Tech specs:
- Operating system: Windows 11 (Home, Pro), Windows 10 Pro, Ubuntu Linux 20.04
- CPU: 11th generation Intel Core i5, i7, i9, Xeon processors
- GPU: Nvidia T1200 (4GB), Nvidia RTX A2000 (4GB), RTX A3000 (6GB), RTX A4000 (8GB), RTX 5000 (16GB), AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (8GB)
- RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
- Storage: 4x M.2 slots for up to 8TB
- Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 250 nits, 400 nits, 1000 nits with privacy screen; 4K (3840 x 2160) IPS, 600 nits, DreamColor
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), optional LTE mobile broadband, optional NFC
- Ports and slots: 2 USB-A (5Gbps), 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB4 (40Gbps), RJ-45 Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, smart card reader, SD card reader
- Cameras: 720p, with IR option
- Audio: 2 Bang & Olufsen speakers, 2 microphones, 3.5mm audio in/out
- Battery: 94Wh
- Dimensions: 14.21 in. x 9.55 in. x 1.02 in.
- Weight: from 5.18 lbs
- Price: From $1,507 (Core i5-11500H, Nvidia T1200, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, FHD IPS)
Many people require more computing power, graphics capabilities, memory, and storage than even a power user/creator laptop can provide. These demanding professionals include 3D designers, architects, engineers, scientists, video editors, VR developers, and others who require a full-blown mobile workstation.
In addition to Core i7/i9/Xeon or Ryzen 9 CPUs, Nvidia RTX or Radeon Pro GPUs, at least 16GB of RAM (with 32GB or more being preferable) and multiple terabytes of storage, workstation-class laptops need high-quality IPS or OLED screens with high resolution (preferably 4K) and good colour space support (sRGB, Adobe RGB, DCI-P3). To indicate that specific configurations are optimised for mission-critical apps, they also need certifications from ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) such as Adobe, Autodesk, Avid, and others.
Read the review: ZBook Fury 15 G8 review
The leading mobile workstation vendors are Dell, HP, and Lenovo, but your search for a suitable solution may also include recent entrants from the gaming market such as Gigabyte, MSI, and Razer. We have chosen HP’s 15.6-inch ZBook Fury 15 G8, which is a compact but highly configurable all-rounder (and also available with a 17-inch screen).
The ZBook Fury 15 G8 can be purchased for a modest $1,507 with a Core i5-11500H processor, a 4GB Nvidia T1200 GPU, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and an FHD IPS screen with 250 nits brightness and just 45% of NTSC color gamut coverage. But that doesn’t scratch the surface of what this well-built chassis can pack in. Processor options rise through 11th-generation Core i7, i9, and Xeon CPUs, discrete GPUs go up to a 16GB Nvidia A5000, RAM to 128GB, and SSD storage to 8TB. The top-end screen configuration is a superb 4K IPS DreamColor panel with 600 nits brightness and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. However, it’s a shame that the webcam is only 720p.
High-end specifications don’t come cheap, and you can rack up an impressive price tag by piling them on: with a Core i9-11900H processor, the DreamColor display, an 8GB Nvidia RTX A4000 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage, the price is currently $3,348 — and you can easily more than double that.
