HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 review. HP elitebook x360 1030

An elegant solution for business computing on the move

TechRadar Verdict

The EliteBook x360 is an excellent workhorse 2-in-1 which is strong in a lot of respects. There are a couple of pain points, but none bad enough to distract us from the sheer quality of this HP laptop.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • Superb performance and battery life
  • Attractive optional features

Cons

Why you can trust TechRadar

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Since this review has been published, HP informed us that the sample sent to us is for the US market only and UK retailers are only stocking the 7200U version. We have reached out to HP to find out why different CPU SKUs were being used in the same product line.

The HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 is the company’s mainstream device for those looking to grab a laptop that can also double as a tablet if needed. It is the company’s cheapest convertible notebook and competes with the likes of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga and Yoga 370, the Toshiba Portege X20W-D, as well as the Dell Latitude 5289, 5285 and 7389.

Design

HP Inc embraced a more conventional design for the EliteBook x360 1030 G2. It looks very similar to the Spectre x360 and shares the good looks of that machine minus the dark ash silver finish. Instead, we’ve got a more traditional brushed aluminum colour with the new logo.

At 317 x 218.5 x 14.9mm with a weight of 1.28kg, this notebook has a bigger footprint than the Dell Latitude 7389 or the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 370, with the Toshiba Portege X20W-D beating them all. But the EliteBook x360 doesn’t feel overtly heavy or unwieldy; far from it.

Obviously, don’t expect to use it for a whole day at arm’s length in tablet mode – that would be a bit too much to ask. Instead, nomadic out-of-office workers will appreciate the small form factor and how featherweight it is when using the device as a traditional laptop (with occasional tablet usage thrown in).

However, it’s a shame about the bland-looking power supply unit which, together with the obligatory power cable, adds more than 50% to the weight of the laptop should you want to carry all three around.

The design traits usually associated with high-end laptops are all here. Razor sharp edges? Check. Chamfered front? Check. Tapered profile? Check. Glass-coated precision trackpad? Check. The CNC aluminum unibody frame and diamond cut accents are at odds with the fact that this laptop has a thick skin.

It has been designed to pass 12 MIL-STD-810G testing. Note that the testing itself is “pending” according to HP, and the company also goes on to warn that any damage caused by the user trying out such tests will need to be covered by the HP Accidental Damage Protection care pack.

Two hinges allow the device to transform seamlessly from a traditional laptop into presentation mode, tent mode, or a tablet mode.

On the right side of the device you’ll find a microSD card slot, one USB Type-C connector (SuperSpeed format), a full-size HDMI connector, a full-size USB port and the proprietary power connector. We’d prefer to have a generic USB Type-C connector instead of the latter.

The power button is located on the left edge along with a second USB port (SuperSpeed), physical volume rocker buttons, an audio jack and a smartcard reader.

The US laptop is slightly elevated, providing enough space underneath to facilitate airflow through the slits at the rear and underneath the laptop. There’s also a fingerprint reader sitting on the far-right edge of the laptop, one that supports Windows Hello authentication.

elitebook, x360, 1030, review

Two speaker grills are located underneath as well, powered by Bang Olufsen technology. All in all, there are four speakers.

Here is the HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 configuration sent to TechRadar Pro for review:

CPU: Core i5-7300U dual-core 3.5GHz

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620

RAM: 8GB DDR4-2133

Screen: 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display

Storage: 256GB SSD SanDisk SD8TN8U

Ports: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, audio jack, HDMI, microSD

Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2

Camera: 720p front webcam

Weight: 1.28kg

Size: 317 x 218.5 x 14.9mm (W x D x H)

elitebook, x360, 1030, review

Battery: 57Whr

Specifications

Oddly enough, the models available on HP’s website come with the slower Core i5-7200U or the faster 7600U processor. Tthe 7200U doesn’t support vPro – Intel’s enterprise management platform – and it’s slower than the 7300U CPU present in the model we tested.

The HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 is also available with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. To further complicate things, the EliteBook can also be purchased with an integrated privacy screen (SureView), a built-in 4G modem, and an NVMe SSD which should deliver better performance than the SATA-based storage subsystem in our review model.

The screen has a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass on top of the 13.3-inch Full HD panel. It is sufficiently bright in an office environment, with minimal glare evident, and delivers punchy colors with good contrast. In short, it’s more than adequate for normal enterprise usage.

Sadly, the HP EliteBook x360 doesn’t get the micro-edge bezel treatment of the Spectre x360. In other words, the top and bottom bezels are large – the top one to accommodate the two microphones and HD webcam, and the bottom one to help with holding the device in tablet mode.

Both the keyboard and the touchpad are up to scratch. expensive devices tend not to skimp on these elements, and this EliteBook is a good example of what can be achieved with input peripherals given a proper budget.

The backlit, spill-resistant keyboard has generously-sized keys (called Durakeys) with good travel and excellent feedback. They’re a bit too noisy but that’s a rather subjective matter.

There are four dedicated buttons on the top edge that fire up your Outlook calendar, initiate screen sharing, and start or end a call (those last three functions are achieved through Skype For Business).

The touchpad is a single slab affair without any physical buttons; the surface is depressed and surrounded by a very thin chamfered silver border.

HP Elite Dragonfly G3 vs EliteBook x360 1030: What’s the best business laptop?

HP’s business laptops are great, but should you choose the new Elite Dragonfly G3 or the EliteBook x360 1030? Here are the differences.

Readers like you help support XDA Developers. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read

HP makes some great business laptops, and the upcoming Elite Dragonfly G3 is looking to be one of the best yet. It’s powered by Intel’s latest processors, it has a new 3:2 display, and it’s very lightweight. However, it ditches the convertible form factor, which some might have liked. HP has many other premium business laptops, though, including the EliteBook x360 130, which does have a convertible form factor. So, how does the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 compare to the EliteBook x360 1030?

Well, they’re both great laptops, but right off the bat, it’s worth pointing out that the HP EliteBook x360 1030 has yet to be refreshed with 12th-generation Intel processors, so the Elite Dragonfly G3 has a performance advantage. Otherwise, these are two solid business laptops, so let’s take a closer look to see which one you should choose.

HP Elite Dragonfly G3 vs EliteBook x360 1030: Specs

  • 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 (4-core, 8-thread, up to 4.2 GHz, 8MB cache)
  • 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1145G7 (vPro, 4-core, 8-thread, up to 4.4 GHz, 8MB cache)
  • 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4-core, 8-thread, up to 4.7 GHz, 12MB cache)
  • 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1185G7 (4-core, 8-thread, up to 4.8 GHz, 12MB Cache)
  • 13.5-inch FHD (1920 x 1280) 400 nits
  • 13.5-inch FHD (1920 x 1280) HP Sure View Reflect, 1000 nits
  • 13.5-inch 3K2K (3000 x 2000) OLED, touch, 400 nits, anti-reflective
  • 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 400 nits, touch, BrightView or Anti-Glare
  • 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 1000 nits, touch, HP Sure View Reflect, BrightView or Anti-Glare
  • 13.3-inch UHD (3840 x 2160) AMOLED, 400 nits, touch, BrightView
  • 256GB PCIe SSD
  • 256GB PCIe TLC SSD
  • 512GB PCIe SSD
  • 512GB PCIe TLC SSD
  • 512GB self-encrypted PCIe TLC SSD
  • 1TB PCIe SSD
  • 2TB PCIe SSD
  • 256GB PCIe SSD
  • 512GB PCIe SSD
  • 512GB PCIe SSD 32GB Intel Optane
  • 16GB LPDDR5
  • 32GB LPDDR5
  • 8GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz
  • 16GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz
  • 32GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz
  • 4-cell 45WHr battery
  • 6-cell 68WHr battery
  • 65W USB-C charging or 100W with USB Type-A, HP Fast Charge
  • 54Whr battery
  • 65W USB-C charging
  • 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports
  • 1 USB Type-A port (also used for charging)
  • HDMI 2.0
  • 3.5mm combo audio jack
  • Nano SIM slot (optional)
  • 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports
  • 2 USB Type-A ports
  • HDMI 2.o
  • 3.5mm combo audio jack
  • Nano SIM slot (optional)
  • Premium speakers (up to 78 dB), discrete amplifiers
  • Quad Premium stereo speakers
  • Dual-array microphones

Windows Hello

  • Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2)
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • Optional: NFC
  • Optional: 4G LTE or 5G cellular
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2×2)
  • Bluetooth 5
  • Optional: NFC
  • Optional: 4G LTE (Cat9) or 5G cellular

297.4 × 220.4 × 16.4mm (11.71 × 8.68 × 0.65 inches)

303.78 × 193.8 × 16mm (11.96 x 7.63 x 0.63 inches)

Performance: Intel’s 12th-generation processors make a big difference

As we mentioned above, the first big difference between these two laptops is that the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 comes with Intel’s 12th-generation Core processors, while the EliteBook x360 1030 has yet to be refreshed. Intel’s 12th-generation U-series processors come with 10 cores and 12 threads, thanks to a new hybrid architecture that mixes performance and efficient cores to improve performance and power efficiency alike.

That’s a big jump from the maximum of four cores and eight threads found in the HP EliteBook x360 1030. There aren’t a ton of benchmark scores out there for 12th-generation Intel Core processors, but the early results indicate some very significant gains in terms of performance. Here’s what the Geekbench 5 scores look like for the processors in these laptops:

Intel Core i5-1145G7(average)

Intel Core i7-1185G7(average)

Benchmarks don’t tell the whole story. in fact, they usually tell a very small part of it. so you shouldn’t expect life-changing performance. Still, you get an idea of what to expect, and the new processors are undoubtedly faster, especially in multi-core workloads.

What hasn’t changed much is the integrated graphics. Intel Iris Xe is nearly unchanged between 11th- and 12th-generation Intel processors, so that shouldn’t weigh heavily when making a decision.

The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has faster LPDDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 4 SSDs.

The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 also comes with new and faster LPDDR5 RAM, as well as PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. That should also help overall performance and snappiness in day-to-day use.

Display: The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has a 3:2 aspect ratio

Another big new feature in the HP Elite Dragonfly is the display, which now comes in a 3:2 aspect ratio. This taller format makes more space for content on the screen, and it results in a larger surface area overall. Whether it’s reading pages or working in apps like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, having that taller display can be a big boon to productivity. The base model has a Full HD (1920 x 1280) panel. which you can equip with a privacy screen (HP Sure View Reflect). but you can also upgrade to a 3K2K (3000 x 2000) OLED model with touch support. Since this is a clamshell laptop, not every configuration supports touch, and of course you can’t use this laptop as a tablet.

On the other hand, the HP EliteBook x360 1030 still has a typical 16:9 aspect ratio for the display, so you miss out on the advantages of a taller display. The base model has a Full HD (1920 x 1080) panel, and it also supports HP Sure View Reflect if you want it. The top-tier configuration is a 4K AMOLED panel, which is the sharpest option out of either of these laptops. And with this being a convertible, it does support touch in every configuration, plus the screen can rotate 360 degrees so you can use it as a tablet and other modes. It’s up to you what you care more about in a display.

The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has a 5MP webcam.

One area where the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 beats the EliteBook x360 1030 beyond debate is the webcam. It comes with a 5MP camera with support for 1080p video and HP Presence, a set of Smart features that includes auto framing and lighting correction, so you always look great during video calls and meetings. The HP EliteBook x360 1030 has a 720p webcam, like many laptops did up until last year, and no fancy features.

For sound, both laptops claim to have “premium” speakers, and the EliteBook x360 1030 specifically has a quad-speaker setup. That could be a big advantage, but HP just hasn’t specified how many speakers are inside the HP Elite Dragonfly G3, so they could be similar. If they are, you should get a solid audio experience out of either one.

Design and ports: The HP EliteBook x360 1030 is more versatile, but heavier

While the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is a step up in many ways from its predecessors, there is something that’s been lost with this iteration. This new model is a clamshell laptop, as we’ve mentioned, so you can no longer use it as a tablet or the other modes convertibles usually support. On the other hand, the HP EliteBook x360 1030 is very much a convertible, as the name suggests. That means you can rotate the screen all around and use it like a tablet, or use it in tent mode to watch a movie, for example.

That versatility does come at the expense of some portability, though it’s not a huge difference. The HP EliteBook x360 1030 starts at 2.68lbs, while the Elite Dragonfly G3 starts at 2.18lbs. If you’re planning to carry your laptop with you for hours, you’ll be a bit more comfortable with the Elite Dragonfly G3. The two laptops are nearly identical in terms of thickness, though.

As for looks, the two laptops aren’t significantly different. The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 does give you two color options, Natural Silver and Slate Blue, though this blue color is closer to black. Meanwhile, the EliteBook x360 1030 only comes in silver. Both laptops look as subdued as they come, which some business users might appreciate. Neither one is particularly exciting if you want something that stands out a bit more, though.

Rounding things out with ports, the two laptops are also very similar. The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB Type-A port, HDMI, and a headphone jack, while the EliteBook x360 1030 just adds another USB Type-A port on top of that. Both laptops also give you the option for either 4G LTE or 5G cellular connectivity if you want to stay connected to the internet when you don’t have Wi-Fi. Of course, they also support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, though the Elite Dragonfly G3 supports the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard.

Final thoughts

If performance is a big priority for you and you don’t want to wait a long time to buy a laptop, the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is obviously the better choice out of these two. It’s probably only a matter of time until the EliteBook x360 1030 gets refreshed with 12th-generation processors, though, so it’s worth looking at other differences.

The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has some benefits like the taller display, which is great for productivity, a far better webcam for video calls and meetings, and a more lightweight design. To some extent, it’s the better business laptop. it helps you be more productive and makes it easier to work from anywhere.

On the other hand, the HP EliteBook x360 1030 is a bit more versatile with its convertible form factor. If you take notes by hand, or if you like using your PC as a tablet, this gives you that option. You might also like the 4K AMOLED display option if you’re interested in media consumption since that will be the sharpest display you can get on either model. And if you’re planning to wait for a refresh, it might also get an improved webcam or other features that the Elite Dragonfly G3 has.

In the end, it’s all about whether you value the versatility of a convertible or all the improvements that HP has made with the Elite Dragonfly G3. Depending on your stance on those things, your choice should be pretty easy. If you’ve made your choice, you can buy the HP EliteBook x360 1030 below, and we’ll also have a link for the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 once it’s actually available to purchase. In the meantime, you can also check out the best HP laptops you can buy today.

HP EliteBook X360 1030 G2

TechSpot is supported by its audience. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

Reviewers Liked

  • Fantastic battery life
  • Intel Core i7 power
  • Premium construction
  • Sleek design
  • Includes USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 port and USB 3,0 ports
  • Great keyboard

Reviewers Didn’t Like

  • Overall performance could be better
  • SATA SSD
  • Pen requires a AAAA battery
  • Audio is tuned for conference calls, but poor for music and movies

Direct Competitors and Related Products

Our editors hand-pick these products using a variety of criteria: they can be direct competitors targeting the same market segment or can be similar devices in terms of size, performance, or features.

Asus Zenbook UX305UA

Expert reviews and ratings

Packed with a slew of business features, HP ‘s latest convertible laptop is gunning for the boardroom. The aluminium unibody is accented with diamond-cut edges, with a professional aesthetic that’s attractive without being garish. Despite its sleek.

The HP Elitebook X360 G2 is no doubt a pretty good device designed for the business users. It flaunts a premium design, built and high-end specifications. It has a powerful processor with the latest operating system and a decent battery backup. Along.

The HP Elitebook 1030 G2 is a brilliant thin and light convertible laptop for business users. It delivers on all the key aspects that a business laptop should deliver on while offering top class build quality and elegant design that makes it stand.

HP’s Elite range of PCs, notebooks and more are reserved for business use. They are top specified, have Mil-STD 810G durability, incredible reliability and longevity. HP’s EliteBook x360 1030 G2 comes with a range of processors, ram, storage, screens.

There are two models of this EliteBook that feature the Core i5 CPU – choose wisely and opt for the more expensive one which carries the part number 1EN90EA#ABU. At £1,427 (1,880) at the time of writing, it is slightly dearer than the other model (by.

The screen is somewhat disappointing, but the HP Elitebook X360 is otherwise an excellent business-class convertible laptop. It’s got plenty of power, a plethora of ports and security features, and a sharp, elegant aesthetic.OverallSpecsFrom 1999.

With Intel’s latest processor inside, the HP EliteBook x360 is fast, but it also gets.

Despite being let down by a somewhat disappointing screen, the HP Elitebook X360 is a phenomenal business-class hybrid. It’s got plenty of power, a plethora of ports and a sharp, elegant aesthetic to ensure that you’ll stand out at your next client.

HP’s EliteBook line has been a mainstay of business laptops for years, and the EliteBook x360 G2 is perhaps the company’s most attractive yet. With a fully flexible hinge, metal chassis, support for an optional stylus and glut of security features, this.

A quality laptop that isn’t just for business.

If you’re looking for a secure, manageable, and good-looking productivity workhorse, then the HP EliteBook x360 G2 is an excellent option. You’ll pay just a bit more than for a mainstream 13.3-inch 2-in-1 machine, but you’ll get more than enough value.

A true favorite! HP’s EliteBook series stands for high-end business laptops. In this review, you will find out if HP can follow up on their promises with this EliteBook x360 1030.

HP’s EliteBook x360 is a pricey professional hybrid that has crossover appeal for anyone looking for useful features and a great.

HP’s EliteBook x360 is a pricey professional hybrid that has crossover appeal for anyone looking for useful features and a great.

HP EliteBook x360 G2 Review. Performance and battery life Review

The G2 HP sent in for review came equipped with a dual-core Intel Core i5-7300U processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory. The i5-7300U has a base clock speed of 2.6GHz and will boost all the way to 3.5GHz. It’s a great performer and is more than good enough for photo and Full HD video editing. It’s also a faster chip than the one found in the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro, and quicker than the i5 you’ll find in the base model Dell XPS 13.

In addition, it’s more powerful than the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, which has lower-power Core i Y-series CPUs at its heart.

Higher-spec models are available with a Core i7-7600U processor, double the memory and a 512GB SSD for £1918.

The system felt sprightly, although the 256GB M.2 SSD matches slower SATA 3 speeds, and could manage read speeds of only 524MB/sec. The fastest NVMe PCI-Express SSDs manage five times that speed. In normal use, I’d wager most people are unlikely to notice – but in storage-intensive tasks such as photo editing the extra fractions of a second will start to add up.

I found Wi-Fi performance to be on a par with other high-end Ultrabooks, and it was quick to connect to every network I tried.

Heat and noise were perfectly acceptable. When idle, the laptop is near-silent – although as you open programs a constant whirring of the fan will interrupt the decorum, but not to any disturbing extent. It’s only under extreme load that the fans start to fire up.

HP EliteBook x360 G2 – Battery Life

The EliteBook x360 G2’s battery life is excellent, putting in one of the best performances I’ve seen in a while. On a normal day for me, which includes heaps of power-hungry browser tabs, email and word processing, I was able to get nearly a full eight hours out of it, with the screen at a little over half brightness.

This was achieved without Battery Saver switched on, which suggests that with a bit more conservation, the x360 G2 should easily make it through a full working day. It isn’t as good as the two 13-inch MacBook Pros, which could happily go beyond 8 hours in the right circumstances, and it’s neck-and-neck with the Dell XPS 13.

In our artificial Power Mark benchmark, which tends to over-score slightly, it managed 9hrs 40mins, which puts it just behind the Dell XPS 13, which came in at over 10 hours. With an hour of Netflix, it lost around 16% of its charge, suggesting over 6 hours of constant video playback. The Dell XPS 13 consumed 19% per hour in the same test, while the MacBook Pros managed between 13% and 14%.

elitebook, x360, 1030, review

Should I buy the HP EliteBook x360 G2?

This is one of HP’s finest laptops of 2017, and it’s a firm rival to the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. Granted, the HP is slightly thicker, the package including the power brick is a little heavier and the SSD is slower. However, it has a much faster processor and an equally attractive design.

It’s hard to fault it in this context, although up against the regular Dell XPS 13, it is quite expensive. But when you factor in the handy hinge and stylus-ready touchscreen, the HP EliteBook x360 G2 doesn’t appear to be quite such a hard sell.Related: Best Laptops

Verdict

A quality laptop that isn’t just for business.

How we test laptops

Unlike other sites, we test every laptop we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.