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| HP sells the EliteBook X G2i 14 in a single colour option for now. |
It’s been almost a year since HP unleashed the EliteBook X G1i with Intel’s Lunar Lake architecture. Now the American PC giant is back with its successor, the HP EliteBook X G2i 14, and this time it’s packing Intel’s newer Panther Lake chips. The global rollout is underway – but if you’re shopping in the US, brace yourself for some truly baffling pricing.
We’ve spent the past few days digging through HP’s regional storefronts, and the picture is nothing short of bizarre. UK buyers get the widest selection and surprisingly palatable entry prices, while German customers have just one (out-of-stock) option. Meanwhile, Americans are being asked to pay thousands more for slower processors. Let’s unpack what’s going on.
Meet the EliteBook X G2i: Panther Lake, OLED, and Featherweight Design
First, the good stuff. The EliteBook X G2i 14 is a striking evolution of HP’s premium business ultraportable. Where the G1i leaned on Lunar Lake, the G2i adopts Intel’s new Panther Lake family – specifically Core Ultra 5, 7, and X7 variants. The top dog is the Core Ultra X7 358H, paired with Arc B390 graphics, up to 64GB of LPDDR5X-9600 RAM, and a PCIe Gen 5 SSD (2TB max).
Display options range from a modest 1200p IPS panel to a show-stopping 1800p OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness, and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. HP’s Eye Ease technology (low-blue-light certified) is also on board.
But the headline spec might be the physical footprint. The EliteBook X G2i weighs just 990 grams (about 2.18 lbs) and tapers down to 7mm at its thinnest point. That’s lighter than a MacBook Air and nearly as thin as an iPad Pro with a keyboard. For road warriors and executives, this is the kind of machine that disappears into a briefcase.
Powering everything is a 68Wh battery that supports 100W USB-C charging – enough to get through a full workday, assuming HP’s power management keeps pace with the new Panther Lake silicon.
A Tale of Three Regions: UK Gets the Love, Germany Gets One SKU, US Gets… Confusion
HP’s global launch strategy is anything but uniform. Let’s break it down.
United Kingdom – The Sweet Spot
UK customers have the most choice by far. Pricing starts at a reasonable £1,595 (incl. VAT) for a base model with:
- Core Ultra 5 325
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB storage
- 1200p IPS display
At the top end, you can spec up to a £4,259 monster featuring a Core Ultra X7 358H, 64GB RAM, a 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD, and the 120Hz OLED panel. That’s expensive, sure, but it’s a fully loaded AI PC with enterprise security features (HP Wolf Pro Security Edition).
Germany – One Trick Pony
Over on HP’s German website, we could only find a single SKU – and it’s currently out of stock. That variant costs €3,121 and comes with:
- Core Ultra X7 358H
- Arc B390 graphics
- 32GB LPDDR5X-9600
- 1TB storage
- 1800p OLED (120Hz, 500 nits)
No entry-level option, no mid-range choices. Just one configuration, and you can’t buy it right now. Odd.
United States – Prepare for Sticker Shock
Here’s where things get genuinely weird. The same high-end configuration (Ultra X7 358H, 32GB, 1TB, OLED) that costs €3,121 in Germany runs to **$3,189** in the US. That’s roughly $200 more after currency conversion – not insane.
But then HP goes off the rails. For some reason, the company is charging more for slower processors. For example:
- A Core Ultra 5 335 model with 512GB storage, 32GB RAM, and a 1200p display costs over $4,000.
- Even worse, a Core Ultra 7 366H configuration with 64GB RAM is priced at an eye-watering $5,998.
Let that sink in. You can buy the flagship X7 358H with 32GB and OLED for $3,189, or you can pay nearly double for a slower CPU and a worse screen. It makes no logical sense – unless HP is trying to push enterprise customers toward specific pre-configured models with different software or support bundles. Either way, consumers and small businesses should triple-check specs before clicking “buy.”
For those who don’t need the absolute latest, the previous-gen EliteBook X G1i (Lunar Lake) is still available – you can find renewed units on Amazon starting around $949, which is a compelling value.
Hands-On Impressions (So Far)
We haven’t yet run our full benchmark suite on the G2i, but early hands-on reports highlight the stunning OLED panel and the almost impossibly light chassis. The 7mm thin edge is real – the laptop feels more like a premium tablet when closed. HP has also retained a full set of ports (including HDMI and USB-A), which is rare for a sub-1kg machine.
The new Panther Lake chips are expected to deliver modest CPU gains over Lunar Lake but with significantly improved integrated graphics (Arc B390). That means the EliteBook X G2i could actually handle light creative work – think Photoshop, light 4K video editing, or even some casual gaming – without a discrete GPU.
Battery life remains an open question. The 68Wh cell is decent, but Panther Lake is an unproven quantity. We’ll reserve judgment until we can run our standard Wi-Fi browsing and video loop tests.
Should You Buy One? Depends on Where You Live
- In the UK? The £1,595 starting price is attractive for a next-gen business ultraportable. Go for the OLED if your budget allows.
- In Germany? Wait. One overpriced, out-of-stock SKU isn’t a launch – it’s a placeholder.
- In the US? Proceed with extreme caution. The $3,189 flagship is actually reasonable, but avoid the bizarrely expensive mid-tier models. And definitely don’t pay $5,998 for a Core Ultra 7 machine – that’s workstation money.
For the most accurate and up-to-date configurations, head directly to HP’s official product page:
👉 HP EliteBook X G2i 14-inch Next-Gen AI PC (Wolf Pro Security Edition) – Official HP Store
And if you’re considering saving some cash with last year’s model:
👉 HP EliteBook X G1i (Renewed) on Amazon – from $949
Final Thoughts: A Brilliant Laptop Lost in a Messy Launch
The EliteBook X G2i 14 deserves better than this fragmented, confusing global rollout. On paper, it’s one of the most exciting ultraportables of 2026 – Panther Lake performance, a best-in-class OLED, and sub-1kg weight in a durable business chassis. But HP’s pricing shenanigans (especially in the US) and the near-absence of options in Germany undermine what should be a triumphant release.
Our advice? If you’re in the UK, grab one of those well-priced Core Ultra 5 configurations and enjoy. If you’re in the US, stick to the $3,189 OLED flagship or look at the renewed G1i. And if you’re in Germany… maybe take a trip to London.
We’ll have a full review with benchmarks and battery tests in the coming weeks. Until then, keep an eye on HP’s regional websites – this pricing chaos might be a temporary glitch rather than a permanent strategy. One can hope.
Source : HP Germany, HP UK (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & HP US (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
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| The EliteBook X G2i weighs around 990 g and tapers to 7 mm at its thinnest point. |
