When is a laptop not a laptop? When it’s a mobile workstation, of course. HP’s Z Series PCs include desktop towers, SFF units, rackable servers and portable machines, featuring pro-level hardware that’s not designed for playing games on.
Design & Build
Key specs:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
- Graphics: Nvidia RTX A500 (4 GB)
- Memory: 32GB DDR5-5600
- Screen size: 16in IPS
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Colour coverage (stated): 100% sRGB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps), 2x USB 3.2 Type-A (5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio
- Dimensions: 35.87 x 25.13 x 1.92 cm
- Weight: 1.79kg
The ZBook Firefly is a somewhat utilitarian-looking laptop and its specs are – for a 2024 release – unexciting. It has an aluminium chassis, an IPS screen and the largest SSD you can spec for it is 1TB. Being able to select 64GB of fast DDR5 RAM is nice, but the GPU only has 4GB of its own.
Features
The Firefly’s keyboard has the new Copilot key, and there’s a numpad that’s not too squashed. An unusual feature is that the power button isn’t at the top right, but six keys along the top row between Delete and PrtScr – it’ll take a little getting used to finding it there. A fingerprint reader sits on the right of the chassis below the numpad, and there’s a 5MP IR webcam built into the top of the screen that’s compatible with Windows Hello face recognition.
The trackpad that sits below it isn’t particularly large, but it’s big enough and icy-smooth, with a distinctive clunk when it’s clicked. A laptop like this is likely to spend a lot of its time attached to an external mouse and monitor, so it’s good to see that some attention has been paid to the way you interact with the machine. The keyboard is up to HP’s usual high standards, with a few MM of travel for the keys, helped by the depth of the 16-inch frame, and a plain white backlight.
Performance
The RTX A-series are workstation GPUs of the sort that used to be called Quadro, and the RTX A500 Mobile GPU is a chip from 2022 built on the Ampere architecture, the same one used for Nvidia’s 3000-series GeForce gaming cards. This means it’s a bit out of date, as the newer Ada Lovelace architecture (GeForce 4000) is about to give way to the Blackwell chips that will probably become the GeForce 5000 series.
Price
The HP ZBook Firefly comes in cheaper than the lowest-cost 14-inch MacBook Pro, but you’ll be able to find any number of gaming laptops for the same or a lower price. As a pro-oriented device with exceptional build quality and an exotic GPU, it doesn’t have a lot of direct competitors.
Who is it for?
The ZBook Firefly’s problem is the niche it sits in. The CPU is nice, but could run on its own thanks to its integrated graphics. The GPU sounds good on paper but is outclassed by newer GeForce chips in gaming laptops. Battery life is extremely good, but how often do you do 3D rendering or CAD without being connected to the wall socket? News photographers using Lightroom or Capture One on the move may find it useful, especially with accelerating noise removal if needed, but its main selling point – that A500 GPU – will appeal to a limited market.
Should I buy it?
Buy it if…
- You need the pro GPU
- Gaming doesn’t interest you
- You’ll be working away from power outlets
Don’t buy it if…
- You don’t need its pro features
- You want an OLED screen or gaming GPU
- A smaller laptop will suit you better
Also consider
- The Asus Zenbook 14X OLED, reviewed here over a year ago, with a similar price point
- Other gaming laptops that offer better performance for the same or lower price
