Working on the HP EliteBook 8 G1a is a good experience, but I think it can be hard to justify the cost of this Ryzen AI business laptop

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: 30-second review

To avoid immediate confusion, HP makes a standard version of the EliteBook 8 G1a 14 laptop, and then the Next Gen AI PC Wolf Pro Security Edition (A27BLEA) that this review covers.

While these share many of the same hardware components, the Next Gen AI PC Wolf Pro Security Edition (A27BLEA) is specifically designed for business users who need to deploy laptops for power users with enhanced security requirements.

Built around the new AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, this is a highly efficient and yet powerful machine that’s ideal for demanding tasks, like running local AI models.

But it’s also ideal for a user who runs demanding AI tools, even if this machine wouldn’t realistically cross the threshold into being classed as a mobile workstation.

If you are looking for that level of performance, a laptop that uses the Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 is probably more appropriate.

The limitations of the EliteBook 8 G1a are that it doesn’t have a second full M.2 2280 slot, limiting the amount of storage to 3TB with current capacities. And, while the memory modules are upgradable, this system with only one module is starved of memory bandwidth.

It does come with Wi-Fi 7, HDMI output and Thunderbolt ports, so while it might not be a necessity to have a docking station, it can exploit one effectively.

This machine isn’t the cheapest to use this new platform, but HP has an excellent selection of EliteBook, ProBook, and ZBook designs that use AMD processors, so there is plenty of choice. With so many machines of this type appearing, it’s hard to pick this one as being exceptional enough to be one of the best business laptops. But HP makes highly effective hardware, and the EliteBook 8 G1a doesn’t undermine that narrative.

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $1550/£1515
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from HP, or via online retailers

Sold as the HP EliteBook 8 G1a 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC Wolf Pro Security Edition, the asking price in the UK is £1799.99 for a machine with 64GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.

The same spec in the USA is priced at $1,899, making it currently a better deal for American buyers.

What’s slightly odd is that via the HP store, it isn’t possible to select the spec of the review hardware, which matches 64GB of RAM with 512GB of storage.

Choosing 512GB of storage automatically drops the memory to 32GB.

For American customers, the cheapest model with the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 processor is $1549. European buyers can’t get that combination, and the lowest-priced option in the UK is £1,511.99, with 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM for that money.

It should be noted that for those buying into the AI era, local AI models need lots of RAM to run quickly, so it might be pointless to run this CPU with only 16GB of RAM.

The RAM on these systems can be upgraded, as can the storage, but that’s additional cost and effort beyond the purchase price.

While I’m sure other brands will be using a similar platform in the coming months, at this time, the only significant releases are from Asus with the Zenbook S16, and the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 and P16s Gen 4.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 typically retails for around $ 1,240, featuring 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Whereas the P16s Gen 4 is $1500 for one with 64GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

So far, Asus isn’t using the PRO variant of the 350, but they do have the even more powerful Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in the Zenbook S16 series, and you can get one with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for only $1400.

In the grand scheme of things, the HP asking price for this machine isn’t excessive, but those looking for better value might want to consider the Asus Zenbook S16 series, which could easily save you money and get you a more powerful platform.

What’s always important to realise is that retail costs as presented on the brand websites aren’t what corporations pay for bulk orders, and that sort of horse trading could make HP a much more competitive option.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Specs

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Design

• Solid construction
• Lots of ports
• Cramped keyboard
• A Wolf Pro Security Edition

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a 14-inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC Wolf Pro Security Edition (A27BLEA) nicely blends aesthetics with functionality. Its sleek, minimalist exterior is crafted from high-quality materials, giving it a premium feel and durability. The notebook’s slim profile and lightweight construction make it highly portable, ideal for those who travel for a living.

The 14-inch display is a standout feature, offering vibrant colours and sharp resolution that make working on the laptop relatively easy. The narrow bezels maximise screen real estate, providing an immersive viewing experience without increasing the overall size and weight of the device. The anti-glare coating ensures that the screen remains readable in various lighting conditions, reducing eye strain during extended use.

What I was less enamoured with was the keyboard. The positive aspects are that the keys are well-spaced and provide a satisfying tactile response, making typing a pleasure.

But the keyboard doesn’t use the full width of the machine, and therefore some keys ended up reduced in size. Not a fan of tiny function keys or the cursor cluster, but despite this, I can type at a reasonable speed on it.

The backlit feature allows for easy use in low-light environments, adding to the notebook’s versatility. The touchpad is generously sized and highly responsive, supporting multi-touch gestures for improved navigation.

A real strength of the HP EliteBook 8 G1a is the port selection, since it includes USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and an audio jack. This selection ensures compatibility with a wide array of peripherals and accessories, enhancing the notebook’s functionality. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, using the MediaTek MT7925 (2x2), ensures fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

Being a Wolf Pro Security Edition, HP add some neat features to provide robust protection against malware and cyber threats, in theory. These include a fingerprint reader and facial recognition technology built to secure logins and safeguard sensitive data. The part of the Wolf Pro technology that IT professionals will gravitate to is the  Cloud-Based Management Console, which enables a centralised control for IT teams to monitor and respond to threats. There are lots of other features, like AI and behavioural analysis to detect unknown threats, if you haven’t already deployed equivalent tools in the business environment.

Overall, the HP EliteBook 8 G1a is a well-designed, high-performance notebook that meets the needs of modern professionals and power users, without resorting to discrete GPUs and limited battery life.

• Design: 4 / 5

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Hardware

• AMD Ryzen AI 300 series CPU
• Radeon 860M GPU
• Upgrades

The AMD Ryzen 7 350 PRO is one of the new Krackan Point CPUs that have recently come to market, and utilises the AMD mobile chipset FP8, aka Strix Point.

Built on the latest 4nm TSMC fabrication, for its size and power consumption, this CPU delivers some exceptional performance, especially for AI use.

For those who read my Asus Expertbook P3 review, a machine that uses the non-PRO version of this chip, you might be wondering what a PRO spec processor adds.

The main distinction lies in the fact that the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 is tailored for business use, featuring additional functionalities and capabilities specifically designed for enterprise needs that are not present in the consumer variant, the Ryzen AI 7 350. Although both processors utilise the same core architecture and have similar performance potential, the “PRO” label indicates improvements in security, manageability, and reliability explicitly designed for business environments.

What that’s worth to you personally, I can’t say, but HP does make a toned-down model with the basic AMD Ryzen 7 350 if you want to save a small amount of money.

What isn’t radical on this platform is the Radeon 860M GPU, which I’d characterise as being a reasonable integrated GPU, but nothing special.

This balance of a high-end CPU and mid-range GPU hints that it’s built for those power users who aren’t editing 4K videos or modelling in 3D. But what it does well is support local AI challenges for those who need AI functionality, but can’t guarantee cloud services.

The evolution of AI for business use is still very much at the Proterozoic stage, but for those who are embracing technologies like CoPilot, this hardware is superior to the prior generation.

While not perfect, the upgrade paths in this machine do at least allow for enhanced memory and storage, and potentially the WiFi module when WiFi 8 becomes available.

Getting inside is relatively easy with a small screwdriver and a spudger, and with the underside removed, the battery, memory and storage are all highly accessible.

Unlike the HX 395 hardware, which uses soldered memory, this platform features two SODIMM slots that can accommodate up to 32GB modules, for a maximum capacity of 64GB. It might be that at some point you will be able to get 48GB or 64GB modules, and increase that to 96GB or even 128GB, since the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 can address up to 256GB of memory space.

I had two disappointments with the insides, and both related to the storage. The first is that the M.2 2280 slot, pre-installed with a Gen 4 1TB NVMe in my review hardware, didn’t have any form of heatsink or pad to help it dissipate. That effectively limits it to 2TB drives, since 4TB and 8TB options either come with or expect help with cooling.

The second M.2 slot is only 2230-sized, limiting it to 1TB capacities currently. There isn’t much room, I accept, but a second 2280 slot would have been terrific, since using AI without lots of storage space isn’t ideal.

• Hardware: 4 / 5

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Performance

Since they use the same platform and memory technology, the HP EliteBook 8 G1a is worthy of comparison with the Asus Expertbook P3, admittedly a cheaper device.

How HP configured this machine enables it to outperform the P3 in many tests, and it was provided with a better storage device in the bargain.

Where the P3 overtakes it is in battery life, with the Asus machine having a larger battery and a longer operating time accordingly.

However, both these machines run for longer than a typical working day, and the EliteBook 8 G1a is lighter for those who carry their system with them.

One important note is that the performance of both these laptops can be massively undermined by using only a single memory module, as the review P3 was delivered. Therefore, don’t order one with a single memory module, or if you do, then purchase another identical module to get all the memory bandwidth available.

• Performance: 4 / 5

HP EliteBook 8 G1a: Final verdict

The HP EliteBook 8 G1a ticks plenty of corporate boxes, something HP is exceptionally skilled at doing.

What it offers is a powerful yet battery-efficient solution with all the latest security enhancements and management tools that corporate IT will love. It also features sufficient ports that most users won’t need a docking station, and the underlying platform is capable of running local AI models and tools.

It isn’t the cheapest laptop running this AMD Ryzen AI platform, but the quality of construction and features like Thunderbolt ports go some way to justify the extra it can cost over more affordable options.

Not the best 14-inch laptop I’ve seen, but a solid platform that delivers power-user appeal without sacrificing its practicality.

Should you buy a HP EliteBook 8 G1a?

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