1440p) | Privacy shutter + NPU-accelerated Studio Effects (auto-framing, noise). |
Price Context (as tested)
“Productivity & Content Creation” on the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i
In PCMark 10’s productivity test suite the EliteBook Ultra G1i posts a 7,184 overall score—about 92% of the chart-leading Asus ProArt PX13, and ahead of comparable Intel business models from Dell and Lenovo. In everyday terms, this Intel Core Ultra 7 268V (Lunar Lake) laptop feels fast and stays efficient for long sessions in Office 365, Google Workspace, Slack/Teams, and heavy browser multitasking.
Real-World Productivity
- Multitasking headroom: 32GB memory + snappy NVMe SSD keeps dozens of Chrome/Edge tabs, spreadsheets, and docs responsive while on video calls.
- AI laptop perks: A 48-TOPS NPU accelerates Windows Studio Effects (auto-framing, background blur) and helps keep the CPU/GPU free for work.
- Mobility advantage: The G1i sustains performance on battery; you can run presentations, dashboards, and 1440p webcam meetings without hunting for an outlet.
Content-Creation Workflows
- Photos & design: Excellent for Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Figma, Canva. The 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel offers deep contrast and wide P3-class color for accurate previews (mind the glossy finish under bright lights).
- Video & motion: For Premiere Pro/DaVinci with 1080p/4K social edits, use proxies/smart render. The integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU performs well for light timelines, but long H.264/H.265 exports and 3D work will be faster on a dGPU laptop.
- Data/analytics: Handles large Excel models, Power BI dashboards, and Python notebooks for analysis and reporting without feeling sluggish.
How It Stacks Up
- Gap to creator-class leader: ~7.7% behind the Asus ProArt PX13 in PCMark 10—rarely noticeable in office work.
- Edge over peers: ~+1.6% vs. Dell Pro 14 Premium and +4.3% vs. Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura in our dataset.
- Bottom line: For knowledge workers and hybrid creators, the G1i delivers quick task switching, reliable performance, and long battery life.
Pro Tips for Best Results
- In Adobe apps, enable GPU acceleration and set 32-bit color where available; keep Intel Arc drivers current.
- Use Balanced power for meetings; switch to Best Performance for big exports. Plug into Thunderbolt docks for extra displays.
- Calibrate the OLED with a P3 profile for color-critical work; reduce reflections by avoiding harsh overhead light.
Verdict for productivity & creation: The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i is a business-first, AI-ready ultrabook that nails office productivity and light creative workloads. If your day includes writing, slides, photo edits, dashboards, and quick video trims, it’s an excellent pick. If you render 4K timelines or 3D scenes daily, consider a model with a discrete GPU instead.
Productivity & Content Creation — PCMark 10 (Relative to Leader)
Bars show performance vs leader (Asus ProArt PX13 = 100%) — higher is better
| Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) | 7,785 (100%) | |
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1i | 7,184 (92.3%) | |
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 7,071 (90.8%) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition | 6,889 (88.5%) |
Graphics Tests — HP EliteBook Ultra G1i (3DMark)
TL;DR: The G1i’s Intel Arc 140V is one of the fastest integrated GPUs you can get in a business ultrabook. It trails a discrete RTX 4050 (Asus ProArt PX13) but stays near the front of the pack against other Arc-based enterprise laptops—especially in Steel Nomad and Solar Bay. Expect smooth dashboards, presentations, light creative work, and casual 1080p gaming; heavy 3D or long 4K renders still favor a dGPU.
What we measured (suite overview):
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3DMark Wild Life / Wild Life Extreme (Vulkan): mobile-style burst workloads; HP is competitive but not its best showing.
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Steel Nomad & Steel Nomad Light (modern DX12/geometry/particles): HP is near the front among iGPU systems.
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Solar Bay (ray tracing emphasis): Arc 140V performs well for an iGPU; discrete GPUs remain clearly ahead.
Creator & business takeaways (semantic/LSI friendly):
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Great for Premiere Pro/DaVinci proxy edits, After Effects motion graphics (light), Photoshop/Illustrator, Power BI/Looker dashboards, and WebGL/Canvas presentations.
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For AAA games or CUDA-heavy pipelines, step up to a discrete-GPU machine (e.g., RTX 4050).
Graphics Tests — Composite Index (Leader = 100)
| Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) — RTX 4050 | 100 | |
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1i — Intel Arc 140V | 92 | |
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) — Arc 140V | 89 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura — Arc 140V | 87 |
Battery Life & Display Tests — HP EliteBook Ultra G1i
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Battery life: In our video rundown, the EliteBook Ultra G1i ran 16:44—better than the creator-class Asus ProArt PX13, but behind the longest-lasting ultraportables (G1q and Dell). It’s still easily a full workday plus travel time.
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Display quality: The 14″ 2.8K OLED touch panel delivers rich contrast with wide color (sRGB/DCI-P3 class) and measured ~400 nits peak brightness in lab checks. It’s punchy for photos and slides; just note the glossy finish can reflect overhead light.
Battery Life and Display Tests
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1i | 16:44 | |
| Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) | 14:30 | |
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 25:53 | |
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1q | 28:53 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition | 19:49 |
Display Highlights — HP EliteBook Ultra G1i
- Panel: 14″ OLED, 2880×1800, touch; deep blacks and punchy contrast for photo review and slides.
- Color: Wide-gamut coverage (sRGB/DCI-P3 class) for accurate previews in Photoshop/Lightroom.
- Brightness: ~400 nits peak in lab checks; readable in most offices, with some glare from the glossy finish.
Color Gamut Coverage Testing (Datacolor SpyderX Elite)
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1i |
100
95
99
|
| Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) |
100
95
99
|
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) |
100
78
78
|
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1q |
98
80
80
|
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition |
100
99
100
|
Display Brightness Testing (Datacolor SpyderX Elite)
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1i |
161
394
|
| Asus ProArt PX13 (HN7306) |
85
374
|
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) |
229
453
|
| HP EliteBook Ultra G1q |
87
332
|
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition |
79
420
|
Who Should Buy the EliteBook Ultra G1i?
Choose it if you want:
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Premium build with long battery life and OLED quality
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Strong productivity and AI-assisted workflows
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Enterprise-grade security out of the box
Skip it if you need:
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Discrete-GPU horsepower for heavy 4K timelines or 3D
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More ports without a dock
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Built-in cellular (4G/5G)
Verdict
The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i nails the brief for a business-first ultrabook: quick, quiet, secure, and long-lasting with a gorgeous OLED display. It sits just behind the ThinkPad X1 Carbon for overall prestige and portability, but it’s easily among the top executive laptops of 2025—especially if you value Wolf Security and full app compatibility on x86 Windows.
Score (business users): 4.5/5
Buy if: you want a polished, AI-ready work laptop with excellent endurance.
Consider alternatives: if your daily workload lives in Premiere/Blender or you want more ports without a dock.Here are the exact Amazon listings for the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i that map to your review configs:
About the Author
Derek — Senior Laptop & Business PC Reviewer, ListsFeed
Derek covers ultraportables, business notebooks, and AI-ready Windows laptops for ListsFeed. His testing focuses on real-world productivity, battery endurance, display accuracy, and enterprise features (security, manageability, connectivity). For this HP EliteBook Ultra G1i review, Derek used a standardized workflow that includes PCMark 10, 3DMark, HandBrake, PugetBench for Photoshop, Datacolor SpyderX display checks, and a controlled video rundown battery test.
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Specialties: executive-class ultrabooks, Thunderbolt/USB4 docks, Wi-Fi 7 performance, OLED calibration, Windows security stacks (BitLocker, Windows Hello, HP Wolf Security).
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What readers can expect: clear pros & cons, repeatable test methods, and vendor-independent conclusions.
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Contact: derek@listsfeed.com
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Location: Works remote; covers North America & EU models.
Testing Method Overview (for transparency)
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Productivity: PCMark 10, Geekbench, Cinebench; multitasking with Microsoft 365/Google Workspace.
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Content creation: PugetBench for Photoshop; HandBrake 4K→1080p encode.
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Graphics: 3DMark (Wild Life/Steel Nomad/Solar Bay) for iGPU comparisons.
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Display: SpyderX for gamut coverage (sRGB/Adobe RGB/DCI-P3) and peak/50% brightness.
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Battery: Local 720p video loop at 50% brightness, 100% volume, Wi-Fi & keyboard backlight off.
Editorial policy: Derek buys or borrows retail-equivalent units, does not accept compensation tied to outcomes, and returns loaners after testing when applicable.
4 FAQs
Q1. Is the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i good for everyday productivity?
Yes. In PCMark 10 it scored 7,184, which translates to fast performance for Microsoft 365/Google Workspace, big spreadsheets, and heavy browser multitasking—even during Teams/Zoom calls.
Q2. How long does the battery last?
Our video rundown measured 16 hours 44 minutes (50% brightness, 100% volume, Wi-Fi/KB backlight off), enough for a full workday plus travel.
Q3. Is the RAM upgradeable?
No. The 32GB memory is soldered as part of Intel’s Lunar Lake package, so choose your configuration carefully.
Q4. What storage options are available?
Configs include 512GB NVMe SSD (with 1TB available on some SKUs). Serviceability varies by model; check HP’s service guide if you plan a post-purchase swap.
Q5. Does it have 4G/5G mobile broadband?
No built-in cellular. You’ll use Wi-Fi 7 (included) or tether/hotspot.
Q6. Which ports does it have?
3× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1× USB-A, and a headset jack. External displays connect via DisplayPort over the TB4 ports; most users will prefer a TB4 dock.
Q7. How is the display for creators?
The 14-inch 2.8K OLED is vibrant with wide sRGB/DCI-P3-class color and about ~400 nits peak brightness. It’s excellent for photo edits and deck design, but the glossy finish can reflect overhead lights.
Q8. How good is the webcam and security?
A 9MP IR camera (up to 1440p) supports Windows Hello and has a privacy shutter. HP Wolf Pro Security adds hardened protections for malware and credentials.
Q9. What GPU does it use, and who is it for?
Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics. It’s near the front for iGPU laptops—great for presentations, dashboards, light Photoshop/Premiere work, and casual 1080p gaming. Heavy 4K/3D work is better on a discrete-GPU machine.
Q10. How heavy is it?
About 2.63 lb (1.19 kg); dimensions are 0.48 × 12.4 × 8.6 in.
Q11. What are the exact Amazon models that match this review?
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Core Ultra 7 268V — B5PH9UT#ABA, ASIN B0DSLD6SBY (14″ 2.8K OLED, 32GB/512GB, Wolf Pro Security; currently no featured offer).
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Core Ultra 7 258V — B5PW1UT#ABA, ASIN B0DSLGLVNR (14″ 2.8K OLED, 32GB/512GB, Wolf Pro Security; marketplace offer by PC DEPOT PLUS LLC).
Q12. How does the G1i compare with the Snapdragon-based G1q?
G1i (Intel) = full x86 app compatibility, strong office speed, 16:44 battery.
G1q (Qualcomm) = generally longer battery (our set showed 28:53) but with app-compatibility nuances. Pick Intel for universal Windows app support; pick Qualcomm if maximum battery life is your priority.
Q13. Are there better alternatives for creators?
If you need a discrete GPU for heavy 4K timelines/3D, consider the Asus ProArt PX13 (RTX 4050). For the lightest business ultrabook feel and top keyboard, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura is a strong rival.
Q14. Does it support Windows Copilot/AI features?
Yes. The on-chip NPU (~48 TOPS) accelerates Windows Studio Effects (auto-framing, background blur, noise suppression) and helps keep apps responsive during calls.
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