HP introduces the EliteBook X G2 family, focusing on freedom of choice. Devices in the series are not only available with chips from both AMD and Intel, but also with ARM processors from Qualcomm.
At CES, HP is introducing its latest lineup of premium business laptops with the EliteBook X G2 series. This includes identically styled 14-inch laptops, designed in the EliteBook design language.
CPU of your choice
It is noteworthy that the manufacturer is, for the first time, adopting a completely agnostic stance towards processor vendors in its announcement. The laptops in the series are available with the very latest chips from the three main manufacturers. HP announces four models, where the last letter of the name always reveals which processor family you will find under the hood:
- The HP EliteBook X G2a with an AMD Ryzen AI 400 processor;
- The HP EliteBook X G2i with an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor;
- The HP EliteBook X G2q with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite processor.
AMD launched Ryzen AI 400 at the beginning of the CES trade show in Las Vegas. The chips offer modest improvements over the previous generation but are based on the same architecture.
Brand new processors
Intel simultaneously launched its latest chip family with Core Ultra Series 3, also known under the code name Panther Lake. These processors are the first to roll off the Intel 18A line. They promise a significant technological leap forward compared to Series 2.
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Intel launches Core Ultra Series 3: Panther Lake for laptops, 18A and focus on the US
Qualcomm launched its new Snapdragon X2 Elite processors in the fall of 2025, although the manufacturer also announced new chips at CES in the form of the Plus variants. The HP EliteBook X G2q is also configurable with those new, lighter Plus chips.
Other specifications
As usual, you also get a lot of freedom of choice from the laptop manufacturer for the other specifications. You can configure the models with a minimum of 16 GB and a maximum of 64 GB of memory. Storage starts at 512 GB, but SSDs of 1 TB and 2 TB are also on the menu for all variants.
There is also a wide choice of screen panels. LCD and OLED are available, with 1,920 x 1,200 as the standard resolution. You can also opt for 2,880 x 1,800 pixels with all processor variants. Depending on the chosen panel, the brightness varies between a (very meager) 300 nits and 800 nits.
Availability
USB4-C is present on all devices, as well as an extra USB Type-A port. Thunderbolt 4 is only found on the x86 laptops, not on the device powered by a Qualcomm chip. Wifi-7 is supported across the board.
We also note that Intel does get a slight preferential treatment. Within the range, HP is also introducing an HP EliteBook X Flip G2i with a flip-over touchscreen. That laptop with tablet-like features will only be released with an Intel chip.
Finally, we note that HP is somewhat clumsily marketing these laptops as ‘Next Gen AI PCs’. CPU manufacturers are integrating an NPU chiplet on all their chips. That NPU can accelerate very modest local AI workloads. That is not a distinguishing factor for these devices, and the truly practical business applications for such light local AI also remain very limited.
HP remains vague about the price and availability of the new laptops. The versions with AMD and Qualcomm will be released in the spring, while the Intel variant will already be on the shelves in February. HP is not yet sharing any starting prices.