HP has announced the EliteBoard G1a, a remarkably compact AI-focused PC that targets business users on the go. Weighing under 780 grams and measuring 36 cm in length, it positions itself as one of the smallest PCs on the market. In practice, the device resembles a laptop that has had its screen removed and the chassis pared down to a portable keyboard block. The remaining keyboard still includes a cramped but usable numpad, underscoring how far HP has pushed miniaturization while trying to preserve familiar input habit.
HP positions the EliteBoard G1a as a business-oriented machine, noting that the internal components are respectable enough, if not particularly potent. The emphasis is clearly on portability and compact form factor rather than raw performance. For buyers, that translates to a device that can slot into a small desk setup, or be tucked into a carry-on with relative ease, while still offering more configuration headroom than many ultra-compact devices.
RAM options cap at 64 GB via two DDR5-5600 SODIMMs, and storage scales to 2 TB of Gen 4 NVMe. There is an unusual SKU in which the Ryzen 7 350 variant ships with 32 GB of eMMC flash storage, while the other configurations omit eMMC entirely. HP has not fully explained the intended use case for the 32 GB eMMC option, leaving room for speculation about lightweight OS installations or a fast-boot, small-footprint setup.
The EliteBoard G1a requires a 65 W power supply to operate, which can be supplied via the included adapter. If connected to a compatible monitor, the same USB Type-C cable can carry the display signal, potentially reducing cable clutter further. The device can be configured with a 32 Wh battery, adding a degree of portability for brief, unplugged use cases.
Connectivity is intentionally spartan. The G1a offers two USB Type-C ports (one USB4, one USB 3.2 10 Gbps) and ships with either Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, plus Bluetooth 5.3 or 6 depending on the chosen wireless module. A NAS-friendly LAN port or SD card reader are notably absent, underscoring the device’s niche status as a compact AI/office mini-PC rather than a general-purpose desktop replacement.
The EliteBoard G1a is slated for a retail appearance in March, with pricing not disclosed at launch. The reveal arrives in the lead-up to CES 2026, where HP and other vendors are showcasing form factors that blend laptop-like portability with compact desktop ergonomics. For perspective, the raspberry Pi 500 remains a low-cost alternative in the same ecosystem space, priced around $100 and suitable for retro gaming and emulation—though the G1a targets productivity workloads with its higher RAM and NVMe storage options.
In sum, the EliteBoard G1a marks an ambitious push toward true portability in a PC class that has long favored larger enclosures. Whether this ultra-compact design will appeal beyond the business segment will hinge on price, performance headroom, and how aggressively HP prices the different SKUs against traditional laptops and compact desktops. As a CES 2026 debut, it establishes a reference point for what a “mini PC” can look like when AI features and enterprise connectivity are part of the core proposition.
[Image credits: Future]