HP’s cyber board seemed revolutionary until I used it

I have a lot of devices on my desktop, but it’s not often that I get something in a new format. It’s even rarer that I get something I’ve daydreamed about for most of my life, but that’s what’s here with the HP EliteBoard G1a. it’s a minicomputer tucked inside a slim keyboard, and it’s as fun as it looks. It is essentially a HP EliteBook G1a but without the screen or the extra weight, and I’m here for that.

It’s a format that hasn’t existed for four decades, since the Commodore 64 was the pinnacle of home PC use, but it’s not really made for home users. Instead, it’s aimed firmly at office workers who like the portability of a smaller PC while still having a single cable connection to your monitor. If you already have a screen you like and don’t mind a laptop, this might be the device for you. For me, it’s not exactly the cyberdeck I’ve been waiting for, but maybe a pair of AR glasses instead of a desktop monitor will change that.

About this review: HP sent XDA the EliteBook G1a used in this review. The company did not view this article prior to publication nor was it involved in its content.

7.5/10

UPC

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, 64 GB maximum, two slots

Storage

Up to 2TB PCIe 4th generation

The HP EliteBoard G1a is a Ryzen APU mini PC housed inside a keyboard, which is simply fantastic. It may be more of a niche device since most mobile users need a laptop, but I love that it exists.

Pros and cons

• Super slim stealth computer
• Comes with mouse and USB docking station
• Pleasant writing feeling

• Relatively low power
• Expensive
• The fans make noise

Price, availability and specifications.

The HP EliteBoard G1a was announced at CES 2026 and is now on sale. It starts at $1,549 on HP’s website, but that’s for the 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 a canvas case. Some models also come with a 65W USB-C power supply and the HP USB-C dongle, which connects to your monitor’s HDMI port and adds Ethernet and another HDMI port for use with two monitors.

What I liked about the HP EliteBoard G1a

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

I’ve wanted a computer inside a portable keyboard forever, for years and years of gaming. shadow race like a TTRPG. The EliteBoard G1a is as close to what I imagined as a deck that could very well be from the shadowy realms of the world after the return of magic. Inside there’s an AMD Ryzen AI 300 APU, some RAM and storage, and some models have a small battery designed to take you from your desk to a conference room without having to shut down your PC.

It has just two USB-C ports, one of which is USB4, so you 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 very serviceable, as the keyboard deck removes to reveal SODIMM RAM, a 2280 M.2 SSD, and many user-serviceable parts, such as the 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-touch rubber domes inside, and I’d love to see this on a laptop, if you’re listening, HP.

It’s time for some reference points

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

Gaming wasn’t really an option, however, as the built-in Radeon GPU was sufficient for productivity tasks but struggled with gaming even at 1080p. Oh, and the internal battery doesn’t last 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 would buy this instead of a laptop.

The APU heats up under any load; 94°C is often shown in my tests. It idles at around 50°C, which could be a longevity issue, but it doesn’t transfer through the keyboard, so typing still feels good. The fans are also a little loud, but they’re doing a great job of keeping things from overheating, so maybe they’ll get a pass. However, I don’t think I’d want to use it long term without the ANC headphones on.

Should you buy the HP EliteBoard G1a?

You should buy the HP EliteBoard G1a if:

• You always wanted a cyberdeck
• You are always using your computer in the hotel or conference rooms

You should NOT purchase the HP EliteBoard G1a if:

• You need a laptop with a screen.
• You want something that has better value
• You need something more powerful

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

7.5/10

UPC

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, 64 GB maximum, two slots

Storage

Up to 2TB PCIe 4th generation