While Apple's M1 MacBook Pro made a splash with its debut last month, HP's ZBook Firefly G8 may once again steal the limelight among creative pros. It runs for 14 hours on a single charge.

In addition to the Intel 11th generation CPU and 5G support, HP's biggest achievement here is the 14-inch ZBook Firefly G8 at 2.98 pounds, just below the 3-pound mark. When comparing it to other laptops (such as the 3-pound 13-inch MacBook Pro), it still rounds up to 3 pounds, but it is lighter than HP's previous 3.1-pound model. [The EliteBook 830 G8, EliteBook 840 G8, EliteBook 850 G8, and EliteBook x360 830 G8 also feature 11th-generation processors (the same U-series as the ZBook Firefly) and Intel Xe graphics. All of the aforementioned notebooks can also be equipped with Tile trackers, which HP started with the Elite Dragonfly.

These EliteBooks and Firefly laptops also feature AI-based noise cancellation for web conferencing, HP QuickDrop for sending files between PC and phone, and HP Tamper Lock to lock down the PC if it gets into the wrong hands, HP Sure View Reflect for privacy.

If you're a little confused by the EliteBook laptop naming strategy, here's a quick rundown: G8 means it's the eighth generation of this business and creator laptop series.

The number 800 refers to the series number, and the second digit of each laptop's three-digit series number refers to the display size. Also, if there is an x360, it means it is a convertible.

In other words, the EliteBook 840 G8 is a 14-inch business laptop, while the EliteBook x360 830 G8 is a 13-inch 2-in-1.

HP has not revealed pricing for these models. Each is "expected to be available in late December," and prices will be announced closer to that date.

The EliteBook 800 and ZBook Firefly G8 laptops have similar aesthetics, with a tapered lower half with a triangular edge on the back; the ZBook Firefly, despite its name, is not a brightly colored laptop and is actually silver darker than the EliteBook 800; as HP has done before, these laptops use marine plastic for the speaker enclosure.

At 0.7-0.8 inches thick, these G8 laptops are by no means slim or thick. Also, the 14-inch ZBook Firefly weighs just under 3 pounds, which is a healthy effort, but the EliteBook weighs 2.8 to 3.8 pounds, which makes sense given its 13- to 15-inch size. x360 830 G8 is a non-convertible sibling 0.2 pounds heavier than the

The x360 830 G8 has a few more features: dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, dual USB 3.1 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.0, a headphone jack, a security lock slot, and a dedicated power port.

One of the biggest differences between the ZBook Firefly and the EliteBook 800 laptop is its screen. Those who want an extremely accurate panel will choose the Firefly laptop, which is capable of 100% of the DCI-P3 spectrum; the M1 MacBook Pro scored 78.3% in our tests, while the EliteBook 800 laptop scored 78.3% in the DCI-P3 spectrum.

In addition, the ZBook Firefly panel is a PANTONE Validated display, meeting Pantone's color fidelity standards and simulating "the full range of real PANTONE colors."

The ZBook Firefly G8 features an Intel 11th generation Tiger Lake processor and Intel Xe integrated graphics, as well as Nvidia T500 graphics with 4GB of dedicated memory. HP claims that this provides up to three times the graphics performance of the Firefly G7 laptop.

EliteBook 800 laptops also meet Intel Evo standards, and a vPro version of these systems (the standard for many IT teams) is expected to be available in January 2021.

Like the new M1-based MacBook Pro, the HP ZBook Firefly G8 14 and 15 appear to offer very long battery life; HP rates the ZBook Firefly to last up to 14 hours on a single charge.

This is based on the MobileMark 14 battery test; let's see how long it lasts in Tom's Guide's battery test, which includes surfing the web using Wi-Fi.

Competition is best for consumers, so let's hope HP's latest business-class laptop for creators and professionals can really compete with the new M1 MacBook. At the very least, the Firefly G8's display looks better than Apple's or anyone else's.

We look forward to testing these laptops and seeing how they hold up to daily use. However, it's hard to really judge at this stage unless the price is determined.