HP does something utterly unique with its new laptops by letting you choose between Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors

Countless companies have taken to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to announce new products and innovations, but few can claim to be announcing as many laptops as HP — especially not those as unique as this one is.

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) series look like your average, premium business laptops at first glance, but this family has two things going for it: an ultra-light aluminum design, and an endless list of configuration options... including the ability to choose between Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors.

I actually went hands-on with a pre-production sample of the Intel-powered EliteBook X 14, but this article isn't about that. Here's what you need to know about one of the most innovative laptops at CES 2026 — one that lets you choose the best silicon for your needs and priorities. For those looking for peak portability without compromising on features or performance, keep this laptop on your radar going into 2026.

Endless options to make the perfect laptop

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Set aside how the headlining feature for the HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) family, and you'll still be met with a ridiculous number of options when you go to configure your own. Sure, there's the standard array of memory and storage options, but HP went so much further than that.

There are a multitude of OLED, IPS LCD, and even Tandem OLED display options depending on your needs and budget. You can add 5G cellular connectivity. You can upgrade to a haptic touchpad. You can even choose between three chassis colorways (silver, dark grey, or blue) for most of these options.

There's no doubt in my mind that the EliteBook X 14 (G2) will be a pricey machine across the board, but that's the cost for the freedom to pick and choose the exact features you want in a laptop. Beyond all of that, though, this laptop is impressive because it boasts separate Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm variants.

It'd be understandable if you believed that it's easy for a company to swap out processors from different companies, but that's simply not the case. It's pretty uncommon for laptops to offer more than one option without other noticeable, major differences in design or capabilities, and those options are rarely offered at launch.

In 2026, we're being blessed with Intel Core Ultra (Series 3), AMD Ryzen AI 400-series, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 silicon. That's a lot of options for the next generation of Windows laptops, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. No other company is so clearly committing to embracing each platform like HP is with the EliteBook X 14 (G2) series.

With the same design and nearly identical options, all that matters is which processor you prefer. I hope to see a lot more of this going forward, honestly, because Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are all turning up the heat to better compete with each other (and that only benefits us).

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) series of laptops are set to arrive in Spring 2026, but HP hasn't divulged pricing details yet. If you want some more details, I went hands on with the Intel version of the EliteBook X 14 (G2) before heading to CES 2026.

Have you ever passed on your dream laptop because it lacked a specific option? HP's next-gen business laptop aims to dissolve those concerns, but do you think it succeeds? Let us know in the comments below.

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