HP ProBook 14" 4 G1i Pike Silver Review

A lightweight business laptop with a great CPU and tons of ports, but held back by a tiny 256GB SSD and a dim screen. Its 58.2/100 total score reflects its niche appeal. Only worth it if you need Windows 11 Pro and legacy connectivity on a budget.

The HP ProBook 14 is a business laptop that's trying to be a jack of all trades. It packs Intel's new Core Ultra 7 chip and a solid 16GB of RAM into a light, 1.39kg chassis. The idea is clear: give you enough power for a day of hybrid work without weighing you down.

But our data shows it's a bit of a mixed bag. It scores great on ports and CPU performance, but the 256GB SSD and 300-nit screen are real weak spots. It's built for the office, not the editing suite or the gaming lounge.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255U is the star here. Its CPU performance lands in the 87th percentile, which is genuinely solid for office apps, coding, and multitasking. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM helps keep things smooth. The integrated Intel Graphics, however, are just okay, scoring in the 53rd percentile. Don't expect to game on this thing. The 256GB SSD is also a bottleneck—it's in the 17th percentile for storage, so you'll be managing space carefully.

At around $1013, the value proposition is shaky. You're paying for the business-grade name, the Windows 11 Pro license, and that strong CPU. But you're also accepting a very small SSD and a mediocre screen. For the same money, you can often find consumer laptops with bigger, faster storage and better displays. It's only worth it if you specifically need those commercial features and ports right now.

Stacked up, it's an odd duck. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 is in a different league on performance and screen, but costs way more and has fewer ports. The ASUS ProArt PX13 offers a stunning OLED touchscreen and dedicated RTX 4050 graphics for creative work, though it's likely pricier. Against something like a Lenovo ThinkPad, you'd be trading some durability for a lighter weight. This HP sits in a middle ground: more portable than a tanky business laptop, but less flashy and capable than a premium ultrabook.

Skip this if you need to store a lot locally. 256GB fills up fast with Windows, apps, and a few projects. Also, avoid it if you work in bright environments—the 300-nit screen will struggle. And obviously, gamers should look elsewhere; the integrated GPU scored a dismal 16.2/100 in our gaming tests.

Buy this if you're a business user who needs a lightweight, Windows 11 Pro machine with tons of legacy USB-A ports and good CPU power for spreadsheets, presentations, and browsing. The upgradeable design is a plus for IT departments. For everyone else—students, creatives, gamers, or anyone who needs more storage or a nicer screen—there are better options for your money.