What was tested
The review unit pairs an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H with integrated Arc B390 graphics, 32GB of LPDDR5x-9600 onboard RAM and a 1TB SSD. It has a 14-inch 2880 x 1800, 120Hz, 500-nit display. Connectivity is Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The camera is a 5MP IR unit with a privacy shutter.
The HP lineup is broader than that one box. HP's support specifications list memory configurations from 16GB up to 64GB, all onboard. The same page lists Intel AI Boost at 50 NPU TOPS. A review conclusion about 32GB therefore doesn't apply to every SKU. HP's own Middle East listing shows a 64GB model with a brighter 700-nit tandem OLED panel, which is not the tested configuration.
Reported performance
Jennings says Word, Excel and PowerPoint were effortless, with fast switching between them. Lightroom and Photoshop were responsive. He ran Generative Expand locally to extend images from 16:9 to 21:9. Short five-minute Premiere Pro edits with transitions and rendering went smoothly, with media and cache on an external Thunderbolt 4 SSD.
Reported benchmark results:
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Geekbench 7 CPU (multi / single) | 16,654 / 2,106 |
| Geekbench 7 GPU | 56,062 |
| PCMark overall | 7,522 |
| Cinebench 2026 CPU (multi / single) | 3,407 / 411 |
| 3DMark Time Spy (overall / graphics / CPU) | 6,918 / 6,425 / 12,241 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike overall | 13,767 |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad | 1,638 |
| CrystalDiskMark read / write | about 3,471 / 3,475 MB/s |
These are the reviewer's own numbers. There is no controlled comparison against rival laptops, so treat them as a single data point.
The SSD result
The internal SSD is the oddest finding. At roughly 3.5GB/s sequential read and write, Jennings called it slower than he expected for a premium machine. He noted that most current laptops manage 5,000 to 6,000MB/s. He still judged it fine for productivity and most image and video work.
Other outlets disagree on the drive. StorageReview's unit, a different Core Ultra 7 366H model, used a PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD. A video review of the X7 358H laptop lists a Gen4 x4 drive. Drive type and speed may vary by unit or supplier. If storage throughput matters to you, ask about the exact drive in your SKU.
Gaming and AI
The Arc B390 handled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy at the standard settings chosen at install. Raising graphics settings made frame rates struggle and the fans spin up. Jennings concludes it suits downtime on a trip, not serious gaming.
The review says the 50-TOPS NPU helps Copilot and Adobe features run locally. Treat that carefully. An NPU can accelerate supported workloads, but the specification alone doesn't show that every AI feature runs offline or is available in every region. Jennings also says 32GB limits local LLM work.
Design and ports
The case is magnesium alloy in a dark "Atmospheric Blue". Jennings noticed some lid flex. He decided after two weeks of backpack carrying that it was durable, but said he'd prefer a stiffer top cover at this price. TechRadar's earlier hands-on of a pre-release lightweight unit described the shell as "very sturdy, and has little flex". The two reviewers disagree on flex, which is likely a matter of individual perception.
Jennings praises the keyboard above everything else. He calls it one of the best he has typed on, and notes the half-height cursor keys. He also likes the full-size HDMI 2.1 port, which saves carrying adapters for projectors and monitors.
Ports:
- Left side: two Thunderbolt 4 ports at 40Gbps, HDMI 2.1 and a 3.5mm combo jack.
- Right side: a USB-C port at 10Gbps, a USB-A port at 5Gbps and a nano security-lock slot.
Security and setup
Windows 11 Pro setup took Jennings 10 to 20 minutes, with Windows Hello face sign-in available. HP's security suite includes HP Admin, Sure Click, Sure Recover, Sure Sense and Tamper Lock. Jennings says you or your IT team must set these up and register. He says it "seems" free for the first year. Check licensing terms for your region and SKU before assuming that.
Price and availability
TechRadar reports £2,445.59 including VAT in the UK and about US$3,599 for a similar configuration. It says the laptop is sold by HP and major retailers. A search result from B&H lists a 32GB/1TB X7 358H configuration at $3,599. StorageReview, a different outlet, saw a similar 32GB/1TB X7 configuration at $3,399 during an HP sale, down from a $6,270 list price. Prices move, so confirm them yourself.
What the review doesn't tell you
- Battery life: Jennings gives no battery-test figure, so don't assume all-day runtime from this review. StorageReview's headline claims 17 hours, but that was a different processor configuration.
- Expandability: RAM is soldered, so decide on capacity at purchase. Jennings suggests the 64GB version for creative work.
- Storage: expansion relies on Thunderbolt 4 external drives rather than internal upgrades.
Verdict
Jennings scores it 4 out of 5 overall. He gives it 4.5 for performance and features, 4 for design and 3.5 for value. His case is that a laptop of about a kilo can deliver power usually found in larger machines. The keyboard, screen and port selection support that case. Against it are the high price, fixed 32GB of memory, a 1TB SSD with unremarkable speeds, and modest gaming headroom. For frequent travellers who want a light Windows machine, it is a strong candidate. If you mainly want value, or heavy 4K video or gaming, look at the 64GB option or other machines.