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日本HP EliteBook 860 G10 review – snappy and light office device with all-metal build
Verdict
Overall, the HP EliteBook 860 G10 is a good choice if you’re on the hunt for a new big and light business device. The laptop is thin, the metal build feels premium to the touch and the input devices are comfortable for work. Still, the backlight is optional which is very strange considering the end price of the notebook. At least the unit is spill-resistant which is an additional layer of protection if you tend to drop opened water bottles on the notebook.
The performance is good but our laptop has just one 16GB DDR5 RAM stick. A second memory module will boost the CPU and the iGPU power even more. Speaking of which, it looks like you can use the machine for light gaming. Even with single-channel memory, the integrated graphics solution can show around 70 FPS in CS:GO on Max details – not bad!
The modest-looking cooling solution is enough for a 15W CPU. The optional Core i7-1355U can maintain good clocks even in long periods of max CPU load while the temperatures of the chip are pleasantly low – 65°C. In this case, the cooling fan is quiet and the keyboard is cool enough for normal work.
The upgradability is okay but we were expecting more. The two SODIMMs that fit up to 64GB of DDR5-5200MHz (or 4800MHz) memory is good news for all users, but it’s disappointing to see just one M.2 slot. The device offers optional 5G or LTE connectivity via the WWAN slot. Speaking of which, the notebook brings Wi-Fi 6Е and Bluetooth 5.3 to the table, as well as a modern port selection with two Thunderbolt 4’s and an HDMI 2.1. The battery life is long even with the default 51.3Wh unit – 10 hours of Web browsing on a single charge sounds great.
The 1200p IPS panel is suitable for long hours of work at the office. The panel is PWM-free, it has wide viewing angles and a good contrast ratio. The color accuracy isn’t something to write home about and the sRGB coverage is low. If you want punchier color and infinite contrast ratio, you can get the optional 2.8K OLED model.
Despite the metal body and the MIL-STD 810H certification, the chassis solidness isn’t the best one out there. If you need all security features, you have to pay more money for an IR Web camera and a fingerprint scanner. In addition, the Smartcard Reader is also an option and there is no sign of an SD card reader.
The HP EliteBook 860 G10 is a solid offer in the business category of laptops. Its good comfort under load, long battery life, snappy performance, and up-to-date port selection can be a deal breaker for users who need a thin and light device for office usage.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/hp-elitebook-860-g10/
Pros
- Good battery life
- Thin and light metal chassis
- Comfortable spill-resistant keyboard + smooth touchpad
- Optional IR face recognition camera + fingerprint reader
- 5MP Web camera with a privacy shutter
- Wide viewing angles and good contrast ratio (LG Display LGD0702)
- PWM-free (LG Display LGD0702)
- 2x SODIMMs plus optional WWAN slot
- Good I/O with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and optional Smart Card reader
- 8 CPU options
- High processor clocks under full load especially in short and medium stress
- The fan is quiet
Cons
- A bit expensive for what it is
- No SD card slot
- Just one M.2 slot
- The lid could be more solid
- Low sRGB coverage (LG Display LGD0702)
- Most of the goodies are optional
- Our laptop has a QLC NVMe
