CES 2016 – Business-Focused EliteBook Folio Is HP’s Thinnest And Lightest Laptop

Steve McCaskill,

HP says lightweight, ultrathin design of the Elitebook Folio shows there is no need to sacrifice aesthetics for functionality

HP Inc. says its new EliteBook Folio is the thinnest and lightest laptop it has ever made, claiming business users do not have to sacrifice the aesthetics afforded by consumer machines when choosing a work machine.

Described as the “optimal blend of beauty, power [and] fanless operation”, and presumably a competitor to the likes of Microsoft Surface and Macbook, the EliteBook Folio is a fifth thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the HP EliteBook 1020.

But despite the ultra-thin design, HP is adamant the laptop is durable enough to withstand the trials of an office environment.

HP EliteBook Folio

HP Elitebook Folio 2It sports an edge-to-edge 4K display capable of 352 pixels per inch, and comes with HP’s ‘premium keyboard’, two USB-C ports. Underneath, it’s powered by a sixth generation Intel Core M vPro processor, Windows 10 and promises ten hours of battery life.

The laptop has a 180-degree hinge so it can be laid flat on a table, with HP maintaining that lesser angles hinder productivity and prevent collaboration. Indeed, HP has worked with the Skype team at Microsoft and Bang & Olufsen to improve the device as a video conferencing tool.

“Just because someone uses a PC at work, doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice their desire for a cool, thin and light device,” said Benoit Bonnafy, HP’s vice president, business personal systems EMEA.

“That’s why we designed the HP EliteBook Folio – the world’s thinnest and lightest business-class notebook– which offers users the best of both worlds: a premium design that consumers want while elevating business-critical security and manageability to delight the needs of IT.”

The Elitebook 1040 is touted as the “world’s thinnest 14-inch business-class notebook,” while the Elitebook 800 G3 series is an update to HP’s best-selling business laptop range.

The EliteBook Folio will cost €999 when it is released in the UK in March, while the Elitebook 1040 will start at €1,000 from January. The 800 G3 series starts from €800 when it is released in the same month, with costs rising depending on what size and type of screen customers demand.

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