HP’s cyberboard seemed revolutionary until I used it

I have a lot of devices on my desktop, but I don’t often get something in a new format. It’s rare that I get something I’ve dreamed about for most of my life, but that’s what I have here with the HP EliteBoard G1a. This is a mini PC is stuffed into a thin keyboard, and it’s as fun as it sounds. This is actually one HP EliteBook G1a but without the screen or extra weight and I’m here for it.

It’s a format that hasn’t existed in the four decades since the Commodore 64 was the pinnacle of home PC use, but it wasn’t really designed for home users. Instead, it’s designed for office workers who like to carry around a smaller computer. a cable connection to their monitor. If you already have a screen you like and don’t care about a laptop, this might be the device for you. For me, it’s not a cyberdeck that I’m trying too hard for, but maybe a pair of AR glasses A desktop monitor will replace this instead.

About this review: HP sent the EliteBook G1a used in this review to XDA. The company did not see this article prior to publication and had no access to its content.

7.5/10

CPU

AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 330

Graphics

AMD Radeon 860M, 840M, 820M (depending on CPU)

Memory

DDR5 SODIMM, max. 64 GB, two slots

Storage

Up to 2 TB Gen 4 PCIe

The HP EliteBoard G1a is a Ryzen APU mini PC built into a keyboard, which is simply fantastic. It might be more of a niche device, most mobile PC users need a laptop, but I love that it’s there.

Pros and Cons

• Super slim hidden computer
• Comes with mouse and USB docking station
• Nice writing feeling

• Relatively low power
• Expensive
• The fans roar

Price, availability and features

The HP EliteBoard G1a was announced at CES 2026 and is available now. It starts at $1,549 on HP’s website, but that’s for a version with a permanently attached USB cable, an AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. All models come with an HP 675M Bluetooth mouse and canvas sleeve. Some models also come with a 65W USB-C power source and an HP USB-C dongle that plugs into your monitor’s HDMI port and adds Ethernet and another HDMI port for dual-monitor use.

What I liked about the HP EliteBoard G1a

This is the complete package (if you already have a display)

Having been gaming for years and years, I’ve always wanted a computer inside a portable keyboard Shadowrun Like TTRPG. The EliteBoard G1a is so close to what I envision as a deck that might as well be from the shadowy realms of the world once magic returns. Inside is an AMD Ryzen AI 300 APU, some RAM and storage, and some models have a small battery designed to get you from your desk to the conference room without turning off your computer.

It has a meager two USB-C ports, one of which is USB4, so it can power the EliteBoard and send a display signal to your monitor, or the second slower port can be used to power the device from the wall. My review unit came with an HDMI hub that adds Ethernet, a second HDMI port, USB-C charging, and a separate connection to the device.

It’s also highly serviceable, with the keyboard deck coming apart to reveal plenty of user-serviceable parts like the SODIMM RAM, 2280 M.2 SSD, and dual speakers. It comes with a wireless mouse, but will work with any Bluetooth mouse if you prefer. The keyboard gets some extra points for having nice-feeling rubber domes on the inside, and I’d love to see that on a laptop, if you’re listening, HP.

Time for some benchmarks

The APUs used in the EliteBoard are laptop chips, and it’s no surprise that it performs on par with other mobile devices we’ve tested. What’s impressive is that it does this in a much smaller space than even the mini PCs we often play with. It even outperforms some of this year’s laptops, which surprised me.

Gaming wasn’t really an option with the internal Radeon GPU enough for productivity tasks, but it struggled with games even at 1080p. Oh, and the internal battery doesn’t last very long, but it’s not designed for long usage sessions.

What I didn’t like about the HP EliteBoard G1a

I still don’t know why you buy this instead of a laptop?

The APU heats up under any load, often showing 94 °C in my tests. It idles at about 50 °C, which could be a problem for longevity, but it doesn’t transfer through the keyboard, so it still feels cool to type on. The fans are also a bit loud, but they do a great job of keeping things from overheating, so maybe they get a pass. I don’t think I’d want to go without ANC headphones for a long time.

Should you buy the HP EliteBoard G1a?

You should buy the HP EliteBoard G1a if:

• You’ve always wanted a cyberdeck
• You always use your computer in hotel or conference rooms

You should not purchase the HP EliteBoard G1a if:

• A laptop with a screen is required
• You want something with better value
• You need something stronger

The HP EliteBoard G1a is an interesting device designed to make IT managers happy when setting up startup offices. That’s probably why there’s a “contact sales” button on the product page; this is not the device for you or me. Maybe enough workplaces will buy them to replace mini PCs or laptops, but until then it’s a quirky device that I’m glad to have, even if I don’t want to use it every day.

7.5/10

CPU

AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 330

Graphics

AMD Radeon 860M, 840M, 820M (depending on CPU)

Memory

DDR5 SODIMM, max. 64 GB, two slots

Storage

Up to 2 TB Gen 4 PCIe