HP ProBook 14" 4 G1i 2025, Core Ultra 5 225U, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Pike Silver

The HP ProBook 4 G1i is a lightweight business laptop with a capable 12-core CPU and 16GB of RAM, but a cramped 256GB SSD and a washed-out display hold it back. It's best for office work and cloud-based workflows, not gaming or media. At USD 999 from Newegg it's a fair deal, at USD 1,136 it's a harder sell.

The Core Ultra 5 225U is a solid mid-pack performer. Our database puts it at the 58th percentile for CPU, which translates to "fine for everyday work, not built for heavy lifting." The 12-core setup handles multitasking well, and the 12 TOPS NPU gives it some AI chops for Copilot features. 16GB of DDR5 RAM lands at the 61st percentile, enough for dozens of browser tabs and a few Office apps without breaking a sweat. The integrated Intel Graphics sit at the 55th percentile, which means video playback and light photo editing are fine, but gaming is a non-starter. Our gaming score for this thing is 17 out of 100. That's not a typo. The 256GB NVMe SSD is the real bottleneck here, sitting at the 25th percentile. You'll be managing storage within a few months if you keep much local media.

Stacked against the competition, the ProBook 4 G1i is a value play with compromises. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro absolutely crushes it in display quality, performance, and battery life, but costs significantly more. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion 5i are gaming machines that make this HP look like a calculator in the graphics department, though they're heavier and pricier. The MSI Prestige and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro are closer rivals in the thin-and-light business category, and both offer better screens. The ProBook's edge is its port selection and the 177° hinge, which the others don't match. It's a practical choice, not a prestige one.

Pricing is all over the place right now. US listings range from USD 999 to USD 1,136 across three vendors, and Newegg has the best deal at the low end. That USD 137 spread means you should shop around before clicking buy. At USD 999, this is a reasonable business laptop with modern ports and a capable CPU. At USD 1,136, it starts feeling overpriced for what you get, especially with that tiny SSD and mediocre display. If you can snag it at the lower end, it's a fair deal. If you're paying the higher price, you're leaving money on the table.

The HP ProBook 4 G1i is a business laptop that knows exactly what it is. You get a 14-inch 1920x1200 anti-glare display, an Intel Core Ultra 5 225U with 12 cores, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and Windows 11 Pro. It weighs 1.39kg, so it's easy to toss in a bag and forget about until you need it. The 177° lid hinge is a nice touch for cramped desks and awkward meeting rooms.

But HP made some cuts to hit this price point. The 256GB SSD is tight for 2025, and the display's 62.5% sRGB coverage means colors look washed out next to anything remotely premium. This is a workhorse, not a show pony. If you need a dependable machine for spreadsheets, email, and the occasional AI-assisted task, it fits the bill. Just don't expect it to impress anyone at a coffee shop.

Skip this if you need any kind of graphical horsepower. The gaming score of 17/100 says it all. Also skip it if you store lots of files locally, that 256GB SSD will have you juggling storage within months. And if you care about screen quality for photo editing or watching movies, the 62.5% sRGB panel will disappoint. Look at the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro or MSI Prestige for better displays in a similar form factor.

This is a laptop for office workers, students on a budget, and anyone who needs a dependable Windows machine without frills. The Core Ultra 5 and 16GB of RAM will keep things snappy for years of everyday use. The 256GB SSD is the main reason to hesitate, and the display won't win any awards. But if you live in the cloud and dock to an external monitor at your desk, those weaknesses fade. Buy it for the portability, the ports, and the no-nonsense build.