Head-To-Head: HP EliteBook 1030 G1 Vs. Apple MacBook Pro (13-Inch)

Productive And Stylish

When trying to find a computer for work, one reason to consider HP Inc.'s new EliteBook 1030 G1 versus Apple's productivity-friendly laptop, the MacBook Pro, might have to do with looks. The devices are really two of a kind, at least in terms of appearance, with aluminum chassis and rounded edges on both laptops.

But along with the obvious -- the EliteBook 1030 runs Windows 10 while MacBook Pro runs OSX El Capitan -- other differences separate the two machines. Which is the better fit for users? In the following slides, the CRN Test Center compares the specs and prices for the EliteBook 1030 G1 -- which was unveiled Monday, and will be available some time this month -- and the latest release of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Also, be sure to check out more of the CRN Test Center's side-by-side comparisons of the latest smartphones, tablets, and 2-in-1s.

Display

HP's EliteBook 1030 G1 has a display size of 13.3 inches, the same as the 13-inch MacBook Pro (which is actually 13.3 inches). The 1030 G1 comes in two versions -- touch screen and nontouch. The touch-screen version has a QHD (quad HD, or four times the pixels of HD) display with resolution of 3,200 by 1,800. The nontouch version is FHD (full HD) with a still-impressive resolution of 1,920 by 1,080.

Meanwhile, the 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with an LED-backlit Retina display with resolution falling between those of the two editions of the EliteBook 1030 -- at 2,560 by 1,600 pixels.

Thickness And Weight

One of HP's leading differentiators with the EliteBook 1030 G1 is in its relatively slim and light design. The 1030 G1 is 0.62 of an inch thick. The touch screen and nontouch versions of the laptop weigh about the same -- 2.56 pounds and 2.55 pounds, respectively.

By comparison, the MacBook Pro is a fair amount heavier and a bit thicker, too. The 13-inch laptop measures at 0.71 of an inch thick and weighs 3.48 pounds, about 27 percent heavier than the EliteBook 1030.

Processors

With the EliteBook 1030 G1, HP has been able to create a slimmer machine in part because it's built around a low-power processor (which needs no fan). That processor is, depending on the configuration, Intel's Core m5 or m7. The m5 has a clock speeds of 1.1GHz with a turbo frequency of up to 2.8GHz, while for the m7 the clock speeds are 1.2GHz and 3.1GHz turbo. That's certainly going to be sufficient for getting a lot of work done, but the MacBook Pro does offer more giddyup in the processor department. Thanks in part to its thicker profile the 13-inch MacBook Pro is able to accommodate a higher-power processor -- Intel's 6th-gen Core i5 processor. The processor is dual-core with a clock speed of 2.7GHz or 2.9GHz, depending on the configuration, with turbo boost up to 3.1GHz or 3.3GHz.

Memory And Storage

HP certainly has multitaskers in mind with the EliteBook 1030 G1, which includes up to 16 GB RAM (other possible configurations weren't mentioned by HP). The G1 also comes with 256 GB or 512 GB of solid-state storage.

The 13-inch version of the MacBook Pro, meanwhile, comes with 8 GB of RAM as the standard but is configurable up to 16 GB. Its storage is flash rather than solid-state, and the 13-inch version comes with either 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB of flash.

Battery Life

Both the EliteBook 1030 G1 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro have some big promises on battery life. For the nontouch version of the 1030, the promise is up to 13 hours and 15 minutes of battery life on a single charge; the touch-screen version promises up to 9 hours.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro promises up to 12 hours of iTunes movie playback on a single charge and 10 hours of wireless Web surfing.

Ports And Features

HP has outfitted the EliteBook 1030 G1 with a good set of port options -- two USB 3.0, one USB-C and an HDMI video output. The laptop has also got some features aimed at supporting collaboration, including a 720p HD webcam, noise reduction software and audio by Bang & Olufsen.

The MacBook Pro also doesn't skimp on ports, with two USB 3.0, two Thunderbolt 2 and an HDMI. The laptop also includes a 720p HD camera, while other feature differentiators include a Force Touch track pad that can "detect subtle differences in the amount of downward pressure you apply," among other things.

Price

As mentioned, the EliteBook 1030 G1 is not available right now, but will be in May, according to HP. The company has released pricing on two configurations of the laptop to CRN:

- $1,249: nontouch, Core m5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage

- $1,799: touch screen, Core m7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage

While a range of configurations are available for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, two that are comparable on price (as well as some of the specs) to the aforementioned EliteBook 1030 configurations are:

- $1,299: Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage

- $1,699: Core i5 processor, 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage