HP ZBook G1i (14-inch)
pros and cons
- Powerful hardware
- Sturdy build
- Good keyboard and trackpad
- Middling battery
- Expensive
- Thick and heavy
- Runs hot
more buying choices
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source epitomizes the form factor. It’s hefty, pricey, and loaded with high-end hardware designed to blaze through professional workflows in a non-descript, “all-business” profile.
Also: I found the apps slowing down my PC – how to kill the biggest memory hogs
I used the ZBook 8 G1i as my main driver for a week and came to appreciate its raw horsepower, but with the influx of thin-and-light laptops on the market, one can’t help but compare it to laptops that are almost half as light, with marathon batteries to boot (and comparable performance).
Still, the ZBook 8 G1i doubles down on its predictably corporate design by delivering exactly what you’d expect from a laptop like this: power, durability, and reliability, with a handful of configurations, including niche hardware options.
Best laptop deals of the week
Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.
Predictable performance
Available in both 14- and 16-inch models, I tested the 14-inch ZBook 8 Gl1 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor and 64 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM. This model features data transfer speeds of up to 5600 MT/s and scales up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H — Intel’s highest-performance chip family, with more CPU cores, faster clock speeds, and better thermals than the energy-efficient U or P series.
Combined with up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMeTM SSD, you’ve got a performance powerhouse that’s capable of tackling professional workflows, data processing, and multitasking (and prices exceeding $3,000