Table of Contents
in Depth Review of HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC, In the portfolio of HP laptops, the EliteBook series is responsible for the business segment, the very name of the series already hints at belonging. Laptops-transformers x360 coexist in it with Dragonfly models, similar in design features, but do not have this level of protection for business users at both the hardware and software level.
If we take separately the series HP EliteBook x360 1000, the test model with the index 1040 G7 replaced the predecessor of the 1040 G6. Not to say that the update was revolutionary, but the filling gradually approached the most modern chips, retained proprietary ergonomics and added a number of functions to provide additional convenience and safety of use. New processors from Intel have reached only the Spectre line, so the EliteBook is still content with the last generation of chips. But first things first.
Appearance,
As is often the case with ultrabooks, the first vivid impression arises immediately when unpacking. This, of course, about the stylish lines of the body and its compact dimensions, coupled with relatively low weight. So, HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 weighs from 1 350 grams and with a thickness of 17 mm definitely does not take up much space in a backpack or bag, literally lost inside and does not pull back / shoulder.
Apparently, in order to illustrate this aspect, with a laptop came branded bag HP Renew Topload in blue. The bag is included in the same line of accessories as the backpack of the same name, Vladimir Nimin told about it in a selection of interesting gadgets.
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Bag 
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Bag
The material of the bag is also made of recycled plastic, inside there are two compartments – for a laptop and the necessary accessories (charger, portable battery, and so on) and for smaller accessories (flash drives or stationery). On the back there is a tape for attaching the bag to the handle of the suitcase, and there is also a strap for carrying on the shoulder. Pleasant, light and, importantly, inexpensive accessory costs about $41.
Back to the hero of the review. The exterior is designed in the spirit of minimalism, ranging from the stylized HP logo on the lid and ending with two small stickers on the main body, some manufacturers in this regard sometimes go too far and try to stick as many stickers as possible. Belonging to the EliteBook line denotes the inscription on the panel of the screen hinge.
The cover, like the entire body, is made of aluminum, has a matte coating and a good level of strength, so easy to bend or squeeze will not work. There is practically no reaction to an attempt to push through the outside in a closed state – an unequivocal plus, especially for a transformer. The laptop even claims certification according to the military standard – MIL810G, so with the strength here order.
The lid opens easily, with one finger, the stroke of the hinge is not easy, but it does not have a special rigidity of fixation in one position. With accentuated forward or backward movement, the lid closes or opens. Neither in the pros nor in the cons I would not put it, just a feature, probably due to the format of the model.
In the course of typing, this does not affect in any way, the screen does not shake. And, of course, you can easily turn the laptop into a tablet, use it both standing and in a supine position, in any scenario, ergonomics is excellent, except that there is not enough stylus in the kit, a separate purchase will cost about $82.
The connectors are in order, everything is at the level of modern business ultrabooks. The main connectors focus on the right sidebar: HDMI, fast USB-A and two Type-C ports with support for DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 and laptop charging. Beauty, and only. On the left there is a combined connector for wired headphones, a connector for Nano-SIM (not in all models, a separate option), a cable mount to ensure the safety of the laptop in the workplace and USB-A of the third generation, it is convenient to connect portable drives or a wireless mouse adapter here, the connected devices will not interfere.
Speaking of mice. In addition to the mentioned bag, the review came wireless mouse HP Creator 930. The functionality of the manipulator is quite wide: horizontal scrolling by deflecting the wheel to the right and left with a nice click, switching between step-by-step and quick scrolling button under the wheel, quick change in the sensitivity of the mouse, ergonomic design under the palm (suitable only for right-handers).
With a weight of 130 grams, such a mouse is clearly designed for those users who are uncomfortable with miniature manipulators. The experience of use is definitely pleasant, for myself I noted a very thin and miniature adapter, organically fitting into the overall concept and color of the laptop. The model is not the cheapest, but not the most expensive, costs about $123 rubles and for this money will give excellent ergonomics and up to 12 weeks of work from a single charge.
Display
There are several modifications of HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7: from 4K to FHD, with reduced and normal power consumption, on which the regular brightness of the display depends. Judging by the impressions of testing, in the version on the review the brightness is at the peak of 1000 nits, at the maximum it is comfortable to use except under bright lighting, most of the testing I was enough 50% brightness. IPS-matrix is not bad in quality, good color gamut and protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5 have and give a positive experience when using. Not OLED, of course, but not bad either.
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC 
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Display 
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Windows 10
Optionally, HP Sure View technology is installed in the laptop, with one click of the F2 button, it does not allow anyone else to see the content on the display. When the mode is activated, the brightness decreases, the image becomes cloudy and is clearly seen only by the one who looks directly at the display. The option may add value to the model, but for business users it is definitely in place.
Of the “chips” to ensure privacy, you can note the built-in fingerprint scanner (to the right of the space bar, not highlighted) and the keys for mute the microphone and activate the physical curtain of the webcam. The latter is located above the display, the thickness of the panel is slightly less than a centimeter. The side bezels are even thinner, which only adds to the positive from using the display. You give a ratio of 16:10 and 16 inches diagonal, you can not convert!
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Hd webcam Camera 
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Touchpad
The built-in audio system is Bang & Olufsen certified, two speakers are displayed up on the sides of the keyboard, the slots of two more speakers are located on the bevel of the panel of the lower part of the case, which is closer to the user. To be honest, I have not heard such a high-quality sound in all respects – both in frequency response and in terms of volume reserve.
The speakers in the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 easily rock my office (a.s. room), what can we say about the desktop. Even after a week of testing, this aspect gives a persistent wow effect, so that the owner of such a laptop will definitely not complain about the loud situation, you can not even use headphones. The sound deserves the highest ratings.
Keyboard, Touchpad
In turn, the governing bodies are not surprising, but not upsetting. Quite a familiar keyboard with convenient medium-sized switches and a quiet shallow stroke. But it is necessary to dig deeper, and protection from water is detected, the backlight is two-level, a separate white light indication indicates the on/off key inscribed in the general keyboard unit, neat muted yellow lights indicate the active keys for turning off the microphone and webcam.
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Keyboard 
There is no digital block – a tribute to the miniature format of the laptop, but it made it possible to make the size of the frequently used keys acceptable for blind printing with a minimum number of typos. There are no complaints about the size of the keys, even the “arrows” are convenient to press.
The touch panel can optionally have a glass coating, in the test version it, unfortunately, is not. The minus is exclusively aesthetic, there are no complaints about the functionality: all gestures are worked out quickly and without problems. The panel is located in the center of the case, has an average size.
Performance, autonomy, cooling
In its series, the test version of the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 is the base model. In the top is a processor Intel Core i7-10810U, 32 GB of RAM and SSD for 512 GB. Memory upgrade is not available, RAM is soldered, the slot for SSD is unique. If you look at the regular processor in the model on the review, it is clearly not the newest, was released two years ago. Hence not the most advanced process, four cores with eight threads and not the largest cache. The 15W heat package, the Comet Lake-U microarchitecture all hint at an accentuated concern for autonomy, to which we will return.
Yes, the processor is clearly not the most powerful. However, if you compare the results of benchmarks with the performance of a laptop-transformer with Intel Core i7-1165G7, then there is a difference of 15-20% depending on the test. Is this a reason to overpay for the latest generation of Intel? The question is open, because the graphics in the new processors looks very promising and even allows you to play at not the highest settings in AAA games of the past and the year before last, albeit without miracles in terms of frame rate. Test laptop serious games clearly will not pull.
But overall performance is at an acceptable and even good level for its value. The installed hard drive from Kioxia shows the average speed segment, Optane memory is not provided here.
Benchmarks
- Cinebench R23: CPU 3577, single-core 1062
- Geekbench 5: single-core 1059 / multi-core 3983
- PCMark 10: 4020 (basic 8602 operations / 6327 productivity / 3241 digital content creation).
- 3D Mark:
- DirectX 12 in games, Time Spy: 477 (graphics 417, cpu 2678)
- DirectX 12 General Test, Night Raid: 5892 (5998 Graphics, 5361 CPU)
- DirectX 11, Fire Strike: 1162 (graphics 1268, physics 8689, combined test 398);
- Wild Life Cross-Platform Test: 3160
- CrystalDIsk Mark: read 2382 MB/s/ 1554 MB/s write.
Under load, you can feel the heating of the lower part of the case and the area adjacent to the row of F keys, which also become warmer than usual. On the panel where the user’s hands lie, the heating is not felt. The cooling system works with an average volume, which is easy to block the mentioned OEM audio system. In normal mode without load, the computer is silent.
The laptop wakes up for about 10 seconds and is ready to go. Autonomy is really pumped, in office scenarios with access to the Internet with the keyboard backlight turned off and the brightness of the display in the region of 30% of the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 easily crosses the line of 10 hours of work.
According to rough estimates, it is quite possible to achieve an indicator of 15 hours with the optimal performance mode, especially if you still reduce the brightness. I liked the complete power supply HP Smart, firstly, it is very compact and lightweight, and secondly, gives 65 W and charges the laptop completely in two hours, and can charge 50% in 30 minutes.
Competitors
The model has a lot of worthy competitors. In the segment up to $1,371.00 aggressively plays Lenovo, laptops-transformers Thinkbook 14s Yoga are equipped with more modern chips, a large amount of RAM and permanent memory and cost around $1,096. Ten thousand cheaper will cost ASUS VivoBook Flip 14, however, there is 8 GB of memory, but SSD for 512 GB.
But these models are not as sharpened on the business segment as a test laptop. Therefore, it is more fair to compare it with models of the level of Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9. They are similar in overall reliability, privacy and data protection functions, work on the Intel Core i5 of the 11th generation, but at the same time cost from $2152 and $1,837. In general, there are a lot of more modern models, not to mention laptops in the classic form factor, but it is important to look at the ratio of price and the features offered.
On the side of the hero of the review, you can distinguish high brightness and overall quality of the screen, verified ergonomics and decent autonomy, but in any case, purely psychologically, it will be perceived as a less productive model, and the cost will not be decided in its favor. So it would be nice to see the cost in the region of $1,097, it seems to me that in this case the attractiveness of the model will be higher.
Results, impressions
According to subjective impressions, the HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 has almost everything that can satisfy the picky user: flexible use cases thanks to the transformer form factor, an excellent and bright screen, cool speakers, confident autonomy and stylish appearance. Not the last place is occupied by “chips” for business, of which there are many. Lubricate the overall impression of the cost and the presence of not the most modern, albeit sane processor, as well as the impossibility of expanding the amount of RAM and permanent memory on their own.
The hero of the review personally I liked very much, they are convenient and actually pleasant to use, in the scenarios of the home office, he came in handy: periodically you get tired of a full-fledged PC and office chair, you want to work reclining on a more comfortable sofa or chair. In general, the direction of development of the HP Ultrabook segment causes positive emotions in many aspects, except that price positioning does not always allow you to play on the same field with competitors who are not going to just give up their market shares. Personal assessment is five, but there is something to work on and what to improve.
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 Notebook PC Specifications
Operating systems
| Feature | Description |
| Pre-installed (Windows) | Windows 10 Pro 64 (National Academic License)NOTE: Some devices for academic use automatically update to Windows 10 Pro Education with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Features vary.Windows 10 Pro 64 (recommended by HP)Windows 10 Home 64Windows 10 Home Single Language 64Windows 10 Pro 64 (Windows 10 Enterprise available with a Volume Licensing Agreement)NOTE: Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems might require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows functionality. Windows 10 automatic updates are always enabled. ISP fees might apply and additional requirements might apply over time for updates. |
| Pre-installed (other) | FreeDOS 1.2 |
NOTE: In accordance with Microsoft support policy, HP does not support the Windows 8 or Windows 7 operating system on products configured with Intel and AMD 7th generation or later processors, or provide any Windows 8 or Windows 7 drivers.
Processors
| Feature | Description |
| Intel Core i7-10810U Processor | 1.1 GHz, up to 4.9 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology12 MB cache, 6 coresSupports Intel vPro technologyIntel UHD Graphics |
| Intel Core i7-10710U Processor | 1.1 GHz, up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology12 MB cache, 6 coresIntel UHD Graphics |
| Intel Core i7-10610U Processor | 1.8 GHz, up to 4.9 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology8 MB cache, 4 coresSupports Intel vPro technologyIntel UHD Graphics |
| Intel Core i5-10310U Processor | 1.7 GHz, up to 4.4 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology6 MB cache, 4 coresSupports Intel vPro technologyIntel UHD Graphics |
| Intel Core i5-10210U Processor | 1.6 GHz, up to 4.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology6 MB cache, 4 coresIntel UHD Graphics |
| Chipset | Integrated with processor |
NOTE: Multicore is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Performance and clock frequency vary depending on application workload and hardware and software configurations. Intel numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.Processor speed denotes maximum performance mode; processors run at lower speeds in battery optimization mode.
Memory
| Feature | Description |
| Standard | Memory soldered downSupports dual-channel memoryLPDDR4, system runs at 2933 MT/s |
| Configurations | 32 GB LPDDR4-2933 SDRAM16 GB LPDDR4-2933 SDRAM8 GB LPDDR4-2933 SDRAM |
| Maximum | 32 GB |
NOTE: Due to the non-industry standard nature of some third-party memory modules, we recommend HP branded memory to ensure compatibility. If memory speeds are mixed, the system performs at the lower memory speed.
Graphics
| Feature | Description |
| Integrated | Intel UHD Premium GraphicsNOTE: Ultra High-definition (HD) content is required to view ultra high definition images. |
| Supports | HD decodeDirectX 12HDMI 1.4b |
Display
| Feature | Description |
| Touch display (optional) | 35.56 cm (14.0 in) diagonal FHD IPS Ultraslim 2.0 mm eDP and PSR2 BrightView touchscreen with 0.4 mm Gorilla Glass 5 , 400 nits, 72% NTSC (1920 x 1080)35.56 cm (14.0 in) diagonal FHD IPS Ultraslim 2.0 mm eDP and PSR2 anti-glare touchscreen with 0.4 mm Gorilla Glass 5, 400 nits, 72% NTSC (1920 x 1080)35.56 cm (14.0 in) diagonal UHD OLED IPS Ultraslim 1.21 mm eDP and PSR2 BrightView touchscreen with 0.4 mm Gorilla Glass 5, 400 nits, 72% NTSC (3840 x 2160)HP Sure View Reflect Integrated Privacy Screen 35.56 cm (14.0 in) diagonal FHD IPS Ultraslim 2.0 mm eDP and PSR BrightView touchscreen with 0.4 mm Gorilla Glass 5, 1000 nits, 72% NTSC (1920 x 1080)HP Sure View Reflect Integrated Privacy Screen 35.56 cm (14.0 in) diagonal FHD IPS Ultraslim 2.0 mm eDP and PSR anti-glare touchscreen with 0.4 mm Gorilla Glass 5, 1000 nits, 72% NTSC (1920 x 1080)NOTE: High-definition (HD) content is required to view high definition images. Resolutions are dependent upon monitor capability and resolution and color depth settings. HP Sure View integrated privacy screen is an optional feature that must be configured at purchase and is designed to function in landscape orientation. |
| Supported display resolutions | Supports resolutions up to 4K at 60 Hz via HDMI v1.4b |
Storage/drives
| Feature | Description |
| Primary M.2 Solid State Drive storage | 128 GB SATA-3 TLC SSD256 GB PCIe NVMe Value SSD256 GB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe TLC SSD256 GB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe TLC Opal 2 SED SSD256 GB PCIe QLC SSD with 16 GB Intel Optane Memory512 GB PCIe NVMe Value SSD512 GB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe TLC SSD512 GB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe TLC Opal 2 SSD512 GB Intel PCIe NVMe QLC SSD with 32 GB Intel Optane Memory2 TB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe TLC SSD1 TB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe TLC SSD |
NOTE: For solid state drives or hard drives, GB = 1 billion bytes. TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 30 GB (for Windows 10) is reserved for system recovery software.
Networking/communication
| Feature | Description |
| Wireless LAN (WLAN) | Intel Dual Band Wireless-AX201 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 Combo, non-vProIntel Dual Band Wireless-AX201 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 Combo, vProNOTE: Wi-Fi 6 is backwards compatible with prior 802.11 specs. Wireless access point and internet service is required and is not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. The specifications for the 802.11 WLAN are draft specifications and are not final. If the final specifications differ from the draft specifications, it might affect the ability of the notebook to communicate with other 802.11 WLAN devices. |
| WWAN | Intel XMM 7360 LTE-Advanced Cat 9NOTE: WWAN module is an optional feature, requires factory configuration and requires separately purchased service contract. Check with service provider for coverage and availability in your area. Connection speeds might vary due to location, environment, network conditions, and other factors. 4G LTE not available on all products, in all countries/regions.Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G modem (5G and LTE CAT 20) |
| NFC | NPC300 Near Field Communication module (sold separately or as an optional feature) |
| PC locator | Built-in Tile module (select models)NOTE: Tile is an optional feature that must be configured at the factory and requires Windows 10. Some features require optional subscription to Tile Premium. Not available on models with WWAN M.2 module. Tile application for Windows 10 is available for download from the Windows Store. Mobile phone app available for download from App Store and Google Play. Requires iOS 11 and greater or Android 6.0. |
| Miracast support | Yes |
Ports/slots
| Feature | Description |
| Ports | (2) USB Type-C ports (Thunderbolt, supports Power Deliver 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2)(2) USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (5 Gbps signaling rate)(1) HDMI 1.4b (cable sold separately)(1) Headphone/microphone combo jack(1) AC power input port |
| Slot | (1) Nano SIM card slot (for WWAN)NOTE: All units have a SIM card stray but units that do not support WWAN are shipped with a non-removable SIM slot plug. |
Audio/multimedia
| Feature | Description |
| Audio | Audio by Bang & Olufsen(4) Premium Stereo SpeakersMicrophones (multi-array including two user facing and two world-facing microphones) |
| Camera | Hybrid 720p HD/IR camera with integrated privacy shutterNOTE: HD content required to view HD images. |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensorHall SensorMagnetometerAccelerometerGyroscopeTime of flight |
Keyboard/pointing device/function keys
| Feature | Description |
| HP Quiet Keyboard | Spill resistantOptional backlit keyboard, privacy, and DuraKeys |
| Pointing device | Glass clickpad with multi-touch gestures enabled (taps enabled as default) |
| Function keys | F1 – Display switchingF2 – Blank or Sure ViewF3 – Brightness downF4 – Brightness upF5 – Audio mute/unmuteF6 – Volume downF7 – Volume upF8 – Microphone mute/unmuteF9 – Backlight toggleF10 – InsertF11 – Airplane modeF12 – HP Programmable KeyHidden Function KeysFn + R – BreakFn + S – Sys rqFn + C – Scroll lockFn + E – InsertFn + W – Pause |
Software/security
| Feature | Description |
| BIOS | HP BIOSphere Gen5 (available on select platforms)HP Sure Start Gen6HP DriveLock/HP Automatic DriveLockBIOS Update via NetworkPower On AuthenticationMaster Boot Record SecurityHP Secure Erase (methods outlined in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-88)Pre-boot AuthenticationAbsolute Persistence ModuleNOTE: Absolute agent is activated when customers activate a purchased subscription. Subscriptions can be purchased for terms ranging multiple years. Service is limited, check with Absolute for availability outside the U.S. The Absolute Recovery Guarantee is a limited warranty. Certain conditions apply. Data Delete is an optional service provided by Absolute Software. If utilized, the Recovery Guarantee is null and void. In order to use the Data Delete service, customers must first sign a Pre-Authorization Agreement and either obtain a PIN or purchase one or more RSA SecurID tokens from Absolute Software. |
| Communication/connectivity | HP Connection Optimizer |
| HP Value add software | HP Presence AwareHP Sure Recover Gen3 (requires internet connection and not for systems with multiple drives)HP Hotkey SupportHP Image AssistantHP JumpstartHP WorkwellHP Support Assistant (requires Windows and internet access)HP Noise Cancellation software |
| Microsoft products | Buy Office (sold separately) |
| Manageability | HP Driver packs (available for download)HP System Software Manager (SSM) (available for download)HP BIOS Configuration Utility (BCU) (available for download)HP Client Catalog (available for download)HP Management Integration Kit Gen4 for Microsoft SCCM (available for download)NOTE: For more information about manageability software, go to the HP Client Management Solutions webpage. |
| Security | HP Client Security Manager Gen6 (requires Windows and available on select platforms)HP Fingerprint SensorWindows Defender (opt in and internet connection required for updates)For Windows 10, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 (Infineon SLB9670)Common Criteria EAL4+ Certified |
| Other standard security features | Serial, USB enable/disable (via BIOS)Power-on password (via BIOS)Setup password (via BIOS)HP Sure Click (available on select HP platforms and supports Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Chromium)HP Sure Sense (requires Windows)Support for chassis padlocks and cable lock devices |
Power
| Feature | Description |
| Power adapters | HP Smart 65 W USB Type-C adapterNOTE: Availability might vary by country/region. |
| Power cord | 1.0 m (3.28 ft) Premium C5 power cord1.0 m (3.28 ft) Conventional C5 power cord |
| Primary battery | HP Long Life 4-cell, 54.5 Wh Li-ion polymerHP Long Life 4-cell, 78.6 Wh Li-ion polymerNOTE: Battery is internal and not replaceable by customer. Serviceable by warranty. Windows 10 MM14 battery life varies depending on various factors including product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality, and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery naturally decreases with time and usage. |
Physical specifications
| Feature | Description |
| Weight | Starting at 1.32 kg (2.91 lb)NOTE: Weight varies by configuration and components. |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 31.93 x 20.27 x 1.65 cm (12.57 x 7.98 x 0.65 in) |
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