💻 EliteBook 8 G1i vs X G2

The EliteBook 8 G1i. It is Intel-only, so you image and manage a single x86 platform, vPro remote management is available on the 268V and 265H SKUs, and you can standardise on 14in or 16in from the same family. The EliteBook X G2 spans Intel, AMD and Snapdragon (Arm), which broadens choice but means mixed imaging and app-compatibility validation — better suited to premium individual issue than uniform volume rollout.

The EliteBook 8 G1i has two Thunderbolt 4 ports across its Intel line-up. On the EliteBook X G2, Thunderbolt 4 is present on the Intel and AMD models, but the Snapdragon variants use two USB4 40Gbps ports instead (Snapdragon does not carry the Thunderbolt brand). Both deliver 40Gbps, USB-C Power Delivery and DisplayPort — but confirm the exact silicon if your docking estate is standardised on Thunderbolt.

The EliteBook X G2 is Copilot+ across the range, with up to 85 TOPS on Snapdragon X2 Elite and 50 TOPS on the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H. The EliteBook 8 G1i is Copilot+ only on its Lunar Lake SKUs (268V/256V, ~47-48 TOPS); its Arrow Lake-H SKUs (265H/255H) are AI PCs with a 13 TOPS NPU that do not meet the 40+ TOPS Copilot+ threshold. If you need guaranteed Copilot+ features, verify the specific processor at order.

Neither is a mobile workstation: both use integrated graphics rather than a discrete GPU, so heavy CAD or GPU rendering belongs on HP's ZBook line. The EliteBook X G2 is a thin-and-light flagship with soldered LPDDR5X (up to 64GB, non-upgradeable). The EliteBook 8 G1i is also soldered on Lunar Lake, but its Arrow Lake-H configuration uses two DDR5 SODIMM slots (up to 64GB) that can be upgraded after purchase — the only user-upgradeable-memory path between the two.