HP EliteBook 16" 665 G11 Review

If you're looking for a 16-inch business laptop that won't break the bank, the HP EliteBook 665 G11 is a solid option. It's built around AMD's 8-core Ryzen 7 7735U processor and comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD, all for around $1,031. The 16-inch 1920x1200 screen is decent for spreadsheets and documents, and at 1.75kg, it's reasonably portable for its size. People often search for a reliable work laptop under $1,200, and this HP fits that bill, especially if you need Windows 11 Pro out of the box. It's a straightforward machine for getting work done, with a backlit keyboard and modern WiFi 6E connectivity.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U is a capable chip, landing in the 60th percentile for CPU performance. In practice, that means it handles everyday office tasks, web browsing, and even some light photo editing without breaking a sweat. The integrated Radeon 680M graphics are fine for video playback and basic tasks, but they're in the 18th percentile overall. So, is this good for gaming? Not really. The 12/100 gaming score tells you everything you need to know. You'll be limited to very old or undemanding titles at low settings. For everything else, the 16GB of RAM and fast NVMe SSD keep the system feeling responsive.

At just over a thousand dollars, the EliteBook 665 G11 sits in a competitive spot. You're getting a modern platform with a good CPU and professional OS. The main trade-off is the mediocre integrated graphics and average screen. If your work is purely CPU-based and you need the screen real estate, it's a fair deal. But if you need any graphical power or a brilliant display, your money might go further elsewhere.

This HP faces stiff competition. The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is a more portable 14-inch alternative with similar professional build quality. The ASUS Zenbook Duo offers a unique dual-screen setup for multitaskers at a higher price. For pure performance, especially gaming, the MSI Vector 16 or Gigabyte AORUS MASTER 16 are in a different league but are heavier and more expensive. And then there's the elephant in the room: the Apple MacBook Pro with M4. It's in a much higher price bracket, but it demolishes this HP in CPU performance, battery life, and screen quality. The HP's main advantage is its lower price and Windows environment.

Should you buy this? It depends. If you need a no-frills, 16-inch Windows business laptop for office work, web apps, and presentations, the HP EliteBook 665 G11 gets the job done for a reasonable price. But if you have any need for gaming, video editing, or a stunning display, you should look elsewhere. Its weaknesses in graphics and reliability are real. Consider it a competent workhorse for specific tasks, but not a jack-of-all-trades.