HP’s ZBook Extremely is a hyper-portable cell workstation that instantly appears like a competitor to Apple’s MacBook Professional lineup. Not solely is it a light-weight and skinny workstation, however it’s additionally bought a brand new, modern chipset below the chassis.
AMD’s Ryzen AI Max chipset is an formidable mission for x86 CPU structure and one thing of a chance. Whereas we did have a blast with the gaming-centered model on the Asus ROG Stream Z13, I’ve been ready to get my fingers on this chip within the HP ZBook Extremely since CES again in January.
The Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395 chip within the ZBook Extremely 14 G1a provides improbable all-around efficiency, stable Radeon 8060s GPU energy, and extra reminiscence than I do know what to do with. The ZBook additionally incorporates a vivid show, a slim, moveable design, highly effective audio, and an expert port array. A steep price ticket, lackluster battery life, and a grainy webcam maintain it again, however they are not stunning for a 14-inch workstation laptop computer.
Does the MacBook Professional 14 lastly have competitors within the type of the HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a? Is it highly effective sufficient to land a spot on our greatest workstations record? Let’s have a look.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Specs and benchmarks
|
Worth: |
$2,599 beginning, $4,049 as reviewed |
|
CPU: |
AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395 |
|
GPU: |
AMD Radeon 8060S built-in graphics |
|
RAM: |
128GB |
|
Storage: |
2TB SSD |
|
Show: |
14-inch, 2880 x 1800, Contact OLED |
|
Battery (HH:MM): |
6:46 |
|
Dimensions: |
12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches |
|
Weight: |
3.4 kilos |
Click on to view full benchmark check outcomes
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a |
|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 Single-core (Increased is best) |
2,837 |
|
Geekbench 6 Multicore (Increased is best) |
17,721 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Decrease is best) |
02:34 |
|
25GB File Switch Check (Decrease is best) |
20 |
|
25GB File Switch Check (SSD velocity) |
1,342 |
|
Blackmagic Disk Pace Check: Learn (Increased is best) |
4,468.0 |
|
Blackmagic Disk Pace Check: Write (HIgher is best) |
4276.1 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: Blender (1060p, Increased is best) |
DNR |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: FSI (1060p, Increased is best) |
6.5 |
|
PugetBench Photoshop (Increased is best) |
10,186 |
|
Warmth (Levels Fahrenheit) |
99.6 |
|
Battery life (Increased is best) |
06:45 |
|
Show brightness (Increased is best) |
368 |
|
sRGB colour gamut (Increased is best) |
197.6% |
|
DCI-P3 colour gamut (Increased is best) |
139.9% |
|
Coloration accuracy (Decrease is best) |
0.31 |
|
3DMark Hearth Strike (Increased is best) |
23,459 |
|
3DMark Time Spy (Increased is best) |
10,114 |
|
3DMark Metal Nomad (Increased is best) |
1,992.00 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: maya-05 (1060p, Increased is best) |
3.68 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: energy-02 (1060p, Increased is best) |
14.86 |
|
PugetBench Premiere Professional (Increased is best) |
7,223 |
|
Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) |
97.19 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) |
81 |
|
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) |
168.62 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Worth and configurations
No workstation is affordable, and when you hoped the ZBook Extremely is perhaps an exception to that rule, you’ll be disenchanted.
The bottom configuration of HP’s ZBook Extremely 15 G1a prices $2,599 and will get you the highly effective mixture of the Ryzen AI Max Professional 385 CPU with Radeon 8060S built-in graphics, 32GB of reminiscence, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS show.
You possibly can improve to the Ryzen AI Max Professional 390 chipset with a 1TB SSD and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen for a further $350. Upgrading the Ryzen AI Max Professional 390 mannequin to 64GB of RAM for a further $300 brings the entire to $3,249.
Upgrading to the Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395 mannequin prices $5,660 and comes with 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED show. Upgrading the RAM to 64GB and storage to 2TB brings the entire to $6,290.
The highest-end configuration of the ZBook Extremely with the Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395, Radeon 8060S built-in graphics, 128GB of RAM, 4TB of SSD storage, and 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED show prices a complete of $8,250.
Nonetheless, our assessment spec is maybe the perfect worth for the ZBook Extremely. For $4,049, you get the Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395 CPU, Radeon 8060S built-in graphics, 128GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and the 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen. This provides you essentially the most use of the unified reminiscence, with further cupboard space, an upgraded CPU, and an OLED show.
Whereas none of those configurations are low-cost, they’re not too steep in comparison with the typical workstation worth. Nonetheless, it does begin larger than different moveable content material creation laptops just like the Apple MacBook Professional 14 ($1,599 beginning worth) or Asus ProArt PX13 ($1,699). It’s price noting that upgrades on the MacBook Professional, particularly, are costly, to match our really useful ZBook Extremely configuration, it might be $5,099.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Design
Most ZBook workstations aren’t laptops you’d need in your lap for lengthy.
HP hasn’t modified a lot of the ZBook aesthetic for the ZBook Extremely 15 G1a. It has a Meteorite Silver magnesium alloy chassis with a minimalist chrome HP brand on the highest cowl and a smooth keyboard deck with a centered touchpad.
The ZBook Extremely does have slim bezels on the show, with a slight improve in bezel measurement alongside the highest to suit the webcam. The hinges are good and durable, with an nearly 180-degree rotation in case it’s essential use the ZBook in your lap and tilt the show again for higher ergonomics.
Most ZBook workstations aren’t laptops you’d need in your lap for lengthy. Even the slim ZBook Studio can really feel a bit hefty after a while, however the ZBook Extremely is designed to be a very moveable powerhouse machine, and its chassis design is small and light-weight to match.
The ZBook Extremely measures simply 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches and weighs simply 3.4 kilos. Whereas that is fairly gentle and moveable in comparison with strongest workstation laptops, it’s a bit nearer in dimensions to extra cell creator gadgets like:
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Ports
As a cell workstation, the ZBook Extremely comes with a full port array to attach your entire gadgets:
- 2x USB 4 Kind-C (40Gbps, Energy Supply, DisplayPort 2.1)
- 1x USB Kind-C (10Gbps, Energy Supply, DisplayPort 2.1)
- 1x USB Kind-A (10Gbps)
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 1x Audio combo
- 1x Safety lock slot
The ZBook Extremely provides nearly all of ports you would need with a number of DisplayPort 2.1 USB-C connections, further USB Kind-C and Kind-A ports, and an HDMI port. The one main workstation port lacking is an SD card reader, so when you want a quick-access SD slot, you could wish to snag one of many greatest laptop computer docking stations or USB-C hubs.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Battery life
The Achilles’ heel of most Home windows workstations is battery life.
The Achilles’ heel of most Home windows workstations is battery life. And the HP ZBook Extremely is not any exception. Whereas it doesn’t have a discrete graphics card, its Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395 chipset remains to be a little bit of an influence hog.
I simply bought by half of my workday, with 15-20 Chrome tabs and Photoshop working, while not having to seek out an outlet, however I did should plug the ZBook into its charger round my lunch break. It’s not terrible for a strong workstation laptop computer, however it’s not touching MacBook Execs, which provide over 18 hours of battery life.
On the Laptop computer Magazine internet browsing battery check, the HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a lasted 6 hours and 46 minutes. It’s not a lot worse in comparison with most workstation laptops, however when in comparison with its hyper-portable competitors, the ZBook Extremely does fall quick in opposition to the ProArt PX13 and ThinkPad P1 Gen 7.
Click on to view chart information in desk format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a |
Apple MacBook Professional 14 (M4, 2024) |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 |
Asus ProArt PX13 |
Apple MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional, 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Battery life (Increased is best) |
06:45 |
18:32 |
17:24 |
09:28 |
20:46 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Safety and sturdiness
The ZBook Extremely options HP Wolf Professional Safety, a TPM 2.0 embedded safety chip, and a nano safety lock slot, so it has loads of {hardware} and software program safety.
The ZBook additionally options an IR webcam for Home windows Hiya safe sign-in, and a fingerprint reader on the facility button.
HP has run the ZBook Extremely by all 21 sturdiness exams to fulfill the MIL-STD-810H commonplace, together with publicity to excessive excessive and low temperatures, mud, humidity, and excessive altitude. So the ZBook Extremely can observe you on location to
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Show
The numbers don’t lie; this show is improbable.
Greater than different laptops, workstations require a excessive stage of colour accuracy of their shows. In spite of everything, when you’re utilizing the ZBook Extremely for design work, it’s essential know the colour you see in your show is what can be seen by prospects.
The shiny 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen show on our ZBook Extremely mannequin is completely what you’d anticipate from a ZBook laptop computer. Pulling up images of a latest journey to place the ZBook by its modifying paces, I used to be taken again by simply how properly the OLED touchscreen captured the vivid, shiny colours of the Walt Disney World parks, even at night time.
From the cyberpunk blue lights of the brand new Tron Lightcycle Run coaster to the terracotta pink of the Tower of Terror, I’ve hardly ever been extra nostalgic for a household Disney journey than when modifying my trip images on the ZBook Extremely.
In our lab testing, the ZBook’s show coated 139% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with an accuracy of 0.31 (decrease is best) and had a max SDR brightness of 368 nits, with a peak HDR brightness of 575 nits. The numbers don’t lie; this show is improbable.
Click on to view chart information in desk format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a |
Apple MacBook Professional 14 (M4, 2024) |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 |
Asus ProArt PX13 |
Apple MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional, 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Show brightness (Increased is best) |
368 |
557 |
386 |
350 |
565 |
|
sRGB colour gamut (Increased is best) |
197.6% |
113.3% |
111.0% |
113.1% |
115.0% |
|
DCI-P3 colour gamut (Increased is best) |
139.9% |
80.2% |
78.6% |
80.1% |
81.4% |
|
Coloration accuracy (Decrease is best) |
0.31 |
0.19 |
0.29 |
0.22 |
0.27 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Keyboard and touchpad
The ZBook Extremely’s keyboard is crisp, with a springy activation really feel.
HP opted for the Premium keyboard on the ZBook Extremely, and it’s a alternative that’s paid off. The ZBook Extremely’s keyboard is crisp, with a springy activation really feel.
On the 10fastfingers.com superior typing check, I averaged a typing velocity of phrases per minute (WPM), which is simply shy of the 88 WPM I keep on the MacBook Professional 14.
The HP Premium keyboard can also be mounted beneath the keyboard deck, making it simpler to swap out for restore or IT recycling to a unique area. Whereas not vital on extra consumer-focused gadgets, it is a beneficial choice on an expert workstation, as most of those laptops can be used for at the least 4 years.
The massive glass touchpad on the ZBook Extremely can also be a delight, sporting multigesture help and a silky really feel. The touchpad is clickable by about 90% of the world, with solely the highest edge being unclickable. I didn’t discover the distinction whereas utilizing the ZBook till I regarded for it.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Audio
Not solely can they fill a room, however the audio system have a excessive diploma of audio readability
HP has loaded 4 built-in stereo audio system with tuning by PolyStudio into the ZBook Extremely, and people top-firing audio system pack a powerful quantity of energy. Not solely can they fill a room, however the audio system have a excessive diploma of audio readability, even at full quantity.
I might differentiate between the screaming guitars and melodic synth of Sleep Token’s “The Summoning” at excessive and medium volumes. The PolyStudio audio supplied severe constancy from the wealthy, driving bass to Vessel’s hovering vocals.
The ZBook Extremely’s audio can deal with internet calls and video or audio modifying classes. Nonetheless, when you spend a variety of time modifying within the discipline or workplace, we’d suggest a set of the greatest headphones so that you don’t want to fret about background noise getting in the best way.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Efficiency and warmth
Even modifying multi-layered tasks for my work at Laptop computer Magazine was a breeze.
The ZBook Extremely 14 G1a options AMD’s most formidable cell chipset, the Ryzen AI Max sequence, particularly the Ryzen AI Max+ Professional 395. This large APU is supported by 128GB of unified reminiscence and a speedy SSD.
I used the ZBook Extremely to edit a few of my latest trip images, and even unplugged, the ZBook Extremely might deal with my normal edits with out difficulty. Even modifying multi-layered tasks for my work at Laptop computer Magazine was a breeze.
In our efficiency testing, the ZBook Extremely’s Ryzen AI Max+ Professional chipset outperformed the MacBook Professional 14’s M4, the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7’s Intel’s Core Extremely 7 165H, and the ProArt PX13’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processors in Geekbench 6 multicore efficiency by as much as 36%. Solely the MacBook Professional 16’s M4 Professional outpaced the ZBook Extremely.
The ZBook does get a bit scorching below pressure, with its hottest level measuring 99.6 levels Fahrenheit above the F4 key after streaming a 4K video for at the least quarter-hour. Whereas not the most popular laptop computer temperature we’ve ever measured, it will probably get toasty in your fingertips. Fortunately, the remainder of the laptop computer stays a bit cooler, with the world between the G and H keys hitting 95.5 levels and the underside measuring 92.3 levels.
Click on to view chart information in desk format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a |
Apple MacBook Professional 14 (M4, 2024) |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 |
Asus ProArt PX13 |
Apple MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional, 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 Single-core (Increased is best) |
2,837 |
3,807 |
2,424 |
2,847 |
3,910 |
|
Geekbench 6 Multicore (Increased is best) |
17,721 |
15,114 |
12,974 |
15,203 |
22,822 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Decrease is best) |
02:34 |
4:27 |
4:22 |
3:36 |
2:38 |
|
25GB File Switch Check (Decrease is best) |
20 |
Row 3 – Cell 2 |
12.97 |
16.96 |
Row 3 – Cell 5 |
|
25GB File Switch Check (SSD velocity) |
1,342 |
Row 4 – Cell 2 |
2,071 |
1,583 |
Row 4 – Cell 5 |
|
Blackmagic Disk Pace Check: Learn (Increased is best) |
4,468.0 |
2,900.1 |
4,713.4 |
3,586.2 |
5,353.7 |
|
Blackmagic Disk Pace Check: Write (HIgher is best) |
4276.1 |
3,318.6 |
4,154.9 |
3,345.6 |
6,640.5 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: Blender (1060p, Increased is best) |
DNR |
Row 7 – Cell 2 |
2.11 |
Row 7 – Cell 4 | Row 7 – Cell 5 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: FSI (1060p, Increased is best) |
6.5 |
Row 8 – Cell 2 |
3.44 |
Row 8 – Cell 4 | Row 8 – Cell 5 |
|
PugetBench Photoshop (Increased is best) |
10,186 |
10,542 |
Row 9 – Cell 3 |
7,948 |
12,292 |
|
Warmth (Levels Fahrenheit) |
99.6 |
84.5 |
88.0 |
95.5 |
90.5 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Gaming and graphics
if you wish to use the ZBook Extremely as your day by day driver, it will probably sustain with some gentle gaming.
The HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a is a skinny, gentle, and ultraportable workstation. Not a gaming laptop computer.
Workstation laptops do characteristic highly effective GPUs, however they traditionally carry out poorly in gaming in comparison with high-powered gaming laptops as a result of workstation GPUs are designed for precision slightly than uncooked energy. Whereas I’m a self-professed MMO hermit who will play Closing Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail on any platform able to working it, even I hesitate to sport on a workstation.
Nonetheless, the ZBook Extremely is a competitor of the MacBook Professional 14, and I prefer to play video games on my Mac. So I ultimately satisfied myself to obtain and run FFXIV on the ZBook Extremely, not that it took an excessive amount of effort. I didn’t anticipate the ZBook Extremely to play in addition to a devoted gaming laptop computer, however it maintained a easy 55 to 60 frames per second on the Normal (Laptop computer) preset at 1800p. So, if you wish to use the ZBook Extremely as your day by day driver, it will probably sustain with some gentle gaming.
Click on to view chart information in desk format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a |
Apple MacBook Professional 14 (M4, 2024) |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 |
Asus ProArt PX13 |
Apple MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional, 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3DMark Hearth Strike (Increased is best) |
23,459 |
Row 0 – Cell 2 |
19,607 |
18,634 |
Row 0 – Cell 5 |
|
3DMark Time Spy (Increased is best) |
10,114 |
Row 1 – Cell 2 |
8,505 |
7,861 |
Row 1 – Cell 5 |
|
3DMark Metal Nomad (Increased is best) |
1,992.00 |
Row 2 – Cell 2 |
1,783 |
1,654 |
Row 2 – Cell 5 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: maya-05 (1060p, Increased is best) |
3.68 |
Row 3 – Cell 2 |
3.49 |
Row 3 – Cell 4 | Row 3 – Cell 5 |
|
SPECWorkstation 3.1: energy-02 (1060p, Increased is best) |
14.86 |
Row 4 – Cell 2 |
9.94 |
Row 4 – Cell 4 | Row 4 – Cell 5 |
|
PugetBench Premiere Professional (Increased is best) |
7,223 |
4,618 |
7,178 |
7,074 |
8,888 |
|
Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) |
97.19 |
23.03 |
69.02 |
62.22 |
42.80 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) |
81 |
36 |
78 |
72 |
79 |
|
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) |
168.62 |
53.548 |
152.765 |
115.736 |
98.357 |
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: AI options
The HP ZBook Extremely options an AMD Ryzen AI chipset, which suggests it has a 50 TOPS NPU onboard, which will get you entry to your complete Copilot+ suite of purposes like CoCreate, LiveCaptions, and Recall, along with superior Home windows Studio Results and the total model of Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant.
As an AMD laptop computer, the ZBook Extremely additionally has entry to AMD’s AI-optimized software program, which incorporates Amuse, Topaz Labs, Camo Studio, and Arkrunr.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Webcam
The ZBook Extremely sports activities a 5MP IR digicam, which is good for Home windows Hiya safe sign-in and never so nice for digital conferences. The feed is a bit grainy with some colour distortion, which casts a persistent pink layer over my face.
It’s completely serviceable for the occasional Zoom name, however if you wish to use the ZBook Extremely as your day by day work laptop computer, you could wish to put money into considered one of our greatest webcams to deal with your digital conferences slightly than use the onboard digicam.
HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a: Software program and guarantee
The ZBook Extremely ships with Home windows 11 Professional, which incorporates commonplace Microsoft purposes like Copilot, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Home windows Media Participant, and Microsoft Groups. The ZBook Extremely has some pre-installed AMD software program, like AMD Bug Report Software and AMD Set up Supervisor.
HP additionally pre-loaded proprietary software program, corresponding to HP Audio Management, Connection Optimizer, Insights, Positive Get better, Poly Digital camera Professional, and HP Help Assistant. There are greater than 15 totally different HP and Poly packages pre-installed on the ZBook Extremely, which is a bit a lot. Fortunately, the packages don’t take up a lot area on the SSD.
HP provides a three-year restricted guarantee with the HP ZBook Extremely.
Backside line
However when you want the total breadth of the Home windows ecosystem, the HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a is a worthy contender.
Should you’re OS agnostic like I are usually, you desire a moveable, highly effective, environment friendly workstation to fulfill your day-to-day necessities and be sure to don’t miss a beat when working or creating in your off time.
The HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a comes very near eclipsing my MacBook Professional by way of portability and beats the bottom MacBook Professional’s CPU energy, however it comes at the price of battery life and the next worth. The bottom configuration of the ZBook Extremely prices $2,599, which is a bit steep for the typical shopper. And it doesn’t get the total leverage of the Ryzen AI Max Professional chipset’s unified reminiscence.
Should you want the final word mixture of affordability, energy, and battery life, the MacBook Professional 14 (M4, 2024) remains to be the best way to go, particularly when you don’t have to run Home windows to entry your entire purposes. However when you want the total breadth of the Home windows ecosystem, the HP ZBook Extremely 14 G1a is a worthy contender.
Not like the Asus ProArt PX13, the ZBook Extremely is extra highly effective than the bottom M4 chipset, provides extra GPU energy for information evaluation and video modifying, and has a significantly better show. Whereas the ProArt PX13 is the cheaper choice, the ZBook Extremely will get you way more energy. It’s bought your again when you’ve bought funds.
