The AI evolution of PCs and emergence of AIPC devices have captured significant attention, yet widespread adoption remains distant. Traditional non-AI applications, scenarios, and users still dominate the market. Processor giants Intel and AMD pursue dual strategies: advancing AI PC mainstreaming while securing commercial and mainstream market foundations. While Core i transformed into Core Ultra and Ryzen rebranded as Ryzen AI, another battle unfolds with the non-AI "7" series.

Intel's Core 7 240H, devoid of the "i," and AMD's interim Ryzen 8000H series represent their premium offerings. Released earlier this year, Core 7 240H has replaced 13th-gen H-series chips as the primary platform for mainstream ultraportables. In contrast, the competing Ryzen 7 H 250 not only features reduced performance but hasn't completed its iteration cycle, with last year's Ryzen 7 8845HS still dominating sales.

Architecturally, Core 7 240H refreshes Raptor Lake, merging capabilities of Core i7-13800H and Core i7-13620H. Building on the latter, it boosts P-Core frequency to 5.2GHz and elevates integrated graphics from 1.5GHz to 1.55GHz.

HP continues its Zhan 66 success story with the 8th generation, derived from the global ProBook 400 series. While Core 7 240H models have circulated for months, Ryzen 7 H 250 configurations just debuted, missing procurement testing windows.

Price differentials show Zhan 66 (Core 7 240H) commanding an 8% premium over Ryzen 7 H 250 models pre-subsidies. With Ryzen 7 8845HS, pricing aligns. Identical core specifications notwithstanding, Zhan 66 delivers superior performance, identical battery life, sleeker form (1.42kg, 17mm), and enhanced display (higher resolution, 120Hz dynamic refresh). Hidden upgrades include upgradeable RAM within unchanged thickness and meticulously engineered components.

Zhan 66 avoids competing with premium lines on materials or thinness, instead excelling in quality refinements. Beyond Wi-Fi 6E, it incorporates PCI-E gigabit Ethernet – not USB adapters – with a closable port shield distributing stress across three anchor points to protect the motherboard. The 56Wh battery employs ultrathin lithium-polymer cells under 6mm thick and 209g light, enabling the laptop's compact profile.

Tool-free maintenance features HP's signature blue mechanisms. A three-position battery latch eliminates screws while ensuring security. Such thoughtful designs permeate the device. Upgrading memory presents challenges: both slots hide beneath a solid EMI-shielded metal cover requiring prying from side protrusions – a testament to commercial-grade protection absent in consumer models.

For business users, battery life and acoustics define first impressions. Zhan 66 targets low noise and endurance, setting Core 7 240H's PL1 at 35W and deploying HP Optimized power plans. Cooler operation avoids scorching palm rests and intrusive fan noise, unlike Ryzen 7 8845HS configurations that sacrifice user comfort for performance.

During 26°C+ stress testing, Zhan 66 maintained lower component temperatures without excessive fan noise (max 3780r/min). The Ryzen counterpart exceeded 4000r/min, emitting 4.5dBC higher noise energy – perceptibly louder in quiet environments. Systemic heat even elevated SSD temperatures despite minimal CPU-SSD load correlation.

Battery benchmarks revealed Zhan 66 lasting 756 minutes (12.6 hours) in Procyon Office Productivity. Ryzen 7 8845HS couldn't complete Outlook-compatibility tests. In comparable video playback assessments, Ryzen led with larger batteries, but Zhan 66 achieved 778 minutes after capacity normalization. Reducing screen settings could extend Zhan 66's runtime to 14 hours at 4.0W average consumption.

Office productivity tests favored Core 7 240H across all subcategories. Preloaded Office 2024 (versus Ryzen's 2021 version) leverages AI optimizations and newer processor enhancements. Ryzen 7 8845HS lost 10,000 Procyon points under Office 2021, mainly in frequency-sensitive Word and Excel tasks. Performance gaps reached 12-17% – noticeable in daily use. Core 7 240H demonstrated superior responsiveness, rapidly scaling frequencies for Office workloads before dropping to power-saving states, explaining Intel's office-application efficiency advantage.

Web-based workflows remain critical for modern businesses. On AC power, WebXPRT4 showed parity in aggregate scores but revealed nuances: Zhan 66 excelled in CPU-intensive AI tasks while Ryzen led GPU-bound scenarios. On battery, Ryzen 7 8845HS performance plummeted – halved in balanced mode – while Zhan 66 sustained minimal degradation. Speedometer 3.0 further highlighted Core 7 240H's web-application agility despite minor clock differentials. CrossMark confirmed negligible battery-performance loss for Intel, contrasting Ryzen's 20% drop.

Memory configurations initially seemed mismatched: Zhan 66 used upgradeable single-channel DDR5-5200 versus Ryzen's soldered LPDDR5-6400. Adding identical 16GB DDR5-5600 transformed Zhan 66 – dual-channel mode doubled bandwidth, outperforming Ryzen by 60% in reads with lower latency. This uplift particularly benefits integrated graphics, making the 5% budget increase for RAM upgrades highly advisable.

Beyond performance, Zhan 66 elevates build quality. Its aluminum-clad chassis (A/C/D surfaces) enhances durability while shedding weight. As a mainstream offering, it passed 19 MIL-STD-810H military-grade tests for shock, vibration, temperature extremes, and particulate resistance.

The 2025 edition introduces AI and security enhancements: Copilot-key keyboard integration, upgradeable fingerprint reader, privacy-shuttered camera, HP Wolf BIOS security, and PolyStudio solutions. PolyCamera Pro utilizes NPU/AI for superior background blurring, tracking, and low-light enhancement – elevating video conferencing.

Though lacking Zhan 66+'s 3-year onsite service, HP offers specialized SME support: 7x9 dedicated hotline, next-business-day onsite repairs, setup assistance, and AI-powered Huixiaowei support. This holistic approach – balancing hardware robustness with intelligent software and responsive services – solidifies Zhan 66's position as a premium mainstream business solution.