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HP ZBook Studio Workstations: A Complete Review
Linsey Knerl
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October 10, 2018
Today’s computer user is increasingly mobile, and that means only a powerful, on-the-go workstation will do. See why creatives and professionals are turning to the HP ZBook Studio mobile workstation line to get work done at amazingly efficient speeds, while never having to stay in one place to do it.
Learn what makes the HP ZBook Studio workstation laptop family a fantastic option in our latest review.
Brighter, bolder, better
When it comes to creating the perfect photo or editing video with the right amount of light, there’s no comparison to a 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) display. The HP ZBook Studio line embraces this technology, which has an unparalleled one billion colors appearing through the optional HP DreamColor Z27x Studio 4K monitor.
It does all of your projects justice, as the 600 nits of brightness show up better in any kind of light. It also happens to outshine other major brands with 20-50% more brightness.
Whether you’re a hobbyist or professional creating digital designs, the Adobe RGB won’t disappoint and is more capable of showing off the colors captured by your camera, from snap to print. In fact, the HP ZBook Studio line outshines sRGB (the current industry standard). Given that you could be working in the office or outside in the field, it’s also important to avoid that always-annoying screen glare.
You’ll join the many creatives who have praised the glare-reduction coating and the ambient light sensor that keeps you from having to adjust your screen brightness manually.
Slim by design
While this mobile workstation packs a punch, it’s not much bigger than a more basic notebook. Weighing in at just under 4.5 pounds and with a very modest thickness at 18.9 mm, it qualifies as a slim laptop that can fit into a standard tote or backpack to be used in the most crowded areas. Use it in a café, on a flight, or in a cozy office - anywhere work takes you.
And enjoy the machined, aluminum interior encased by a sleek and modern, die-cast magnesium shell that users have described as breathtaking.
It does so much more
While designers, producers, and architects once had to wait until they got back into the office to put the finishing touches on their projects, you no longer need a stationary desktop to do all the heavy lifting.
The HP ZBook Studio has all the editing and rendering power of a high-end, traditional desktop in a truly portable design. Boasting the impressive speed and stability that comes with the 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i9® Processor, it’s made to run several programs at once.
It holds its own against some of the most complex applications on the market, and you can always upgrade to the Intel Xeon® processor laptop for even more computing power.
Programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Revit, Navisworks, Enscape and Creo (sold separately) can be used without long load times and those painful rendering lags thanks to the combination of high-end processing capabilities and the included 64GB of RAM.
None of this would be possible without a graphics card that’s up to the task, and HP® has thoughtfully integrated the precision of certified NVIDIA® Quadro® P2000 graphics. This solution is well known for its ability to help creators work with multiple layers and larger photo, sound, and video files.
When security counts
Whether you’re working on a personal passion project or refining top-secret files from the office, it’s nice to know that the HP ZBook Studio has your privacy in mind. Swipe your finger to close the webcam and shut down any attempts at visual hacking or unauthorized video recording.
Working on the road? One button push is all you need to enable the HP Sure View privacy screen function, which makes sure you’re the only one seeing what’s on the screen. It’s ideal for anyone working on sensitive projects in a public area, such as a coffee shop, airport, or shared workspace.
Your computer is only as valuable as the files it contains. HP ZBook Studio laptops are slated to come standard with RAID 1 software mirroring later in 2018, which keeps a second copy of all of your important files on a second drive in case the worst happens.
Bad actors are always out there, waiting to take over your data and hold your precious projects for ransom. Get the upper hand before they strike with the HP Sure-Click protection that these laptops include. You can safely browse the web in the most popular browsing platforms without fear of landing on a bad website that could take down your computer.
Pro tools for maximum productivity
As if all of these innovative additions to the HP ZBook Studio aren’t appealing enough, each laptop also features a range of components to help you get the most from your workday. Customize your laptop with the following upgraded features to do your best graphic design, photography, video, architecture, animation, or illustration work:
Windows 10 Pro
While Windows 10 personal software can accomplish many of the everyday tasks most people perform with a laptop, upgrading to Windows 10 Pro gives you added benefits, including advanced security and networking choices.
The professional version is also designed with collaboration in mind so that you can create and share more easily with even the most remote teams.
Sophisticated storage
Most of the creative work you do requires large data files in various formats, so it only makes sense that your notebook should handle files locally without lag or interruption. The 4TB NVMe storage in the HP ZBook Studio creates a seamless path to your most precious projects at a rate up to six times faster than SATA SSD.
Extra-long battery life
If your work ever takes you away from the office for extended periods of time, it’s essential that your laptop battery is up for the challenge. Squeeze more work into every last hour of the day with the HP ZBook Studio, which offers up to 16 hours of battery life.
Need power fast? The fast-charging capabilities will get you back in the game in under an hour, with up to 50% charge in just 45 minutes with the proprietary charger.
Connect with anyone, anywhere
Many laptops suffer from port envy, but the HP ZBook Studio gives you more places to plug in.
Take advantage of the two USB 3.0 ports and the single HDMI port on the side of the body, as well as a versatile SD card port. For times when you need data to get somewhere fast, the dual Thunderbolt™ 3 ports can do the job in less time. They come standard on all HP ZBook Studio models.
Bang & Olufsen audio
There’s no need to trade off laptop convenience with suitable sound quality. The Bang & Olufsen speakers are an HP signature perk, and they keep premium sound at your fingertips with dynamic 4-speaker sound configurations and a discretely-designed amp.
You can enjoy web meetings with clarity, or kick back and watch the video you made without the need for external speakers.
Accessories built inside
This laptop works amazingly well with the full-sized HP Collaboration Keyboard, which is innovative considering that it’s stuffed inside such a portable device. The spill-resistant keys are fully backlit and offer DuraKeys, which are designed to last longer and hold their position in even the most awkward travel situations.
If you’re a trackpad fan, you’ll enjoy using the sensitive, yet controlled, click pad with an image sensor and glass surface. Turn on or off multi-touch gestures for easier use of popular Windows-based shortcuts so you can get more done with less fuss.
The world is where you are, provided you upgrade to the HP World Facing mic and webcam, which is optional on higher-priced models. The HP ZBook Studio G5, in particular, features an HD IR camera with 720p resolution and innovative facial authentication that helps you log-in securely to your protected device using the integrated Windows Hello application.
Models available
The HP ZBook Studio workstation laptop currently comes in two basic models that can each be customized to meet your exact specifications. Depending on how you will use it, one of these options is the best choice for you.
HP ZBook Studio G3 mobile workstation
For those just getting started with the HP ZBook Studio, you can’t go wrong with the HP ZBook Studio G3 mobile workstation, which is the lowest-priced option of the series.
It features the Windows 7 Version of Pro, an Intel® Core™ i7 processor, 8GB memory, and 256GB of SSD storage. It’s strong enough to produce like the pros while keeping more in your budget for the accessories and software you need to grow your skills and create new works of art.
HP ZBook Studio G5 mobile workstation
The HP ZBook Studio G5 mobile workstation features the most possible processing power with options that include the Intel® Xeon® processor combined with 16GB memory, 512GB SSD storage, and that amazing NVIDIA® Quadro® P1000 graphics processor (4GB GDDR5 dedicated).
Like the other models, it sports a 15.6-inch diagonal Full High Definition (FHD) display to capture the true brilliance of your next big project.
Both the HP ZBook Studio G3 and G5 laptop models are ready to take on your choice of creative software solutions, including those for photography, video editing, 3D rendering, and more.
Buy more, do more
These laptops are designed to be taken on the road and used in every moment. And with a little planning, they can be completely reinvented to take on the most daunting creative tasks. The accessories were made with the HP ZBook Studio line in mind. Which one will help you achieve your most ambitious goals?
HP DreamColor Z31x Studio display
Remember those one billion colors we discussed earlier? See them for all they are with this impressively-built precision display.
The HP DreamColor Z31x Studio 4K monitor is made with remote teams in mind. It allows you to connect from a distance with your desktops, laptops, and more to the brilliant, award-winning monitor.
The built-in sensor calibrates at your request, making sure the colors displayed are as true on screen as they are in real life.
Used by professionals in leading creative industries (such as animation and fashion), you can ensure that your work will appear fresh and vibrant in either FHD or True 2K with a 17:9 aspect ratio that requires no scaling or cropping for most images.
HP Z 3D Camera
Imaging is all the rage, and this real-time scanning 3D camera lets you snag every detail of your next project for unparalleled realism. Just attach the hand-free, down-facing camera to your existing monitor or HP ZBook Studio display to capture any 3D object, 2D document, and or live video to your device.
HP Thunderbolt Laptop Dock 230W G2 with Combo Cable
While we do believe that the HP ZBook Studio is the workstation laptop that can do anything, we know that sometimes you want to take your project to a desktop environment without the hassle of transferring files.
The HP Thunderbolt laptop dock with combo cable lets you seamlessly share your projects between devices. It also charges the battery in a hurry so you’re ready for that next video conference. A laptop docking station has never been this easy to use or useful.
In summary
Whether you’re just starting out and need a laptop to support your freelance photography career, or you’re a graduating student and need a laptop to support your future engineering field, there is an HP ZBook Studio laptop workstation option to help you reach your maximum potential.
All models have been extensively tested for more than 120,000 hours and meet 14 Military Standard 810G test requirements. They also have the backing of a three-year warranty.
With a rugged exterior designed to handle the bumps along the road (as well as drops, falls, and dust), the HP ZBook Studio laptop features powerful hardware options made to bring the computing possibilities you need for all your projects. It’s the mobile workstation you can count on for this, and the next, phase of your life.
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About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
