HP Debuts EliteBook X G2 Series At CES 2026: 10 Big Things To Know

The new AI PC portfolio features an expanded set of chip options for clamshell models, with choices between Intel, AMD and Qualcomm processors for AI-intensive work styles, HP says.

HP’s Newest AI PC Notebooks

HP Inc. is making big strides to advance GenAI performance on its premium EliteBook X commercial notebooks with the launch of second-generation AI PC devices in the series, announced Monday at CES 2026. In a major move, the PC giant unveiled its EliteBook X G2 Series with an expanded set of processor options for clamshell models—with choices between chips from Intel, AMD and Qualcomm—while sticking with an Intel-only approach for convertible 2-in-1 devices in the new portfolio.

The HP EliteBook X G2 devices feature 14-inch displays for both clamshell and convertible models. A number of other productivity and usability upgrades are also arriving with the new EliteBook X laptops, including around OLED display options and rechargeable pen features.

The HP “Next Gen AI” PC devices have varying availability dates and pricing was not immediately disclosed. The announcement from HP Inc. comes in connection with the massive CES 2026 conference, taking place this week in Las Vegas.

What follows are 10 big things to know about HP’s new EliteBook X G2 Series.

EliteBook X G2: Chip Options

Unlike in the first-generation launch of HP’s EliteBook X—which solely featured Intel processors—the EliteBook X G2 Series will offer a lot more choices on chips. For clamshell models, HP is offering EliteBook X G2 laptops with options from among chipmakers AMD and Qualcomm, in addition to Intel. The move is aimed at enabling enhanced performance for increasingly AI-intensive work styles as well as aligning with variations in IT and end user deployment cycles, according to HP. It also expands the EliteBook X series from essentially a single-product platform to a portfolio of products, HP said. HP is offering the EliteBook X G2q (with Qualcomm processors), EliteBook X G2i (with Intel chips) and EliteBook X G2a (with AMD processors).

EliteBook X G2q: Chips

The EliteBook X G2q—which consists of clamshell EliteBook X G2 models with Qualcomm processors—will offer choices between Snapdragon X2 Elite chips as well as Qualcomm’s newly introduced six-core Snapdragon X2 Plus processors. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chips were announced by Qualcomm earlier Monday in connection with CES 2026. In HP’s announcement, the company said the EliteBook X G2q will be the “world’s first business notebook” that can boast up to 85 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of neural processing unit (NPU) acceleration, for models featuring the “latest” Snapdragon X2 Elite processor. HP’s EliteBook X G2q will be configurable with 18-core or 12-core Snapdragon X2 Elite chips as well as the Snapdragon X2 Plus with six-core CPU, the company said.

EliteBook X G2i: Chips

The EliteBook X G2i consists of clamshell EliteBook X G2 models with Intel processors, and will include options for the newly introduced Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors—ideal for users of graphically intensive AI applications, HP said in a news release. At the top level, the EliteBook X G2i will be able to offer neural processing unit (NPU) performance of 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS), according to HP. Processor options will include Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 chips, with both vPro and non-vPro options available, the company said.

EliteBook X G2a: Chips

HP’s EliteBook X G2a—which consists of clamshell EliteBook X G2 models with AMD processors—will offer “significantly faster AI performance,” HP said in its news release. Chip options will include the “latest” AMD Ryzen AI processors, offering neural processing unit (NPU) performance of 55 trillion operations per second (TOPS), according to HP. Choices include AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470, with up to 55 TOPS; Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 with up to 50 TOPS; Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 with up to 50 TOPS; and Ryzen AI 5 435 with up to 50 TOPS.

EliteBook X Flip G2i: Chips

For the convertible model of HP’s second-generation EliteBook X Series—the EliteBook X Flip G2i—only Intel processors will be available. On par with the clamshell model, the 2-in-1 laptop will offer neural processing unit (NPU) performance of up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS), according to HP. Options will include Intel Core chips—Ultra 5 or Ultra 7—with both vPro and non-vPro options available, the company said.

Rechargeable Pen Upgrades

HP disclosed that the rechargeable pen is another area to see major feature upgrades in the new release announced Monday. While the pen was previously magnetically attached—as with most such devices in the industry—HP said the pen can now be stored inside the device itself. In another change, HP has unlocked button customization for the stylus buttons through the new updates. The stylus buttons can now be mapped to any keyboard shortcut, not just Microsoft apps, according to HP.

‘Tandem’ OLED Display

HP announced that it has newly expanded its OLED options across the EliteBook X G2 Series. The top-tier option is a “tandem” OLED 3K display, which consists of two OLED panels placed on top of each other. The result is improved brightness with lower power requirements, according to HP. The company said that Tandem OLED 3K panels will be offered as an option for all clamshell models as well as the convertible model in the EliteBook X G2 Series.

Portability And Battery Life

The lightest-weight model in the new EliteBook X G2 Series is the Qualcomm-equipped clamshell model, the EliteBook X G2q, which offers one configuration that weighs less than 1 kilogram (or less than 2.2 pounds). That calculation does not include the power adapter and is only for models with certain configurations including a 3K OLED display. HP is advertising enough battery life to handle video playback for a full day, even for the lightest-weight configuration of the new EliteBook X G2 Series.

Other Updates

Additional significant changes for the clamshell models in the new EliteBook X G2 Series is a 30-percent lighter, 40-percent smaller power adapter that also remains cooler in terms of temperature, HP said. To assist IT professionals, meanwhile, HP has also now made the keyboard top-mount serviceable for a significantly faster process, the company said. Other key specs for HP’s new EliteBook X G2 Series include up to 64 GB of RAM, a haptic trackpad configuration option and Sure View 6 integrated privacy screen options.

Colors, Pricing And Availability

Color options include Glacier Silver, Atmospheric Blue and Eclipse Gray.

HP did not release pricing for the EliteBook X G2 Series, saying that price details will be made public “closer to availability.”

The Intel models—both the clamshell EliteBook X G2i and convertible EliteBook X Flip G2i—are expected to be available in February for “select configurations,” HP said. The AMD model (EliteBook X G2a) and Qualcomm model (EliteBook X G2q) are expected to be available “in the spring,” the company said.