HP EliteBook 1040 G11 Laptop computer Overview

After I envision a enterprise laptop computer, I consider three qualities: highly effective, dependable, and safe. The primary laptop computer I consider after I hear enterprise laptop computer is Lenovo’s long-revered Thinkpad series. Nevertheless, HP and its EliteBook collection have been within the enterprise laptop computer marketplace for nicely over a decade.

Enterprise laptops are designed for optimum moveable productiveness for individuals who want efficiency and reliability wherever they go. This 12 months’s EliteBook lives as much as that expectation and delivers highly effective efficiency whereas being as glossy as ever.

The HP Elitebook 1040 G11 is a superb pickup-and-go enterprise laptop computer because of its ultra-light design and reliably glorious efficiency delivered by its Intel Core Ultra processor. After utilizing this laptop computer as my each day driver for 2 weeks, I used to be genuinely impressed by its efficiency in on a regular basis productiveness duties and AI capabilities.

Beneficial

HP EliteBook 1040 G11

The HP EliteBook 1040 G11 is a dependable and glossy enterprise laptop computer. It has helpful AI capabilities and highly effective efficiency because of its Intel Core Extremely processor.

Professionals

• Glossy light-weight design
• Quick efficiency
• Helpful AI options
• Good port choice

Cons

• Costly
• Common battery life
• Plastic bezels

See our course of

How we test and review products at Pocket-lint

We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and check our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have really reviewed.

Worth, specs, and availability

The HP Elitebook 1040 G11 is accessible now in numerous configurations and guarantee/safety choices beginning at $2384.00. The bottom mannequin options the Intel Core Extremely 5 125H 4.5Ghz enhance clock CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD.

A dearer configuration is the Intel Core Extremely 7 165H 5.0Ghz enhance clock CPU possibility, which may value wherever from $3,000 to $4,000 relying on the storage and show choices chosen.

There are a number of completely different show configurations for the EliteBook 1040 G11, with various ranges of brightness and privateness choices, in addition to touchscreen functionality. Most configurations share a 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS show. A 14-inch 2.8K 120Hz OLED configuration is accessible.

These fashions can get much more costly for those who select a configuration with an extended guarantee and HP Wolf Security, which gives customers and companies “preconfigured enterprise-level safety.” It makes use of malware prevention, risk containment, OS resiliency, and software persistence to assist hold the EliteBook safe and recoverable within the occasion of a safety compromise.

Design

Slim, glossy, and lightweight

There’s loads to love in regards to the HP EliteBook 1040 G11, beginning with its premium glossy design. Its aluminum body has a pleasant texture that feels nice to carry and stroll round with. I desire laptops with a clear, minimal design. Sitting subsequent to my M1 MacBook Professional and Dell XPS 15, the EliteBook matches in nicely and scores good factors within the appears to be like division.

At simply 2.6 lbs, the EliteBook has a skinny, mild chassis that isn’t flimsy. Its chassis feels inflexible and durable and wasn’t vulnerable to any bending or flexing after I tried to. This makes the EliteBook nice for touring and can slide nicely into any backpack or carry-on.

The EliteBook’s lid is easy and simply opened with one hand. Behind that lid is a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel decision 60Hz IPS show that truthfully didn’t impress me all that a lot. It appears to be like first rate, however I instantly seen the display’s 60Hz refresh fee. It could be good if HP provided the next refresh fee IPS show as a configuration possibility. After utilizing a 144Hz monitor in my residence workplace and having ProMotion on my MacBook and iPhone after I’m on the go, I’ve develop into extremely adjusted to larger refresh fee shows. The 120Hz OLED possibility is there, but when you don’t need an OLED, and like IPS on a laptop computer, you are caught with 60Hz.

The show can also be not totally glass and options plastic bezels bordering it. It’s a little bit of a disappointment, because the cheaper bezels detract from the premium design of the remainder of the laptop computer.

If I have been contemplating shopping for the HP EliteBook 1040 G11, I might positively go along with the 120Hz OLED show. Whereas companies trying to purchase a fleet of those may not make that selection, it’s actually one I might make as a person client shopping for this laptop computer.

The EliteBook comes geared up with a 5-megapixel IR digicam situated on the prime of the display. I performed just a few video calls on Discord utilizing the webcam, and the calls appeared clear. The webcam additionally has a privateness shutter which hides your webcam just by sliding the tab above the digicam.

It additionally helps Windows Hello, which works more often than not. I had some days when Home windows Whats up labored marvelously, and different days when it was continually telling me to be additional away from the laptop computer for it to work, which I discovered irritating. Unsure if this was simply a difficulty I skilled, nevertheless it’s value mentioning.

Associated

6 reasons I picked a Chromebook over a Windows laptop

A Home windows laptop computer is likely to be a extra mainstream selection, however utilizing ChromeOS may really be a a lot better match for you.

One other cool characteristic is that you would be able to set the laptop computer to mechanically flip off the display while you stroll away and switch it again on mechanically while you re-approach the laptop computer. The characteristic is known as Presence and is situated beneath Energy & Battery in Home windows 11 settings. It even lets you choose a customized detection distance for strolling away and re-approaching.

It is actually cool to stroll again to my desk, sit in entrance of the EliteBook, and have it instantly flip again on. After all, having the display flip off while you stroll away helps protect the battery, which is a bonus plus.

Keyboard, trackpad, and ports

Trying on the keyboard, after writing and typing on the EliteBook 1040 for 2 weeks, I’ll like its keys higher than my MacBook’s. As I write this utilizing the EliteBook 1040’s keyboard, it feels very responsive, and the important thing positioning and spacing are good. The switches really feel deeper than my M1 MacBook Professional. I just like the keyboard’s grey coloration because it matches the EliteBook’s clear silver look. The keyboard additionally has a pleasant white backlight and daring lettering on every key to simply distinguish them in any setting.

I have a tendency to not use a wi-fi mouse after I’m utilizing my laptop computer, even for prolonged durations, so the trackpad on any laptop computer I’m utilizing is basically essential to me. That being stated, the EliteBook’s trackpad has loads to supply. It is an important measurement and I discovered it very good for navigating and scrolling, and the suggestions I acquired when clicking felt very responsive and made a pleasant click on noise.

The EliteBook 1040 G11 additionally has a wonderful port choice. It has all the things it’s essential to join in any workplace or assembly room rapidly. On the left aspect of the chassis, you’ll discover an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a headphone jack. On the best is a USB-C 10Gbps port, a USB-A port, and a NanoSIM slot. The one factor lacking is an SD card slot, however since it is a enterprise laptop computer that isn’t geared towards artistic duties, it is smart why they might’ve gone with a SIM card slot as an alternative.

Associated

5 things you need to know about the Pixel’s Video Boost feature

Flip your less-than-stellar movies into one thing fabulous.

Efficiency

The EliteBook means enterprise

The evaluation unit for the HP EliteBook 1040 G11 I used to be despatched has an Intel Core Extremely 7 165H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD, and a 68-watt-hour battery.

It dealt with each productiveness process I threw at it easily, whether or not it was looking the net, writing and researching, Microsoft Workplace, and even mild photograph modifying. I skilled no hiccups or slowdowns in any respect whereas utilizing this system, which you’d anticipate, contemplating it has a top-of-the-line Intel processor in it.

Operating a GeekBench 6 CPU benchmark, the laptop computer scored a formidable 2,120 single-core rating and a 11,899 multi-core rating. The laptop computer was set to efficiency mode throughout this check. In comparison with different laptops Pocket-lint has examined, this places it fairly a bit forward of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 we checked out earlier this 12 months when it comes to CPU efficiency.

For graphics, the HP EliteBook has no devoted GPU and makes use of Intel Arc graphics built-in with the CPU. This laptop computer is completely not geared towards avid gamers or video editors, and the Intel Arc graphics are greater than sufficient for many productiveness employees or enterprise individuals who can be contemplating this laptop computer.

The EliteBook 1040 G11 does have some upgradability. By eradicating the underside panel of the laptop computer, you possibly can change the SSD, Wi-Fi card, and battery. The RAM is soldered to the board, so you possibly can’t make any adjustments down the road to it, which is changing into increasingly widespread with laptops.

Associated

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 review: There’s almost nothing it can’t do

The Floor Laptop computer Studio 2 can remodel right into a pill, however that does not imply it is missing in energy.

Battery life

The HP EliteBook 1040 G11’s battery life was common. It lasted for the work I used to be doing however didn’t really feel extraordinary. Whereas writing and researching at simply above half brightness, I used to be ready to make use of it for about seven hours earlier than having to plug it in. If I have been going out for the day, I might positively convey the charger with me simply in case, relying on how lengthy I am gone for. If I have been utilizing my MacBook, I wouldn’t fear about this as a lot.

Watching an hour-long episode of House of the Dragon at half brightness, I noticed the battery drop about 16 p.c. After watching about two hours of YouTube, I additionally misplaced one other 30 p.c. So, the battery was shedding about 15 p.c an hour, consuming media. I used to be utilizing Google Chrome for each situations. The laptop computer fees at a good fee. I by no means let the battery die all the best way, however the lowest I acquired was 13%, and it charged again as much as 75% in about 45 minutes.

I additionally tried out HP’s Sensible Sense by the myHP app. This characteristic detects the calls for of the purposes you’re utilizing, the location of the laptop computer, and the standing of the battery to mechanically optimize the laptop computer’s efficiency, together with its fan noise and temperature. Meaning Sensible Sense can inform in case your EliteBook is on a desk or your lap and regulate the thermals accordingly. Whereas utilizing the EliteBook, I solely heard the followers spin up just a few occasions, so it felt like Sensible Sense was doing its job.

Associated

Here are 5 Windows features I can’t live without

I took these options as a right, till I began each day driving different working methods.

AI options

AI prepared on the press of a button

Out of the field, Microsoft Copilot is instantly accessible to make use of, and the keyboard even has a devoted button for it. You should use Copilot to summarize internet pages, do analysis for you, or draft a fast electronic mail. Due to the Intel Extremely chipset discovered within the EliteBook, the PC has its personal devoted NPU (neural processing unit) for dealing with AI duties.

After I examined out Copilot on the EliteBook 1040 G11, it generated responses to any questions I gave it fairly rapidly and listed any sources it used to get the knowledge, so I may examine additional and guarantee its accuracy.

Copilot is completely elective, so for those who don’t wish to use it, you possibly can disguise it from the taskbar and by no means give it some thought once more, which I’ve personally carried out on my Home windows 11 desktop.

I’m not the most important consumer of AI, however I feel the mixing on the EliteBook is fairly helpful, particularly to its goal market of enterprise individuals, who might wish to use it to assist draft numerous emails on a regular basis, do some fast analysis, and even assist resolve what’s for lunch.

AI additionally helps with videoconferencing on the EliteBook 1040 G11, because of Microsoft’s Studio Results software program. You should use AI to mechanically body your webcam and add a portrait mild. You can even add two background results: a regular blur and a portrait blur.

There may be additionally a characteristic referred to as eye contact that retains your eyes continually in touch with the digicam. This characteristic intrigued me essentially the most and really works very well. Enabling and disabling the characteristic in actual time modified the placement of my eyes. So, if you wish to look away throughout an on-camera video assembly, AI is right here to avoid wasting you. I did discover within the process supervisor as nicely that the NPU was being utilized to facilitate these options, placing much less pressure on the CPU.

HP additionally built-in 4 Poly Studio-tuned audio system and an SNR studio microphone into the laptop computer. I watched numerous YouTube movies on the EliteBook and located the standard of the audio system to be fairly good. Even when put next side-by-side with my M1 MacBook Professional, I did not discover an excessive amount of of a distinction, apart from the MacBook having a bit deeper bass.

When testing the microphone, I additionally discovered it to be clear and did a very good job of canceling out background noise. I used to be snapping my fingers whereas speaking to check it, and it was capable of isolate my voice and cancel out the finger-snapping very well.

Associated

The best laptops to buy in 2024 for browsing, gaming, and more

With main chip enhancements and all new light-weight designs, there’s by no means been a greater time to purchase a laptop computer. Here is our prime picks for 2024.

Must you purchase the HP EliteBook 1040 G11?

This laptop computer has a selected goal market: productiveness employees, companies, and security-conscious customers. In case you’re a enterprise proprietor trying to buy a fleet of safe laptops and may afford the excessive price ticket, this laptop computer would possibly be just right for you. It’s glossy and trendy, performs nicely, and has about common battery life for a Home windows laptop computer. It additionally has AI options for those who’re trying to combine AI into your workflow.

In case you’re not a enterprise individual however simply an on a regular basis client searching for a glossy laptop computer, then I’d positively have a look at extra consumer-targeted laptops, such because the Dell XPS series, the MacBook Air/Pro, and even the new Snapdragon powered PCs. A laptop computer with a devoted GPU could be helpful too, particularly if you wish to recreation or do any artistic issues like photograph and video modifying.

For a enterprise laptop computer, the HP EliteBook 1040 G11 is a compelling selection for those who’re okay with the excessive price ticket. It has a robust Intel processor, peace-of-mind security measures if you need them, common battery life, and AI options that really enhance the consumer expertise. And most significantly, it is dependable.

Beneficial

HP EliteBook 1040 G11