HP EliteBook x360 1040 G6 review

HP EliteBook x360 1040 G6 — the 2018 executive convertible standard

The EliteBook x360 1040 G6 is a 2018 flagship business convertible: an eighth-gen Core i5 8265U, 32GB of RAM, and the 1040 line's thin 360-degree chassis. At $381 it sits 7% above the convertible-class median of $356. The measured profile: graphics 0 (integrated only), CPU score 36.42 (−38.9% versus class median), reliability 21 (low) — the same executive-convertible envelope as its G5 sibling, one refresh later.

What the G6 generation offers

The 8265U is the commercial refresh of the 8250U — four cores tuned for efficiency, comfortable for all present-day office work. The 32GB of RAM is the configuration standout: double the typical contemporaries, removing memory from the concern list for the machine's remaining life. The chassis brings pen support, a privacy camera shutter and the rigid build that defined the 1040 line.

The honest limits

Graphics 0 is categorical — the UHD 620 serves display and playback, with gaming and creative GPU work out of scope. The CPU score against a 59.6 class median reflects the U-series tuning: capable rather than quick. Reliability 21 against a 49 median is the seven-year service-life caveat that dominates any used-flagship purchase. The premium bought at original sale has been spent; what remains is build quality, not longevity.

Price trajectory

From an original $1,500 to $381 today at 9.09% per year, with a further projection to $315 (a 17.36% drop) over two years. Flagship convertibles decay through mid-life; this one is fairly advanced along the curve.

Where it sits against peers

Pricier neighbors are the IdeaPad Flex 5 14ARE05 ($403) and Yoga 7 14ITL5 ($412); cheaper options are the ThinkPad X390 Yoga ($358) and X1 Yoga 4th gen ($333). The band is premium convertibles across generations; the 1040 G6's case is the RAM configuration and executive build against newer-consumer rivals at similar money.

Bottom line

Executive convertible engineering with a memory-rich configuration, priced fairly within its class — with the standard iGPU ceiling and an advanced service life. A defensible pick for office-and-meeting duty in the $350-400 band; buyers wanting graphics capability or maximum longevity need a different machine.