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| The EliteBook 8 G2i 13 comes in a solitary colour option. |
A few months have passed since HP refreshed its EliteBook 8 series, and now the highly anticipated compact variant – the EliteBook 8 G2i 13 – has quietly begun appearing on European store shelves. Currently, the new laptop isn’t listed on HP’s other regional sites, suggesting a staggered rollout that prioritises the UK and Eurozone markets first.
For business professionals and mobile power users who’ve been waiting for Intel’s next‑gen mobile platform, this launch is significant. The EliteBook 8 G2i 13 is one of the first HP notebooks to harness the Intel Core Ultra 7 355 from the Panther Lake family – a notable leap forward from the Arrow Lake‑based EliteBook 8 G1i models.
Core Ultra 7 355: Panther Lake’s 8‑Core Muscle with Xe3 Graphics
At the heart of the EliteBook 8 G2i 13 sits an 8‑core Core Ultra 7 355 processor. While core count alone tells part of the story, the real star is the integrated 4‑core Xe3 iGPU. According to early performance indicators, this new graphics architecture easily outpaces the equivalent GPU found in older Arrow Lake‑based EliteBook 8 G1i laptops – a welcome boost for creative tasks, light video editing, and even smooth multitasking across multiple high‑resolution displays.
This isn’t just a spec bump; it’s a tangible performance upgrade that should appeal to professionals who need both CPU and GPU grunt without sacrificing portability.
Built for the Road: 62 Wh Battery, 100 W Charging, and a Featherweight Chassis
HP hasn’t skimped on the fundamentals. The 62 Wh battery supports up to 100 W fast charging, meaning you can top up quickly between meetings or during a lunch break. The laptop’s physical dimensions are equally impressive: 301.8 x 214.9 x 11.8~15.5 mm and weighing just 1.31 kg. That’s light enough to carry one‑handed through an airport and thin enough to slide into a crowded briefcase.
Display Options: 800 nits in the UK, 400 nits in the Eurozone
One of the most interesting differences between regional SKUs involves the screen. The UK model boasts a 13.3‑inch IPS display with 1200p resolution (16:10 aspect ratio), 800 nits peak brightness, and full 100% sRGB colour space coverage. That brightness level is exceptional for outdoor or brightly lit office environments – a true “always readable” panel.
👉 Configure your EliteBook 8 G2i 13 on HP’s official UK store
Conversely, the same configuration in the Eurozone (€2,497) ships with a 400‑nit version of the display. While still above average for a business laptop, it’s half the peak brightness of the UK offering. Buyers in the Eurozone should verify which panel is included before purchasing – or consider importing if the 800‑nit screen is a must‑have.
Pricing and Configurations: UK vs Eurozone
HP is keeping initial configurations relatively simple. The base model (and currently the only one widely listed) includes 16 GB of LPDDR5X‑8533 RAM and a 512 GB SSD.
- United Kingdom: £1,537 (with the 800‑nit display)
- Eurozone: €2,497 (with the 400‑nit display)
If you need more memory, HP also offers a 32 GB RAM version in the UK for £1,889, keeping the same 512 GB SSD and 800‑nit panel. At the time of writing, HP hasn’t detailed Eurozone pricing for the 32 GB variant.
For comparison, the previous‑generation EliteBook 8 G1i models (based on Arrow Lake) can still be found starting around $1,099 on Amazon. That makes the new G2i a premium‑tier offering – justified by the newer Panther Lake silicon, Xe3 graphics, and (in the UK) the brilliant 800‑nit display.
Looking for the older model at a discount? Check current EliteBook 8 G1i deals on Amazon
Who Is the EliteBook 8 G2i 13 For?
This laptop squarely targets executives, field sales teams, developers, and any professional who lives out of a backpack. The combination of a lightweight magnesium‑like chassis, all‑day battery (with fast top‑ups), and a screen that can handle direct sunlight makes it a compelling alternative to Dell’s Latitude 9000 series or Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
The 16:10 aspect ratio gives you extra vertical space for documents and spreadsheets, while 100% sRGB coverage ensures colours are accurate for presentations or light design work.
What’s Missing? (And What to Expect Next)
HP hasn’t yet released the EliteBook 8 G2i 13 in North America or Asia. Given the usual rollout cadence, those regions will likely see listings within the next four to eight weeks. Additionally, HP may offer customisation options (more storage, vPro versions, or 5G WWAN) later – but for now, only the two RAM variants are listed.
For a deeper dive into HP’s next‑gen EliteBook G2 series roadmap, read our full analysis here.
Final Verdict: Early Adopter Appeal With a Regional Caveat
The HP EliteBook 8 G2i 13 is an impressive piece of engineering – Panther Lake performance, Xe3 graphics, and an ultra‑portable frame. UK buyers get the added bonus of an 800‑nit screen at a competitive price. Eurozone customers, however, pay a premium for a dimmer panel, which might sting.
If you’re in the UK and need a future‑proof business ultraportable today, the G2i 13 is easy to recommend. For everyone else – waiting for wider availability or clearer Eurozone display options could be a smarter move.
Ready to order? Visit HP’s UK product page for the EliteBook 8 G2i 13
Source : HP Germany & HP UK (1) (2)
