HP ZBook 8 G1i evaluate: A blazing-fast skilled workstation

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At a look Professional's Ranking Execs

Critical efficiency

Good battery life

Glorious webcam and mic

Lengthy guarantee

Cons

Costly

4GB of VRAM places many native AI fashions out of attain

NPU too gradual for Copilot+ PC options

Our Verdict HP’s ZBook 8 G1i is a succesful skilled workstation with quick efficiency, good thermals, and an unusually lengthy guarantee. However this machine can’t run many AI workflows.

Worth When Reviewed

This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined

Greatest Pricing At the moment

Worth When Reviewed $5,755

Greatest Costs At the moment: HP ZBook 8 G1i

Retailer Worth

$2199 View Deal $2712.42 View Deal Verify Worth comparability from over 24,000 shops worldwide

Product Worth Worth comparability from Backmarket

The HP ZBook 8 G1i is a high-end workstation laptop computer designed for skilled workloads: CAD, 3D modeling, and video enhancing. It’s priced to match, too. At an eye-watering worth of $5,755, this machine appears priced with sufficient margin to permit large reductions to companies procuring a fleet for his or her workers. As I wrapped up this evaluate, HP was providing it at 61 % off — a worth of $2,199.

With a three-year guarantee, a bundled Home windows 11 Skilled license, a quick Intel Core Extremely 7 265H CPU, workstation-class Nvidia graphics, and loads of RAM and storage, that sale worth appears truthful for knowledgeable device like this one. However HP’s guarantees of “pro-level graphics designed for superior AI workflows” fall somewhat flat right here.

Whereas this machine has Nvidia graphics that may run native AI options in skilled apps, this isn’t the best AI workstation PC. Each the GPU and NPU maintain it again in AI workloads.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Specs

The HP ZBook 8 G1i is offered in a wide range of configurations, each in 14-Inch and 16-inch fashions. The 16-inch evaluate mannequin HP allow us to borrow had an Intel Core Extremely 7 265H CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a dual-GPU setup with a workstation-class discrete Nvidia RTX 500 Ada GPU and built-in Intel Arc Professional 140T graphics.

The 16-core Intel Core Extremely 7 265H CPU relies on Intel’s Arrow Lake structure with a max pace of 5.3 GHz, and it delivered CPU and total system efficiency that wowed in our benchmark suite.

The RTX 500 Ada GPU right here is an entry-level GPU designed for workstation PCs, together with CAD software program and light-weight AI duties. Professionals get licensed drivers to be used with software program like AutoCAD, with a promise of larger stability. This machine shouldn't be supposed for gaming, and the RTX 500 Ada GPU right here solely has 4 GB of VRAM. So, whereas HP talks up this machine as an AI workhorse, the shortage of VRAM means it isn’t perfect for heavy native AI duties that want a variety of VRAM, together with operating bigger native fashions and fine-tuning them.

Fairly frankly, the AI story is the weakest a part of this machine. With a gradual Intel NPU that doesn’t meet the minimal necessities for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC options and an Nvidia GPU with solely 4 GB of VRAM, individuals searching for an “AI workstation” would do nicely to look elsewhere. For operating native LLMs, a shopper GPU with 12GB of VRAM or extra could be perfect. If you happen to obtain LM Studio, you’ll uncover that solely the smallest fashions will run on a GPU like this one.

You’re getting knowledgeable GPU supposed for CAD functions that may do some light-weight work with AI-accelerated options in skilled apps — so long as they don’t want a lot video RAM.

Mannequin quantity: HP ZBook 8 G1i C01CTUA#ABA / BQ2Z7AA#ABA

CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 265H

Reminiscence: 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM

Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 500 Ada and Intel Arc Professional 140T

NPU: Intel AI Enhance (13 TOPS)

Show: 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS show

Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD

Webcam: 5 MP webcam

Connectivity: 3x USB Sort-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 20Gbps), 1x USB Sort-A (5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio jack, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x safety lock slot

Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Biometrics: Fingerprint reader and IR digicam for facial recognition

Battery capability: 77 Watt-hours

Dimensions: 14.13 x 9.84 x 0.76 inches

Weight: 3.87 kilos

MSRP: $5,755 as examined ($2,199 on sale)

If you happen to’re searching for a quick skilled workstation, the HP ZBook 8 G1i suits the invoice. Simply don’t pay $5,755 for it.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Design and construct high quality

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The 16-inch HP ZBook 8 G1i has a metallic chassis. Weighing just below 4 kilos, it’s an inexpensive weight for a laptop computer of this dimension and functionality. It’s not the thinnest machine, however the cooling works nicely. The CPU right here posted excessive marks in our benchmarks. The thermals are wonderful: In a long-running CPU-heavy activity just like the Cinebench benchmark we carry out, the fan whirs away, maintaining the CPU operating cool. It’s not unusually loud even at excessive efficiency ranges.

For professionals searching for excessive efficiency on CPU-heavy workloads, this machine’s CPU efficiency will outmatch many high-performance “gaming PCs” that spend their efficiency price range on a quicker GPU and go for a slower CPU.

The design is customary for a laptop computer: A blue or gray-tinged silver coloration that HP calls “Meteor Silver” mixed with a black bezel across the show. The hinge feels strong, and the machine is straightforward to open with one hand. The metallic development feels premium.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Keyboard and trackpad

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The 16-inch HP ZBook 8 G1i has a big keyboard that feels responsive, with a quantity pad and keys which might be fairly snappy. The trackpad is giant, clean, and clicks down with a pleasantly rubbery, bouncy really feel.

Each the keyboard and the trackpad listed below are quiet, which might make them a great match for an workplace atmosphere or espresso store. (Many shopper laptops have surprisingly loud keyboards and trackpads, and so they wouldn’t be perfect to kind on in an workplace or in a gathering room together with your boss.)

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Show and audio system

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The HP ZBook 8 G1i has a show designed for a enterprise laptop computer. The 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS show right here appears good, however the 60Hz refresh fee is customary and doesn’t go above and past on the pixel density. With as much as 400 nits of brightness and an anti-glare coating, it stays properly readable in difficult lighting environments with direct solar or overhead fluorescent lighting.

The show is designed for lengthy battery life and readability, not high-end gaming and multimedia duties. HP provides different fashions with higher-end shows — for instance, you may get a 3840×2400 IPS show with a 120Hz refresh fee and 500 nits of brightness on some fashions. However that may negatively influence battery life. The lower-end show delivers higher battery life.

The HP ZBook 8 G1i’s audio system get surprisingly loud for a laptop computer, if you'd like them to be. Sadly, there’s not a lot bass. At excessive quantity ranges, the highs in songs like Steely Dan’s Aja can develop into considerably shrill and fatiguing. This machine’s audio system are seemingly optimized extra for speech and conferences. Set at 50 % quantity, this laptop computer was about as loud as many different laptops I’ve used.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The HP ZBook 8 G1i’s 5 MP webcam is unusually good, which is what I’d hope to see in a high-end laptop computer designed for work. Even on a cloudy winter day in New England, the ambient gentle coming via the window in my workplace resulted in a transparent, crisp picture with out a lot visible noise.

The microphone setup right here can also be spectacular: It picked up my voice with a great quantity of vocal depth and canceled out background noise. Cheaper laptop computer mics usually sound “tinny.” This machine is a superb alternative in the event you participate in a variety of on-line conferences.

HP included a number of biometrics choices on our evaluate mannequin: Each an IR digicam for facial recognition and a fingerprint reader on the top-right nook of the keyboard tray.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Connectivity

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The HP ZBook 8 G1i has a wide selection of ports. On the left aspect, it has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Sort-C) ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a combo audio jack.

On the fitting aspect, it has a 3rd USB Sort-C port (20Gbps), a USB Sort-A port (5Gbps), a RJ-45 Ethernet port, and a safety lock slot. It’s nice having USB Sort-C ports on each side. Because the laptop computer fees by way of USB Sort-C, this implies you possibly can plug the charging cable into both aspect. That’s at all times nice to see on a laptop computer.

It’s a succesful loadout of ports, particularly with Ethernet — a important enterprise port. And our evaluate mannequin supported each Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, though the {hardware} on completely different ZBook fashions varies.

HP additionally provides an non-obligatory exterior nano SIM slot on some fashions, so you possibly can join this laptop computer to mobile information.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Efficiency

The HP ZBook 8 G1i flew in day-to-day desktop duties. The Intel Core Extremely 7 265H CPU right here is quick, and this machine’s thermals are set as much as let it run laborious with out slowing down underneath load. With 32GB of RAM and a quick 1TB SSD, the machine is about up for top efficiency in skilled apps.

As at all times, we ran the HP ZBook 8 G1i via our customary benchmarks.

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First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of total system efficiency. The HP ZBook 8 G1i delivered an total PCMark 10 rating of 9,171. It is a CPU-focused benchmark the place the GPU is much less essential, however the SSD and total system efficiency come into play.

That is increased total system efficiency than many gaming laptops I’ve reviewed, and the ZBook can ship it over prolonged durations of time with a fan that isn’t all that loud. This alone will make this machine an important choice for a lot of professionals.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HP-ZBook-8-G1i-cinebench-r20-chart.png?w=1200" alt="HP ZBook 8 G1i Cinebench results" class="wp-image-3012618" width="1200" height="801" loading="lazy" /> Foundry / Chris Hoffman

Subsequent, we run Cinebench R20. It is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU efficiency. It’s a fast benchmark, so cooling underneath prolonged workloads isn’t an element. However, because it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.

With a multithreaded rating of seven,534, the HP ZBook 8 G1i once more notched critical multithreaded CPU efficiency that outmatched many different laptops.

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We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. That is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, nevertheless it runs over an prolonged interval. This forces the laptop computer’s cooling to kick in, and plenty of laptops will throttle and decelerate underneath load.

The HP ZBook 8 G1i accomplished the encode course of in a median of 783 seconds — that’s simply over 13 minutes. It’s an unusually good rating and reveals the machine’s thermals are well-designed. It could possibly ship critical efficiency for prolonged durations of time underneath load.

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Subsequent, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop computer, and the GPU will typically be used for GPU-based skilled apps and maybe accelerating some native AI duties. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.

With a 3DMark Time Spy rating of 6,053, we see the place the uncooked GPU efficiency falls: Extra corresponding to an older RTX 3050 Ti GPU than a more recent 50-series GPU. However you don’t purchase a workstation-class GPU for uncooked gaming efficiency. You purchase it for the soundness and licensed drivers for apps like AutoCAD and SolidWorks.

General, the HP ZBook 8 G1i delivered superb efficiency within the form of skilled apps you’d be operating on a machine like this one.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Battery life

The HP ZBook 8 G1i has a large 77 Watt-hour battery. Intel’s Arrow Lake CPUs are extra targeted on efficiency than battery life, however the power-efficient show and sizable battery ship strong battery life for a workstation.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/HP-ZBook-8-G1i-battery-life-chart.png?w=1200" alt="HP ZBook 8 G1i battery life results" class="wp-image-3012622" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /> Foundry / Chris Hoffman

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Metal on repeat on Home windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. We set the display screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. It is a best-case state of affairs for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly, and actual battery life in day-to-day use is at all times going to be lower than this.

The HP ZBook lasted for about 14 and a half hours earlier than suspending itself. It ought to get you thru a full workday away from an outlet, in the event you like. However you’ll have to plug the laptop computer in to get one of the best efficiency from the {hardware}, anyway. What you find yourself with is a laptop computer that may final away from an outlet when it must. The battery life is strong for this {hardware}.

HP ZBook 8 G1i: Conclusion

The HP ZBook 8 G1i is aware of precisely what it's: A conveyable workstation for professionals full with high-end CPU efficiency, a protracted guarantee, workstation-class Nvidia graphics, a beneficiant quantity of RAM, and an enormous SSD.

And HP is aware of precisely the right way to worth it: Whereas $5,755 appeared excessive, the truth that the machine was already 61 % off once I completed reviewing it reveals how prepared HP can be to chop the worth to one thing cheap.

If you happen to’re searching for a quick skilled workstation, the HP ZBook 8 G1i suits the invoice. Simply don’t pay $5,755 for it.

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HP ZBook 8 G1i evaluate: A blazing-fast skilled workstation

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