Skip to main content

HP's ZBook Studio is a small laptop with shocking specs

Good laptops are coming in increasingly small packages, and HP’s upcoming ZBook Studio is a great example of that. Starting at $1,699, this 4.4 pound optionally packs an Intel i7 or Xeon processor, up to 32 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage.

Those numbers would have sounded like science fiction for a desktop computer not so long ago, but HP is packing all of that into a device that’s only 0.7 inches thick. If you want power without sacrificing portability, it’s something to look forward to.

Recommended Videos

The 15.6 inch Studio, which ships in December, is HP’s attempt to improve on the previous incarnation of their ZBook – which was deemed by reviewers to be bulky and underpowered for the price. The small form factor helps combat this, but the price is even higher this time around.

And customers might end up spending quite a bit more than that $1,699 starting price, considering all the upgrade options listed. There are a wide range of available processors, for example, starting with a Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 with Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 and ranging all the way up to the Intel Core i7-6700HQ with Intel HD graphics 530. There’s even optional Nvidia Quadro M1000M discrete graphics. It’s not clear right now how much all these options could add up to.

Still, there’s a lot to like packed into this little laptop. It’s got an aluminum body, a 1,920 x 1,080 display (with an optional upgrade to 3,840 x 2160,), and even an optional touchscreen.

There are 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, an SD card slot and 2 USB 3.0 ports.

As of this writing the device isn’t available for preorder, and it’s not clear what kind of specs the base model will offer — or what the fully outfitted version of this laptop will cost. Stay tuned.

Justin Pot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Justin's always had a passion for trying out new software, asking questions, and explaining things – tech journalism is the…
HP just reset its entire PC lineup
The HP OmniBook X AI PC.

In the new AI PC era, HP is starting fresh with an entirely new branding structure to highlight the power and performance of a fresh set of computers.

While many people may be familiar with the company’s Pavilion, Envy, and Spectre products on the consumer side and the Dragonfly devices for enterprise options, HP will now retire these lines and overhaul its options under two main lines: consumer and commercial. These include the Omni brand for consumers and the Elite brand for commercial. The company unveiled its inaugural products for each line, the HP OmniBook X AI PC and HP EliteBook Ultra AI PC, on Monday during Microsoft’s AI Vision event. I got to see the new devices ahead of the event and check out how this new branding and design looks in person.
A new beginning
These models will be the beginning of an overall brand expansion for HP. On the consumer side, the company plans to have several forms and tiers of Omni products with the goal of making customer selection simpler. Notably, HP plans to keep its Omen gaming PC brand intact during this restructuring.

Read more
5 laptops you should buy instead of the Dell XPS 14
The Dell XPS 14 on a white table with the screen open.

The Dell XPS 14 is an excellent 14-inch laptop with a thoroughly modern design and aesthetic, as well as some fast components. You can even configure it with an Nvidia RTX 4050.

But there's no question that it's been controversial. Between the invisible trackpad to the LED touch keys, there are plenty of reasons to consider a different option. Here are the five alternatives you should consider before pulling the trigger on the XPS 14.
Apple MacBook Pro 14
Apple MacBook Pro 14 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Read more
HP launches a new gaming laptop and HyperX accessories
hp omen 17 2024 launch 4

HP continues to refresh its lineup of premium gaming laptops with the latest Omen 17. Featuring the latest AI-enhanced AMD Ryzen 8000-series mobile chips, it is the first Omen product to come with a dedicated Copilot key for Microsoft's latest AI assistant.

Additionally, the laptop offers AI-enhanced meeting features like enhancing the built-in webcam and microphone for an improved video calling experience. And with Otter.ai, users can transcribe meetings and have access to AI-generated notes.

Read more