The HP ZBook Ultra G1a is a surprisingly portable machine for a workstation laptop. Measuring 0.71-inch thick and weighing about 3.5 pounds (it varies slightly between the OLED model we reviewed and the IPS model, but only a little), it’s the lightest mobile workstation we’ve reviewed, looking and feeling more like a business laptop, but with exceptional performance. Just be aware that the charger is bigger and heavier than what you’d get for a standard work laptop, to power the high-performing hardware inside.
The ZBook Ultra’s aluminum body is sturdy and sleek, and it won’t be out of place in a meeting. But it’s also built for ruggedness, to survive everything from the commute to a business trip. The frame even holds up satisfyingly well when you do something simple, like lift the open laptop by one corner of the palmrest—you’ll feel no flexing, just steadfast support that doesn’t weigh too much.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Our model included the 14-inch OLED touch screen. With 2.8K (2,880-by-1,800) resolution, the display quality is excellent. In addition to the vibrant color quality and crisp contrast you’d expect from an OLED panel, it also has a variable refresh rate, syncing to content up to 120 frames per second. And with blue light reduction, it should even help prevent eye strain. The touch screen is an unusual option on a workstation, but note that this model only supports fingertips; you’ll find no stylus or pen option here.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The ZBook’s speakers, made by HP-owned Poly Audio, produce decent volume and rich sound. Arranged in a quad-speaker array, positioned on either side of the keyboard, they pump out excellent audio, though the bass is pretty anemic without any sort of woofer built in.
The G1a also has a 5MP webcam, which records with sharp enough image quality, accurate color quality, and capable low-light performance, so you’ll look slick on Zoom even if you’re in a poorly lit office. Plus, the laptop has a pair of microphones (also Poly Audio) for tailor-made voice capture and ambient sound reduction. The webcam and mics get an AI-infused software boost, making everything look and sound better. And, because it also has IR and human presence detection sensors, the webcam doubles as a security device, with Windows Hello facial recognition for easy, secure logins and dimming or locking the laptop when you step away.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The biometric security extends to the keyboard, where the power button does double duty as a fingerprint sensor. The whole keyboard is pretty comfortable, with a complete 84-key layout and premium feel, thanks to keys that provide a balance of soft touch and sufficient feedback, all with a deep 1.5mm key travel. You’ll find no numpad here, but we wouldn’t expect one on a 14-inch system.
Below the keyboard is an extra-large glass clickpad (5.0 by 3.1 inches), extending vertically from the space bar to the lip of the palmrest with only the slimmest of margins around it. The pad has an image sensor for high accuracy and fast responses with flawless palm rejection, while the glass surface glides easily for all your multitouch gestures. The mechanical click provides a satisfying tactile feel that haptic pads can’t quite replicate.
The ZBook Ultra G1a 14 is protected at every level—from the hardware up—using dedicated security chips, live malware isolation, and a BIOS that can heal itself from deep attacks. This design prevents hackers from getting in, even with the most advanced methods, and keeps your device secure, even if something goes wrong.
Multiple security features are collected under the HP Wolf Security umbrella, including the abovementioned methods, and advanced threat containment through micro-virtualization, isolating risky files and activities in hardware-enforced secure containers to prevent malware spread. It also integrates next-generation AI-driven antivirus and anti-phishing tools to proactively detect and block sophisticated malware and phishing attacks. And it provides real-time threat analytics for IT teams, protecting a single machine and a company’s entire fleet of HP devices.
