HP EliteBook 860 G11 review
HP EliteBook 860 G11 — from 2023, 1.72 kg, performance 50.
Technical specifications
| Type | Business |
| Release year | 2023 |
| Screen | 16" · 1920x1200 |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U , Intel Core Ultra 5 125H , Intel Core Ultra 5 135U , Intel Core Ultra 5 135H , Intel Core Ultra 7 155U , Intel Core Ultra 7 155H , Intel Core Ultra 7 165U , Intel Core Ultra 7 165H |
| Max. RAM | 96 GB |
| Weight | 1.72 kg |
| Battery | 56 Wh |
Performance scores
A 2023 premium business laptop with an exceptional 96GB of RAM — but no discrete graphics
The HP EliteBook 860 G11 is a 2023 business laptop at $823, well above the business median of $297. Its defining feature is 96GB of RAM — about 140% above the category median, the top of the field — paired with a Core Ultra 5 125U. The trade-off is graphics: with only integrated graphics (best_gpu_score zero), gaming and GPU work are off the table despite the premium price.
An exceptional amount of memory
The 96GB of RAM is the clear standout — about 140% above the business category median, in the "pro" tier and top quartile. That is serious headroom for memory-heavy productivity, virtualization, large datasets, or running many applications and browser sessions simultaneously. For workflows that eat RAM, this machine is unusually well-equipped.
No discrete graphics at a premium price
The honest trade-off: at $823 (about 177% above the category median) you get top-tier memory but no discrete GPU. Graphics register zero against the category median, so gaming and GPU-accelerated creative work are not viable. If your work is CPU- and RAM-bound, the config makes sense; if you need graphics, the price is hard to justify.
A modern depreciation curve
From near $1,300 originally, the 860 G11 has depreciated to $823 at about 10.6% per year, with a projected two-year value near $658 — about a 20% further drop. As a 2023 machine it carries the steeper expected decline of recent hardware.
Where it sits among peers
It is the priciest in its immediate peer set: an HP EliteBook 660 G11 ($750) or Dell Latitude 5550 ($772) both come in cheaper for the same generation. You are paying a premium for the 96GB config over the more common 64GB peers.
Bottom line
At $823 this is fairly priced for the class only if memory is your bottleneck — 96GB of RAM is exceptional and the modern Core Ultra platform is current. The compromise is no discrete graphics at a premium price, so it is not for gaming or GPU work. A specialist pick for memory-heavy productivity, not a general-purpose value.
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⭐ What stands out
-
price is higher than typical business class (+176.8%) (mid).
top 25% of its category -
memory capacity is higher than typical business class (+140%) (professional).
top 25% of its category -
graphics performance absent (no data or feature not provided).
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: reliability ↔ price
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration handles modern AAA games at high settings, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 42.5) ↔ price (median 297.4).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 60) ↔ overall performance (median 41.5).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 62.5) ↔ battery life (median 3.3).
EliteBook 860 G11: verdict
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