HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i overview: A sensible, well-designed convertible

Finest Costs At present: HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i is a 13-inch convertible laptop computer aimed toward data employees. It’s a strong convertible PC with a considerate design.

This laptop computer has a built-in pen slot so you may take your pen with you with out worrying about dropping it. That’s the form of glorious contact that hardly exhibits up on a spec sheet however actually issues in day-to-day use. All of it provides as much as a cushty day-to-day expertise, though the show’s specs are on the weak facet and also you shouldn’t purchase this machine should you’re searching for an “AI laptop computer.”

HP lately redesigned its product names, and the EliteBook is HP’s line of laptops aimed toward enterprise customers. The 8 Collection is the entry stage line of EliteBooks, and the “G1i” right here means this can be a first-generation mannequin within the new lineup with an Intel CPU.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Specs

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i comes with an Intel Core Extremely Collection 2 processor — that’s an Arrow Lake-based chip, not Lunar Lake. Arrow Lake gives first rate efficiency, however its neural processing unit is simply too gradual for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC necessities. Particularly, our overview mannequin had an Intel Core Extremely 7 265U CPU. Price noting: Whereas Intel’s Arc graphics are spectacular, the Intel built-in graphics listed here are far behind what Intel is able to producing.

Enterprise laptops are typically upgradable, so it’s value noting that the LPDDR5X RAM on this machine is soldered and never person upgradable. (The AMD-powered HP EliteBook 8 G1a I reviewed on the similar time does have user-upgradable RAM.)

The Intel NPU on this machine runs at as much as 12 TOPS, which is way too gradual for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC necessities. It’s 2025, and producers have to cease releasing “AI PCs” that don’t run the built-in Home windows AI options. Even should you do have an app that makes use of an NPU for AI options, you’d desire a quicker NPU than this one.

In the event you don’t care about AI PC options, that’s fantastic, and that is nonetheless a strong machine. HP gives different G1i fashions with {hardware} that does meet Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC necessities, however there’s no G1i Flip mannequin that does meet this bar. (This shouldn’t be so difficult.)

• Mannequin quantity: HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i 13-inch
• CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 265U
• Reminiscence: 16GB LPDDR5X RAM
• Graphics/GPU: Intel graphics
• NPU: Intel AI Enhance (as much as 12 TOPS)
• Show: 13.3-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with 60Hz refresh fee and contact display
• Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1440p webcam
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Kind-C 40 Gbps), 1x USB Kind-C (10 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 out, 1x combo audio jack, 1x USB Kind-A (5 Gbps)
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader and IR digital camera for facial recognition
• Battery capability: 62 Watt-hour battery
• Dimensions: 11.88 x 8.51 x 0.61 inches
• Weight: 3.08 kilos
• MSRP: $2,024 as examined

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The 13-inch HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i is out there in a “Glacier Silver” shade, and it has a metallic chassis that feels strong in a great way. At simply over three kilos, it’s an affordable dimension and feels premium and high-quality.

HP delivered a minimal design right here with out plenty of flash — silver metallic, a black bezel across the show, and some unobtrusive HP logos. For a transportable 13-inch convertible laptop computer, this machine has a shocking variety of ports.

My favourite convertible function right here is the “garaged pen” or “nested pen” — you may insert the pen right into a slot on the facet of the laptop computer and retailer it there. You’ll all the time have the pen accessible with the laptop computer, and also you don’t have to fret about dropping it if the pen bumps in opposition to one thing in your bag. (I as soon as had a Microsoft Floor Professional 2, and I misplaced my Floor Pen someplace, as a result of the magnetic connection was so weak that it was all the time attempting to flee. It will definitely did.)

The hinge right here feels easy, strong, and secure. You’ll be able to open it 360 levels to put the laptop computer flat or use it in tent mode, which is good should you’ll be utilizing that pen on the display.

This machine consists of built-in HP Wolf safety. That will likely be a boon to enterprises who wish to remotely handle these PCs, however I didn’t just like the default end-user expertise as a person data employee — it compelled me to click on by way of additional safety dialogs to run functions like PCWorld’s regular benchmark instruments.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Keyboard, trackpad, and pen

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i has giant keyboard that’s responsive and feels good to make use of. Whereas the keyboard right here feels prefer it doesn’t have as a lot journey because the 16-inch HP EliteBook 8 G1a I reviewed on the similar time, it nonetheless doesn’t really feel mushy. 13-inch convertibles aren’t recognized for his or her keyboards, so that is strong. I do want there have been full-size arrow keys, nonetheless, I exploit the arrow keys rather a lot. I’ll by no means get absolutely used to having the arrow keys be the smallest keys on the keyboard.

The trackpad right here is giant for a 13-inch laptop computer and makes good use of the accessible area. The floor feels good, and the click-down motion feels satisfying. I’d’ve preferred to see a haptic trackpad, however this feels good.

This isn’t a glass trackpad, although — that’s a higher-end function for premium machines that makes the floor really feel even smoother. Moreover, the trackpad and keyboard are each quiet. That is good to have on a enterprise laptop computer the place you might not need plenty of loud click-clacking.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The pen is a standout function right here. It’s an energetic pen that works nicely for writing notes in OneNote and drawing. However the storage is a critical innovation: Having the pen be “garaged” within the laptop computer itself ensures it’s all the time shut at hand and there’s no concern of dropping it. Plus, the pen expenses itself contained in the laptop computer, so that you don’t must exit of your approach to cost it. The producers of different convertible laptops ought to be taught from what HP is doing right here. It might be a bit thinner than another pens I’ve used, however I may maintain it simply fantastic and I feel many individuals would favor having a barely thinner pen that’s all the time at hand.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Show and audio system

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i has a 13.3-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with a 60 Hz refresh fee. These are fairly common show specs, which makes them low for a laptop computer on this worth vary. Our overview mannequin had a show with 400 nits of brightness, which is nothing particular and HP even gives a mannequin with simply 300 nits of brightness, which sounds fairly dim.

The show is serviceable, and it seems fantastic, but it surely’s simply nothing particular. Many client laptops on this worth vary have shows with the next show decision, quicker refresh fee, extra brightness, or different nice-to-have specs like an OLED show. Whereas the show right here is okay, that is the a part of the expertise that stings essentially the most. Whereas HP gives variants with extra brightness and different options, you may’t get this laptop computer with a higher-resolution show or a quicker refresh fee.

The Flip’s stereo audio system sound higher than I’d count on for a 13-inch laptop computer. To my ear, the sound on this machine even sounded higher than it did on the 16-inch HP EliteBook 8 G1a I reviewed on the similar time. These audio system can pump out a great quantity of quantity. I take a look at every laptop computer I overview by enjoying Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Fortunate.

Whilst you don’t get the form of crisp instrument separation right here that you’d with a higher-end audiophile setup, audio sounded “full.” In Get Fortunate, the sound was moderately enjoyable, and the bass sounded higher than it had any proper to for the scale of the laptop computer, however you’d nonetheless wish to use headphones for the very best media expertise.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i has a 5-megapixel 1440p webcam that HP appears happy with. It’s simply a typical enterprise webcam. I used to be anticipating a bit extra given how HP talked it up. It’s fantastic, but it surely’s somewhat noisy and appears to do higher with shiny lighting. I wouldn’t wish to use this built-in webcam to document YouTube movies, however you’ll look clear sufficient in enterprise conferences. This machine does have a bodily privateness shutter so you may cowl the webcam.

The twin-array microphones right here sound good however not wonderful, though the background noise removing labored nicely. Enterprise laptops typically give attention to microphone and webcam high quality, and this feels common for a enterprise laptop computer webcam. If you’d like a higher-end, crisper illustration of your voice, you’ll need an exterior microphone. In the event you simply wish to be heard correctly on video calls, that is greater than adequate.

This machine has each an IR digital camera for Home windows Hiya and a fingerprint reader on the top-right nook of the keyboard. Each labored nicely on our overview mannequin, and you’ve got the choice of signing in with both your face or a fingerprint.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Connectivity

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i has a beneficiant collection of ports, particularly for a 13-inch 2-in-1 laptop computer. You get a complete of three USB Kind-C ports and two of them are Thunderbolt 4 ports, too.

On the left facet, this machine has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Kind-C 40 Gbps) ports, an HDMI 2.1 out port, and a combo audio jack. On the correct facet, there’s one other USB Kind-C port (10 Gbps), a USB Kind-A (5 Gbps) port, and a safety lock slot.

As a result of there’s at the least one USB Kind-C port on all sides of the laptop computer, you may plug the charging cable in on both facet. That’s an awesome quality-of-life function.

HP additionally gives some fashions of this laptop computer with a Good Card Reader and nano SIM card slot for mobile connectivity, however there aren’t any fashions with any sort of SD card slot.

The overview unit HP supplied had Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 radios. This machine helps the newest wi-fi requirements, and I had no issues with wi-fi networking.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Efficiency

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i we reviewed had a contemporary Intel Core Extremely 7 265U CPU (that’s Intel Arrow Lake) with Intel graphics, 16GB of RAM, and an NVMe SSD. That’s strong {hardware} for getting good day-to-day efficiency from the online browsers, productiveness apps, and communication instruments you’d be working on a enterprise PC. However let’s dig deeper.

As all the time, we ran the HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i by way of our customary benchmarks to see the way it performs.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of general system efficiency. With an general PCMark 10 rating of 6,968, the HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i got here in a bit behind another latest convertible laptops by way of general efficiency, however solely somewhat bit, and it’s a smaller, extra compact machine.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run Cinebench R20. This can be a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on general CPU efficiency. It’s a fast benchmark, so cooling underneath prolonged workloads isn’t an element. However because it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i and its 12-core CPU produced a Cinebench R20 multithreaded rating of 4,322. That’s a strong rating for this sort of machine, and let’s be sincere: You’re not shopping for a 13-inch convertible PC with a pen should you plan on working CPU-heavy workloads. That’s not what this way issue is for.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. That is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, but it surely runs over an prolonged time frame. This calls for the laptop computer’s cooling kick in, and plenty of laptops will throttle and decelerate underneath load.

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i completed the encode course of in a median of 1,515 seconds — that’s over 25 minutes. If sustained CPU efficiency is your objective, this sort of machine isn’t perfect for you, however you may see Arrow Lake beating a Lunar Lake system (the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Version) by a bit right here.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop computer, but it surely’s nonetheless good to examine how the GPU performs. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.

With a 3Dmark Time Spy rating of two,362, the Intel built-in graphics on this machine didn’t impress. Whereas Intel’s Arc graphics is now surprisingly good, don’t assume that every one Intel built-in graphics has grow to be spectacular. In the event you plan on enjoying PC video games or working demanding 3D functions, search for a Lunar Lake PC.

General, the HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i’s efficiency was fantastic. The story right here is simply the story of this Intel’s Core Extremely 7 265U. It’s fantastic, however the graphics efficiency actually chafes. After Intel confirmed it may ship critical graphics horsepower, I don’t like seeing $2,000 laptops with graphics efficiency this low.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Battery life

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i has a 62 Watt-hour battery, which is an affordable dimension for a 13-inch 2-in-1 machine. It delivered strong battery life in day-to-day use. Intel’s Arrow Lake CPU isn’t fairly as energy environment friendly as with Intel Lunar Lake and Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors, but it surely nonetheless delivers long-lasting efficiency.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Metal on repeat on Home windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. We set the display to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This can be a best-case state of affairs for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly, and actual battery life in day-to-day use is all the time going to be lower than this.

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i lasted a median of 964 minutes in our benchmarks — that’s over 16 hours. That’s a strong quantity, and whereas real-world battery life will likely be considerably much less, you need to have the ability to get all-day battery life from this machine relying in your workload. That’s what actually issues for enterprise customers, and the Flip delivers. However it will be good to see Lunar Lake-level battery life right here.

HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i: Conclusion

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i is precisely what it seems to be. As a machine for companies, HP has gone out of the way in which to make this laptop computer really feel premium with a thoughtfully designed metallic chassis, a spacious keyboard, and the very best pen storage and charging system I’ve ever seen on a laptop computer.

However not all components of this machine are fairly so premium. I used to be anticipating extra from the webcam and microphone, and the show is the primary a part of the machine that doesn’t stand out.

So far as efficiency, the story right here is the story of Intel’s CPU troubles. After reviewing Lunar Lake laptops, I wince at seeing $2,000 Intel-powered productiveness laptops with considerably decrease graphics efficiency and energy effectivity. And the Arrow Lake CPU right here doesn’t ship noticeably quicker efficiency than Lunar Lake CPUs in our benchmarks.

In the event you’re searching for a long-lasting, power-efficient moveable PC, you need to critically contemplate getting a Lunar Lake-powered machine.

However this laptop computer remains to be good, and in case your office will get one for you, you might simply find it irresistible, particularly should you often use a pen and don’t wish to juggle it.