HP Fortis 11" Flip G1i Multi-Touch 2-in-1 Review

Let's get the big number out of the way first: this HP Fortis Flip is in the 97th percentile for compactness. At 1.47kg with an 11.6-inch screen, it's one of the smallest full Windows machines you can get. That's the headline. The trade-off is just as stark, with its CPU performance sitting in the 6th percentile. The Intel N250 processor runs at a base speed of just 0.1GHz, which is about as low as it gets for a modern chip.

You get 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which is a solid amount for basic multitasking, and a 256GB NVMe SSD for storage. It runs Windows 11 Pro and has a 42Wh battery. The package is built for one thing: being small and portable. Everything else is a compromise to hit that goal.

Performance is where the reality of that compact design hits. That 0.1GHz CPU isn't a typo. It puts this laptop in the 6th percentile for processing power. In practice, that means you can handle web browsing, document editing, and video calls, but you'll feel it slow down if you try to do more than a couple of things at once. It's not built for speed.

The integrated Intel Graphics land in the 51st percentile, which is perfectly fine for the machine's intended use. The 16GB of RAM is a bright spot, sitting right at the 50th percentile and ensuring you won't run out of memory for basic tasks. The 256GB SSD, however, is in the 20th percentile for storage, so space is tight. Don't plan on installing many large programs or games.

At $1029, the value proposition is tough. You're paying a premium for the extreme compact form factor and the 2-in-1 design. For that price, you could get a much more powerful standard-sized laptop or even a premium ultrabook. The cost is all in the specialized, portable chassis. If being this small is your absolute top priority, it might be justifiable. For anyone else, the performance and screen compromises are hard to swallow at this price point.

Compared to its listed competitors, the Fortis Flip is in a different universe. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 or an ASUS Zenbook Duo will run circles around it in performance and screen quality for a similar price. Even a business-focused Lenovo ThinkPad P14s offers far better CPU power and a better screen in a still-portable package. The MSI and Gigabyte gaming laptops aren't even in the same conversation. The Fortis Flip's only advantage is its size. If you need the absolute smallest Windows convertible, it's an option. If you need performance, battery life, or a good screen, look at any of the others.

This is a highly niche device. The HP Fortis Flip G1i is for the person who values the 97th-percentile compactness above all else and is willing to accept 6th-percentile CPU performance and a 5th-percentile screen to get it. For a student or business user who needs to run more than a few browser tabs, the performance will be frustrating. At $1029, it's a tough sell unless your job literally depends on having the smallest possible Windows convertible. For most people, a slightly larger 13-inch laptop will offer a dramatically better experience for the same money.