HP EliteBook 8 G1a assessment: AMD’s {hardware} shines

Greatest Costs Right this moment: HP EliteBook 8 G1a

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a is a 16-inch Copilot+ PC laptop computer geared toward companies and professionals. It has an AMD CPU, so it marries a speedy CPU with a neural processing unit that may ship Copilot+ PC options on some fashions. Plus, not like a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Arm PC, it is a conventional x86 PC that’s assured to run current enterprise apps and drivers that won’t run completely on an Arm PC.

However, though HP proudly markets this as a “next-generation AI PC,” it’s not nearly AI options. Total, it’s a strong laptop computer that most individuals could be joyful to make use of for work, though the show doesn’t hold tempo with the remainder of the expertise.

HP just lately redesigned its product names, and the EliteBook is HP’s line of laptops geared toward enterprise customers. The 8 Sequence is the entry-level line of EliteBooks, and the “G1a” right here means it is a first-generation mannequin within the new lineup with an AMD CPU.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Specs

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a has an AMD Ryzen AI processor — our assessment mannequin included AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 {hardware}. That’s an x86 processor with a 50 TOPS NPU for AI options. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that not all of the fashions have an NPU quick sufficient for Copilot+ PC options. HP has a wide range of G1a fashions, and machines like the bottom AMD Ryzen 5 230 machine ship as much as 16 TOPS. Meaning they’ll’t run Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC options and, if your online business does have an NPU-powered AI software, it’ll run a lot slower than on the fashions with quicker NPUs.

However the processor isn’t the one factor that differs from machine to machine. HP presents a variety of configuration choices through the buy course of, so you will get a mannequin that’s very completely different from the under specs.

Our assessment mannequin had AMD Radeon 860M graphics. Whereas AMD produces a number of robust discrete GPUs, that is nonetheless built-in graphics and it’s not significantly quick.

The RAM on this machine is user-upgradable and swappable, which is nice to see on a enterprise laptop computer. (The Intel-powered EliteBook 8 G1i I reviewed on the identical time has soldered RAM.)

• Mannequin quantity: HP EliteBook 8 G1a 16-inch
• CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350
• Reminiscence: 32GB DDR5 RAM
• Graphics/GPU: AMD Radeon 860M
• NPU: AMD NPU Compute Accelerator Machine (as much as 50 TOPS)
• Show: 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with 60Hz refresh price
• Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1440p webcam
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Sort-C 40 Gbps), 1x USB Sort-C (10 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1 out, 1x combo audio jack, 1x safety lock slot, 1x USB Sort-A (5 Gbps)
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader and IR digicam for facial recognition
• Battery capability: 77 Watt-hour battery
• Dimensions: 14.13 x 9.84 x 0.61 inches
• Weight: 3.73 kilos
• MSRP: $1,799 as examined

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The 16-inch HP EliteBook 8 G1a has a premium-feeling steel chassis in a “Glacial Silver” shade. At 3.73 kilos, it’s a bit heavier than some laptops, nevertheless it feels strong and sturdy because of that steel construct.

The design right here is minimal: Darkish grey keyboard, black bezel, and silver steel elsewhere. There are a couple of HP logos (on the lid and just under the display) and that’s about it. The hinge feels good to make use of, though I had to make use of a second hand to carry down the entrance of the laptop computer whereas opening it. It’s a strong hinge and the display doesn’t transfer round when you sort.

HP bundles HP Wolf safety with this machine, and that will probably be handy for companies who wish to remotely handle this laptop computer in a fleet. As a person data employee, nevertheless, I didn’t just like the end-user expertise. I needed to click on by way of further safety dialogs to run PCWorld’s regular benchmark instruments, for instance — many individuals will wish to disable this, or companies will wish to tune it so it doesn’t nag workers about their enterprise apps.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Keyboard and trackpad

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a has a full-size keyboard full with a quantity pad. It’s spacious and feels prefer it has quantity of key journey — greater than the 13-inch HP EliteBook 8 Flip G1i I reviewed on the identical time. It’s quiet and doesn’t click on with the snap of a mechanical keyboard, nevertheless it’s nonetheless snappy. It is a good keyboard that you could get a number of typing carried out on. However I all the time want the arrow keys on laptops had been full-size.

This machine has a big trackpad that feels clean to glide your finger over and clicks down with a clear “thunk.” I would like seeing a haptic touchpad, however this trackpad is strong. This isn’t a glass trackpad — these really feel smoother, however these are premium touches reserved for higher-end laptops. Each the keyboard and trackpad are pretty quiet, which is vital for a enterprise laptop computer.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Show and audio system

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a has a 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with a 60Hz refresh price and 400 nits of brightness. That’s simply nothing particular, and that decision stings on a 16-inch show, particularly one on this value vary. It’s an anti-glare show, which is good to see. However HP presents the bottom mannequin with 300 nits of brightness, which I’d suggest avoiding.

HP does provide a variant of this laptop computer with a 2560×1600 show with a 120Hz variable refresh price, and I’d like to see what that machine seems like. Nevertheless it doubtless gained’t have as a lot battery life and it’ll be costlier.

The show right here is the one function that feels probably the most missing on this laptop computer, particularly in comparison with client laptops in an analogous value vary.

The stereo audio system on this machine are okay for a enterprise laptop computer however, just like the show, they really feel extra serviceable than particular. They’ll get fairly loud, and the sound is obvious, however the audio lacks some depth. They’ll do a positive job in video conferences. I take a look at every laptop computer I assessment by enjoying Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Fortunate. The instrument separation in Aja was affordable, however a number of the excessive notes weren’t significantly crisp. In Get Fortunate, the sound was moderately enjoyable, however extra bass would’ve been good. Pack pair of headphones for music.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a has a 1440p webcam. Enterprise laptops are likely to have strong webcams, so I used to be anticipating a bit extra right here. It’s nothing particular for a enterprise laptop computer: It’s a bit noisy and appears to do a lot better in supreme lighting. That is the form of webcam that may look positive in a enterprise assembly, however you’ll wish to get an exterior webcam in the event you’ll be recording movies for YouTube or social media. HP additionally inbuilt a privateness shutter above the show, and you may slide it to dam the webcam.

The twin-array microphone setup on this machine was clear and did job of eradicating background noise. It’s strong for a enterprise laptop computer, nevertheless it’s not significantly high-end. In the event you’re taking part in conferences all day and also you need the very best voice high quality attainable, you should still need an exterior mic.

The EliteBook 8 G1a has each facial recognition {hardware} and a fingerprint reader within the energy button on the keyboard. You should utilize Home windows Hi there to signal into Home windows with both your fingerprint or your face, and each work nicely.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Connectivity

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a presents variety of ports, together with three USB Sort-C ports and two of them are Thunderbolt 4 ports.

On the left aspect, this laptop computer has an HDMI 2.1 out port, two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Sort-C 40 Gbps) ports, and a combo audio jack. On the suitable aspect, there’s a 3rd USB Sort-C port (10 Gbps), a USB Sort-A (5 Gbps) port, and a safety lock slot.

Since all sides of the laptop computer has a USB Sort-C port, you possibly can plug this laptop computer’s USB-C charger into different aspect of the laptop computer. That’s the form of factor that’s straightforward to miss on a spec sheet however makes the laptop computer a lot nicer to make use of in the true world.

It’s also possible to get fashions of this laptop computer with non-obligatory further ports: RJ-45 Ethernet, a Sensible Card reader, and a nano SIM card slot for mobile connectivity. Sadly, it doesn’t have an SD card reader possibility.

Our assessment unit had future-proof Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wi-fi networking, and I had no issues with it.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Efficiency

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a has an AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 processor, and it carried out nicely in internet browsers, communication apps, productiveness instruments, and the apps you’d run on a Home windows desktop.

As all the time, although we ran the HP EliteBook 8 G1a by way of our normal benchmarks to see the way it performs.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of total system efficiency. With an total PCMark 10 rating of seven,605, this AMD-powered machine surpassed comparable laptops with latest Intel Core Extremely processors. (And, as we’ll see under, it had comparable battery life.)

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

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

With a multithreaded Cinebench R20 rating of 6,160, the AMD {hardware} right here ran quicker than Intel Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake chips.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

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

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a accomplished the encode course of in a median of 924 seconds — that’s over quarter-hour. This machine can put out some severe CPU efficiency when it must, and it’s compromise of efficiency and energy effectivity.

Foundry / Chris Hoffman

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

With a 3DMark Time Spy rating of three,052, the AMD Radeon 860M graphics on this machine weren’t significantly spectacular. It’s slower than Intel’s Arc graphics and is on the decrease finish for AMD’s graphics {hardware}.

To be trustworthy, I feel most individuals — together with enterprise customers — would like a laptop computer with a quicker GPU. A number of companies use GPU-accelerated instruments. I’d choose to see a quicker GPU right here, even on the expense of NPU options.

Total, the HP EliteBook 8 G1a reveals how robust AMD’s choices are proper now: Strong CPU efficiency and an NPU quick sufficient for Copilot+ PC options at a really aggressive value. However this machine cuts a nook in relation to the GPU, and anybody who makes use of a GPU-accelerated skilled software will wish to look elsewhere.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Battery life

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a has a 77 Watt-hour battery, which is an effective dimension for a 16-inch laptop computer. It delivered mixture of battery life and 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. It is a best-case situation 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 G1a lasted a median of 936 minutes in our benchmarks — that’s practically 16 hours. When you’ll get much less in day-to-day laptop use, that is doubtless sufficient juice for all-workday battery life, which is what actually issues for a enterprise laptop computer.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Conclusion

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a combines a premium steel construct high quality with AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 {hardware}. In some ways, the outcome is a wonderful, well-balanced machine.

AMD’s chips are extremely underrated proper now. They don’t match the CPU efficiency you’ll discover in a high-end workstation or the battery life you’ll discover in a thin-and-light laptop computer, however they provide a superb mixture of each. Plus, this delivers an NPU quick sufficient for Copilot+ PC options, so the AI options right here aren’t simply advertising and marketing. If apps ever begin taking extra benefit of NPUs, you’ll desire a quick one just like the 50 TOPS NPU right here — not the 12 TOPS NPU Intel remains to be delivering in most PCs.

However this isn’t the be-all, end-all enterprise laptop computer. The show drags down the general expertise, and the graphics efficiency simply isn’t up there with the CPU and NPU efficiency. Whereas it’s laptop computer, it’s not the suitable decide for everybody. However I’m joyful my assessment mannequin had AMD {hardware}, and I feel you’d choose the AMD {hardware} right here to Intel’s present choices, too.