HP is announcing a new mini desktop computer at CES 2026, and the whole thing is housed in a compact keyboard. The Eliteboard G1a looks like a normal office keyboard with either a captive or detachable USB-C cable, but inside it is an AMD Ryzen AI 300-series chip, stereo speakers, RAM, storage, a fan, and ports — all the things that make up a computer. You just plug this keyboard into a monitor (up to dual 4K displays via daisy-chain connection), turn on the included and pre-paired Bluetooth mouse, and you’re good to go.
Pretty nifty, eh? This isn’t a totally new idea, as the similar Raspberry Pi 500 exists. But that’s a single-board computer running Raspberry Pi OS. The Eliteboard isn’t likely to blow the doors off a proper…
HP is announcing a new mini desktop computer at CES 2026, and the whole thing is housed in a compact keyboard. The Eliteboard G1a looks like a normal office keyboard with either a captive or detachable USB-C cable, but inside it is an AMD Ryzen AI 300-series chip, stereo speakers, RAM, storage, a fan, and ports — all the things that make up a computer. You just plug this keyboard into a monitor (up to dual 4K displays via daisy-chain connection), turn on the included and pre-paired Bluetooth mouse, and you’re good to go.
Pretty nifty, eh? This isn’t a totally new idea, as the similar Raspberry Pi 500 exists. But that’s a single-board computer running Raspberry Pi OS. The Eliteboard isn’t likely to blow the doors off a proper desktop or small form factor PCs in terms of performance, but its AMD Krackan Point processor options ranging from a Ryzen AI 5 350 to a Ryzen AI 7 370 Pro should be more than capable for office work and productivity apps.
1/8The 1800 layout keyboard is accompanied by a Bluetooth mouse. Image: HP
In addition to cable options, the Eliteboard G1a can be configured with a fingerprint sensor and user-replaceable 35Wh battery for an estimated 3.5 hours of battery life. It can also be outfitted with up to 2TB of storage and 64GB of DDR5 RAM across its dual SODIMM slots. All that in a keyboard with 2mm key travel and weighing as much as 1.69 pounds / 726 grams.
The detachable cable version sounds more appealing to my keyboard-pilled brain (as it’s what I’m used to with mechanical boards), but the Eliteboard with the attached cable has a spare USB4 port to use.
I know the Eliteboard is likely to just be used in boring office and IT environments, but I kind of love it (even though I doubt I’d enjoy typing on a latticeless membrane keyboard). I’m henceforth nicknaming it The Keyputer. My only wish is for a mechanical alternative, especially if HP found a way to factor in some of the modularity from its new HyperX keyboards, and with hotswap switches.
The Eliteboard G1a is expected to launch in March, but HP doesn’t have pricing. It estimates prices will be finalized closer to availability.
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- Antonio G. Di Benedetto