HP Imagine 2026: New Z Workstations, EliteBook AI PCs, OMEN gaming desktops, and HP IQ intelligence layer headline major product push

In addition, HP introduced the HP Max Side Panel. It’s the industry’s first chassis expander for the Z8 Fury and Z4 workstations. The company says this expander increases internal capacity by 15% and allows for easy installation of larger graphics cards. While also ensuring good thermal performance and IT serviceability. It’s a practical way for organisations to boost GPU capacity without replacing the whole system.

On the mobile workstation side, HP updated the ZBook lineup with the ZBook X G2i, ZBook 8 G2i, and ZBook 8 G2a. The ZBook X claims to be the world’s most powerful 16-inch mainstream mobile workstation. Offering up to 128GB RAM and 3000-level graphics to eliminate rendering delays. HP asserts that a mobile engineer using Autodesk Inventor on the ZBook 8 G2i can render designs 3.3 times faster. Thanks in part to a partnership with Intel and Autodesk. The new GaN power adapter for the ZBook 8 is up to 40% smaller and 50% lighter than the previous version. Improving portability for users who carry it every day.

HP Z Boost, the company’s GPU sharing solution, is also being expanded to support rendering tasks. Early customer tests show a rendering speed increase of up to 5.7 times in apps like Catia and Siemens NX. When GPU resources are shared across the ZBook and Z desktop products.

EliteBook 6 G2q: Snapdragon X2, 85 TOPS, and 28-hour battery life

The key commercial notebook is the HP EliteBook 6 G2q Next Gen AI PC. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Plus processors. This device delivers up to 85 TOPS of NPU performance and is classified as a Copilot+ PC. With a battery life rating of up to 28 hours. The chassis is up to 15% thinner than the last generation and comes in a Glacier Silver finish.

HP is working with over 100 ISV partners to take advantage of the device’s on-device AI features. It includes Rakuten, Goodnotes, and Guidde. Guidde claims teams can create content up to 90% faster using its AI-driven video documentation tools. The EliteBook 6 G2q also supports HP Go 5G. It automatically connects to the best available carrier, catering to mobile professionals who need consistent connectivity.

Security features include HP Wolf Pro Security. Alongside next-gen antivirus and a new physical intrusion detection system. It shuts down the device and protects the memory if the chassis is opened.

The wider commercial lineup spans the EliteBook 8 G2, EliteBook 6 G2, ProBook 4 G2, and EliteDesk 8 G2. It covers AMD and Intel options across enterprise, SMB, and public sector use cases. Most models will be available starting in April, while the EliteBook 6 G2q will follow in July.

HyperX OMEN MAX 45L and OMEN 35L: Intel 270K Plus meets RTX 5090

On the gaming side, HP launched two new OMEN desktops under the HyperX brand. The HyperX OMEN MAX 45L is now HP’s most powerful Intel-based gaming desktop. Featuring the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. It supports up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM and includes a fully modular 1200W power supply. Cooling is managed through a second-generation Cryo Chamber. It is combined with a 360mm LCD liquid cooler. HP claims a performance boost of up to 10% over the previous generation. It aligns with Intel’s claims for the 270K Plus platform.

The HyperX OMEN 35L offers a more budget-friendly option. Combining the same Core Ultra 7 270K Plus with an RTX 5080 in a toolless, upgrade-friendly chassis. This is meant for long-term customisation. Both systems are expected to launch in May, with prices to be confirmed closer to the release.

OMEN AI, HP’s one-click game optimisation tool, is expanding to cover Minecraft, Roblox, and Marvel Rivals. It uses machine learning to adjust the OS, hardware, and game settings at once. HP says Minecraft players experienced up to a 50% FPS improvement in tests. However, independent verification will offer more insight into this claim.

The OMEN Gaming Hub will also include AI-driven creative tools through partnerships with HeyGen, for generating AI avatar videos and gameplay highlights, and Voicemod, which provides real-time voice modification with access to over 200 unique voice changers and 800,000 sounds.

HP IQ: On-device AI layer with proximity-based connectivity

Spanning the entire product range is HP IQ. Brand says it’s a new on-site intelligence layer that HP calls a local-first AI orchestration system. It operates on a 20-billion-parameter on-device model, handling most tasks locally. Only connecting to the cloud when allowed by enterprise policy. As of now, the system launches on the next-generation HP EliteBook X G2. But it will expand to more notebooks, desktops, and HP Poly Studio Video Bars through the second half of 2026.

Initial features of HP IQ include:

• Ask IQ for voice and text inquiries
• Analyse for summarising personal files like PDFs and presentations
• Notes and Knowledge for record-keeping
• Meeting Agent for capturing notes during sessions without switching apps.

HP IQ is complemented by HP NearSense, a proximity-based connectivity layer. It is developed in collaboration with Google, leveraging Google’s Device-to-Device Infrastructure technology (D2DI). HP says it allows for drag-and-drop file sharing between nearby HP PCs, easy joining of conference room meetings, and, later this year, two-way file sharing with Android devices. Without even relying on cloud services or pairing codes. Qualcomm is also a major participant in the D2DI ecosystem. Suggesting it is designed as a broader industry interoperability effort. Rather than an exclusive HP solution.

HP IQ and NearSense can be managed through the HP Workforce Experience Platform and Microsoft Intune. This is important for enterprise IT departments considering large-scale deployment.

HP Imagine 2026 appears to be a coordinated ecosystem strategy rather than just a series of product launches. The common theme connecting the Z8 Fury, EliteBook 6 G2q, OMEN MAX 45L, and HP IQ is the same: local computing, reduced cloud reliance, and AI operating on the device instead of through a server. This strategy seems intentional. Enterprise customers are becoming more cautious about data security and latencies. And HP is building a product narrative that addresses these concerns.

The NearSense and D2DI collaboration with Google is the most strategically interesting announcement of the event. The idea is simple: devices from different brands should be able to find each other and share work without cables, cloud uploads, or manual setup. If that vision holds up in the real world and remains open to other brands and platforms rather than staying locked within HP’s ecosystem, it could make life meaningfully easier for enterprise IT teams managing mixed-device environments. That is a big if, and real-world deployment will be the real test.