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| HP sells the HP 200 G2Ri in one colour option for now. |
HP's budget-friendly business laptop quietly arrives with Intel's latest silicon, but the pricing might raise some eyebrows
HP has been on a bit of a Wildcat Lake spending spree lately. Over the past few weeks, the company has been steadily rolling out Intel's latest processor platform across its laptop lineup, from the ultra-affordable OmniBook 3 16 to the more premium OmniBook 5 16. Now, HP has quietly expanded that reach into its HP 200 series with the launch of the HP 200 G2Ri.
According to Notebookcheck, the new HP 200 G2Ri—also listed as the HP 200 G2i on HP's official store—serves as a direct alternative to the HP 200 G2a, which currently retails for around $1,199 on Amazon. While US store listings are the only ones available at the moment, HP has a habit of bringing its US offerings to international markets eventually.
What's Under the Hood?
The HP 200 G2Ri isn't messing around when it comes to processor options. Buyers can choose between three Intel Wildcat Lake chips: the Core 5 320, Core 5 330, and the range-topping Core 7 350. According to benchmark testing, there's roughly a 9% performance gap between these processors, with the Core 7 350 naturally coming out on top.
All configurations share some common ground, though. Every SKU ships with a 41 Wh battery and a 16-inch IPS display that outputs at 1,920 x 1,200 pixels in a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display hits 300 nits brightness and refreshes at 60 Hz—nothing flashy, but perfectly serviceable for productivity work.
Memory and storage options are where things get interesting. HP allows buyers to configure up to 24 GB of RAM, but storage is capped at 512 GB across all configurations. That's a bit limiting for anyone who works with large media files, but it's a reasonable trade-off for a business-focused machine.
The Price Tag Might Surprise You
Here's where the HP 200 G2Ri gets a little complicated. Pricing starts at $2,499 for the base configuration with a Core 5 320, 12 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. If you want to step up to the Core 7 350 with 24 GB of RAM, you're looking at $3,337.
That's a significant investment, especially when you consider what else is available in HP's own lineup. The OmniBook 5 16 with Wildcat Lake starts at just $1,199, and even a fully loaded configuration tops out at around $1,959. Of course, the HP 200 series is positioned as a business machine, which typically commands a premium for enhanced security features and enterprise support.
HP's official store page highlights that the HP 200 G2i comes with Windows 11 Pro, Intel Graphics, and a three-year Wolf Pro Security subscription. Those business-grade additions help justify the higher price tag for corporate buyers, even if they might seem steep for casual consumers.
How Does It Compare to Other HP Wildcat Lake Offerings?
HP has been aggressively expanding its Wildcat Lake portfolio, and the new OmniBook 5 variant has been making waves as a potential MacBook competitor. That machine packs the same Core 7 350 processor but pairs it with a 14-inch OLED display and a more consumer-friendly price point of $1,069.
The OmniBook 3 16, meanwhile, offers similar Wildcat Lake processors at a fraction of the cost. With an $899.99 MSRP that's frequently discounted to just $399.99, it's positioned as the budget-friendly option for students and casual users. The trade-off comes in the display department—the OmniBook 3 16 uses a 300-nit IPS panel with only 62.5% sRGB coverage, which isn't ideal for color-sensitive work.
The Bottom Line
The HP 200 G2Ri is a solid addition to HP's growing Wildcat Lake family, but it occupies a specific niche. Business buyers who need Windows 11 Pro, enterprise security features, and a three-year warranty will find plenty to like here. The processor options are respectable, the RAM ceiling is generous, and the 16-inch display should handle spreadsheets and documents without complaint.
However, budget-conscious consumers might want to look elsewhere in HP's lineup. The OmniBook 5 16 offers similar performance with better display options at a lower price point, while the OmniBook 3 16 provides an even more affordable entry into Wildcat Lake territory.
For more details on the HP 200 G2Ri and its configuration options, visit HP's official store. And if you're looking for a deal on the previous generation, the HP 200 G2a is currently available on Amazon.
