HP EliteBook vs Lenovo ThinkPad: Business Laptop Showdown 2025

After testing both the HP EliteBook 840 G10 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 in real corporate environments for 6 months, here's my comprehensive comparison to help you choose the right business laptop.

Design & Build Quality

HP EliteBook 840 G10

• Premium aluminum chassis with CNC machining
• Sleeker, more modern aesthetic
• Weighs 2.95 lbs (1.34 kg)
• MIL-STD-810H tested for durability
• Slim bezels with 16:10 display ratio

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11

• Carbon fiber reinforced plastic construction
• Classic ThinkPad design language
• Weighs 2.48 lbs (1.12 kg) - significantly lighter
• MIL-STD-810H tested + additional ThinkPad durability tests
• 16:10 display with slim bezels

Both laptops feel premium, but the ThinkPad wins on weight and legendary durability. HP counters with a more modern design that looks less "corporate."

Keyboard & Input

This is where ThinkPad shines. The legendary ThinkPad keyboard offers 1.5mm key travel with perfect tactile feedback. After 6 months of 8-hour work days, I still prefer typing on the ThinkPad.

HP's keyboard is good - better than most business laptops - with 1.3mm travel and comfortable keys. But it can't match ThinkPad's typing experience. The TrackPoint on ThinkPad is also a productivity booster once you master it.

Display Comparison

Both offer excellent displays for business use. ThinkPad's optional OLED is stunning but comes with battery life trade-offs.

Performance & Battery Life

Both laptops can be configured with Intel 13th Gen processors (i5-1335U to i7-1365U). In real-world testing with typical business workloads (Office 365, Chrome with 20+ tabs, Zoom calls):

• HP EliteBook: 9-10 hours of battery life, slightly warmer under load
• ThinkPad: 11-13 hours of battery life, better thermal management

ThinkPad's superior battery life is a significant advantage for road warriors. Both handle business tasks flawlessly.

Webcam & Audio

HP wins decisively here. The 5MP webcam with HP Auto Frame is significantly better than ThinkPad's 1080p camera. For video calls, HP looks more professional with better background blur.

Audio quality is comparable on both, with Bang & Olufsen (HP) and Dolby Atmos (Lenovo) tuning providing clear audio for calls and media.

Ports & Connectivity

HP EliteBook Ports:

• 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)
• 2x USB-A 3.2
• HDMI 2.1
• 3.5mm audio jack
• Optional nano-SIM slot

ThinkPad Ports:

• 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)
• 2x USB-A 3.2
• HDMI 2.1
• 3.5mm audio jack
• Optional nano-SIM slot

Port selection is nearly identical. Both offer excellent connectivity for business needs.

Security Features

Both laptops are enterprise-security powerhouses:

• HP: HP Sure Sense, Sure Start, Sure Click, TPM 2.0, fingerprint reader, IR camera
• Lenovo: ThinkShield suite, TPM 2.0, fingerprint reader, IR camera, physical webcam shutter

ThinkPad's physical webcam shutter is a nice touch for privacy-conscious users.

Price Comparison

HP is slightly more affordable at entry level. Both offer corporate discounts that can significantly reduce prices.

The Verdict

After 6 months of daily use, I'd choose the ThinkPad X1 Carbon for its superior keyboard, lighter weight, and better battery life. It's the better laptop for productivity-focused professionals.

However, the HP EliteBook is the better choice if you do frequent video calls (that 5MP webcam is worth it) or prefer a more modern aesthetic. HP's support is also slightly easier to work with.

You can't go wrong with either - both are excellent business laptops that will serve you well for years.