HP ZBook 14u G5 Mobile Workstation Review

Workstations are often considered as heavily packed machines and now this technology is introduced in mobile versions as well. HP ZBook 14u G5 is one of the machines launched recently in mobile workstation series by HP. This machine is built to deliver incredible power and performance for the users.

Latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 8 GB SDRAM propel the desired power to the system. Features like the solid professional design, smooth finish, 14-inch full HD screen, integrated and discrete graphics, unlimited port options, network connectivity, spill-resistant backlit keyboard, superb audio quality, and good battery life enhances the overall value of this mobile workstation.

Advanced security features from HP keep your data secure and safe. You can easily perform your daily tasks, multi-tasking, high-end tasks like CAD or digital drawings, and various other workstation tasks without much hiccups or issues.

HP ZBook 14u G5 Overview

Desktop Workstations exists in computer arena for decades. Earlier workstations versions were quite huge in build and it takes an almost whole room to store those workstations and forgot about their movement, it requires a lot of time. As the time and technology progressed, sizes reduced drastically.

This leads to the thought of having a mobile version of the workstation which is easy to carry and move. Leading brands took this as the opportunity and launched various products like Dell Inspiron or Precision, Razer Blade, and Lenovo ThinkPad to name just a few. HP unveiled ZBook 14u G5 as its challenge to the mobile workstation fraternity.

Design

As HP ZBook 14u G5 is mobile workstation machine the makers want to keep it very simple on the design front. You can’t get the look and feel of plush or premium device at all. What’s important is workstation should be durable and this machine passed the MIL-STD-810g standard as a proof of that. HP ZBook 14u G5 cleared all 14 tests outlined for this standard and mark a new benchmark for the other mobile workstations to follow.

Metallic finish with dual chrome HP logo on the top looks smooth. Mobile Workstation logo is also embarked on the rear end hinge for clear resemblance. Left-hand sidelines capture exhaust bars, USB, and SD Card Reader slot whereas on the right you will get power jack, audio, mDP, USB, HDMI, and network port. Dimensions of 12.84 x 9.22 x 0.71-inches and weight of 3.27 lbs outlines the overall profile of this workstation.

Open the lid, you will notice 14-inch full HD screen panel with two side narrow bezels. The white haze backlit keyboard looks impressive and spill resistant as well. Enough space is provided for palm rest and trackpad is also very wide. The integrated fingerprint sensor is placed beneath the arrow keys as a part of enhanced security options. In general, this mobile workstation consists good design to carry in the office or on the road without any hesitations.

Display

Amazing picture quality is progressed through dual graphics card options. There is integrated UHD 620 graphics chipset and discrete AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 graphics card brings some of the finest images to 14-inch full HD anti-glare IPS touchscreen display. The resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels adds balanced coloring and enriched detailing to the display.

AMD Radeon Pro graphics card comes with 2 GB of GDDR5 dedicated video memory which delivers vibrant images to the screen. Touchscreen panel will allow you to take the full leverage of Windows 10 Professional 64-bit edition.

Hardware and Performance

HP ZBook 14u G5 is equipped with one of the best hardware available in the market. In Core of the heart, there is all-new 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9 GHz Quad-Core processor which can be overclocked up to 4.2 GHz combined with 8 GB DDR4 2400 MHz SDRAM. In the era of Hexa-Core technology, Quad-Core looks a little bit outdated, but still this system delivers excellent performance overall.

Never remain short on storage with 256 GB Turbo Drive PCIe Solid State Drive option. 14-inch full HD touchscreen display backed up with integrated Intel UHD 620 and discrete AMD Radeon WX 310 graphics chipset. The backlit keyboard appears attractive to the eyes and spill resistant option ensures durability. The Precision smart touchpad is accurate and responsive. Fingerprint sensor beneath the arrow keys adds X-factor to the device. Fingerprint reader with the support of Windows Hello allows swift and secure login within no time.

Connectivity

There is no issue of connecting this mobile workstation to other devices. A lot of available connectivity options helps to manage different connections with ease. Advanced Thunderbolt 3 USB Type C port, USB 3.1, USB 3.0, mDP, and HDMI options enable you to connect various devices to the system.

Wired Internet connectivity can be managed through RJ-45 port whereas the combo of Dual-Band 802.11ac WiFi or Bluetooth 4.2 ensures wireless connection.

Battery Life & Audio

Audio delivered by Bang and Olufsen on dual stereo speakers is crisp and crystal clear. Balanced sound quality, number of function keys, and HD audio are one of its kind.

Long life 3-cell 50 Wh Li-ion Battery claims to support your system for approx. 9-10 hours but we often see that these type of claims lays flat in usability testing.

Security Options

Security is one of the mandatory requirement hence this device incorporates a various type of security system to ensure safety for the users. Fingerprint Sensor is one of the advanced security tools plus you will get Sure-Click which shields your web browsing to the extent.

• Keep reading: HP ZBook Studio G5 Mobile Workstation Review

Security Manager, lock slot, pre-boot authentication, automatic drive lock, and Client Security Suite are some of the other options which guards your system against data theft and unwanted access.

Bottom-Line

Mobile Workstation holds one of the best hardware configurations to perform outstandingly in extreme pressure situation. A little bit of more RAM and UHD or 4K screen may add more flavor but still, we can rate this device very decent one.