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The tenth generation of the legendary HP EliteBook x360 1040 doesn’t look innovative, but it looks familiar. The versatile, beautiful professional notebook once again proves to be a
The tenth generation of the legendary HP EliteBook x360 1040 doesn’t look innovative, but it looks familiar. The versatile, beautiful professional notebook once again proves to be a loyal companion for every office worker or manager.
The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 (1,851 euros excl. VAT) is a stylish and loyal companion. This device is not the most exclusive from HP’s business series: you have to go for the Dragonfly series. Nevertheless, the EliteBook x360 1040 is an extremely high-quality laptop with great specifications in a simple but well-made and recognizable chassis. Add to that a color-fast screen and an excellent battery, and you have a nice overall package.
We don’t see any surprises from the outside. The sturdy aluminum housing suggests robust workmanship quality, which HP further underlines with a MILT-810G certificate. The manufacturer is transparent about the testing it conducts and practically throws the laptops on the floor, so you can have reasonable confidence in the build quality.
At 1.4 kg, this 14-inch laptop is not the lightest of its kind, but the device feels compact and will not quickly become a strain on the back or shoulders of the experienced commuter or business traveler. When we open the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10, we see a large, precise and quiet touchpad and a black keyboard with white letter lighting that feels very comfortable when typing.
As already mentioned, the screen is of the highest quality. Our test model has an IPS panel with 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, which is already well calibrated out of the box. The EliteBook has DeltaE (color deviation) in both white balance and colors, which remains below the magic 2. This means professionals can rely on reliable image representation. Only the red values deviate a little more in some cases, although this is absolutely negligible for a laptop that is not specifically aimed at the graphics market.
Our biggest criticism of this wonderfully matte touchscreen is the brightness. With a maximum of 384 cd/m², teleworking in the sun is actually not an option. This EliteBook 1040 is the x360 variant, which means you can fully fold the screen into laptop mode. This can be useful for presentations.
Inside our test model, HP installed an Intel Core i7-1355U with integrated graphics, 32 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Intel now has new processors on the market, but the fourteenth generation chips are not significantly different from the thirteenth generation CPUs. An exception are the Core Ultra CPUs, which we include in our performance comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro.
The powerful processor has two P-cores and eight E-cores, i.e. a total of ten computing cores and twelve threads. Intel states that the Core i7-1355U can reach a maximum of 5 GHz, but we never measured more than 4.4 GHz with the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10. Within a few seconds, the clock speed drops due to thermal limitations and finally stabilizes at a respectable 2.8 GHz.
We compare with an all-in-one from HP itself with a Core i5-1335U on board and an Asus Expertbook that houses the same Core i7. You can clearly see that HP can get a lot of performance out of the CPU. As expected, the Samsung notebook with the new Core Ultra chip performs better.
A second CPU test shows the same results. Despite the relatively slim case, HP makes good use of the processor’s performance.
The story becomes more nuanced when we examine office work. For light work, this HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 is a speed demon. The large RAM and fast SSD ensure that the notebook even leaves the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro with Intel Core Ultra behind.
This gain is lost when we consider more productivity-intensive work, such as working with large Excel spreadsheets. In this case, the Core Ultra chip is the champion. It is noticeable that when working for longer periods of time, when the clock speed drops, the difference to a device with an Intel Core i5 processor is not that big.
This just proves what we often say: an Intel “U” chip for the laptop offers the best price-performance ratio in the Core i5 segment, with not as much noticeable gain for a Core i7.
The added value of the Core Ultra compared to the chip in the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 is most evident with slightly higher visual workloads. Be sure to note the difference in graphics, where the GPU plays a big role. The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 handles this task well, but cannot keep up with the integrated Arc graphics in the Core Ultra.
Other than that, this laptop is fast and feels like it. From our point of view, HP could definitely have opted for a Core i5 here. Even for heavier office work, the difference isn’t huge. For light work, this laptop is a speed demon, thanks in part to the large RAM.
Despite the good features, this EliteBook can easily survive a working day without a power outlet. We see absolute top performance in modest office work. That’s strong considering the 51Wh battery isn’t actually that big.
The smaller battery has an additional advantage: charging is lightning fast. In exactly half an hour you can charge half the battery.
HP focuses heavily on software with its business devices, and this HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 is no different. HP Wolf Pro Security is present. This security suite adds many additional relevant features to the laptop and complements what Microsoft already offers with Windows 11 Pro.
The tight integration of the hardware and the Wolf software ensures that HP can secure the device to an additional level. Sure Click, which lets you open attachments in isolation in a micro VM so ransomware doesn’t stand a chance, is one of our favorite extensions.
HP equips the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 with an impressive 5 MP webcam. The HP Presence camera is also found in the Dragonfly and is one of the best integrated cameras you can currently find in a laptop. Rely on sharp images, even in low light or backlight. The only thing we notice is that the standard colors are a little paler than reality.
The sound is also first class. You can be heard clearly during a video call, even in less than ideal circumstances. In our tests, for example, the notebook filtered out echoes cleanly in a bare, echoing room and music in the background didn’t come through. Conversely, the EliteBook has good speakers so that the opponent can be heard clearly.
Finally, HP offers a nice selection of ports with a smart card reader, a full HDMI port and two USB Type-A ports, combined with two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt) ports that you can also use the laptop with can. Burden. Unfortunately, both USB-C ports are on the left side: a copy on the right side would have offered just that little bit of extra flexibility.
The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 is an excellent overall package. We have no major complaints about this laptop, which does what it’s supposed to do on all levels. The beautiful but simple device is robust, powerful, durable and has a beautiful screen. The HP Dragonfly series is certainly the nicest and lightest of the HP lineup, but the HP EliteBook 1040 x360 G10 takes a deserved second place and is cheaper.
This laptop is slightly more suitable for the general public. Our test model has a recommended retail price of 1,851 euros without VAT, but versions starting at 1,303 euros are also available. Are you looking for a business office laptop in this price range? Then you don’t have to hesitate.
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G10 (919Y4EA, 1,851 euros excl. VAT): Intel Core i7-1355U, 32 GB RAM, 14 inch matt FHD IPS touchscreen (1,920 x 1,200 pixels), 512 GB SSD, Windows 11 Pro
Warranty: 3 year (3-3-3) warranty and service including 3 year parts, labor and on-site repair warranty. Includes next business day service for parts and labor.
Source: IT Daily
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
