HP EliteBook 1040 G1 Review: A desirable, premium ultrabook

HP EliteBook 1040 G1 detailed review

In the world of high-end ultrabooks, where money isn’t a consideration, where you desire a thin and light laptop that should hold its own in a boardroom as well as an airport lounge, the EliteBook 1040 G1 is all that and more. Smartly designed, well constructed, with a premium look and feel, this slim business ultrabook ticks all the right boxes in terms of aesthetics and build. It not only has a spill-resistant keyboard, but the whole machine passes MIL-STD 810G testing for drop, functional shock, vibration, dust, humidity, altitude, high and low temperature, and temperature shock. A rare claim made by any laptop, let alone an ultrabook.

The Elitebook Folio 1040 G1 has two USB 3.0 ports and a DisplayPort connector onboard, while VGA and Ethernet connectivity is supported via an included connector. The ultrabook has a great keyboard, nice screen to work with but its touchpad takes getting used to.

The Elitebook 1040 G1 has fast internal hardware, with an SSD thrown into the mix no less, ensuring you don’t feel the performance pinch using most business applications. And while we clocked 3 hours 17 minutes of battery in our benchmark tests, the EliteBook 1040 G1 is still not the fastest ultrabook we’ve tested this year. It’s fast, faster than most laptops you’ll encounter, but just not the fastest.

Definitely worth considering, especially with its 3 year warranty (included in the price).

Specifications

Screen: 14-inch, LED-backlit, 1600x900
CPU: Intel Core i7-4600U Processor
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 8.1 Pro 64
SSD: 256GB
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4400
MicroSD: Yes
Wireless: 802.11n + Bluetooth 4.0
Fingerprint reader: Yes
Warranty: 3 years; Metallic Gray / 14”