HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14 cellular workstation assessment

October 4, 2025

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HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: 30-second assessment

Externally, this machine bears an uncanny resemblance to HP’s EliteBook X G1a, and whereas there are variations on the underside, the entire prime of this machine, together with the display, keyboard and ports, is similar.

Nevertheless, inside this machine is a radical departure, because it makes use of the AMD Ryzen AI 395 Max+ processor, a full-blown Strix Halo chip. Due to this fact, HP has given it the title of Cellular Workstation PC, and it absolutely justifies that moniker.

Sometimes, cellular workstations require mains energy and have a show bigger than 14 inches, however this one doesn’t want both of these issues to ship spectacular outcomes.

On the skin, it’s a gun-metal ultrabook, and on the within, it’s a sixteen-core and thirty-two-thread monster that may blitz an unlimited array of intense computing challenges.

Not that it will possibly defy gravity completely, because the 74.5Wh battery on this machine will solely maintain it for round 13 hours at most when used always.

Along with the highly effective CPU, the Ryzen AI 395 Max additionally features a new built-in GPU, the Radeon 8060s and an enhanced AI expertise that mixes the CPU and NPU for as much as 126 TOPS of neural processing.

Due to this fact, it may be used for video enhancing, AI native fashions, CAD work, no matter. Briefly, it is prepared for many eventualities, and admittedly, operating Microsoft Workplace is beneath it.

In case you are on the lookout for a extremely potent and moveable answer, then the HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14 must be one to contemplate in case you’re accounts division isn’t squeamish about the price of cutting-edge know-how. Most likely one of many greatest cellular workstations – and positively one of many greatest enterprise laptops – you will get for individuals who can afford one.

HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: Value and availability

HP Zbook Ultra G1a 14 — (Picture credit score: Mark Pickavance)

How a lot does it price? From $1890/£1500/€1,699
When is it out? Obtainable now
The place are you able to get it? Direct from HP or through Amazon

As you’ll in all probability count on, HP makes many various SKUs of the HP Zbook Extremely G1a, ranging from those who have the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 CPU and 8050S GPU.

These begin at round $1889 within the UK, for a machine with 32GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That doesn’t appear too loopy, however then that SKU doesn’t have a contact display and solely a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS panel.

These wanting a machine just like the assessment {hardware}, with the highest processor, OLED touchscreen, and bigger quantities of RAM and storage, have to buckle up.

The closest SKU I may discover to the assessment {hardware}, which options the Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 processor, 64GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and a 2.8K contact OLED show, is priced at $3,079.

Within the UK, an entry-level HP Zbook Extremely G1a will price you £1,499.99, and one with the assessment spec is £2,111.99 from HP. Nevertheless, I used to be capable of finding the precise mannequin (A3ZH3ET#ABU) from a laptop computer retailer for less than £ 1,817.

The costliest possibility is a mannequin with the highest processor, 128GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage, which may simply price you over $3000, or extra.

Most fashions on supply are all pre-defined SKUs, however you possibly can completely customise the machine to have no matter you need. I might warn in opposition to doing this, because the costs for reminiscence and storage upgrades are frankly outrageous.

The difficulty with the know-how within the Zbook is that it is so new that comparatively few manufacturers have merchandise out that use it. Lenovo, for instance, hasn’t obtained this platform in its ThinkPad vary but. Dell has nothing obtainable with a Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 in it, and neither does Acer.

Asus has the ROG Circulate Z13, a gaming laptop computer, if you could find one. And, it is in the same worth vary, if not much more costly.

The place this silicon is extra accessible is in a Mini PC from the likes of GMKtec, Beelink, Minisforum and others. However clearly, these aren’t laptops.

The brutal actuality is that if you’d like one in all these made to the requirements of HP, then it may be costly till different manufacturers get their act collectively.

However the variety of SKUs which might be offered out suggests firms are prepared to pay for this efficiency stage.

HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: Specs

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Class	Merchandise
Processor	AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 (as much as 5.1 GHz max increase clock, 64 MB L3 cache, 16 cores, 32 threads)
NPU Efficiency	55 TOPS (Neural Processing Unit for native AI duties)
Complete TOPS	126TOPS (NPU and CPU mixed)
Reminiscence	64 GB LPDDR5x-8533 MT/s (soldered, non-upgradable)
Storage	1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Graphics	AMD Radeon 8060s Graphics
Show	14-inch diagonal 2.8K OLED contact show
Digital camera	5 MP IR AI digicam
Audio	Quad stereo audio system, twin microphones, Poly Studio tuning, AI noise discount
Ports Proper	1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1x USB-A, Safety cable slot
Ports Left	1x HDMI, 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1x USB-C (10Gbps charging), 1x headphone/mic combo
Wi-fi	MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 MT7925 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.4 wi-fi card
Battery	HP XL-Lengthy Life 4-cell, 74.5 Wh Li-ion polymer
Working System	Home windows 11 Professional
Safety	HP Wolf Safety, TPM 2.0, fingerprint sensor, auto lock/awake, onlook detector
Measurement	31.22 x 21.46 x 0.92 cm (entrance); 31.22 x 21.46 x 1.31 cm (rear)
Weight	1.49 kg
Sustainability	As much as 90% recycled magnesium, 50% recycled plastic in keycaps, recyclable packaging
Guarantee	3-year restricted guarantee with HP Wolf Professional Safety Version
Color	Meteor Silver Aluminium or Eclipse Grey Aluminium

HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: Design

Skinny and chic
Plenty of USB and Thunderbolt
Beautiful OLED display
Virtually no upgrades

This machine seems to borrow a lot of its chassis from the present EliteBook collection, and in case you put them collectively, they’re virtually similar, together with the port association.

This can be a compact design with an aluminium pores and skin that feels strong and strong. As I’ve talked about elsewhere, I’m not an enormous fan of the way in which cursor keys are applied on these HP keyboards, however the keys are a minimum of massive and nicely spaced.

HP didn’t take the MacBook strategy to this machine, and it has loads of USB and Thunderbolt ports that keep away from making a docking station a necessity. In case you do go down that path, possibly to have greater than two screens, it’s price noting that the PSU that HP contains is rated for 140W, and just a few docks ship that a lot energy to their host system.

The standout function of this machine from the skin is undoubtedly the two.8k OLED touch-enabled show, which has a superb color gamut and epic distinction ranges. This can be a vital improve over the IPS 1920 x 1080 decision display that HP is utilizing on its cheaper machines, and creatives will find it irresistible.

Nevertheless, the caveat to that show is that it has a glass coating to guard it from oily fingers, and that is extremely reflective when used exterior or with robust daylight coming by way of the home windows.

Entry to the inside is comparatively simple, requiring solely the loosening of 4 retained screws and the refined use of a plastic spudger to spring just a few latches. Given how simple it was, it follows that when a {hardware} maker doesn’t make entry a problem, there are virtually no choices inside. You possibly can change the battery and swap the M.2 storage, however there is no such thing as a second M.2 slot, and the reminiscence is soldered to the mainboard. Due to this fact, from an improve perspective, this nicely is nearly dry.

On this context, I’ve some sympathy for HP, as a result of getting this platform right into a chassis so compact didn’t enable area for any future proofing, regrettably. It borrows sufficient from the EliteBook machines to make substitute components for the display and keyboard simple sufficient to seek out, although any work fixing the motherboard might be difficult, contemplating how little room is left inside this chassis.

It appears like, and principally is, an Ultrabook, however with workstation elements beneath the pores and skin.

HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: {Hardware}

AMD Ryzen AI 395 Max+
Radeon 8060s GPU
Wonderful bandwidth of LPDDR5x-8533

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a strong processor engineered to cater to the wants of latest computing, particularly within the fields of AI, gaming, {and professional} duties. That includes 16 cores and 32 threads, it operates at a base clock velocity of 3GHz, with the aptitude to turbo increase as much as 5.1GHz.

This excessive core and thread rely makes it significantly well-suited for multitasking, executing complicated simulations, and managing intensive datasets. Moreover, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 goes past mere efficiency by incorporating superior AI options, making it a superb possibility for builders and researchers engaged in machine studying and AI initiatives.

When evaluating it to Intel’s main providing, the Core Extremely 200 collection, notable variations come up. Whereas the Arrow Lake-H era from Intel additionally possesses sixteen cores and threads, AMD’s sixteen Zen 5 cores can deal with thirty-two threads concurrently. Intel’s design incorporates solely six efficiency cores, whereas the bulk serve effectivity functions; in distinction, all of AMD’s cores are geared in direction of uncooked efficiency.

The trade-off right here is battery life in opposition to efficiency, because the Arrow Lake-H chips will supply higher longevity however can’t match the efficiency.

One facet the place Intel is considerably outgunned is in graphics, as the brand new Radeon 8060s are a minimum of twice as quick as their 890M predecessor, and significantly better than Intel’s ARC 140 collection.

A few of that efficiency increase comes from the elevated variety of shaders and clock speeds, however it additionally sees a major enchancment from the LPDDR5x-8533 reminiscence on this method. With an ECC quad-channel configuration and a rated velocity of 8000 MT/s, the quoted reminiscence bandwidth is an unimaginable 256 GB/s.

With the 8060s GPU sharing foremost reminiscence with the CPU, it achieves a bandwidth stage that was beforehand solely anticipated from the usage of GDDR5 reminiscence on discrete video playing cards just a few years in the past.

These benefits lengthen to the AI element of this providing, with the NPU delivering 55 TOPS and the CPU contributing to a mixed efficiency of 126 TOPS. Whereas we would find yourself laughing at these numbers just a few years down the road, proper now, that is rather more highly effective than something Intel has for cellular and even desktop use.

For comparability, a discrete video card such because the Nvidia RTX 4090 would possibly exceed 1300 TOPS. Nevertheless, that’s not a sensible piece of {hardware} to place inside a laptop computer on account of area, energy calls for, and warmth era. For an APU, the AMD Ryzen AI 395 Max+ is in a category of its personal.

HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: Efficiency

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Laptops	Header Cell – Column 1	HP Zbook Extremely G1a 14	Dell Precision 7780
CPU	Row 0 – Cell 1	AMD Ryzen AI 395 Max+	Intel Core i9-13950HX
Cores/Threads	Row 1 – Cell 1	16C 32T	24C 32T
TPD	Row 2 – Cell 1	45-120W(55W)	55W
RAM	Row 3 – Cell 1	64GB LPDDR5-8000	32GB DDR5 (2x16GB)
SSD	Row 4 – Cell 1	2TB Kingston OM8PGP42048N	SK Hynix 801 1TB
Graphics	Row 5 – Cell 1	AMD Radeon 8060S	Nvidia RTX 3500
NPU	Row 6 – Cell 1	AMD Ryzen AI (50/126 TOPS)	N/A
3DMark	WildLife	49780	73,250
Row 8 – Cell 0	FireStrike	19558	27,832
Row 9 – Cell 0	TimeSpy	8506	13415
Row 10 – Cell 0	Metal Nomad Lite	7968	14125
CineBench24	Single	114	58
Row 12 – Cell 0	Multi	1244	876
Row 13 – Cell 0	Ratio	10.95	15.06
GeekBench 6	Single	2876	1770
Row 15 – Cell 0	Multi	16747	16704
Row 16 – Cell 0	OpenCL	78855	145921
Row 17 – Cell 0	Vulkan	74848	9680
CrystalDIsk	Learn MB/s	6683	7156
Row 19 – Cell 0	Write MB/s	4937	6439
PCMark 10	Workplace	7919	7803
Row 21 – Cell 0	Battery	10h 48m	7h 40m
Battery	Whr	74.5	93
Row 23 – Cell 0	PSU	140W	240W
WEI	Rating	9.5	8.2

I mulled over what machine I’d use to check, since not one of the current Intel 200 collection machines I’ve seen are classed as cellular workstations.

Ultimately, I went with the Dell Precision 7780, a heavy-duty cellular workstation that price much more than the ZBook.

As you possibly can see, contemplating that it is the cutting-edge of cellular {hardware} within the HP, it nonetheless can’t go sooner than the Dell within the graphics checks.

Nevertheless, this isn’t a good struggle, because the AMD machine utilises an built-in GPU, whereas the Dell machine options an Nvidia RTX 3500 cellular discrete video card. The RTX 3500 Ada Technology is knowledgeable cellular GPU that includes the 5nm Ada Lovelace structure (AD104), with 5120 CUDA cores, 12 GB of GDDR6 reminiscence on a 192-bit bus, and a 100W TDP.

With all these shaders and its personal impartial GDDR6 reminiscence, it ought to win, and presumably by an even bigger margin than these benches reveal.

As a computing platform, the Thirteenth Technology Intel Core i9-13950HX carried out poorly, and even with 24 cores, it struggled in each the CineBench 24 and GeekBench 6 checks.

The facility consumption of the Intel Core i9-13950HX and RTX 3500 delivers a operating time of lower than a working day, even with a 93Wh battery.

It also needs to be famous that the ZBook recovered virtually half its battery capability in thirty minutes, whereas the Dell took over an hour to hit a 50% recharge.

Had I chosen a extra concurrent Intel system, maybe utilizing the Intel Core Extremely 7 268V and the Intel Arc 140V GPU, it might have been soundly thrashed in virtually each take a look at.

Whereas I did not run any AI checks, it might have been a victory for the ZBook, as Intel had no AI know-how in Thirteenth-generation processors.

Ignoring workstations with discrete video know-how that don’t work nicely on battery energy, the HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14 demonstrates the facility of an Ultrabook-sized machine with the newest AMD silicon onboard.

HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14: Ultimate verdict

Let’s be brutally sincere, it is a incredible laptop computer that takes Intel’s greatest silicon and pushes previous it effortlessly, however the worth HP selected is considerably of a gouge.

Most managers discover it difficult sufficient to get a $2,000 laptop computer authorized, however this one may simply exceed $4,000 or extra, relying on choices.

Not too long ago, I reviewed the Bossgame M5 AI, a mini PC that makes use of the identical AI 395 platform, which comes with 128GB of reminiscence and 2TB of Kingston-branded storage. That prices about $1800, that means you could possibly have two of them for the value of 1 ZBook.

Sure, you would wish screens, keyboards and mice, however that’s an enormous distinction, and completely rebuffs the notion that that is costly as a result of AMD is asking an excessive amount of for its newest chips. However with out competitors, it will possibly. HP has given this machine a flagship worth as a result of it is aware of that some company clients will likely be prepared to pay it.

This can be a big disgrace, as a result of many hard-working folks deserve this stage of efficiency to maximise their productiveness, however fewer are more likely to have a boss who will present them with a system to ship it.

Nevertheless, historical past tells us that inside six months or extra, when many manufacturers have laptops utilising this thrilling platform, the value will develop into rather more life like.

Do you have to purchase a HP ZBook Extremely G1a 14?

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Worth	When you find yourself first, you possibly can ask no matter worth you want	3 / 5
Design	Borrows from the EliteBook collection on the skin	4 / 5
{Hardware}	AI 300 collection AI CPU, DDR5 and new 8060s Radeon make it amazingly highly effective	5 / 5
Efficiency	Unimaginable efficiency that’s solely crushed by discrete video playing cards	5 / 5
General	Extremely highly effective and stupidly costly	4.5 / 5