HP EliteBook Ultra G1q review: two steps forward, one step back

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is a slim, lightweight, beautiful, and capable office laptop. In almost every measurable aspect, this laptop is better than its spiritual predecessor, the Dragonfly G4. Yet, we feel that we’ve also lost something compared to previous generations.

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is not an HP Dragonfly. The device looks like a Dragonfly though, thanks to the dark blue casing that was exclusive to that series. However, HP decided to streamline its naming convention and do away with separate sub-brands. EliteBook Ultra G1q is meant to be a clearer designation.

ARM inside

This device certainly belongs to the upper echelon of HP’s EliteBook spectrum. HP opts for ARM on the inside and builds the laptop around the Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite X1E-78-100. This popular variant of the Snapdragon Elite, like other versions, gets twelve computing cores and is clocked at 3.4 GHz without turbo.

The CPU is flanked by 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The 14-inch screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio and features 2,240 x 1,400 pixels. That’s a sensible choice: the resolution is high but stays below 4K. Later in this review, we’ll analyze in more detail how this choice ensures high image quality without overly taxing the battery.

RENEWED KEYBOARD

Let’s first handle the casing. At first glance, this EliteBook is hard to distinguish from a Dragonfly. The color is almost identical, the thickness similar, and the logo is in the same spot. The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q does weigh slightly more (1.3 kg versus 1.2 kg). This is mainly because HP manufactured this device from aluminum, while the Dragonfly series was made from magnesium.

Open the laptop, and you’ll immediately see that this EliteBook is a device from HP’s newest lineup. The manufacturer opts for the renewed keyboard that we also find on other devices like the HP OmniBook X. The color of those keys is no longer the same as that of the casing, and the font on the keys has changed. Gone are the subtle ctrl and fn in small letters, making way for CTRL, FN, and CAPS. Even individual letters scream their presence, filling the keys. Tastes differ, but we’re not fans: the keyboard looks cheaper and reminds us of a Chromebook for the classroom.

The operation of the keyboard has also been adjusted. Where HP approached perfection in typing experience with previous EliteBooks and Dragonflys, we feel we’re taking a step back with the EliteBook Ultra G1q. The resistance and feedback of the keys have become weaker, making the typing experience less pleasant.

The spacious touchpad is also less enjoyable to work with. The difference isn’t huge, but when we compare, every click feels much firmer on an older Dragonfly than on this new EliteBook Ultra G1q. HP’s new style doesn’t really appeal to us, either visually or qualitatively. Those who are fans of a flatter experience with less travel and feedback from the keys might be more enthusiastic.

USB-C, no HDMI

HP also takes a step back with the available ports. This device has two USB-C connections, both on the left side. Previously, we found a connection on both sides, offering more flexibility for connecting a charger, dock, or screen. The spiritual successor to the Dell XPS 13 does retain this flexibility. HDMI has disappeared, but we don’t find that too much of a problem in the era of USB-C screens. USB-A is still present, as is a 3.5 mm audio connection.

As for the casing, touchpad, and keyboard, we’re not overjoyed. Don’t get us wrong: everything works well and feels of good quality. It’s just that HP has spoiled us in recent years, and we’ve grown accustomed to more.

Fast CPU

Our enthusiasm grows again when we put the laptop to the test: HP hasn’t forgotten how to build a fast and efficient laptop.

This is evidenced first and foremost by the CPU performance. HP squeezes a lot of computing power out of the Snapdragon Elite and leaves the excellent Intel Lunar Lake chips in the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro and Dell Pro 14 plus behind by a margin.

Even the lighter Snapdragon Plus can’t match the Elite. The Intel Core i7-1355U in the HP Dragonfly G4 is, by comparison, a weakling. We do note that the individual core performance of the Intel chips is higher than that of the Snapdragons.

Less spectacular in the office

When we look at performance in less artificial tests, we see the impact of those lower individual core performances. Workloads such as video rendering or file compression optimally utilize the computing power of all cores. Classic office work, where you surf, open and edit heavy spreadsheets, type, and check emails, makes more flexible use of the hardware. The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q scores slightly lower in these cases.

The performance is still high, but Lunar Lake and even the Snapdragon Plus in the HP Omnibook X deliver better figures. The peak performance of individual cores weighs more heavily in such workloads. We also note that the Dell Pro 14 Plus is equipped with 32 GB RAM, giving it an unfair advantage in the comparison.

Storage also plays a role in daily use. The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is well equipped, with a very fast SSD that is only matched by the new Dell Pro 14 Plus.

On paper, HP does everything right, and in practice, we also see top scores in the more artificial benchmarks, which unfortunately don’t fully translate to the more realistic tests. Note: benchmarks are nice for comparison, but all laptops in these tests are lightning fast. In daily use, this HP EliteBook Ultra G1q also feels very responsive.

Super battery

HP scores better in terms of battery. The manufacturer packs 59 Wh into the 14-inch housing, thus managing to enable more than eighteen hours of autonomy. That’s significantly more than the Lunar Lake laptops and even the Omnibook X, which combines a more efficient processor with an equally large battery.

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q lasts extremely long. A workday without a power outlet is no problem at all, even when you entrust heavier work to the laptop. The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q has about the best condition of all laptops we’ve recently examined.

If you do manage to drain the battery, refueling doesn’t take very long, but longer than HP claims. The website states that the laptop is half full in half an hour, but for us, it takes 47 minutes to fill the tank halfway.

Dell demonstrates here what real fast charging means. The 55 Wh battery of the Dell Pro 14 Plus charges twice as fast, with the same included 65W charger.

Smart Resolution, Moderate Adjustment

HP partly owes the long battery life to the 14-inch touchscreen, which has a resolution between 4K and FHD (2,240 x 1,400 pixels). That’s a good compromise: fewer pixels require less power, but the resolution is still higher than that of the Dell Pro 14 Plus and provides a razor-sharp image.

The high-contrast IPS screen shows nice contrasts and deep colors. Black is almost absolute, and barely distinguishable from OLED black with the naked eye. Unfortunately, this has a downside: the white balance is not well adjusted. We measure a DeltaE of 8.2, indicating a significant color deviation, especially in white reproduction. For graphic professionals, this deviation is on the high side. The brightness is very limited with barely 274 cd/m². This will hinder you in sunny conditions.

Image and sound

HP includes a 5 MP webcam at the top of the EliteBook Ultra G1q. It’s equipped with an infrared sensor for Windows Hello. During our video conferences, we appear well on screen, even in slightly less well-lit situations.

The sound is also top-notch: through the built-in microphones, we sound clear and understandable to the other party. Ambient noise is neatly filtered out. Conversely, the speakers are sufficient to understand our conversation partners well.

The NPU: Currently Irrelevant

Finally, we must unfortunately mention the NPU. HP, like all other laptop manufacturers, emphasizes the importance of AI in this laptop, although that is again particularly modest. The NPU is there for show: background blurring during a video call and live subtitling make some use of the built-in AI accelerator, but beyond that, you can do little with it.

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HP equips this laptop with AI Companion, but after more than a year of so-called AI PCs, it’s still in beta. Currently, AI Companion works almost entirely via the cloud: without an internet connection, the app does nothing, and the generative AI assistant itself indicates that the NPU has no impact on performance.

This is due to EU regulations, we hear from HP. The intention is indeed for the AI Companion to work with a local AI model, for which an NPU (or GPU) is essential. Tests are already underway in the US, but for Europe, some matters still need to be clarified. HP hopes to make the leap to local AI around summer, and certainly no later than early 2026.

At the time of this review, we are missing local added value, and the AI Companion is more of a cloud tool than an extension of this laptop. Consequently, the relevance of the NPU is also limited.

Nuanced Verdict

All things considered, the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q deserves a nuanced verdict. This new EliteBook is undoubtedly a step forward for HP. The device shows a clear evolution and builds on previous expertise.

Visually, it looks neat, and the build quality is noticeably high. We have reservations about the direction HP wants to take with the keyboard, but personal preference undeniably plays a role here. The port distribution is not perfect, but that’s nothing more than a minor detail.

In terms of performance, HP embraces Qualcomm’s ARM chip, with high performance in artificial tests. In more representative benchmarks for office work, the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is no longer a champion, but in daily use, we still notice that this laptop is fast and responsive.

The battery is an absolute strength and one of the most important assets of this laptop, although charging could be faster, and we don’t achieve the figures HP claims in our tests. Finally, the screen is beautiful and sharp with a well-chosen resolution, but we miss brightness and accurate calibration.

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q review: two steps forward, one step back

The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q is a very good laptop that makes excellent use of the ARM Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, but HP makes minor mistakes. Compared to the Dragonfly series, which this device outwardly resembles so much, we see progress but also some new pain points.

If you’re looking for a beautiful, sturdy, and reliable device with phenomenal battery life, you’ve come to the right place. If you have other priorities, such as the typing experience of the keyboard, or accuracy and brightness of the screen, we are somewhat more hesitant to recommend this laptop. The difference with the considerably cheaper HP Omnibook X is not that significant.

Tested configuration: HP EliteBook Ultra G1q A26TLEA – Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 14 inch glossy touchscreen (IPS – 2,240 x 1,400), Windows 11 Pro – 1,710 euros excl. VAT.