HP Elite line gets a new 15-inch laptop and tweaks all around

Summer updates to the line include the three laptops -- 1030 G3, 1013 x2 G3 and the new 15-inch 1050 G1 -- the S14 portable display and the EliteOne 1000 G2.

The only addition to the line is the 15-inch 1050 G2; the flagship thin-and-light business line didn't have a model for people who need more screen. If the design looks familiar, that's because it's extremely similar to the Spectre x360 announced earlier this year. 

On the left side there are two USB Type-A ports.

On the right side are two USB-C/Thunderbolt connections and an HDMI connection, plus a full-size SD card slot.

HP fits a full set of connectors in plus vents on both sides. The extra vents are necessary because the 1050 incorporates an Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU and up to 32GB RAM

Oddly, the Spectre 15-inch model has a much bigger keyboard, with a full numeric keypad on the right side. I'd expect a business system to have that, too. The 1050's speaker grille and location are the same.

HP has updated its privacy screen feature, available on select displays; it's still not available in 4K.

HP introduced its webcam shutter -- a switch that blocks the camera when not in use -- to its EliteBook line earlier this year.

As expected from a business notebook, it includes a fingerprint sensor for secure login.

The 1050 takes a design tip from HP's latest ZBook mobile workstations with chamfered edges near the hinges. 

On the outside, the G3 version of the EliteBook x360 doesn't look much different than the G2 version we reviewed earlier this year. 

Updates to this convertible include eighth-generation Core i processors; the brighter displays that HP rolled out across the entire line; faster Cat 9 LTE wireless support; and a proximity alert for the Active Pen, which notifies you when you leave its geofenced range.

The x2 received some design tweaks this go-round, including squared edges and thinner display bezels, which really does give it a sleeker look and allows HP to up the screen size from 12.3 to 13 inches.

The x2 gets the higher-brightness display options that have been introduced across the entire EliteBook line, intended to help with outdoor viewing. There's also a SureView privacy screen option.

HP added two more USB-C ports for a total of three, one of which supports the DisplayPort alternate mode in addition to Thunderbolt 3.

This rather old display finally gets the dust brushed off with a more modern look -- squared edges and thinner bezels help make it a little smaller -- and support for USB-C.

Now the resolution goes up to a standard 1,920x1,080 so you can better use it to watch HD content.

It's also smaller and lighter than the older model.

However, it consumes more power -- 5 watts typically compared with 4 watts for the earlier model, and 15 watts maximum, compared to 7 watts. That doesn't matter if you're plugged in, but it might when you're working on the road. It's brighter than before, too, but still a disappointing 250 nits.

The view for other people looks nice as well.

The stand remains basically the same, and looks a lot like Apple's iPad Smart Cover.

The business version of its Envy model, the EliteOne can now be configured with a discrete AMD Radeon RX 560 GPU.

Instead of the charging pad on the base of the Envy, though, you get the collaboration controls and it retains the up-driving speakers of the previous models. And you can still swap bases and displays for improved upgradeability and hand-me-down-ability.

It retains the popup webcam that you can push down when you want privacy or when it's not in use.

In addition to the model with the 34-inch curved display, it comes in more traditional 24- and 27-inch flat screens.

You can still configure the 27-inch model with a 4K display.

Enjoy the rest of the photos in caption-free silence.